Antonia Fraser has written an excellent book which unravels the whole story of the plot, exploring the background, keeping close to the evidence, and, above all, bringing the characters to life ... a judicious and very readable account

Told with impressive scholarship and panache. The result is a narrative that is clear, balanced, and builds to its denouement with a sense of pace and tension worthy of a John le Carré novel

Every few years a work of history appears that succeeds in connecting its subject to the deeper questions troubling modern society. This is one such book

It has a fine narrative flow, for Antonia Fraser recognises that history is essentially a story, and a gripping one at that. She writes with verve and imagination

Fraser's meticulously researched book is an excellent read ... Antonia Fraser has shed much light on one of the most controversial episodes in English history

An awe-inspiring tale ... It makes superb armchair entertainment

Eloquent and moving