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Critics' Opinion:
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First Published:
Feb 2010, 448 pages
Paperback:
Feb 2011, 448 pages
Book Reviewed by:
BookBrowse First Impression Reviewers
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Masterfully blending true events with fiction, this blockbuster historical thriller delivers a page-turning murder mystery set on the sixteenth-century Oxford University campus.
Giordano Bruno was a monk, poet, scientist, and magician on the run from the Roman Inquisition on charges of heresy for his belief that the Earth orbits the sun and that the universe is infinite. This alone could have got him burned at the stake, but he was also a student of occult philosophies and magic.
In S.J. Parris's gripping novel, Bruno's pursuit of this rare knowledge brings him to London, where he is unexpectedly recruited by Queen Elizabeth I and is sent undercover to Oxford University on the pretext of a royal visitation. Officially Bruno is to take part in a debate on the Copernican theory of the universe; unofficially, he is to find out whatever he can about a Catholic plot to overthrow the queen.
His mission is dramatically thrown off course by a series of grisly murders and a spirited and beautiful young woman. As Bruno begins to discover a pattern in these killings, he realizes that no one at Oxford is who he seems to be. Bruno must attempt to outwit a killer who appears obsessed with the boundary between truth and heresy.
Like The Dante Club and The Alienist, this clever, sophisticated, exceptionally enjoyable novel is written with the unstoppable narrative propulsion and stylistic flair of the very best historical thrillers.
P r o l o g u e
Monastery of San Domenico Maggiore, Naples
1576
The outer door was thrown open with a crash that resounded along the passage,
and the floorboards shook with the purposeful marching of several
pairs of feet. Inside the small cubicle where I perched on the edge of a
wooden bench, taking care not to sit too close to the hole that opened over
the cesspit beneath, my little candle flickered in the sudden draught of their
entrance, sending wavering shadows growing and shrinking along the stone
walls. Allora, I thought, looking up. They have come for me at last.
The footsteps halted outside the cubicle door, to be replaced by the furious
hammering of a fist and the abbot’s throaty voice, strained beyond its
usual placid tones of diplomacy.
“Fra Giordano! I order you to come out this instant, with whatever you
hold in your hands in plain sight!”
I caught a snigger from one of the monks who accompanied him,
swiftly followed by a stern...
Fans of historical mysteries will be thrilled to discover this first installment in an anticipated series. 25 out of 26 BookBrowse readers rated Heresy 4 or 5 stars. Here's what they had to say:
I loved this book! I was pulled into the story immediately and fascinated with all the twists and turns as well as the historical detail. It's intricately plotted, but avoids becoming cumbersome with details (Jean T). The characters are very well-developed, the story is exciting, and the mystery is a winner (Donna N)! I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and mysteries as well as those interested in English history (Chris G)...continued
Full Review
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse First Impression Reviewers).
Conn Iggulden, New York Times bestselling author of The Dangerous Book for Boys and Bones of the Hills
Fascinating…The period is incredibly vivid and the story utterly gripping. Cadfael can't hold a candle to this Katherine Neville, New York Times bestselling author of The Eight and The Fire
The famous scientist, Giordano Bruno, erupts with volcanic force from the pages
of S.J. Parris' spellbinding debut novel, Heresy. Blending the
philosophical sleuthing skills of Brother Cadfael with the magic sorcery of
Voldemort, Bruno cracks the secret code, unraveling a Church conspiracy as deep
and dark as that in a Dan Brown novel. Matthew Pearl, New York Times bestselling author of The Dante Club and The Poe Shadow
Heresy is a must-read for every fan of historical thrillers. S. J.
Parris transports the reader back to an extraordinary time in history by
mobilizing fascinating details, suspense, and fully-drawn characters. Giordano
Bruno turns out to be that rare hero, charismatic and nuanced enough to impel an
encore, and to leave us asking for more from the gifted Parris. Sam Bourne, New York Times bestselling author of The Righteous Men
Heresy is a riveting read. Rich in both historical detail and ingenious
twists, S. J. Parris has created a character in Giordano Bruno that will endure.
A true rival to C. J. Sansom.
Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) was an Italian Dominican priest, philosopher, mathematician and astronomer. After studying for several years in Naples, he entered the Order of St. Dominic at the age of 15, and was ordained priest in 1572. He was known for his belief in the infinite nature of the universe, identifying the Earth's sun as just one of an infinite number of stars and heavenly bodies, and asserting that God had no particular relation to Earth over any other part of the universe. He was charged with heresy in 1576 for his views and outspoken criticism of theological doctrines.
From then on he wandered from country to country, facing persecution in each place until he was finally delivered to the Inquisition in 1592. The numerous ...
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