A Crowning Mercy cover art

A Crowning Mercy

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A Crowning Mercy

By: Bernard Cornwell, Susannah Kells
Narrated by: Judith Franklin
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About this listen

In a country at war, a secret inheritance reveals a dark conspiracy …

On a sunlit afternoon in seventeenth-century Dorset, a young girl falls in love with a stranger.

But when her Puritan brother tries to force her into an unbearable marriage she flees, taking with her only the gift left to her by her unknown father, a gold pendant sealed by an engraving of an axe, and the words: St Matthew.

One of four intricately wrought seals – each holding a secret within – it can, when combined with the other three, bring great wealth and power. This power is her true inheritance – but it’s a perilous legacy others will kill for …

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance

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Critic reviews

Praise for Bernard Cornwell:

‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive’ George R.R. Martin

‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’ THE TIMES

‘He’s called a master storyteller. Really he’s cleverer than that’ TELEGRAPH

‘A reminder of just how good a writer he is’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell’ Lee Child

This is a magnificent and gory work' Daily Mail

'The historical blockbuster of the year' EVENING STANDARD

‘A runaway success’ OBSERVER

‘A master of storytelling’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

This is typical Cornwell, meticulously researched, massive in scope, brilliant in execution’ NEWS OF THE WORLD
All stars
Most relevant
Superb book. Highly recommended. If you love Cornwell then read this, gripping right to the end

Simply brilliant!

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i enjoyed all of it beautifullly read .full of atmosphere and excitement with true feeling

A most enjoyable read

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Do not expect Cornwell in this book, no epic battles, no excitement, just a rather dreary romance. I had thought there would be some civil war descriptions but a lascivious witch finder was included rather than Cornwell usual gripping narrative. If you like a romance you will enjoy this but I cannot recommend it as vintage Cornwell.

Not Cornwell

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not the usual story l go for but all the same very happy I tried it and glad I brought both books 1 & 2 very well read and the voice's made the character's come to life well must go now I have the 2nd book to start enjoy

not my usual kind of story

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If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Teenage girls

What could Bernard Cornwell and Susannah Kells have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

None

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

None

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

I bought this book because it was written by Bernard Cornwell and after listening to The Last Kingdom series. What a disappointment. This novel belongs in the Mills & Boon section.
I cannot believe it is by this fantastic author. I have also bought the sequel. Hope there is some improvement.

Mills & Boon

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