The Players

Readers love THE PLAYERS

'Totally riveting... Perfect.

'I was transported every time I picked up this highly imaginative story'

'Everything I love about historical fiction'

'This is historical fiction at its best'

'Good to see female characters having strong roles'

'I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history, literature and a "jolly good read"'



Who will save them from the gallows?

England, 1685. Decades after the end of the civil war, the country is once again divided when a pretender to the throne incites rebellion against King James II. Angered, the king orders every captured rebel to be hanged, drawn and quartered.



As the country braces for carnage, the formidable Lady Jayne Harrier and her enigmatic son, assisted by the reclusive daughter of a local magistrate, contrive ways to save men from the gallows.



Secrets are kept and surprising friendships formed during the dark days of the Bloody Assizes, in a dangerous gamble to thwart a brutal king's thirst for vengeance...

'Fascinating ... told with the masterful skill of a true storyteller' Anne O'Brien

'An immersive joy that will stand the test of time' Elizabeth Chadwick



Minette Walters is one of the world's bestselling crime writers and has sold over 25 million copies of her books worldwide. She has won the CWA John Creasey Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award in America and two CWA Gold Daggers. The Players is her fourth historical novel. She lives in Dorset with her husband.



A sweeping narrative and a host of memorable characters ... shows Walters to be as skilled in historical fiction as she is in the crime genre



A fascinating book, drawing the reader into the world of vicious politics in the reign of King James II. Told with the masterful skill of a true storyteller, full of action, with characters that light up the historical stage, The Players is a novel that abounds with danger and foreboding. A real page turner that kept me riveted from start to finish.



Historical fiction as it should be and at its best. An immersive joy to read that leads me to want more. A work that has been crafted with passion and care and symmetry, and will stand the test of time



An intricate plot and multi-faceted characters who delight in sparring conversation and dangerous undertakings make Walters' dynamic take on the 17th-century upheaval and its aftermath both subtle and dramatic.



Sweeping, pacy ... compelling and powerful, this is a carefully crafted and engaging story



Walters uses all her skill as a writer of historical fiction to fill in this world and bring it to life. Through her descriptive language, flair for supporting, relevant facts, and wonderfully rounded characters, readers will become immersed in this gripping, late 17th century tale.



Walters is a master craftswoman and a tireless historical researcher [The Players] is an absolute feast of historical fiction



Original and utterly engrossing ... a well-crafted, intelligent and thoroughly engaging read - this is literary historical fiction at its very best



Wonderful and sweeping, with a fabulous sense of place and history



Wonderfully engaging ... propulsive



Atmospheric ... gripping