Rags of Time

London, 1639 Spice merchant Thomas Tallant returns from India to find his city in turmoil - desperately overcrowded, ravaged by crime and seething with sedition. A bitter struggle is brewing between King Charles I and Parliament, as England slides into civil war. A wealthy merchant is savagely killed; then his partner plunges to his death in the Tallant household. Suspicion falls on Tom, who finds himself sucked into London's mire of deceit. As he struggles to clear his name, he meets the enigmatic Elizabeth Seymour. Her passion for astronomy and mathematics is matched only by her addiction to tobacco and the gaming tables. Can her brilliance untangle the web of lies that threatens to drag Tom under? A thrilling murder mystery, set in the murky streets of Stuart London, RAGS OF TIME is an intriguing tale of murder and deception amidst the search for enlightenment, that will keep you guessing until the final dramatic scene. 'Michael Ward's novels are meticulously researched and elegantly written, a creative blend of history and thriller, set around the engaging character of 17th century spice merchant Thomas Tallant.' ALEX GERLIS bestselling author of historical espionage thrillers