Bruce - reviewed on 10/8/2013

The latest historical mystery Cotton Malone must unravel involves the centuries old Bisley boy legend. This was a legend first written about by Brom Stoker though I had never heard of it until this novel. The gist is that Elizabeth I died at the young age of 13. Kat Ashley, who cared for the young Elizabeth, and Thomas Parry so feared Henry VIII that they convinced the son of Henry Fitzroy (Henry VIII illegitimate first-born), who bore a striking resemblance to his half-sister, to pose as the young Princess. In The King's Deception, Malone and his son are caught up between the forces who want to reveal ancient proof that the legend is true and those forces who are willing to do whatever is necessary to keep this secret from ever seeing the light of day.

It was an interesting what-if scenerio but I don't think anyone seriously believes this legend to be true. But I appreciate Berry's effort to make a fun story out of an old "conspiracy theory" legend. Queen Elizabeth as a man- fun to contemplate.

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