A thrilling historical adventure that sees two assassins go head-to-head on the open seas, from Sunday Times bestselling author and Richard & Judy Book Club pick David Mark.

London, 1628. Nicolaes de Pelgrom, assassin and devoted servant of George Villiers, will do whatever his master asks of him – even if that means enduring the perilous voyage to the Indies to exact a grieving widow's revenge.

Making that same journey is Jeronimus Cornelisz, a conniving apothecary determined to escape the backstreets of Amsterdam and become rich beyond imagination. Hired by a criminal mastermind to escort precious cargo to the Indies, he will kill anyone who stands in his way.

When these assassins clash, so too do their missions. One cannot succeed without killing the other. In this deadly game, who will triumph and who will die? And are they even the only players?

'A fantastic achievement - dark and compelling with characters you will never forget.' Elly Griffiths
'David Mark's books are always taut, intelligent page-turners, so it's a joy that he's turned his pen and his talents to historical fiction.' Abir Mukherjee
'Sumptuous and decadent... [a] lush masterpiece.' Historical Novel Society

Reviews for David Mark:

'Mark is the king of grimy historical crime.' Alex Reeve
'Breathtaking.' Peter May
'Mark is a wonderfully descriptive writer.' Peter James
'Brilliantly written – a cracking story.' Richard Madeley