The Crown A Novel

"An amazing first novel.…It's an action-packed tale of one nun's dangerous quest to discover the secrets of a relic that dates back centuries" (Katherine Neville, author of The Eight). The year is 1537…Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin's side. Arrested for interfering with the king's justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London. The ruthless Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, takes terrifying steps to force Joanna to agree to spy for him: To save her father's life she must find an ancient relica crown so powerful, it may hold the ability to end the Reformation. Accompanied by two monks, Joanna searches in secret for this long-lost piece of history worn by the Saxon King Athelstan in A.D. 937 during the historic battle that first united Britain. With Cromwell's troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must now decide who she can trust with the secret of the crown so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England's past.

Nancy Bilyeau is a writer and magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Visit NancyBilyeau.com.