RORY CLEMENTS was born on the edge of England in Dover, the son of a Royal Naval officer and a former WREN. Since 2007, Rory has been writing full-time in a quiet corner of Norfolk, England, where he lives with his family. He won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award in 2010 for his second novel, Revenger. A TV series of the John Shakespeare novels is currently in development by the team behind POLDARK and ENDEAVOUR. Find out more at www.roryclements.co.uk.
Dramatic . . . pacy and assured . . . Well crafted, it has all the
pleasures of an intriguing lead character, intricate plot and
fascinating historical context
*Daily Mail*
Rory Clements's timely spy thriller set in the 1930s evokes a
period of political polarisation, mistrust and simmering violence.
Corpus is fast-paced and there are plenty of red herrings to keep
you guessing. This is the first of a promising series and Wilde is
a likeable hero
*The Times*
This clever novel, rich in deceptions and intrigue, shows the reach
of Stalin and Hitler into every class of British society,
threatening violence on horrific scale. Corpus is a standout
historical novel and spy thriller by an author who can turn his
hand to any historical period he chooses
*Daily Express*
I was a huge fan of the John Shakespeare series and love every
single book. Corpus was an enjoyable read...
*Lis The Bookworm*
'I really enjoyed this book. It was my first experience of this
author and I am very glad I picked this one up. The writing was
easy to get into and the plot was engaging. I enjoyed the
characters, especially the lead - he is well written and
intelligent. Overall this was a great book set in an interesting
time and I would definitely recommend picking this book up.'
*The Little Book Owl*
' An intelligent thriller...I loved the characters and especially
hero Professor Thomas Wilde. Our heroine, Lydia is well
rounded...Wilde is a cool hero.'
*For the Love of Books*
'It simply took my breath away. The amount of research that has
gone into this superb book is just phenomenal. Boy does Rory
Clements know how to tell a story! It's a tangled web of espionage,
murder, intrigue and thrills. I'm so glad I got the chance to
review this book. When I have time I will be reading this again.
There's so much detail that you might miss!'
*The Book Guzzler*
'Rory Clements is a fine writer of such clever novels and in Tom
Wilde he has created a character to do him proud, every bit as much
as John Shakespeare. This is a very clever book, rich in intrigue
and deceptions...The storyline is marvellous! Its complexity is
very satisfying to unravel and it captures so much of the sinister
world of 1936 Europe. Hitler and Stalin walk in the shadows of this
novel. Rory Clements writes as brilliantly as he plots and this is
a novel steeped in atmosphere, menace and history. If I had to find
fault with Corpus, I'd be out of luck. This is a standout
historical novel and a gripping spy thriller. Clearly Rory Clements
can turn his attention to any period of history he likes and in it
he will find gold.'
*For Winter Nights*
'Corpus by Rory Clements is set in England a few years before the
Second World War as Britain is convulsed by the abdication crisis.
Tom Wilde, a Cambridge academic, is drawn into a murky world of
espionage and conspiracy by the unexplained death of a young
Englishwoman recently returned from Berlin...'
*The Sunday Times Culture*
'a dynamic, fast-moving murder mystery brimming with menace,
violence and intrigue, and starring a maverick Cambridge history
professor caught up in a deadly conspiracy...this fascinating
pre-war era comes breathtakingly and insidiously to life in a
complex, compelling opener to what promises to be another
extraordinary historical series as Clements harnesses society's
distrust, divisions and deceptions in a powerful and plausible
thriller. With real history, mystery, politics and espionage at
play, Clements is undoubtedly on to another winner...'
*Lancashire Evening Post*
'A very well thought out story with a new hero of mine, Thomas
Wilde.'
*Echoes in an Empty Room*
'fascinating historical conspiracy...it is in the minutiae of old
fashioned sleuthing where the story starts to truly come alive. The
mystery at the heart of the novel is intelligently written with
this author's fine eye for historical detail and even though the
overall pace of the novel is never fast and furious, there are
certainly more than enough twists and turns in the plot to keep the
reader guessing until the end.'
*Jaffa Reads Too*
'HUGELY entertaining...Rory Clements really brought the sense of
time and place to life in Corpus. He has also created a
terrifically engaging character in Thomas Wilde, he will make an
excellent series protagonist. Mixing politics and crime in an
intriguing and full of flair fashion, the plot was superbly
crafted, complex yet ever addictive and there is a richness to the
historical detail here that really packs a punch. I do love a good
atmospheric novel and Rory Clements has a terrifically sharp
writing style that completely drags you in.'
*Liz Loves Books*
'I was utterly absorbed and transported. Rory Clements has cleverly
written this book in a way that is accessible to all readers. The
plot is tight and the story rolls along at a steady pace...This
book has managed to convert me into trying more historical fiction
in the future.'
*Reflections of a Reader*
'Corpus is quite rich in history and detail within the plot, so
there are many threads to follow. The author has done a great job
of weaving it together cohesively and the end result is a highly
intriguing read.'
*Bibliophile Book Club*
'this fascinating pre-war era comes breathtakingly and insidiously
to life in a complex, compelling opener to what promises to be
another extraordinary historical series as Clements harnesses
society's distrust, divisions and deceptions in a powerful and
plausible thriller. With real history, mystery, politics and
espionage at play, Clements is undoubtedly on to another
winner...'
*Blackpool Gazette*
'An omniscient viewpoint and multiple characters give this novel
the gravitas of Le Carré and it is highly accomplished. The 1930s
are quite a decade in which to set a new series and with
Bolsheviks, Nazis, treachery and political manoeuvring set against
a looming global conflagration this is rich pickings for a skilled
storyteller. It is impressively executed and Clements delivers a
multi-layered historical spy thriller that few can emulate.'
*Crime Fiction Lover*
'Wilde is a truly brilliant character...This is an immensely
engrossing novel...Corpus is a remarkable chronicle of the
treacherous game of poisoned politics, teasing the moves from its
players with considerable skill to result in a thoroughly
exhilarating fusion of espionage, intrigue and murder.'
*Little Bookness Lane*
'Great new character, upbeat pace, low cunning plot, a fine
read'.
*The Sport newspaper*
'Corpus is a highly entertaining novel packed with exhilarating
action thrown at us in a delightfully breakneck speed.'
*Reviewed the Book*
'Rory Clements does a brilliant job in setting the scene and
keeping the fictional events relevant to the established historical
facts that he is weaving his story around. There are some very
unlikeable characters, yet Wilde is a joy to follow and reading
this story was something of a treat. Fans of Fatherland, cold war
thrillers and political dramas - this is very much one for
you.'
*Grab This Book*
'Corpus is a highly entertaining novel packed with exhilarating
action thrown at us in a delightfully breakneck speed. The standout
part of this book, for me, was the character of Thomas Wilde...any
future books in this new series will be absolute must-reads.'
*Book Drunk*
'It is immensely gratifying to read a book that not only entertains
and thrills consistently throughout with its compelling
storytelling, but that uses the backdrop of historical events in
such a clear and assured fashion, so much is learnt along the way
too. I was rather impressed with this one, not only as a tense tale
of political conspiracy and derring-do, but also as a very well
characterised and compelling historical thriller. Looking forward
to the next in the series too. Highly recommended.'
*Raven Crime Reads*
'Corpus is a first rate thriller and a cracking read that will
entertain fans of the involved murder mystery, the spy story or
lovers of the period leading up to the Second World War and its
political history. I think the novel will appeal to fans of Robert
Harris and Philip Kerr, although the breadth of the story reminded
me of a personal favourite, Hopeful Monsters by Nicholas Mosley,
son of Oswald, a literary gem that still resonates.'
*Nudge Books*
'CORPUS honestly blew me away. It was everything I wanted in a
historical thriller. Clements has created a really interesting
world and crime, and Thomas Wilde is an interesting main character.
I really enjoyed reading CORPUS, and I can't wait to get my hands
on the next book in the series.'
*The Flutterby Room*
'fans of Robert Harris are going to love this... Intrigue runs
through the historically real and historically fictional characters
making this unputdownable.'
*The Bookbag*
'In Clements' plot, rumours, secrets and lies rub against each
other: Edward VIII's desire to abdicate, covert support for Hitler
in the highest reaches of the British establishment, world-altering
scientific breakthroughs. Clements spins his wheels within wheels
to enjoyable if mind-boggling effect.'
*South China Morning Post*
'Corpus is a compelling novel, the writing is subtle, appalling
events are handled skilfully, and whether you are susceptible to
conspiracy theories or not, the research makes the plot utterly
convincing. Clements kept this reader guessing right up to the last
page - and beyond. I found myself musing over motives and hidden
agendas, and trying to decide whether I should have liked or feared
the enigmatic yet potentially dangerous Philip Eaton, for his role
was (deliberately) never quite clear. This is a clever historical
crime story and a very plausible thriller.'
*Historia magazine*
Clements spins his wheels within wheels to enjoyable, if
mind-boggling, effect. Pay attention if you don't want to get lost:
it works for thrillers and American Presidents alike.
*South China Morning Post*
A 1930s thriller. When a history professor links the deaths of
English woman back from Berlin, a society husband and wife, and a
Royal scandal, he must use all the skills gained from his research
the Elizabethan secret service to save the woman he loves - and
prevent a massacre.
*Eastern Daily Press*
Clements' clever, atmospheric, fast-paced and immaculately
researched novel is both pacy and assured with an intriguing
protagonist, intricate plot and historical context. Rich in
deception and intrigue, this tangled web of espionage and murder is
a real rollercoaster, equally appealing to fans of historical
'faction' or of spy fiction and thrillers.
*Crime Review*
I loved Wilde. I mean history professor as the main character,
what's not to like? It was interesting to see what might have
happened during the Abdication. Conspiracies and espionage
everywhere.
*Book Ramblings*
It is well-written and is a solid historical fiction.
*The Northern Witch's book blog*
Clements juggles his story's disparate ingredients very skilfully,
without - as far as I could tell - distorting facts. This book is
the first in a series - good!
*Literary Review*
Quite different, but just as gripping, and you might well need a
bit of a refresher during it. Very tense, not a lot of laughs, but
a really good read, and concept. Fascinating times, great book. So
often they are from this publisher.
*Frost Magazine*
A very well written and gripping novel, which I really enjoyed.
*The Cottage at the End of the Lane*
And this fascinating pre-war era comes breathtakingly and
insidiously to life in a complex, compelling opener to what
promises to be another extraordinary historical series as Clements
harnesses society's distrust, divisions and deceptions in a
powerful and plausible thriller. With real history, mystery,
politics and espionage at play, Clements is undoubtedly on to
another winner...
*Lancashire Evening Post*
The atmospheric tension is superb, the research and imaginative
range impressive. Loved it. So will 'the beloved' if they like this
sort of book
*Frost Magazine*
Ask a Question About this Product More... |