Thank you Oliver Clements and his team allowing me the chance to ARC read this book. It was so good and I am thankful that I received it!

All the Queen's Spies is the third book in the Agents of the Crown series and you definitely don't want to start the series with this one. We are introduced to several new characters and most of the novel takes place outside of England. John Dee kind of takes a back seat while other characters take over the narrative. It just felt so... chaotic.

This third book in the Agents of the Crown historical mystery series takes place in 1583-84 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Dr John Dee, philosopher and astronomer, now has a wife and son and is happily working away at his studies. But unfortunately he's made an enemy of Lord Hatton whose men catch Dee participating in an occult experiment with two others, an act punishable by death on the pyre. However, an alternative punishment has been devised if Dee agrees to go into exile and perform a small job for the Queen. Dee's mission is to travel to Prague to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolph, and try to tempt the Emperor away from funding a crusade against England by providing him with an esoteric Book of Secrets written by Dee with the guidance of angels, which purportedly could give the Emperor unlimited power to take over the world!

The story fairly crackles with intrigue and danger. Dee will do just about anything to be able to return home to England, to his wife and son, to his lab and books. But can he outwit this den of spies, including a beautiful temptress sent by Catherine de Medici? Meanwhile back in England, the Queen's advisers are working furiously to discover from where the next attack will likely come and who amongst her lords might be a traitor.

I have quite gotten into this historical mystery series and enjoy spending a few hours immersed in the past. I was given access to all four books in the series by the publisher via NetGalley to celebrate the release of the fourth book, The Queen's Lies, on August 13, 2024. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

If you love historical spy novels then you'll love All the Queen's Spies by Oliver Clements. It’s well written with interesting characters. Unfortunately, it just wasn't one of my favorites and I wasn't able to get into it. I love historical novels but I think it was the spy aspect that threw me off.

I have never read a series quite like this one in the historical mystery genre. Really interesting type of book. Not exactly my favorite genre, but it was good to break up the monotony. I really enjoyed the connection to history, really well written. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Leopoldo & Co. for a copy of this book for an honest review.

In the third book in Clements’ Agents of the Crown series, readers continue to follow philosopher and astronomer John Dee when the royal spymaster Francis Walshingham reappears in his life asking Dee to spy on an eccentric Polish count. However, this mission leads to Dee being forced into exile, so he flees England for the continent and the court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. Also in Prague are the French Flying Squadron, a group of ladies in service to the Dowager Queen of France, Catherine de Medici, and Dee and his companions are set on a collision course with the Flying Squadron in Prague. Clements’ familiarity with the time period clearly shows in this novel, and his characters continue to astound in this novel. With new high stakes, sixteenth century Europe is a chessboard, and Clements makes his readers players in this high-stakes political game. The characters are the star of the novel, and Clements weaves some new and interesting female characters into the latest book in the series. With a vibrant and detailed historical setting, complex and mysterious characters, and an intense plot, this novel is an absolute must-read for fans of the series and for sixteenth-century political drama in any format.

This third book in the series meanders a bit, until Doctor Dee ends up in Prague. After that, I was hooked and enjoyed the plot. Overall, it was a good read, but I enjoyed the audio so much more.

All the Queen's Spies is another masterful novel in Oliver Clements series. I find John Dee such a fascinating character in history and the novel richly intertwines history and story that is very enjoyable.

All the Queen's Spies is book three in the Agents of the Crown series by Oliver Clements.
I absolutely love this fast-paced historical mystery and thriller that deals with real historical figures, events, and facts and weaves a fictional story that has a bit of a mystical and magical feel to it as well.
With an intriguing and detailed historical setting, complex and mysterious characters, and an intense plot, this novel is an absolute must-read for fans of the series and for sixteenth-century political drama in any format.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Philosopher and astronomer John Dee is enjoying the quiet life when Her Majesty’s spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham darkens his door, instructing him to befriend a certain Polish count with an interest in alchemy and angelic communication. But when Dee and the count are caught breaking the law, trying to convene with angels, they are exiled, and must make their way to the court of Rudolf, Holy Roman Emperor, in far-off Prague. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth learns of Catherine de Medici’s infamous Flying Squadron, a group of seductive ladies-in-waiting scattered throughout Europe acting as her agents, and that one of them is already at work in Prague, bending the Holy Roman Emperor to join France and Spain in a crusade to crush Protestant England. With Dee on his way to Prague, Walsingham sees an opportunity to tip the scales. To convince the famously occult-loving emperor to join his side, Dee must distract him with the esoteric Book of Loagaeth, a volume transcribed from the angels that will, once decoded, allow control of the levers of heaven and earth, and everything in between.

Terrible dangers await Dee in Prague, as he faces challenges at every turn, including a reluctant female spy and a ruthless old enemy, and he is forced to call upon the many unexpected talents of his wife, as well as the playwright Christopher Marlowe.

I was offered the newest in this series by the publisher, and was also told the previous three would be put on NetGalley as well. So I requested and was granted access to them all, but unfortunately only the last two would download even after NetGalley tried to help me. This is the third in the series and was very good. I don't often read books in this era of history but this author does it well, sprinkling in real historical figures with fiction. I was able to get enough backstory in this book to understand the story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my request for the newest edition as well a this one.

Oliver Clements' "All The Queen’s Spies" is an engaging historical novel that offers readers a vivid portrayal of espionage during a pivotal era. The book is distinguished by its meticulous attention to historical detail and its dynamic narrative that keeps readers captivated. It presents a narrative so rich and characters so lifelike that they seem to transcend the boundaries of the printed page.

The novel is an excellent choice for those interested in history and adventure, as it provides an immersive experience into a world filled with high stakes and suspenseful excitement. "All The Queen’s Spies" stands out as a significant work of historical fiction, providing both entertainment and insight, stimulating reflection even after the conclusion of the story.

Overall, "All The Queen’s Spies" is a notable achievement in the genre of historical fiction, appealing to both avid fans and those new to the field. It delivers a deep understanding of an important historical period and is a valuable addition to any collection of literature. Readers are invited to delve into the depths of history through Clements' expertly crafted narrative.

An interesting story. Characters are complex. Plot twists add intrigue. I recommend this book for a new adventure.

"All the Queen's Spies" by Oliver Clements continues the riveting "Agents of the Crown" series, delving deeper into the clandestine world of Elizabethan espionage. This installment follows John Dee, Queen Elizabeth I’s advisor, as he navigates the dangerous political landscape of Europe, armed with a mysterious manuscript that promises unparalleled power.

Enjoying a peaceful life in Mortlake, Dee’s tranquility is abruptly disrupted when Sir Francis Walsingham, the Queen’s spymaster, sends him on a covert mission to befriend a Polish count with esoteric interests. However, their illicit activities in angelic communication lead to their exile, thrusting them toward the court of Rudolf, the Holy Roman Emperor, in Prague.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth learns of Catherine de Medici’s Flying Squadron, seductive spies influencing European politics. With one of these agents in Prague trying to sway the Emperor against Protestant England, Walsingham sees Dee’s presence in Prague as a critical opportunity. Tasked with distracting the Emperor using the esoteric Book of Loagaeth, Dee aims to decode it and gain control over cosmic forces.

Clements masterfully intertwines historical figures and fictional intrigue, creating a high-stakes drama where Dee must outmaneuver both visible and shadowy foes. With the help of his resourceful wife, the cunning playwright Christopher Marlowe, and a reluctant female spy, Dee confronts a formidable old enemy in a city filled with peril.

"All the Queen's Spies" showcases Clements’ ability to weave complex narratives and vivid historical settings, offering readers a thrilling glimpse into the life-and-death stakes of Renaissance espionage. This novel is a captivating blend of adventure, mysticism, and political intrigue, perfect for fans of historical thrillers.

This series is just amazing! And I came across it by accident. This is a great espionage author who went and found the scandalous bits of history and put a spy twist on all of it.
A few chapters were a little wordy but with historical fiction, I feel like that happens often.

I would like to start this off by saying I was unaware that this was the 3rd book in a series. I have not read the others, but after reading this, I definitely want to go back and read the others!

This was a very intriguing spy novel set in the court of Elizabeth I full lying, deceit, suspense, and mystery. What more could you want??

of I could tell that the author did a lot of research to make sure everything was as historically accurate as possible, which I really enjoyed! Historical accuracy is always a huge plus to me! As always though with historical fiction, some liberties were taken, especially with the smaller details, but that doesn't bother me as much as long as the big plot points are historically accurate.

The only reason why this wasn't a 5 star read was because I found it dragged at times. This also could have been due to the writing style as it was full of wordy descriptions of everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All The Queen’s Spies is a novel that focuses on the court of Elizabeth I, from the 1570s through the 1580s. The main characters are Francis Walsingham and John Dee, the founders of what later became Her Majesty’s Secret Service/MI6. As I enjoy novels about English history, I found this book of political intrigue both factual and interesting. While I didn't know this book was the third in the series, I will have to go back and read the first two.

Do you like reading about political intrigue? How about historical fiction? All The Queen’s Spies is the third book in the Agents of the Crown series, all of which center on the court of Elizabeth I, from the 1570s through the 1580s. The main characters (in addition to the Queen herself) are Francis Walsingham and John Dee, the founders of what later became Her Majesty’s Secret Service/MI6. Walsingham and Dee were real people but are used in a fictional way, of course. In fact, there were a large number of real people in these books. (I fell down the proverbial rabbit hole reading about some of them!)

This time the story delves more into Dee’s more mystical efforts but is also full of international intrigue, with Dee going to Prague in 1583-1584 to influence the occult-loving Holy Roman Emperor there. A lot of the intrigue involves schemes to return England to Catholic rule. There’s a huge amount of worry over Spain’s power and intentions.

Dee’s wife, Jane Frommond is a terrific major character, as is a minor character known as Mistress Devereaux. I enjoyed all their exploits and loved reading the vivid descriptions of London and Prague, as well as various places along their difficult route. The author does not sugar coat things!

Don't miss the Author's Note at the end.

Will there be a fourth book in this series? We shall see!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books / Leopoldo & Co. for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, I love the covers. Beautiful visual adaptation of Queen Elizabeth I's face is lovely. Yet another exciting historical novel, 3rd in the series, by Mr. Clements - it is full spies, intrigue, and lots of excitement. There is A Book of Secrets, which Dr. John Dee has created (unknowingly to others) that assists in keeping John Dee, his wife and Kit Marlowe (LOVE him!) alive. Unfortunately, this "Book of Angelic Magick" only manages to keep them hunted dow. I love that Queen Elizabeth I, Francis Walsingham, William Cecil are still involved in the main plot. The author has crafted wonderfully vivid characterization, an excellent plot, culminating in a very thrilling read.

I really enjoyed Oliver Clements' All the Queen Spies. I thought it was a fabulous book to read and realize that I have to rea the other installments from the Agents of the Crown series. Five stars.

Rich in historical detail, this novel grabbed me at the beginning and didn’t let go. I learned a lot about Elizabethan England and the characters. (Of course I always have to google to find out more!) Great plot!
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.