Secret in the Tower

Andrew Beattie graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Geography and has since written a number of books on history, travel and the environment. He has also had a number of children's stage plays published, which have been performed by schools and youth theatre groups in the UK, Australia and the United States. Andrew currently lives in London where he’s writing his debut children’s fiction.

An interesting take on one of the great mysteries of British royal history: what happened to the princes in the Tower? Andrew Beattie presents a new twist to the mystery, one that is thoroughly fun to read. This is one of those books that captures you from start to finish. I read it in 3 days, and that is because I intentionally paced myself. Set during the weeks leading up to the Battle of Bosworth Field, the main character Jack Broom discovers a huge secret that could impact who sits on the English throne. He also plays a critical role in what happens regarding that secret, along the way discovering what turns out to be his true identity. What made this enjoyable to read is that Beattie's twist, as far as I'm concerned, is actually plausible in some ways. It gave another layer to a topic that I have read and watched documentaries about many times over. Even though this is clearly geared toward a younger crowd, I as an adult loved it. I particularly appreciated the afterword, which gave historical clarity where needed.