Sam Burnell

Sam Burnell is a British author of historical adventure, espionage and murder mysteries set primarily in Tudor England. Based in North East England, she has a longstanding interest in history and archaeology and returned to university to study archaeology during a career break. Her novels combine political conspiracy, military action and criminal investigation with the dynastic and religious instability of the sixteenth century, particularly the dangerous years surrounding Henry VIII’s death and the succession struggles involving Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Burnell’s fiction is almost entirely historical. Her Mercenary for Hire series begins with the prequel The Tudor Heresy and continues through A Queen’s Spy, A Queen’s Traitor, A Queen’s Mercenary, A Queen’s Knight, A Queen’s Assassin, A Queen’s Executioner, A Queen’s Champion, A Queen’s Conspirator, A Queen’s Rebel and A Queen’s Privateer. She also writes the Tudor-set Myles Devereux Murder Mysteries: An Invisible Betrayal, Chance Is a Game, A Time to Deceive and Uncertain Odds. These novels follow a powerful figure in Tudor London’s underworld as he investigates murders and navigates rivalries, corruption and political intrigue.