Secretum

absorbing and fascinating' - New Books Magazine 'Their novels are so rich in colour and context that it's often hard to tell where the history stops and the fiction starts' - The Lady July, 1700, Rome. Atto Melani - once a celebrated castrato soprano, now a spy in the service of King Louis XIV, the Sun King - mingles with other high-ranking guests at the villa of Cardinal Spada. Despite being there to celebrate the Cardinal's nephew's wedding, the main topic of conversation is the grave illness of the Pope and the approaching demise of Charles II, King of Spain. Charles has no heir and