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Mary Bale
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Threads of Treason Kindle Edition

by Mary Bale (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.6 out of 5 stars 39 ratings
A murderer strikes within the walls of a nunnery during the creation of the Bayeux Tapestry in this mystery novel of eleventh-century England.

England, 1081. Artisan nuns at the Priory of St. Thomas the Apostle are dedicated to weaving a great tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest. But when two of the nuns fall from the Priory tower, their violent and mysterious deaths stir up a spirit of mistrust among the cloistered community. Abbess Eleanor and her young protege, Therese, are sent to investigate.

As investigations unfold, tensions spark between the Norman Princes and native Britons. In this fraught environment, a series of shocking revelations will have dire repercussions both within and beyond the Priory. In Threads of Treason, author Mary Bale combines historic knowledge and authentic period detail with suspenseful tale of murder, conspiracy and sleuthing.
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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Claymore Press
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    19 Jun. 2013
  6. File size
    2.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

About the Author

Mary Bale was born to RAF parents who took Mary at three months old to California USA. As a toddler she returned to England where she moved about with her parents until settling in Norfolk for many years. It was while visiting Normandy with her husband and two children that she became fascinated by the links between Britain and that area of France. This led to an over-all deep interest in all things eleventh century and the periods of history prior to then which shaped the politics of the time. She undertook courses with the University of East Anglia to further her studies. Mary's children are now grown and she currently lives in Scotland.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FOGG3HO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Claymore Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 19 Jun. 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1783468379
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    3.6 out of 5 stars 39 ratings

About the author

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Mary Bale

Mary Bale

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Mary Bale was inspired to write about the Normans in Britain after visiting Normandy and seeing the Bayeux Tapestry. Mary enjoys writing about the Medieval events of the eleventh century and weaving her mysteries into the history of the period.

The new edition of Threads of Treason is published by Pen & Sword for historical fiction. The book is available in paperback and e-book.

Mary Bale lives in Scotland with her husband and has two grown up children.

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
39 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Graham R. Hill
    2.0 out of 5 stars Poor
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2011
    Verified Purchase
    It's a shame because the premise - a threat to the Bayeux tapestry as it nears completion - is quite promising. The author also deals well with the politics of the rivalry between the two eldest surviving sons of William the Conqueror, although she neglects to mention their late brother Richard at all. However there are many faults. Firstly, the prose style is truly terrible. Secondly many of the plot developments don't work; in particular a cross-dressing episode that even Shakespeare would have rejected as unfeasible. Worst of all though is that the solution of the mystery is both feeble and breaks one of the golden rules of detective fiction. I won't say more to avoid spoiling it for those who read it, but, speaking personally, I wouldn't bother.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Clare O'Beara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Threads of treason
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2014
    I'm giving this book four stars because of the great idea and the depth of research involved in the telling.

    The tapestry which we now know as Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the Battle of Hastings which began the Norman conquest of Britain, was created by nuns who were needlewomen, at the order of well-placed churchmen and overlords. Wouldn't it be great if someone tried to sabotage it as it was being made? Choices would include resentful and rebellious Anglo-Saxons, the warring Welsh, jealous Norman robber barons, maybe even politicking bishops. Let's place a couple of nuns, Sister Therese and Abbess Eleanor, in the thick of the morass secretly to investigate the death of one of the sewing women.

    Set in 1081, we see many Norman building projects under way and are told that some of the Anglo-Saxon chiefs have sent their girls into convents in order that they don't have to marry Normans. This adds greatly to the authentic flavour.

    I found the nuns often hard to keep separate in my mind as apart from the two investigators, the others are quite similar - as they would have been - marked out only by their ages. Certainly improving on the issue would be difficult.

    For all we hear about the marvellous tapestry, we do not see it. We (in the person of Sister Therese) are shown a tiny corner of the work. Some people have never seen this item on television, or have seen a piece of one panel (probably the comet above, or Harold with an arrow in his eye). Especially for a worldwide readership, as now exists with internet sales, or for anyone blind who reads by audiobook, the illustration requires more description. To balance this, I will add that the scenes from normal life in these times are well acted out by the characters, both mailed and peasant.

    I'd like to have heard more about how the dyes were created; and the author takes it for granted that everyone knows at what hours nuns had to pray in the chapel and whether they were allowed to eat meat and so on. A little more detail could be added without coming across as padding. I also wondered about a mailed knight falling overboard at sea but apparently surviving.

    There's a lot to like in Threads Of Treason - it's hard to see how the author Mary Bale can top the idea. We're not told about her previous experience but I'm hoping her exciting and interesting first novel will be followed by more.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Fredrik Nath (author)
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad at all!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2012
    I read the reviews and bought the kindle book out of curiosity.
    I found the one and two star reviews rather harsh because they slated the writing. I did not find the writing to be poor. It is generally free of flowery purple prose. The characters don't 'chortle, guffaw or spit' as they speak and altough the pace is a bit slow for me, the story holds together reasonably well.
    I was pleasantly surprised by the writing style and would class it as just as good as alot of books published by some of the big publishers, so if you read the negative crits on here, please note, I don't, for one, agree at all.
    For the market it's written for, I think it's good - OK - not great, but it will give pleasure to those who like this genre.
    BTW I'm not connected to this writer in any way at all - before you think I'm a friend or relative!
    Fred Nath author of 'The Cyclist'
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ro5ie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Summer Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 June 2011
    I saw this in the charts and thought why not. I've recently started reading indies and I think they hold their own next to the average paperback you find in your local book shop. I found this book truly gripping and I couldn't put it down - At times my family were dragging me away from the beach and my kindle while on holiday in order to do some sight-seeing. I think this is an enjoyable summer read and ideal if you want something which draws you in and captures you until the very last page. I felt like I wanted to read it over again as soon as I had finished.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • toffeescot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mary Bale, Threads of Treason, historical thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2010
    Read Threads of Treason on holiday, and thoroughly enjoyed it - the blend of historically accurate understanding of the issues between Anglo-Saxons and Normans in the years following the Conquest, and the mystery surrounding death at the priory and the political instability of the time was compelling.

    Read it and enjoy it - an 11th century version of 'Name of the Rose'.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Ricky Holman
    2.0 out of 5 stars A good idea wasted.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book could have been so much better. If the characters had been fully developed and the plot tightened up a bit this could have been a very good book. Hopefully Ms. Bale will make better use of her good plot ideas in the future.
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  • Llanylady
    1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I was looking forward to reading a novel set in a period about which I know little. However on every front this novel lacked any sophistication. I would not try another by the same author.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Nash Black
    3.0 out of 5 stars Woven in Tapestry
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 February 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Mary Bale's THREADS OF TREASON takes place in England of 1081 when the Norman invaders are pulling every possible thread to establish their hold on the throne of England.
    The Bishop has nuns preparing a magnificent tapestry to celebrate the crowing of William, Duke of Normandy king after the Battle of Hastings. A tapestry we know today as the Bayeaux Tapestery. Forces are at work to destroy the effort, but the nuns involved died in a fall from the tower.
    Abbess Eleanor comes to England with novice Sister Tressa to investigate the crime and prevent a second attempt.
    One incongruity stand out in my mind. A knight serving as a guard for Eleanor and Tressa falls over board from an open boat into the English Channel dressed in full battle armour. He later turns up fighting a duel. That armour would have taken him straight to the bottom as an anchor--little details leave the reader wondering what's going on here.
    I enjoy medieval mysteries and THREADS OF TREASON has a major collection of elements to explore, but the ending spoils a good story. Too fast, too improbable, and too many loose threads left hanging to unravel.
    Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH
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  • crazyquiltmom
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Historical Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on 16 March 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book with the author effectively weaving the origins of the Bayeux Tapestry into the storyline. I don't remember much about the history of England just after the conquest, but the author managed to convey to the reader the animosity & distrust between the conquerors & the vanquished that must have existed.

    The characters were believable & the heroine was likeable. I did find it a little confusing to keep track of the lesser characters. Perhaps a cast of characters is warranted. I found I wanted to keep reading to see how the story unfolded.
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  • N. Brunk
    4.0 out of 5 stars Political intrigue in William the Bastard's England
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 January 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. There aren't very many mysteries set in post-conquest England, and it's a fascinating chapter of history.

    I liked the characters that the author created and felt that they fit neatly into the world she describes. I do think that I would have benefitted from a map and or historical note to clarify some of the details, but ultimately, not having these things didn't cause too much confusion. I do hope the author writes another book with these characters, or at least set in the same time period. She knows the period well, and gives just the right level of detail to draw in a modern reader.
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  • Rosehill
    2.0 out of 5 stars Precipitous ending
    Reviewed in the United States on 22 November 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of those books where the author ties up myriad loose ends of the story in a facile couple of pages leaving the reader wondering at the improbability of of the mystery's solution. A coherent ending would have made the otherwise interesting book well worth reading, but unfortunately this is not the case.
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