THE HONEY AND THE STING
​ out August 9th 2020

'A wonderfully inventive reimagining of the most dramatic murder of early Stuart England, but a novel whose power taps into something older and deeper. The interwoven story of the three sisters resonates with myth, as does the darkly ambivalent child who links the two strands of the novel and adds a satisfyingly astringent flavour to its resolution.'
​Andrew Taylor, author of The Ashes of London 
The Honey and the Sting is a gripping page-turner that propels a trio of vivid and engaging young women towards their complex and separate destinies. Elizabeth Fremantle has a real gift for making historical worlds as fresh and immediate as our own, especially a pre-industrial England rooted in the land. Hugely enjoyable.
VB Grey, author of Tell Me How it Ends

Three sisters
Three secrets
Three ways to fall...​

England 1628

Forcibly seduced by the powerful George Villiers, doctor's daughter  Hester is cast aside to raise their illegitimate son alone and in secret, hoping to never see his father again.

Melis's visions cause disquiet and talk. She sees what others can't _ and what has yet to be. She'd be denounced as a witch if Hester wasn't so carefully protective.

Young Hope's beauty marks her out, drawing unwelcome attention to the family. yet she cannot always resist others' advances. And her sisters cannot always be on their guard.

When Villiers decides to claim his son against Hester's wishes, the sisters find themselves almost friendless and at his mercy. But the women hold a grave secret. The question is, will what they know be their undoing or their salvation?

Because in the right hands, a secret is the deadliest weapon of all...
‘The Honey and The Sting is a lush, thrilling page-turner humming with its own exquisite dark beauty. I loved it.’ 
Eve Chase author of The Glass House

WATERSTONES SAYS – Warning: this book may well take over your summer. Think Gillian Flynn meets The Miniaturist.

Engaging, vivid and revelling in historical detail', (Sarah Perry – The New York Times)

Think Gone Girl with bodices. Brilliant, (Glamour)

Wildly entertaining. One of the best historical novels I've read. (Huffington Post)


​'I imagined my hands about his throat, thumbs pressing into the soft flesh, could hear his choked pleas for mercy'

Autumn, 1615. Celebrated couple Robert and Frances Carr are imprisoned in the Tower of London on suspicion of murder.
SHE
Has been rescued from an abusive marriage by Robert, and is determined to make a new life for herself. Whatever the price...
HE
has risen from nothing to become one of the country's most powerful men. But to get to the top you cannot help making enemies...
*
Now a man is dead.
And someone must pay with their life.
*
Frances knows the truth can Kill.
Robert knows a lie can set you free.
Neither understands their marriage is a poisoned bed...​
Praise for Elizabeth Fremantle's work:
Fremantle has taken a fascinating poisoning case, a toxic blend of glamour, intrigue and ambition, and breathed new life into it. I doubt if I shall read a more deliciously sinister historical novel this year (Andrew Taylor) • Beautifully written... what Hilary Mantel fans should read while they wait for the final part of her trilogy (The Bookseller) • A top-notch literary thriller The Telegraph • A novel of extraordinary power (Books Monthly) • Spellbinding (People Magazine) • A sumptuous epic saturated in the politics of the time (Metro) • Five star historical fiction (Daily Mail) • A major new voice in historical fiction (The Bookseller) • A powerful debut (The Guardian)
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Author Photo: JP Masclet
Elizabeth Fremantle's books are  translated into ten languages, and a feature film adaptation of Queen's Gambit is in development.
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