Death of a Fugitive
Discover a gripping Tudor mystery of crime, deceit and danger for 2026
Published on 13. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-80600-954-1 (ISBN)
Description
A BRAND NEW instalment in a gripping Tudor mystery from bestselling author John Pilkington. Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor and S. J. Parris.This Ward, Cutler... it seethes, does it not?
1595, Bishopsgate Ward, London. Matthew Cutler, constable for the parish of Spitalfields, prides himself on always being on the side of justice. So when a young man on the run, whose only 'crime' was protesting about high prices and corruption, hides out in Bishopsgate, not for the first time Cutler finds his duties as constable at odds with his gut feeling. He feels compelled to help him, and not just because his daughter Jane is smitten with the plucky lad...
Meanwhile there is trouble in Bishopsgate as fake coins keep turning up, convincing enough to fool many. Tensions rise and people are in fear of a brutal yet shadowy figure: the 'coiner' Thomas Gunnell, who seems to have eyes everywhere. Cutler must once again fall back on his skills of disguise, and risk his own life to root out Gunnell's gang before they bring chaos to Bishopsgate Ward - and danger to everything he holds dear.
Praise for John Pilkington:
'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment.' ????? Reader Review
'Brilliant! I just love the way in which he brings his characters to life and makes them so believable. He is a master of descriptive prose.' ????? Reader Review
'Gripping, enjoyable and too difficult to put down' ????? Reader Review
'John Pilkington continues to delight and inform. His writing style flows with ease and wit and I look forward to more of his tales' ????? Reader Review
'I was gripped from start to finish.' ????? Reader Review
1595, Bishopsgate Ward, London. Matthew Cutler, constable for the parish of Spitalfields, prides himself on always being on the side of justice. So when a young man on the run, whose only 'crime' was protesting about high prices and corruption, hides out in Bishopsgate, not for the first time Cutler finds his duties as constable at odds with his gut feeling. He feels compelled to help him, and not just because his daughter Jane is smitten with the plucky lad...
Meanwhile there is trouble in Bishopsgate as fake coins keep turning up, convincing enough to fool many. Tensions rise and people are in fear of a brutal yet shadowy figure: the 'coiner' Thomas Gunnell, who seems to have eyes everywhere. Cutler must once again fall back on his skills of disguise, and risk his own life to root out Gunnell's gang before they bring chaos to Bishopsgate Ward - and danger to everything he holds dear.
Praise for John Pilkington:
'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment.' ????? Reader Review
'Brilliant! I just love the way in which he brings his characters to life and makes them so believable. He is a master of descriptive prose.' ????? Reader Review
'Gripping, enjoyable and too difficult to put down' ????? Reader Review
'John Pilkington continues to delight and inform. His writing style flows with ease and wit and I look forward to more of his tales' ????? Reader Review
'I was gripped from start to finish.' ????? Reader Review
More details
Series
Edition
Large type / large print edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Edition type
Large type / large print edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
508 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80600-954-1 (9781806009541)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
A writer for over forty years, John Pilkington was born in Lancashire and worked at many jobs including laboratory assistant, farm worker, weaver, shipping clerk, picture frame-maker and cabaret musician before taking a degree in Drama and English and finding his true 2 vocation. He has since written plays for radio and theatre, television scripts for a BBC soap, a short-lived children's series and numerous works of historical fiction, concentrating now on the Tudor and Stuart eras. He also ventured into speculative fiction with his biography of Shakespeare's famous jester, Yorick.
He now lives in a village on a tidal estuary in Devon with his long-term partner Elisabeth; they have a son who is a psychologist and musician. When not at the desk he walks, swims, listens to music and tinkers with d.i.y. projects, and is enjoying being a grandfather.
He now lives in a village on a tidal estuary in Devon with his long-term partner Elisabeth; they have a son who is a psychologist and musician. When not at the desk he walks, swims, listens to music and tinkers with d.i.y. projects, and is enjoying being a grandfather.