Herbalist and widow Bess Ellyott tries to escape the loss of her husband in Elizabethan London only to find that death is following her, and she may very well be next in Searcher of the Dead, the first in a new historical mystery series by Nancy Herriman.

Living amid the cultural flowering, religious strife, and political storms of Tudor England, Bess Ellyott is an herbalist, a widow, and a hunted woman. She fled London after her husband was brutally murdered, but the bucolic town in the countryside where she lands will offer her no solace. She still doesn’t know who killed her husband, but she knows one thing: The murderer is still out there. This becomes all too clear when Bess’s brother-in-law, a prosperous merchant, is himself found dead—dangling from a tree, an apparent suicide.

But Bess doesn’t believe that for a moment, and nor do her neighbors. Competition is cutthroat in the 17th century, and word around the town holds that the dead man is a victim of rival merchants scheming to corner the wool market. Bess, though, is convinced the killer is out to destroy her family.

Town constable Christopher Harwoode will cross members of his own family to help Bess find the killer—whose next target may very well be Queen Elizabeth I—in this unshakably gripping, devilishly unpredictable series debut that will delight fans of Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory. Praise for Searcher of the Dead:
“Solid...Readers who relish details of daily life in a Tudor town and dialogue littered with “zounds” and “good morrow” will enjoy this story most; romance fans will savor the budding attraction between Bess and Kit. Herriman is off to a promising start with this Tudor historical.”
—Publishers Weekly

“To my delight, on top of an intriguing mystery, the historical depth and the well-developed characters make this an extremely satisfying read...Fans of Ariana Franklin will devour this book! I eagerly await more Bess Ellyott mysteries. Highly recommended!”
—Historical Novels Review, Editor’s Choice

“Wonderfully atmospheric. Herriman transports us to Tudor England with the skill of a master. Historical mystery fans will rejoice!”
-Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of Death in St. Petersburg

“So rich in period detail you can almost smell the wormwood...A treat for fans of all things Tudor. This is the book Agatha Christie would have written if she had worn a farthingale.”
—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of the Veronica Speedwell mysteries

"Nancy Herriman vividly recreates Elizabethan England in the first book of her new series. You’ll love her heroine."
—Victoria Thompson, national bestselling author of Murder in the Bowery

“An atmospheric and haunting mystery...Compelling...I couldn’t stop reading.”
—Shelley Freydont, bestselling author of the Newport Gilded Age mysteries

"The colorful and exciting Elizabethan era seen in all its drama and treachery, with a delightful sleuth! A real treat for anyone who loves historical mysteries.”
—Amanda Carmack, award-winning author of the Elizabethan mysteries

"Nancy Herriman’s vivid tale sets us smack in the middle of the period amid all its grandeur and grit...Exciting...Bess Ellyot is an intrepid sleuth and I’m looking forward to reading more (all) of this series!"
—Alyssa Maxwell, author of the Gilded Newport mysteries

“Well researched...The astonishing climax is a resourceful use of a little-known sixteenth century law.”
—Fiona Buckley, author of the Ursula Blanchard Elizabethan mysteries