It is the year 1648, and Luke Tremayne, trusted agent of Oliver Cromwell, is sent on clandestine mission to investigate into the murder of a fellow officer stationed in Ireland. This murder is a sign of a more sinister plot bubbling underneath the surface. Only seven years before, the Irish rebelled against the English gentry, which resulted in an bloodbath that outraged Parliament. The land is still in political turmoil. The Irish are divided into factions that support the exiled English King against Cromwell (in hopes of religious tolerance) and those who wish to rid Ireland forever of English rule.

Before Tremayne even leaves England, his soldiers begin to disappear unexpectedly. Soon, Luke embarks on a perilous journey that involves from both Irish rebels and Royalist sympathizers. This adventure includes making pacts with unlikely allies, dalliances with a witch, and interrogating devious priests... nothing short of a typical day in the life of Luke Tremayne. He walks a fine line, however, between these alliances (albeit temporary) as a means of not only solving a murder, but also to uncover the hidden location of a large sum of Spanish silver. Whoever gets the treasure, wins the war in Ireland.

Goeff Quaife's expertise lies in the politically charged world of Oliver Cromwell's reign of England, and it shows in this tale of Luke Tremayne's adventures. The author flawlessly pulls off writing intricate historical details pertaining to the political tension and climate in Ireland, ranging from religious persecution to fanaticism. Quaife naturally weaves the sensitive and complex subject into the story without it seeming preachy, crude, or biased. The story's characters have complex backgrounds and lively personalities, which makes for an engrossing mystery with several eye-opening twists that will appeal to those who love historical fiction, adventure, and suspense.

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