Treason at the Tower

I went into *Treason at the Tower* expecting a cozy mystery with a side of history, but Cox delivers something sharper—a historical thriller that wields the past like a weapon. Kitt Hartley is the kind of protagonist you root for immediately: a woman who’s seen too much to believe in easy answers but still can’t resist digging for the truth. The story’s hook—the discovery of a centuries-old conspiracy tied to the Gunpowder Plot—isn’t just window dressing; it’s the beating heart of a mystery that unfolds like a slow-burn fuse. Cox’s writing balances meticulous research with snappy dialogue, and the result is a book that feels both immersive and effortlessly readable. That said, the audiobook has a few hurdles. The narration isn’t credited, which is a red flag—if the reader’s voice doesn’t match Kitt’s sarcastic edge or the dialogue’s natural cadence, the whole thing could fall flat. I also found the middle act’s pacing a tad uneven, with a few too many red herrings that slowed the momentum just enough to lose me before the final act’s sprint to the finish. Still, when Cox nails it—and she often does—it’s a thrill. The climax, set against York’s medieval backstreets, is genuinely tense, and Kitt’s final confrontation with the truth is as satisfying as a well-poured pint. If you’re craving a mystery that’s equal parts brain and brawn, this one’s worth your time.