A Defiant Woman - (A Modern Tudor Mystery) by Karen E Olson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Kate Tudor's marriage to billionaire Hank Tudor continues to fray when his ex-wife resurfaces in the wake of their daughter's kidnapping, in the latest novel in this genre-defying crime series.

Eight years ago, Nan Tudor escaped her husband, billionaire businessman Hank Tudor, afraid for her life and leaving a dead body behind--but in doing so, she abandoned her three-year-old daughter, Lizzie. Still wracked with guilt for that decision, she is living a quiet life as a restaurant cook in France with her son when she receives a mysterious text: "We have your daughter."

Lured back to the scene of the crime on Martha's Vineyard by a threat against Lizzie's life, Nan believes the kidnapper is exacting revenge against her, stopping at nothing to do so--and discovers that she and her daughter may not be the only targets. Kate Parker--Hank's sixth and latest wife--is also on the island and drawn into the kidnapper's elaborate web of retaliation.

Keeping their alliance secret from Hank, Hank's fixer Thomas Cromwell, investigator Steve Gardiner, and reporter Tom Seymour, the two women find themselves in a race against time to rescue Lizzie--and to make sure they both stay alive.

Review Quotes

"Compulsively readable, Olson's new thriller is a clever and gripping retelling of one of history's most obsessively researched topics: Henry VIII and the fall of his six wives. With mystery and murder and finely-threaded nods to the recorded past, A Defiant Woman will compel thriller and historical fans alike. I dare you to read it one sitting!"--Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Queens of London and The Hope Keeper

"A truly engaging contemporary take on the Tudor dynasty's irresistible story. It's not only a solid twisty mystery, but this sly tale of marital deceit. manipulation, and murder is witty and clever and completely entertaining. Standing ovation for this ingenious tour de force!"--Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author

"An unexpected and delightful surprise. Olson's modern take on the Tudor wives is refreshing and captivating."--Estelle Paranque, author of Thorns, Lust and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn

"Karen E. Olson combines the breathless pacing of a modern thriller with the tangled legacies of Tudor women. A Defiant Woman is addictive, razor-sharp, and surprisingly moving."--Danielle Arceneaux, author of the Glory Broussard mystery series

Praise for An Inconvenient Wife:

"The Tudor monarch mystery that I never knew I needed. As a fan of the Tudor era, this book had me hooked from the start. Yet regardless of the historical parallels, I also found myself engrossed by the unique and gripping narrative. An Inconvenient Wife beautifully weaves together the past and present, resulting in a thrilling must-read."--Criminal Element

"In this clever riff on the saga of Henry VIII, Olson introduces executive assistant Kate Parker, who's just become billionaire Hank Tudor's sixth wife. Olson's intelligent plotting--in which she recasts Tudor dynastic maneuverings through the lens of 21st-century ultra-wealth--make this much more than a simple in-joke for history buffs. Those willing to go along for the ride will be happy they did."--Publishers Weekly

"It is the wives in this story who offer glimpses of interesting backgrounds and ranges of emotions that feel more and more relatable as multiple mysteries begin to unravel."--Booklist

"Karen E. Olson achieves something wholly original with An Inconvenient Wife, which is both a crime novel and an astute study in marital relations and power struggles. While it takes its inspiration from Henry VIII and his wives, a king (and killer) who lived more than five hundred years ago, the story is thoroughly modern."--Mystery Scene

"Sharp, sophisticated, utterly superb. Olson's clever Tudor series will keep you turning the pages long into the night."--J. T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of A Very Bad Thing

Early praise for A Defiant Woman:

"A Defiant Woman starts off with a gasp and keeps the tension tight throughout. Excellent writing and sly nods to the modern resurrection of psychopathic Henry VIII's court make this a fun, one-sitting read."--Sarah Strohmeyer, author of A Mother Always Knows and Do I Know You?

About the Author

Karen E. Olson, author of An Inconvenient Wife, is the winner of the Sara Ann Freed Memorial Award and a Shamus Award finalist. She is the author of the Annie Seymour mysteries, the Tattoo Shop mysteries, and the Black Hat thrillers. Karen was a longtime editor, both in newspapers and at Yale. She lives in North Haven, Connecticut.