Today, I’m delighted to host Traitor’s Game: Soldier Spy Book One by Rosemary Hayes.

The book is on a blog tour with the Coffee Pot Book Club: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-traitors-game-by-rosemary-hayes.html

About the Book

‘Right from page one you know you are in the hands of a talented storyteller… An exciting tale of espionage and adventure in the classic mould.’

~ R.N. Morris, author of The Gentle Axe

Then Will is viciously attacked, seemingly mistaken for his brother, and only just escapes with his life. When news of this reaches Jack’s colleagues in Government, Will is recruited to find his brother and he and Armstrong set out to follow a trail littered with half-truths and misinformation.

For their task is not quite what it seems.

Will closely resembles his brother and it becomes evident that he is being used as a decoy to flush out Jack’s enemies. These are enemies of the State, for Jack Fraser is a spy and his colleagues believe he has uncovered evidence which will lead to the identity of a French spymaster embedded in the British Government.

Will’s search leads him to France but in this murky world of espionage, nothing is straightforward.

The soldier turned spy must unmask a traitor, before it’s too late.

Reviews

“I read Traitor’s Game into the small hours. Just couldn’t put it down.”

“I loved Traitor’s Game. From the very start you feel you’re in the hands of a brilliant storyteller who keeps you gripped right until the end.”

Buy Links

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bwwEee

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

The Book Details

Traitor’s Game

An Excerpt from Chapter Three

Will twisted and kicked at the man above him and managed to unbalance him just enough so that the dagger missed its target at the first strike and plunged into Will’s arm, but his assailant soon righted himself, pulled the dagger away and was readying to strike again while his companion pinned Will to the ground. Will bit the man’s hand, kicked him in the groin so that he writhed on the ground in agony then he punched the other man’s arm so that the dagger fell to the ground with a clatter and as the fellow bent to pick it up, Will snatched up the weapon and banged its blunt end onto the man’s face with all the force he could muster. As he leapt free, one of the men lunged at his leg and only missed grabbing it by a matter of inches.

Clutching his injured arm, Will sprinted out of the alleyway and in moments was at Mrs Baxter’s door, pounding on it with an urgency that brought Betsy running to look out of the window. Recognising Will, she made haste to unbolt the door. And when she saw the state of him her hand flew to her mouth.

‘Why sir, whatever’s happened? You are bleeding. Have you been attacked?’

For a few moments, Will stood beside her at the door breathing heavily, looking up and down the street. He caught sight of his attackers, whoever they were, staggering away as fast as they were able, and disappearing round the corner. He turned to Betsy.

‘I’m sorry I frightened you, Betsy.’

Betsy’s eyes were wide. ‘You’re bleeding sir,’ she repeated.

Will looked down at his arm where blood was seeping right through to his topcoat. He took off his coat and rolled up his shirtsleeve. ‘Perhaps you would be kind enough to fetch some water, Betsy, and some clean rags?’

She continued to stare at him.

‘Now Betsy ‘

‘Yes sir. Water and clean rags.’

She scuttled off but at the door she turned to look at him. Will smiled at her in what he hoped was a reassuring way though he was shaking. He knew that he had to apply pressure to the wound – and quickly. He was losing a lot of blood; the wound was deep and he was beginning to feel faint.

When the wound had been bound and the laundress prevailed upon to lend Will another shirt, he sat in the small parlour trying to collect his thoughts.

What in God’s name was that all about? Those villains knew my name and would have murdered me. Did they mistake me for Jack? And if so, who is it that wishes him dead? No wonder he is lying low if he is in fear for his life.

He was not alone for long. Mrs Baxter bustled into the room, more concerned for the reputation of her lodging house than for Will’s condition. She stood in front of him, her arms folded.

‘I’ll not have trouble brought to my door,’ she announced. ‘I’ll be obliged if you would take your things and leave my house as soon as possible.’

‘Madame, I …’ began Will.

Mrs Baxter interrupted him. ‘I can smell trouble,’ she said, tapping her nose. ‘And something stinks. First your brother ups and leaves without notice and his friends know nothing of his whereabouts. And now this.’ She gestured at Will’s arm. ‘I’ll warrant you were mistaken for your brother and he’s in league with some wicked folk and in a deal of trouble.’

Will nodded. Much the same thought had occurred to him, but if that was the case then the Jack he knew – that young man of such charm and ability who had sacrificed much so that Will could buy his commission – that Jack had seemingly become a fugitive, running from those who wished to kill him. Will shook his head.  He found it impossible to reconcile the two versions of the man.

About the Author

Rosemary Hayes has written over fifty books for children and young adults. She writes in different genres, from edgy teenage fiction (The Mark), historical fiction (The Blue Eyed Aborigine and Forgotten Footprints), middle grade fantasy (Loose Connections, The Stonekeeper’s Child and Break Out)  to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books. Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.

Author Links

Website: www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HayesRosemary

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Hayes/e/B00NAPAPZC