The Lopez Affair: Volume 9 (The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez) Paperback – 6 Dec. 2017

I encourage people to read all nine books in the Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez series, preferably in the order they were written. The stories really take you back to the sixteenth century, and give you an insight into the poverty and violence of everyday life in Elizabethan London. They bring to life the leading characters of the day, including Shakespeare and the actors' companies, and the leading courtiers fighting for position around the queen. At the end of each book, the author adds a surprise development, which will only be resolved in the next book. At the end of this book, Kit gets a letter from her sister in Portugal; unfortunately we will never know the contents of the letter nor the details of the next story. Tragically, Ann Swinfen died in August 2018 - leaving us to appreciate the books she has left us, and the memorable characters she created.

I have really enjoyed this series, and would love to know the future for Dr Alvarez. The stories are engaging and the historical setting is created with great imagination

Wow, I have read this whole series during the last week, living in a 16th century time warp, and while I wait for the next, shall have to start downloading another series. I felt intense fear and horror of a foreigner in rising tides of xenophobia - which might be compared to what has been happening so tragically our own age of austerity and the 1% in the wake of the insane Brexit vote. I enjoyed the story line with the excitement and intrigue of the thriller which is balanced by moments of warmth, happiness and joy; and experienced fascination as I was educated and informed by Swinfen's awesome scholarship and accuracy. Being a great believer in herbal medicine, I would be delighted if she would include a glossary of materia medica in her next volume.

The chronicles of Christoval is a beautiful series of books. They are well written and extremely well researched. Each book takes you on a different emotional journey and you can taste the fear, the horror and the love in each one. I have read them one after another and as soon as one was finished I couldn’t wait to start the next. Although each tells an individual event through to its conclusion I would recommend beginning at book 1 and working your way through.

The least ‘persuasive’ of the books in the series so far. Ann is a superb writer and the insights to the period, and the characters, is done so well that it is easy to be right in amongst them.This time, however, I found the plot and time lines more difficult to track and the story feels a little jaded.I am still a huge fan and hope any further instalments take us surging forward again

This book,like the others in the series, takes the reader back in time with excellent historical knowledge and the feeling of actually being with the main character at all times. Excellent.

Excellent. This series is well worth buying if you like books set in Elizabeth 1 times (or even if you don't normally read historical books!) The sort of book you don't want to put down. This latest book is well up to the standard of the rest.

I found this one quite difficult to follow in parts.

Absolutely love this series. Brilliantly written and very absorbing storylines.

This is the ninth of the Christoval Alvarez chronicles. I have reviewed some of the earlier ones.If you are here, wondering whether to start a new series, all I can say, is, go read the first 8. You will not be disappointed. Each novel has a particular arc, and fits within an over-arching arc that has yet to come to an end.The period of Elizabethan history in which these novels are embedded was one of great and increasing tension, fear and misfortune. Ann's historicity and research are quite excellent. The author pulls no punches in the presentation of the slowly emerging professional and lower middle class from the decaying remains of feudality.She pulled only one punch at the very beginning, and has not repeated that particular fault. I give authors their first book a pass, because I have seen, again and again, most excellent series come out of less than stellar first books. And to call the first Alvarez book "less than stellar" for one fault would really be taking a requirement for excellence way too far. It's an excellent book, and it has birthed a series that comes to this number 9. "The Lopez Affair" was visible from the beginning. Ann's very careful placing of clues, hints and actions within the Elizabethan context, both medical and artistic has resulted in a painless way to get readers of romances and historical novels some very excellent and deep detail.Because of these books I have read over 20 historical treasties, chasing down hares Ann has started to my inquiring mind. While others may not want to do that much research (and Elizabethan and Tudor scholarship are burgeoning and fertile fields with more and more information coming available) they can trust Ann has done her's and has not stinted the reader or led them astray.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact I have enjoyed the whole series of the Christoval Alvarez books. I am sad that this is the final one, hopefully for the moment. More please!

I have binged this wonderful series of historical mystery/adventures , and find myself severely depressed that the very talented author has died.I had previously read her medieval shorter series, alas also unfinished.A truly gifted writer and well crafted and researched tales.Even though there is no neat ending to the characters' stories, these books are well worth your time to read.

Excellent series. Hated it to end as you become a part of the life of Kit. Wish there was one more book!