Author's notes

Dee was an almost mystical figure in his own age, gaining an early reputation as a magician, quickly becoming the leading intellect of the country in the sixteenth century.

Hopefully you agree, he makes the ideal protagonist to explore the early renaissance world depicted in the Predestination series.

In the novella, Divination: A Conspiracy of Blood, Dee learns Alchemy from a vising Polish astronomer/astrologer (Mikołaj Kopernik) and when Kopernik dies in mysterious circumstances he undertakes an investigation that ultimately uncovers a coup.

In the novella, Speculation: Undercurrents of Treachery, Dee and his associate Nicholas search for a treasure that could solve England's currency crisis but are opposed by supposed-friend and foe alike.

In the series prequel, Resurrection: The Heresy of a Jesuit, I build upon the facts that in 1550 Dee studied with Gerard Mercator in Louvain, and also lectured on Euclid in Paris.

Dee met the Italian polymath, Gerolamo Cardano, in London in 1552 and investigated a magical gem, which gave me the central idea for book 1, Predestination: The Bloodstone of Boiorix.

When Elizabeth becomes queen, he is her scientific and astrological advisor, so I give him an earlier association with her in Proclamation: Poetry will be the death of me, which is set at the very start of Queen Mary's reign.

The Marian period seem to have been lean years for Dee, as far as the historical record relates anyway, so I created the tangental involvement in Wyatt's rebellion, related in Insurrection: Weddings can be Murder.

Author's notes

I was intrigued (and horrified) by the exploits of Alice Arden and when reading about them I noticed she had a daughter, Margaret. I wondered how the daughter coped as she grew up, with her mother's shadow presumably hanging darkly over her; aside from the clergy, there were no 'social services' to provide counselling in the sixteenth century! 

I created the character Kat Arden to explore how such a daughter might have been treated, and how she may have rebelled against established norms. The character of Kat evolved to be a young adventuress who joins Dr Dee's entourage and adventures.

We first meet Kat in Predestination, when she is entrusted by John Dee to find Dr Gerolamo Cardano, who has mysteriously disappeared from London. She finds Cardano and Jack in Richmond and escorts them to Kingston to meet Dee. Kat and Jack engage in a flirty relationship that develops through the book. Kat is separated from the team when they insist on visiting her home town of Faversham, Kent, which she wants to avoid but can't bring herself to talk about. Luckily, they reunite later and Kat and Jack go on an adventure together to find the fabled Bloodstone of Boiorix gemstone.

In Proclamation, Kat manages to leave encoded notes for Jack to find, as the watchers take her to be held by her 'Guardian' Lord Cheyne, either at Rochester Castle or Shurland Hall.

In Insurrection, Lord Cheyne takes Kat (and his watchers) on his travels about Kent. He has heard disturbing rumours about Sir Thomas Wyatt and his friends, so he visits Wyatt's home, Allington Castle, near Maidstone. Kat's adventurous spirit causes her to discover the nature of Wyatt's shenanigans - he is planning a rebellion! But before she can work out what to do about Wyatt's plans, and before any help can arrive, Kat finds herself accused of murder and imprisoned. Her friends arrive and work with Kat to solve the murder while the insurrection plays out around them.

Author's notes

I was appalled, but not surprised, when I first heard about the massacre of the Waldensians of Mérindol. As far as I know there has never been an apology forthcoming from the Catholic church - but of course it would take an age to apologise for all the wrongs committed in the church's name, so perhaps that explains it.

I decided to base the character of Jack on a survivor of the massacre (hundreds of men were shipped off to serve in the French galleys). This background gave me a character who was strong, resilient, and agnostic, if not even an atheist, although this is not discussed in the books. I thought his cynicism would provide an ideal counter to Dr Dee's shifting spirituality.

My first draft of Predestination carried the working title of The Ship's Boy, and focussed even more on Jack than the eventual novel did.

Jack has a central role in Predestination, the first book of the series. By hearing his backstory we learn about the treatment of the Waldensians by the Catholic Church, which included taking young men prisoner and sending them to be galley slaves in the French navy, which is arguably a better fate than awaited the womenfolk. Jack also gives us the chance to meet the Hanseatic Guild, who were a major economic force in the sixteenth century. When Jack assists the stranger, Gerolamo Cardano, he meets Kat and thus enters the ambit of Dr John Dee. Kat and Jack engage in a flirty relationship that develops through the book.

In Proclamation, Jack works with Dr Dee to help Princess Elizabeth out of a jam. During their adventure Jack finds a note left for him by his beloved Kat - but it's in code and he can't read it. Can you?

In Insurrection, Jack is still brooding about Kat, unable to stop thinking about her, and jumps at the chance of getting more information by travelling to Allington Castle with Dee. His reunion with Kat is only marred by the fact that she's accused of the murder of her guardian, Lord Cheyne! Luckily they can work together to solve the murder while Wyatt's Rebellion occurs around them.

Author's notes

Oh, what a villain!

I couldn't resist amping up Thomas' villainy, but nothing I could write would match his actual flirtatious philandering ways!

In Divination, jealous of his brother's power, Thomas plots a coup. Whilst the discovery of the plot by astrological means is a fiction (as far as I know!) the fact that Thomas plotted against his brother is totally true.

The villainy continues in Speculation. The currency crisis swirled around the Tudor court for many years before finally being solved (read about Thomas Gresham for more info). The parallels with the financial crises of debt-laded economies in the post-Covid 2020's are striking! Will a major currency devalue like the Tudor regime did? I hope not! But governments will doubtless be happy to let inflation eat away at the value of the debt that they created, although that will take many years/decades to bear fruit.

Author's Notes

Catherine's courage in marrying beneath her station, combined with her intellectual curiosity, devotion to reformed religion, and history of challenging authority (she fled England during Mary's reign to avoid persecution), creates the perfect personality profile for someone who might risk everything for a clandestine romance with the brilliant but dangerous court astrologer John Dee.

Her proven track record of defying convention for matters of the heart, paired with her sophisticated education and interest in religious reform, makes the possibility of a secret intellectual and romantic partnership with England's most mysterious scholar entirely plausible within the shadowy world of Elizabethan court intrigue.

In my novellas (Divination, Speculation, Restitution and Absolution) I have taken great liberties with the character of Catherine Brandon for the purposes of dramatic intrigue and romantic titilation (see her bio for her real story).

In Divination, I imagine Catherine as a learned woman who is enjoying her time 'between husbands', by furthering her education and (completely without historical basis) starting a dalliance with the commoner, John Dee.

In Speculation, Catherine continues giving assistance to her lover. The consequences of such an unsanctioned dalliance for both Catherine and her lover would have been quite severe. For Catherine the consequences could include: Social disgrace and public humiliation, possible banishment from court. For Dee it could have been even more severe: possible charges of adultery with a noblewoman (a serious offense), loss of royal patronage and academic positions and even, possible imprisonment in the Tower of London.

In Restitution (est. pub. date: Nov 2025) Catherine is embroiled in a case of naval espionage and possible jewel theft. Can she maintain her covert relationship with John Dee under such trying conditions?

And finally, in Absolution, Catherine is once again investigating crimes against the defenceless with her on/off lover, John Dee.

Author's Notes

In Speculation: Undercurrents of Treachery, Cristóbal has been sent on a secret mission, by the Emperor Charles V, to find the 'Spanish gold' previously stolen/pirated by Thomas Seymour, and to provide it to Princess Mary, thence to assist further in her machinations for English succession. 

He is a noble warrior/agent and whilst not averse to forming alliances and dissolving them later, he has his end-goal firmly in sight.

In Predestination: The Bloodstone of Boiorix, Cristóbal has been joined in England by his a colleague, Tomás. They have formed a true and trusting partnership - they are like brothers, in a foreign land, together.

Simon Renard joins them as spymaster and eventually Ambassador.

Now reporting to Renard, Cristóbal and Tomás  gain the prestige of his status, but lose their freedom of action.

Cristóbal suffers some setbacks in his dealings with Dee, eventually getting a persecution complex and going somewhat mad after a final devastatingly bad encounter.

Cristóbal is finally ordered back to Spain in disgrace, but doesn't quite make it. His passing is mourned only by Tomás, who will have recurring nightmares about it (see Insurrection: Weddings can be murder).