The Cromwell Deception

By John Paul Davis

February 1649: As the dust settles following the English Civil War, only one objective remains before Oliver Cromwell's victory over the monarchy is complete. Since 1303, the Crown Jewels of England have been secure in the Tower of London. Yet, suddenly, they are removed, never to be seen in public again. Government receipts confirm the jewels have been sold and melted down.

Only one man knows the truth...

Present day: A famous London art gallery is robbed in the dead of night. Two paintings are taken: a newly purchased £10 million self-portrait of a renowned 17th-century artist and a portrait of a largely forgotten Roundhead. For gallery director Gillian McKevitt, the theft is a nightmare. Aside from occurring less than two days before the self-portrait's grand unveiling, CCTV footage suggests it was an inside job.

As the news sinks in, a surprise revelation from McKevitt's predecessor confirms she is dealing with no ordinary theft. The Roundhead portrait contains an unimaginable secret, one with the potential to reveal the whereabouts of the long-lost original Crown Jewels.

Following the clues revealed by earlier x-ray and infrared examinations of the painting, Gillian finds herself in a frantic and dangerous race across England and through history as she attempts to track down the thieves before the grand unveiling. To uncover their identity means unearthing one of England's best-kept secrets...

A prequel to The Crown Jewels Conspiracy - book one in the White Hart series.