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S G MacLean
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A Game of Sorrows: Alexander Seaton 2, from the author of the prizewinning Seeker historical thrillers Kindle Edition

by S.G. MacLean (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,620 ratings
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Second historical thriller in the Alexander Seaton series sweeps the hero back to his roots in Ulster, and a family living under a curse and riven with long-held secrets

It is 1628, Charles 1 is on the throne, and the British Crown is finally taking control of Ulster.

Returning to his rooms one night, Alexander Seaton is shocked to find a stranger standing there - a man who could be his double. His name is Sean O'Neill, and he carries a plea for help from Maeve O'Neill, forbidding matriarch of Alexander's mother's family in Ireland. All those who bear their blood have been placed under a poet's curse: one by one they are going to die. Only Alexander is immune, his O'Neill heritage a secret from all but his closest family.

Alexander travels to Ulster, to find himself at the heart of a family divided by secrets and bitter resentments. As he seeks out the author of the curse, he becomes increasingly embroiled in the conflict until - confronted with murder within his own family - his liberty and, finally, his life, are at stake.

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  1. Book 2 of 4
    Alexander Seaton
  2. Print length
    417 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Quercus
  6. Publication date
    September 2, 2010
  7. File size
    2526 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'A fine, rich, beautiful historical thriller - literate, engaging and moving' Manda Scott.―Manda Scott

'MacLean has the first-rate historical novelist's gift... communicates her passion for the period without downplaying its brutishness' Daily Telegraph.―Daily Telegraph

'Combines the ironclad plotting of Sansom with the artful recreation of Mantel' Independent.―Independent

'A substantial story, well researched, never slackening pace' Scotsman.―Scotsman

About the Author

Shona MacLean was born in Inverness and grew up in the Scottish highlands where her parents were hoteliers. She has an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Aberdeen. She lives on the Black Isle with her husband and four children.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0928HCTS6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quercus (September 2, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 2, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2526 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,620 ratings

About the author

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S G MacLean

S G MacLean

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Shona (S.G.) MacLean was born in Inverness and brought up in the Scottish Highlands. She obtained an MA and PH.D. in History from Aberdeen University. She began to write fiction while bringing up her four children (and Labrador) on the Banffshire coast. She has now returned to live in the Highlands. Her first book, 'The Redemption of Alexander Seaton' was short-listed for both the Saltire first book award and the CWA Historical Dagger; she has won the Historical Dagger twice - in 2015 for 'The Seeker' and in 2019 for 'Destroying Angel'. Her standalone Jacobite thriller, 'The Bookseller of Inverness' was voted Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2023.

On dealing with plot problems, characters who've gone awol and issues of setting, Shona says, "My search for a solution tends to involve the dog and a pair of wellies. Most things can be solved by a stomp through the woods or along the banks of the Conon river. The dog is much more conducive to this kind of thing than the children, although I have realised that a close reading of my books reveals the true hero of most of them to be a canine.Those dogs are, by seventeenth-century necessity, 'hounds', but I like to believe that in each of them beats the heart of a Labrador."

To avoid work altogether, she suggests getting a bike.

On instagram @shonamacleanauthor

On Threads @shonamacleanauthor

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,620 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

C. M. Bunts
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant tapestry of culture, beliefs, values, blood and pride
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
I am a fan of S.G. MacLean, having read the entire Seeker series and book 1 of the Alexander Seaton series.

This book is a masterful piece of writing that pulls you into the depth of Scottish, English and Irish culture and beliefs. Each character has a distinctive voice that develops across the storyline. Of course, there is the intrigue and plots that kept me turning pages and reading late in to the night.
Full disclosure, this historical novel captured the heart and blood of my Irish heritage.
This is my favorite SG Maclean book, and I do recommend reading the first of the Alexander Seaton series, as it will provide you the core of his character that faces the challenges of this Book 2.
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Susan Cooke
4.0 out of 5 stars Historical whodunnit
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2014
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I liked the entire series. It covers a little explored period in Scottish history, the time when many of our ancestors struggled with their religious consciences after the Reformation. I recommend reading the series in order as I did. The historical whodunnit theme has been popular for a while now; not all are as well executed as the novels of Sarah MacLean.

Get the whole series for Kindle, they are a bargain!
One person found this helpful
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Astral Surfer
5.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying and very different sequel
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2013
The second in the series following Alexander Seaton; there's sufficient backfill for this to work well as a stand alone. The story starts in Aberdeen, where Alexander is settled as a tutor at the University. The story swiftly moves to Ireland and the remainder of the book is set in Ulster, where Alexander learns about his Irish ancestry. His loyalties and trust are tested to the extreme as he tries to break a poet's curse.

The complex national and family divisions caused by an English king keen to extend and control his kingdom are very well explained. This is an historical thriller, set in a factual context. I gained a greater understanding of the history of this period and the legacy.

There's a much larger canvas in this story; more characters, a complex plot and a range of locations. It's far less introspective than the first novel, but an engrossing read. Ms Maclean creates a story that keeps you guessing at every turn. It's an historical action murder mystery. All the ingredients are there; chases in the night, deception, cliff face escape, treachery, betrayal and love. I really enjoyed it and its added a new and different dimension to the development of the Alexander Seaton character. Looking forward to The Crucible already!

A copy of my review from amazon uk.
3 people found this helpful
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Diana Mepsted
2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
Made unbelievable by too many coincidences.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner!👍
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed the story and historic period. Look forward to more great reads by Shona MacLean.
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sheridan workman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great series
Reviewed in Australia on August 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great series
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Didier
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Alexander Seaton-mystery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
Having very much enjoyed the first novel featuring Alexander Seaton,  The Redemption of Alexander Seaton , I took me quite a while before I began reading 'A Game of Sorrows', but from page one I was once again captivated.

In the winter of 1628 (Charles I has been on the throne for 3 years by then), Alexander receives a quite unexpected visit in his rooms in Aberdeen: blissfully unaware that he even had one, Alexander's Irish cousin Sean O'Neill turns up with a story of a curse resting on their family, and pleading with Alexander to return to Ulster with him to lift the curse. And so it is that barely hours later Alexander finds himself on his way to Ulster, instead of travelling to the Baltic as his Principal Dr Dun had asked him to do. And once there, Alexander soon finds that the advice given to him to 'trust no one' is very apt indeed...

As in 'The Redemption of Alexander Seaton', this is a very good historical novel / thriller / mystery: Shona MacLean has a real feel for the period and knows how to immerse a reader so it feels as if you were present there and then. The characters are all very well drawn, and the plot is intricate enough to keep you eager to read on and on, but not so complicated you'll find yourself flipping back and forth to re-read earlier passages. Although I really couldn't afford to do so, I completely ignored all other pressing business and finished this brilliant novel in a matter of days.

If you're fond of good historical novels, this book should be a treat!
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addie04
5.0 out of 5 stars was für eine geschichte
Reviewed in Germany on August 16, 2012
Verified Purchase
Was für eine Geschichte! Der Held des ersten Romans von Shona MacLean, The Redemption of Alexander Seaton, wird in die Spannungen und politischen Intrigen der Familie seiner irischen Mutter hineingezogen und findet sich so in einer ganz anderen, katholischen, Welt wieder als seiner bisher gewohnten protestantischen Umgebung. Für das Verständnis des Aufeinanderprallens dieser Welten, sowohl in Irland im großen als in der Familie im kleinen Rahmen, ist es sehr nützlich, wenn man den ersten Roman dieser Reihe bereits gelesen hat, man versteht dann besser, wie fremd und gespalten in den Loyalitäten sich – nicht nur – der Held des Buches fühlt. Und es ist keine leichte Geschichte, die man schnell wieder vergißt, es ist eine Tragödie – der Titel A Game of Sorrows ist sehr passend! Es ist, ebenso wie das erste Buch, sehr spannend und mit ausgezeichneter Schilderung der Atmosphäre und zeitlichen Gegebenheiten, und es ist ein bewegendes Buch, das einen noch eine Weile beschäftigt.
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Evison Barbara
2.0 out of 5 stars historiendrama
Reviewed in Germany on August 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
teilweise spannendes historiendrama, die geschichte ist leider etwas unuebersichtlich und sehr vertrackt . freu mich, dass alexander es endlich wieder nach schottland geschafft hat.
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