DAY OF WRATH

Nicholas Peverell, adviser to King Henry VIII, returns home to find that thieves have apparently murdered his steward in this middling debut mystery from British historian Collier. Preoccupied by the king's plan to seize Peverell Manor for revenue, as well as the growing tensions between the throne and the papacy over Anne Boleyn, Peverell is startled when Jane Warrener, an attractive, independent and assertive commoner, presents an alternative theory. Jane suggests that the steward may have known too much about a conspiracy to slay the king. Despite his grief over the recent loss of his wife and son, Peverell finds himself falling for Jane, and he abets her desire to break free of society's restrictions by enlisting her as his assistant. When he learns that the attempt on the king's life may come during a visit to the manor, the inquiry gains even more urgency as he tries to juggle it along with his own misgivings about the king's policies and caprices. The identity of the murderer doesn't come as much of a surprise, while the sleuthing consists of little more than checking motives and alibis. Unfortunately, the fast-paced plot lacks the ingenious twists that would make up for the reduced suspense in knowing that Henry VIII wasn't assassinated. Authentic period detail jars with anachronistic dialogue. An attractive jacket, depicting Henry VIII in the foreground and a body in the background, will hook historical mystery fans, though any sequel will need to be stronger to retain their loyalty. (May 13)

FYI:Collier is also the author of A Nest of Scorpions and other thrillers.