S.J. Parris is the pen name of acclaimed British journalist and novelist Stephanie Merritt, author of the bestselling Giordano Bruno historical thriller series. With over a dozen books spanning Elizabethan mysteries to contemporary psychological thrillers, Parris has established herself as one of the finest writers of Tudor crime fiction, drawing frequent comparisons to C.J. Sansom‘s Shardlake series.
The Giordano Bruno series features the real-life 16th-century Italian philosopher, ex-monk, and heretic Giordano Bruno as a detective and spy for Queen Elizabeth I and her spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. The books combine meticulous historical research with page-turning mysteries set against the backdrop of the religious and political turmoil of Elizabethan England and Renaissance Europe. The series has been shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Historical Dagger Award three times and has sold into over 20 countries, including Turkey, China, and Brazil.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.About S.J. Parris (Stephanie Merritt)
Early Life and Background
Stephanie Jane Merritt was born in 1974 in Surrey, England. She attended Godalming College in Surrey before going on to Queen’s College, Cambridge, where she studied English literature, graduating in 1996. During her time at Cambridge, she began reviewing books for national newspapers, launching a distinguished career in literary journalism.
It was at Cambridge that Merritt first encountered the historical figure of Giordano Bruno while writing a thesis about the influence of occult philosophy on Renaissance literature. She became fascinated by this rogue Italian philosopher who fled the Dominican order to escape the Inquisition, went on the run through Italy, worked as an itinerant teacher, and within three years ended up in Paris as personal tutor to the King of France. The character would remain in her imagination for over a decade before she finally brought him to life in fiction.
Writing Career
After graduating from Cambridge, Merritt became a literary critic and feature writer for various national publications, including The Times, The Daily Telegraph, the New Statesman, and Die Welt. In 1999, she became Deputy Literary Editor of The Observer, a position she held until 2005. She continues to write for The Observer and The Guardian, and has appeared regularly as a critic and panellist on BBC Radio 4 and BBC2’s Newsnight Review. She is also a regular chair and interviewer at literary festivals, including the Hay Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, and the National Theatre.
From 2007 to 2008, she curated and produced the Talks and Debates programme on contemporary arts and politics issues at London’s Soho Theatre. She has been a judge for the Costa Biography Award, the Orange New Writing Award, and the Perrier Comedy Award.
Merritt’s first novel, Gaveston (2002), written under her own name, won a Betty Trask Award from the Society of Authors. Her second novel Real (2005) was about a struggling young playwright, and she was commissioned to write the screenplay. In 2008, she published a memoir titled The Devil Within about her experiences living with depression.
In 2008, Merritt decided to combine her two lifelong literary passions: history and crime fiction. She began writing Heresy, the first in what would become her Giordano Bruno series, under the pen name S.J. Parris. Published in 2010, Heresy was an immediate success, becoming a New York Times bestseller in the US and a Top 10 bestseller in the UK and Canada. It was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award, an honor that would be repeated for Sacrilege and Treachery.
Why the Pen Name?
Merritt chose to publish the historical thriller series under a pseudonym to mark a deliberate departure from her contemporary novels and memoir. She explains: “I knew the series would be a departure from the kind of books I had written before. I had hoped it would be an ongoing project, so I wanted a way to mark the fact that the series would be a particular type of story. When readers saw the S.J. Parris name, they would know to expect a historical crime novel. That way, if I were suddenly seized by the urge to write a ghost story or a romantic comedy, I could do it under my own name and allow the series to build its own readership.”
There’s a strong precedent for this approach. Julian Barnes, John Banville, and Ruth Rendell all use pseudonyms that allow them the freedom to write in different genres while maintaining distinct readerships for each type of work.
Writing Style and Approach
Parris’s Giordano Bruno novels are characterized by several distinctive features. First, the meticulous historical research creates an immersive and authentic portrayal of Elizabethan England and Renaissance Europe. Parris draws extensively from primary sources, biographies of real historical figures such as Philip Sidney, Francis Walsingham, John Dee, Elizabeth I, and Catherine de Medici, as well as scholarly works on the period.
Second, the books successfully blend intellectual depth with page-turning thriller pacing. Bruno is a philosopher and thinker, and the novels engage seriously with religious debates, scientific ideas, and philosophical questions of the era, while maintaining the suspense and excitement of a murder mystery.
Third, Parris excels at bringing historical settings to life through vivid, sensory details. Whether it’s Oxford’s colleges, London’s streets, Canterbury Cathedral, or the palace of Paris, readers feel completely transported to the 16th century.
Fourth, the character of Bruno himself is complex and compelling. A heretic, spy, philosopher, magician, and investigator, Bruno navigates dangerous political and religious waters while solving murders. He possesses courage, wit, and stubbornness, along with vulnerabilities and conflicted loyalties.
What readers most appreciate is Parris’s ability to illuminate how 16th-century religious and political conflicts resonate with contemporary issues of tolerance, fanaticism, and free thought. Her books entertain while also educating readers about a pivotal period in European history.
S.J. Parris Series in Reading Order
Giordano Bruno Series
Setting: Elizabethan England and Renaissance Europe, primarily 1583-1588
Number of Books: 7 main novels + 4 novellas + 1 upcoming (ongoing series)
Main Character: Giordano Bruno (ex-Dominican friar, philosopher, heretic, and spy)
Series Status: Ongoing (latest: Alchemy, 2023; upcoming: The Midwinter Martyr, 2025)
The Giordano Bruno series follows the historical Italian philosopher and heretic as he flees the Inquisition and becomes embroiled in espionage and murder investigations across Renaissance Europe. Working as a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth I’s spymaster, Bruno uses his intelligence and philosophical acumen to solve murders while navigating the treacherous religious and political landscape of the late 16th century.
What makes the series exceptional is Parris’s inspired decision to use a real historical figure as her detective. The actual Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) was indeed a Dominican friar who fled Italy, lived in England from 1583 to 1585, associated with Elizabeth I’s court, and traveled throughout Europe before his tragic end in 1600, when he was burned at the stake by the Roman Inquisition for heresy. Parris fills in the gaps of what is known about his life with brilliantly imagined murder mysteries that feel both authentic to the period and thrilling as detective fiction.
The series is perfect for readers who loved C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake novels, Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose, or anyone who enjoys intellectual historical mysteries with richly researched settings and complex characters.
Main Novels in Reading Order:
- Heresy (2010) – Oxford, 1583. Bruno is recruited by Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster and sent undercover to Oxford University to expose a Catholic conspiracy to assassinate the Queen. When a series of brutal murders disrupts college life, Bruno must investigate while hiding his own heretical past. His mission: participate in a debate on the Copernican theory while uncovering treason. The brutal murders make it clear the Tudor throne itself is at stake.
- Prophecy (2011) – London, Autumn 1583. During the Great Conjunction (when Jupiter and Saturn align, occurring once every thousand years), London buzzes with predictions of horrific events, possibly even Queen Elizabeth’s death. When several of the Queen’s maids of honor are found dead, rumors of black magic abound. Elizabeth calls upon her personal astrologer, John Dee, and Giordano Bruno to solve the crimes. Bruno fears something far more sinister than the occult is at work, and the killer may be within the Queen’s own court.
- Sacrilege (2012) – Canterbury, Summer 1584. Prince William of Orange has been assassinated. Will Queen Elizabeth be next? Bruno’s old love, Sophia Underhill, is accused of murdering her husband, a prominent magistrate of Canterbury. Bruno agrees to help clear her name, but in the city that was England’s greatest center of pilgrimage, he uncovers a dangerous plot involving the legend of Saint Thomas Becket and the mystery of his disappeared body. Bruno must solve a murder from the 12th century to prevent one in the present.
- Treachery (2014) – Plymouth, August 1583. As England prepares for war with Spain, Bruno is sent to Plymouth to investigate Francis Drake’s naval preparations. But he finds more than military secrets when a young maid is found hanged. Working alongside Drake’s nephew, Bruno discovers a conspiracy that threatens not just the fleet but England’s very survival. In Elizabethan England, there is no greater crime than treason, and Bruno must expose traitors before they can strike.
- Conspiracy (2016) – Paris, 1585. Bruno arrives in a city on the edge of catastrophe. Catholics and Huguenots battle for supremacy as King Henri III desperately tries to hold his kingdom together. When a murder strikes at the heart of the palace, Bruno finds himself on the trail of a killer who hides a terrible secret. With both French and English royal houses under threat, Bruno must expose the truth or be silenced forever. The deadly conspiracy reaches into the highest levels of power.
- Execution (2020) – England, 1586. Bruno arrives with shocking information for Walsingham: a band of Catholic Englishmen is plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth and spring Mary, Queen of Scots, from prison to take the throne. Walsingham is aware of the plot and allows it to progress, hoping Mary will condemn herself in writing. Bruno must go undercover to join the conspirators. Can he stop them before he is exposed? Either way, a queen will die. Bruno must make sure it is the right one. This novel deals with the real Babington Plot that led to Mary’s execution.
- Alchemy (2023) – Prague, 1588. The Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II’s court is a haven for scientists, astrologers, and alchemists, all seeking the philosopher’s stone and immortality. Bruno is sent as a spy for Elizabeth I. He arrives to find an alchemist brutally murdered, and his friend John Dee has disappeared. Ordered by the emperor to find the killer, Bruno faces an old enemy from the Inquisition. The hunt for a murderer proves as elusive as the elixir of life itself. A Sunday Times bestseller.
Prequel Novellas:
The Dead of Winter (2020 collection) – Contains three gripping novellas set before the main series:
- The Secret Dead (2014) – Naples, 1566. A young Giordano Bruno investigates sinister happenings in his Dominican monastery when brothers begin to die mysteriously.
- The Academy of Secrets (2020) – Naples, 1568. Bruno becomes entangled with a secret society of natural philosophers and alchemists when a murder threatens to expose them all.
- A Christmas Requiem (2020) – Paris, 1585. During the Christmas season, Bruno investigates strange deaths at a convent.
Upcoming:
The Midwinter Martyr (2025) – Details to be announced.
Standalone Novels by S.J. Parris
Parris has not published standalone historical novels outside the Giordano Bruno series under her S.J. Parris pen name. However, writing as Stephanie Merritt, she has published several novels and a memoir:
Under the Name Stephanie Merritt:
Gaveston (2002) – Merritt’s debut novel, a historical fiction about Piers Gaveston, the favorite of King Edward II. Won the Betty Trask Award from the Society of Authors.
Real (2005) – A contemporary novel about a struggling young playwright. Merritt was commissioned to write the screenplay.
The Devil Within (2008) – A memoir about her experiences living with depression.
While You Sleep (2018) – A psychological thriller set in a crumbling house on the Scottish coast. An unputdownable suspense novel.
Storm (2022) – A psychological thriller described as “the brand new escapist thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author.”
Traitor’s Legacy (2025) – Latest psychological thriller from Merritt, a Sunday Times bestseller.
Where to Start with S.J. Parris
Best First Book
Recommendation: Heresy
Heresy is unquestionably the best starting point for the Giordano Bruno series. It introduces Bruno, establishes his backstory as a heretic fleeing the Inquisition, sets up his role as Walsingham’s spy, and presents a brilliant locked-room mystery in the claustrophobic setting of Oxford University. The book won immediate critical acclaim, was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, and became a New York Times bestseller. It works perfectly as both a standalone thriller and the foundation for the ongoing series.
If You Want…
A self-contained mystery you can finish quickly: Start with Heresy. While it’s the first in a series, it tells a complete story with a satisfying resolution.
The most critically acclaimed: Sacrilege and Treachery were both shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award and represent the series at its finest.
Royal court intrigue: Prophecy is set primarily at Elizabeth I’s court and features the Queen herself as a character.
International settings beyond England: Conspiracy (Paris) and Alchemy (Prague) take Bruno across Renaissance Europe.
To understand Bruno’s origins: The novellas in The Dead of Winter show Bruno’s early years as a Dominican friar before he fled Italy.
The latest and most recently lauded: Alchemy (2023) was a Sunday Times bestseller and brings Bruno to the fascinating court of Rudolf II in Prague.
Books by Time Period
Tudor England (1580s)
Elizabethan Era:
- Heresy (1583, Oxford)
- Prophecy (1583, London)
- Treachery (1583, Plymouth)
- Sacrilege (1584, Canterbury)
- Conspiracy (1585, Paris with English connections)
- Execution (1586, England)
Renaissance Europe (1580s-1590s)
Holy Roman Empire:
- Alchemy (1588, Prague)
Italy (Pre-series Novellas):
- The Secret Dead (1566, Naples)
- The Academy of Secrets (1568, Naples)
France:
- Conspiracy (1585, Paris)
- A Christmas Requiem (1585, Paris)
Explore more books about Tudor England Historical Fiction.
The Real Giordano Bruno
Historical Background
Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) was one of the most fascinating and tragic figures of the Renaissance. Born Filippo Bruno in Nola, near Naples, he entered a Dominican monastery at age 17 and took the name Giordano. From the outset, his unconventional ideas sparked controversy. He questioned the Trinity, embraced the Copernican view that the Earth orbited the sun, and developed radical philosophical and cosmological theories.
In 1576, facing charges of heresy, Bruno fled Rome and began a life of constant travel and exile. Over the next 15 years, he taught and published throughout Europe: Italy, Switzerland, France, England, and Germany. In England from 1583 to 1585 (the period covered by most of Parris’s novels), he lived in the French ambassador’s house in London, lectured at Oxford, and associated with courtiers and intellectuals at Elizabeth I’s court, including Philip Sidney and possibly Francis Walsingham’s intelligence network.
Bruno’s ideas were revolutionary for his time. He proposed that the universe was infinite with no center, that stars were distant suns surrounded by their own planets, and that other worlds might harbor life. He practiced Hermeticism, combining science, philosophy, magic, and mysticism in ways that challenged both Catholic and Protestant orthodoxy.
In 1591, Bruno unwisely returned to Italy, lured by an invitation to tutor a Venetian nobleman. He was betrayed to the Venetian Inquisition, then extradited to Rome, where he was imprisoned for eight years. The Roman Inquisition charged him with numerous heresies, including denying the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the virginity of Mary, transubstantiation, and eternal damnation.
On February 17, 1600, Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in Rome’s Campo de’ Fiori. Refusing to recant his beliefs to the end, he reportedly told his judges: “You may be more afraid to bring that sentence against me than I am to accept it.” To prevent him from speaking heresy to the crowd, a metal clamp was fastened to his tongue. His ashes were thrown into the Tiber River, and all his works were placed on the Index of Forbidden Books.
Today, a statue of Bruno stands in the Campo de’ Fiori, where he died, erected in 1889 by Italian Freemasons. Every February 17, the mayor of Rome lays a wreath at its base. Bruno is now revered as a martyr to free thought and the emerging scientific worldview, though the exact reasons for his execution remain debated by historians.
How Parris Uses the Real Bruno
Parris’s fictional Bruno possesses what she hopes are the “defiant courage, wit, and infuriating stubbornness of the original.” While her version is a work of fiction, many of the situations he encounters are based on historical fact. The novels take place during the documented years Bruno spent in England and Europe, filling in the unknown details of his life with plausible and thrilling adventures.
Parris is careful to ground her mysteries in the real religious and political conflicts of the era: the Catholic plots against Elizabeth, the wars of religion in France, the tensions between Protestant and Catholic factions, the rise of espionage networks, and the dangerous intellectual ferment of the Renaissance. Bruno’s status as a heretic and outsider makes him the perfect character to navigate these treacherous waters while solving murders.
The novels never shy away from Bruno’s real fate. Readers who are familiar with history understand that his story ends at the stake in 1600, which adds poignancy and tension to his adventures. He is a man living on borrowed time, aware that his heretical ideas could lead to his death, yet unable to compromise his beliefs.
Popular Series Spotlight
The Giordano Bruno Series
The Bruno series stands out in the crowded field of historical mysteries for several reasons. First, the use of a real historical figure as a protagonist adds depth and authenticity that purely fictional detectives cannot match. Readers are learning about an actual Renaissance philosopher while enjoying a murder mystery.
Second, the Elizabethan setting offers endless opportunities for intrigue. The period was marked by religious conflict (between Catholics and Protestants), international espionage (between England and Spain, France, and Rome), the scientific revolution (the rise of new cosmological theories), and political instability (plots against Elizabeth and succession concerns). Parris mines all these tensions to create complex, multilayered mysteries where murder is often entangled with treason, heresy, and power struggles.
Third, Bruno himself is a compelling protagonist. As an outsider (an Italian in England, a Catholic-turned-heretic in Protestant England, and a philosopher in a world of political operators), he sees things that others miss. His philosophical training equips him with analytical skills perfectly suited for detective work. His connection to Walsingham’s spy network provides access to secrets and power. His heretical status puts him perpetually at risk, raising the stakes.
Fourth, Parris writes with intelligence and wit. Her prose is elegant, her period details are accurate, and her mysteries are cleverly plotted with satisfying solutions. The books work on multiple levels: as detective stories, as historical fiction, as explorations of religious and philosophical ideas, and as portraits of a fascinating historical figure.
Perfect for readers who love: C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake series, Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose, intellectual mysteries, Elizabethan history, religious and political intrigue, philosophical detectives, meticulously researched historical fiction, series with ongoing character development.
Awards and Recognition
Awards for S.J. Parris / Stephanie Merritt:
As Stephanie Merritt:
- Betty Trask Award (2002) from the Society of Authors for Gaveston, her debut novel
As S.J. Parris:
- Shortlisted for CWA Historical Dagger Award (2010) for Heresy
- Shortlisted for CWA Historical Dagger Award (2012) for Sacrilege
- Shortlisted for CWA Historical Dagger Award (2014) for Treachery
- Multiple Sunday Times Bestsellers, including Alchemy (2023) and Traitor’s Legacy (2025 as Stephanie Merritt)
- New York Times Bestseller for Heresy in the US
- Top 10 Bestsellers in the UK and Canada for multiple titles in the series
Professional Honors:
- Former Deputy Literary Editor of The Observer (1999-2005)
- Regular critic and feature writer for The Guardian and The Observer
- Judge for the Costa Biography Award, Orange New Writing Award, and Perrier Comedy Award
- Regular speaker and chair at major literary festivals, including Hay Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, and the National Theatre
- Curator and producer ofthe Talks and Debates programme at Soho Theatre (2007-2008)
Critical Reception:
“Over the past dozen years, S.J. Parris’s novels have been among the most enjoyable of all historical thrillers.” (Sunday Times)
“The clever twists and turns are assuredly plotted… a powerful setting.” (The Times on Alchemy)
“Breathless pace and acutely observed detail make for a story that confounds and surprises.” (Observer)
“Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and The Name of the Rose.” (Publishers Weekly)
Writing Schedule and Upcoming Books
Latest Release
Alchemy (2023) – Giordano Bruno #7
Set in Prague at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, this latest Bruno novel takes the philosopher to the heart of Renaissance Europe’s alchemical and occult pursuits. A Sunday Times bestseller, it features John Dee, the famous English alchemist and mystic, and pits Bruno against an old enemy from the Inquisition.
Upcoming Releases
The Midwinter Martyr (2025) – Giordano Bruno novella
Details have not been fully announced, but this will be a new novella in the series.
Future Plans
Parris has indicated her intention to continue the Giordano Bruno series. With Bruno’s life documented through the late 1580s and 1590s, there are many more years of adventures to explore before his tragic end in 1600. Some fans have even suggested that Parris might ultimately write a final Bruno novel set in 1600, covering his capture by the Inquisition and death, though this would be a departure from the series’ focus on mystery and adventure.
Under her own name as Stephanie Merritt, she continues to write contemporary psychological thrillers, with Traitor’s Legacy published in 2025 as a Sunday Times bestseller.
Similar Authors You’ll Enjoy
If you enjoy S.J. Parris’s work, you might also like:
C.J. Sansom – His Matthew Shardlake series is the closest comparison, featuring a hunchbacked lawyer solving mysteries in Tudor England during the reigns of Henry VIII and his children. Similar meticulous historical research, Tudor setting, and blend of mystery with religious and political intrigue. The two series are often mentioned together as the best Tudor crime fiction available.
Bernard Cornwell – While Cornwell focuses more on military historical fiction than mysteries, his attention to historical detail, gripping narratives, and ability to bring the past to life parallel Parris’s approach. His Uhtred series covers an earlier period (9th-10th century) but with similar themes of religious conflict and political intrigue.
Rory Clements – His John Shakespeare series (featuring William Shakespeare’s older brother as an Elizabethan spy) covers the exact same period as the Bruno books. Readers who love Bruno’s adventures will find similar espionage, murder, and historical detail in Clements’s work.
Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Her Georgian-era mysteries (Blood & Sugar, Daughters of Night) feature similar intelligence, complex plots, and richly researched historical settings, though in a later period.
Andrew Taylor – His historical mysteries, including the Marwood and Lovett series set in Restoration England, offer a similar blend of mystery, political intrigue, and meticulous period research.
Umberto Eco – While not a series writer, Eco’s The Name of the Rose is the spiritual godfather of intellectual historical mysteries. Readers who loved that book will appreciate Parris’s similarly philosophical approach to murder and heresy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is S.J. Parris’s best book?
Most readers and critics consider Heresy to be both the best starting point and one of the strongest entries in the series. It won immediate acclaim, was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, and became a New York Times bestseller. Sacrilege and Treachery were also shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger and are considered highlights of the series. The most recent, Alchemy (2023), was a Sunday Times bestseller, demonstrating that the series remains strong after seven novels.
In what order should I read S.J. Parris’s books?
Publication order is strongly recommended for the Giordano Bruno series. The books feature ongoing character development, recurring supporting characters, and references to previous adventures. Start with Heresy (2010) and proceed through the series. The novellas in The Dead of Winter are prequels and can be read at any point, though they work best after you’re familiar with Bruno from the main novels.
Is S.J. Parris historically accurate?
Parris is exceptionally meticulous in her historical research. The real Giordano Bruno did indeed live, flee the Inquisition, spend time in England and Europe during the 1580s, associate with figures at Elizabeth I’s court, and was ultimately burned at the stake in 1600. Real historical figures, such as Elizabeth I, Francis Walsingham, John Dee, and Philip Sidney, appear in the novels, and major events, like the Babington Plot, are accurately depicted.
However, like all historical novelists, Parris takes creative liberties with unknowns. Bruno’s day-to-day activities during his English years are not documented, so the murder investigations are fictional (though plausible). Some supporting characters are invented. Dialogue and thought processes are imagined. However, the core historical framework, settings, religious and political conflicts, and period details are thoroughly researched and accurate.
What time period does S.J. Parris write about?
The Giordano Bruno series is set primarily in the 1580s during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The novels take place from 1583 to 1588, covering the years Bruno spent in England and on the European continent. The prequel novellas take place in the 1560s, when Bruno was still in his Dominican monastery in Naples. Since the real Bruno was executed in 1600, the series could theoretically extend through the 1590s in future novels.
Are S.J. Parris’s books appropriate for young adults?
The Bruno series is written for adult readers and contains:
- Moderate to significant violence (murder scenes, torture, execution scenes)
- Sexual content (mostly implied or off-page, but present)
- Mature themes (religious persecution, political conspiracy, moral complexity)
- No explicit language or gratuitous content
Readers aged 16 and above who enjoy challenging historical fiction and can handle mature themes will likely appreciate the series. The books are intellectual and literary, making them suitable for academic study at the high school or college level. Younger teens who have successfully read other adult historical mystery series may also be suitable for parental discretion.
Has S.J. Parris’s work been adapted for TV or film?
As of 2025, the Giordano Bruno series has not been adapted for television or film, though the cinematic quality of the writing and the popularity of Tudor-era television suggest it would make an excellent adaptation. The success of series like Wolf Hall, The Last Kingdom, and the recent adaptation of Shardlake demonstrates an ongoing appetite for high-quality Tudor and historical drama.
Is S.J. Parris the same as Stephanie Merritt?
Yes. S.J. Parris is the pen name of Stephanie Merritt, who uses her real name for contemporary novels, memoirs, and journalism, and the pseudonym for historical crime fiction. Merritt chose to create a separate identity for the Bruno series to distinguish it as a distinct type of work from her contemporary fiction and to establish a dedicated readership for historical thrillers. Both names appear on her official website (sjparris.com).
Do I need to read the Giordano Bruno books in order?
Yes, publication order is strongly recommended. While each book contains a complete murder mystery that is resolved by the end, there is ongoing character development, evolving relationships, and recurring supporting characters throughout the series. Bruno’s relationship with Sophia Underhill, his role within Walsingham’s spy network, and his personal journey all unfold over the course of the books. Reading out of order will spoil earlier books and diminish your enjoyment of character arcs.
Is Giordano Bruno a real person?
Yes. Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) was a real Italian philosopher, astronomer, mathematician, and poet. He was indeed a Dominican friar who fled Italy to escape the Inquisition, spent time in England during the 1580s (the period of the novels), traveled throughout Renaissance Europe, and was ultimately captured and burned at the stake by the Roman Inquisition in 1600 for heresy. His radical ideas about an infinite universe, other worlds, and challenges to Catholic doctrine made him a controversial figure who is now revered as a martyr to free thought.
Parris’s fictional version of Bruno is based on the real person but fills in the many gaps in the historical record with imagined adventures. The mysteries are invented, but Bruno’s philosophical beliefs, his heretical status, and his associations with real historical figures are grounded in fact.
Are S.J. Parris books based on true history?
The novels blend historical fact with fiction. The historical figures of Giordano Bruno, Queen Elizabeth I, Francis Walsingham, John Dee, and Philip Sidney, among others, all existed, and their documented activities form the framework of the stories. Major historical events, such as the Babington Plot (Execution), the assassination of William of Orange (Sacrilege), and the religious conflicts of the era, are accurately portrayed.
The murder mysteries themselves are fictional, though Parris grounds them in plausible scenarios that fit the historical period. The religious and political tensions, the espionage networks, and the intellectual ferment of Renaissance Europe are all based on extensive research. Readers learn a great deal about Elizabethan England and the late 16th century while enjoying fictional murder investigations.
Will there be more Giordano Bruno books?
Yes. Parris has confirmed the series is ongoing. Alchemy was published in 2023, and The Midwinter Martyr is scheduled for 2025. Since the real Bruno’s life is documented from the 1590s until his death in 1600, there are potentially many more years of adventures to explore. At 51 years old (as of 2025), Parris is in the prime of her writing career and shows no signs of concluding the series anytime soon.
What makes S.J. Parris different from other Tudor historical fiction authors?
Several factors distinguish Parris:
- Real historical protagonist: Using the actual Giordano Bruno rather than a wholly invented character adds authenticity and educational value
- Intellectual depth: The novels engage seriously with philosophical and scientific ideas, not just plot and action
- International scope: While Sansom’s Shardlake stays mainly in England, Bruno travels to France, Prague, and throughout Europe
- Unique protagonist: Bruno is Italian, a heretic, a philosopher, and an outsider, very different from typical English protagonists
- Known tragic ending: Readers who know history understand Bruno’s ultimate fate, adding poignancy to his adventures
- Blend of genres: The books successfully combine historical fiction, mystery, thriller, espionage, and philosophical novel
Conclusion
S.J. Parris (Stephanie Merritt) has created one of the finest historical crime series of the 21st century. The Giordano Bruno novels offer everything readers want from historical fiction: meticulous research, vivid period detail, and authentic historical atmosphere combined with page-turning mysteries, complex characters, and intelligent plotting. By choosing the real Renaissance philosopher Giordano Bruno as her detective, Parris has found a protagonist who is both historically fascinating and well-suited for solving murders in the treacherous religious and political landscape of Elizabethan Europe.
What makes Parris’s achievement particularly impressive is her ability to write across multiple genres with equal skill and expertise. Stephanie Merritt has produced acclaimed contemporary fiction and memoir. As S.J. Parris, she has mastered the historical thriller. Her dual careers in journalism and fiction writing have honed skills that serve her well: rigorous research, elegant prose, sharp wit, and the ability to make complex ideas accessible to general readers.
The Bruno series stands alongside C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake novels as the gold standard for Tudor crime fiction. Three nominations for the CWA Historical Dagger Award, multiple bestsellers, translations into over 20 languages, and sustained critical and popular acclaim for over a decade all attest to the series’ quality. With more Bruno adventures to come, readers have much to look forward to.
Whether you’re a devoted fan of historical mysteries, fascinated by Elizabethan England, interested in the history of science and philosophy, or simply looking for intelligent, well-written thrillers, the Giordano Bruno series delivers. Start with Heresy and prepare to be transported to a dangerous, fascinating world where murder, heresy, and treason intertwine, and where one brilliant heretic must use his wits to survive and solve crimes.
Ready to begin your journey with Giordano Bruno? Pick up Heresy and discover why readers and critics have embraced S.J. Parris as one of the finest writers of historical crime fiction working today.