13 Apr Mary Lawrence Fool #foolthebook #TudorFiction #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: MARY LAWRENCE

I’m delighted to welcome Mary Lawrence as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between April 14th – 16th, 2026. Mary Lawrence is the author of the Historical Fiction/Mystery, Fool, published by Red Puddle Print on April 14, 2026 ( (322 pages).

Below are highlights of Fool, Mary Lawrence’s author bio, and an excerpt from the book.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/03/blog-tour-fool-by-mary-lawrence.html

HIGHLIGHTS: FOOL

Fool
By Mary Lawrence

Blurb:

Betrayal. Power. Perception. The most dangerous mind at court belongs to a fool. 

From the author of The Alchemist’s Daughter comes a dark tale of ambition and survival.

“One of the most vibrant characters I’ve encountered in years.“–Goodreads Ecostell

Kronos is a fool–mocked for his dwarfism, prized for his juggling, and underestimated by everyone who matters. But in a court ruled by paranoia and whispers, invisibility is its own kind of power.

When Kronos overhears a secret that could destroy Queen Katherine Howard, he becomes a liability the crown cannot afford. Silenced, mutilated, and left for dead, he survives–barely.

Rescued by an ambitious apothecary, Kronos soon realizes he has not escaped danger–he has merely changed masters. His secret is worth a fortune…and powerful men are willing to kill to control it.

But Kronos has spent his life being overlooked and he’s ready to use that to his advantage.

As rival factions circle and scheme, Kronos sets a plan in motion–one that could topple the mighty, rewrite his fate, and force his foes to reconsider which of them is truly…the fool.

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Philippa Gregory

Praise for Fool:

“Vividly written and grounded in scrupulous research, Fool captures both the dark comedy and lethal danger of Henry VIII’s court.” ~ Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown and The Blue

 “A masterclass in immersive storytelling.” ~ Tony Riches, author of the best-selling Tudor Trilogy

 “A thoughtful and unsparing Tudor novel that reframes the court jester not as comic ornament but as a precarious witness to power.” ~ Megan Parker for IndieReader

Buy Links:

Author’s Universal Buy Link: https://www.marylawrencebooks.com/linktree

Amazon Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/479KQ8

AUTHOR BIO: MARY LAWRENCE

Mary Lawrence is the author of the Bianca Goddard mysteries, a 5-book series that takes place in the slums of Tudor London featuring the daughter of an infamous alchemist. Suspense Magazine named The Alchemist’s Daughter and The Alchemist of Lost Souls best historical mysteries of 2015 and 2017.

Her writing has been published in several journals, including The Daily Beast. When she is not writing, she tends a small berry farm in Maine with her husband and creates artisanal jams for sale at market.

Author Links:

Website     Facebook     Instagram     Bluesky     Pinterest

Book Bub     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads

EXCERPT: FOOL

“He was not reprimanded for murder?”

“The priory keeps its secrets.”

Brother Trelli merrily took up a pitcher and added water to the pot. How could these reticent and peace-loving brothers commit debauchery and murder? Such misdeeds are the transgressions of commoners and men outside the fold—not the doings of Benedictine monks. I picked up the hammer and brought it down on a walnut, sending shell fragments scattering. What other confidences were buried at Thetford Priory?

“We take the vow, but we are just men,” said Brother Trelli. “And, as men, we struggle with mortal desires. We are not immune to the pull of sin, but we strive to reject those impulses and live in God’s grace. Every one of us has lied, we have all coveted. We, as mortals…sin.”

Are we, as monks and servants of God, whose life work is to think first of Him, given more allowance than others? Are we held namely to His standard rather than the institutional laws of man? To me, it appeared so. Our bevy of transgressions are our own free will. In the end, He will hold us accountable. But if we love Him and ask His forgiveness, what transgressions are we capable of in this life that we will not be held accountable for, in the next?

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