The past is never silent.

England, 1539. As King Henry VIII prepares to take a fourth wife, the realm holds its breath. The glittering court of Whitehall hides intrigue behind every curtain and betrayal behind every smile. The King’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, has risen higher than any man born without noble blood — and his fall, when it comes, will shake the kingdom to its core.

At the centre of this perilous world stands Sir Rafe Sadler — loyal servant, trusted envoy, and silent observer of the storm that gathers around his master. Rafe owes everything to Cromwell: his position, his fortune, and perhaps his conscience. Yet as alliances shift and the King’s temper grows uncertain, even the most faithful must learn the art of survival.

Into this uncertain court comes Catherine Howard, a young girl of charm and grace whose laughter hides both innocence and ambition. As her star begins to rise, Rafe finds himself drawn towards her brightness — though he knows all too well how swiftly favour fades and how deeply the Tower’s shadow falls.

When the Cleves marriage falters and Cromwell’s enemies close in, Rafe must walk a dangerous line between loyalty and self-preservation. To speak the truth could mean his ruin; to stay silent might cost him his soul. In a world where faith is suspect and friendship fatal, he must learn that reflection can deceive — and that every mirror hides another face.

Richly imagined and meticulously researched, The Reflection in the Mirror evokes the splendour and peril of Tudor England at the height of its power. From the royal galleries of Whitehall to the echoing stones of the Tower, Gemma Morris-Conway brings to life the courage, corruption, and fragile humanity of those who stood in the shadow of a tyrant.

For readers of Hilary Mantel, C.J. Sansom, and Alison Weir, this unforgettable debut explores the space between truth and survival — where power demands silence, and the ghosts of the Tower never rest.

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