Cavalier by Christopher Hepworth unravels a centuries-old mystery rooted in the dark, storied halls of Red House. From hidden Civil War-era secrets to a modern-day political movement threatening Britain’s stability, the novel connects the fates of former rugby captain Sam Faulkner, determined historian Rebecca Vavasour, and sinister leader Nigel Pride. As ancient betrayals and modern ambitions collide, Sam and Rebecca race to expose a conspiracy with the power to alter the nation’s destiny. With pulse-pounding tension and rich historical intrigue, Hepworth crafts a riveting thriller where the past’s shadow looms dangerously large over the present.

Author Christopher Hepworth has a confident handle on the complexity of this plot, and that expertise allows him to interlace the historical drama with contemporary suspense for a gripping narrative. The political thriller elements are given a sharp overhaul from the dry rhetoric one might expect, breathing new life into several clever twists and layered plotting for a thought-provoking meditation on how power, tradition, and betrayal might echo across generations. This helps the sense of history repeating itself to grow and offers a profound commentary on how, fundamentally, human nature doesn’t seem to change over time, and the same sinister characters repeat. Alongside the interconnected heroes and villains, Red House itself feels like a living, breathing character steeped in secrets and symbolism, with brilliant descriptions that are suitably detailed but keep to the sharp, suspenseful feel of the novel. There’s also a quintessential 'Britishness' to the story that I appreciated, right down to the dialogue and narrative touches that give a strong sense of place and the full breadth of history. Overall, I would certainly recommend Cavalier as a must-read for fans of political thrillers and historical fiction.

Cavalier: A British Historical Conspiracy Thriller by Christopher Hepworth is a story of betrayal and cheating spanning three distinct timelines. Red House, in the heart of Yorkshire, has a long and storied past. In 1658, when Sir Henry Slingsby was executed for treason, it was left to his trusted and loyal steward Samuel Fauconberg to protect Sir Henry’s legacy, his estate, and especially his beautiful daughter from the greedy and evil neighbor who was intent on acquiring Red House and its property to bolster his political standing in Cromwell’s England. Despite his valiant efforts, the scheming neighbor, Bourcher, would acquire Red House and ultimately turn it into one of England’s most elite public schools. When pupil Sam Faulkner, in 1986, discovers a long forgotten secret attic room containing the remains of an infant and other secrets from the English Civil War, little does he realize these discoveries, Red House, and its alumni, will all come together in a clandestine conspiracy to return Britain to its puritanical past. Only Sam and his former school matron, Rebecca Vavasour, stand in the way of this dangerous movement. 

Cavalier is a well-researched and fascinating story, relying on three separate periods of English history to seamlessly combine a thrilling English Civil War tale with a much darker and deeper conspiracy that plays out in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. I particularly appreciated the character development of the seventeenth-century forebears and how they were later reflected in the lives and characters of the descendants. Christopher Hepworth does an excellent job of creating tension in the storyline and is not afraid to allow devastation to befall his major characters. The idea that there is a secret cabal of elites trying to usurp legitimate democratic governments is not a new one; however, the author gives it a fresh and interesting twist, especially by splitting the story across three separate timelines. This allows for the development of relationships that will not only set the conspiracy in motion but also bring together the necessary characters to defeat the conspiracy. A story that combines historical fiction with a fast-paced political thriller appeals to aficionados of both genres. This was a fun, exciting read that I highly recommend.

Christopher Hepworth takes the reader from the execution of Sir Henry Slingsby in the Tower of London in 1658 up until 2024. Cavalier covers three periods of time, all centered around the Red House near York, from the days of the English Civil War when the family’s fortunes were under threat after siding with King Charles I; then later as a school; and lastly as a military base. The familiar descendants appear through time, each generation with a different battle to overcome. The parallels provide much food for thought, yet despite the author asserting that this is fiction, Red House does exist, and he has cleverly interwoven fact with fiction. There are alliances, secret passages, burning at the stake, forced marriages, heroes, villains, and politicians. The reader is swept along through time in a whirlwind of nail-biting scenes spanning over three hundred years.

I love historical novels, but Cavalier by Christopher Hepworth offers so much more. His characters, all of whom are relatable, both good and bad, come to life. I was glued to every page, and could not put the book down, even for meals or sleep. The same or very similar names appear, but they are generations apart. The Red House is at the centre of the action, and I recommend clicking on the link at the end of the book to read about the actual history and see how the author cleverly includes a few fictional rogues with true ancestors. Each generational character is true to his and her time through speech, clothing, and everyday living. The latter part of the book, set in modern times, was shocking yet realistic, and even possible. This is a book I will read again, and I highly recommend it to fans of a great story brilliantly told. I shall search for other books by this author.

Christopher Hepworth’s Cavalier is an action-packed, riveting, and immersive historical and contemporary conspiracy thriller. The story is set across three timelines: the 17th, the 20th, and the 21st centuries. In 1986, Samuel Faulkner is a young student in Yorkshire at Red House, an elite boarding school for boys. His curiosity leads him to discover hidden tunnels and a set of rooms in the attic of Red House. To his amazement, he finds items dating back to the English Civil War (1641 -1651). Sam is the winning captain of the school’s rugby team and goes on to a spectacular career as the legendary captain of England’s rugby team. In 2024, Sam meets Rebecca Vavasour again. Rebecca was at Red House in 1986, in a work experience program for her Cambridge University degree. She is a direct descendant of the family who owned the Red House estate for many centuries. She discovers that Red House is now the center of an ultra-conservative hardline political conspiracy, a movement steeped in the puritanical values of Oliver Cromwell (1649-1658). The danger, intensity, drama, action, and pace ratchet up as Rebecca and Sam come together to expose the conspiracy and the reality of a violent civil war.

I thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Hepworth’s Cavalier for its complex characters and multifaceted storyline of a political conspiracy to replace the British monarchy and democracy with a hardline conservative government. The entire story sprang to life as the details emerged of the three timelines. I liked how the story moved forward, with brief but telling details in some aspects of the narrative, and then immersive and rich details for key characters, and always with Red House in that narrative. Red House itself became a character for me. The author connected the three timelines, showing the strong and vital part Red House played in the lives of key characters. Samuel Faulkner sprang to life, beginning with the details of his student days in Red House in the 1980s, his emerging leadership qualities, his growing abilities in rugby, his courage, and his compassion for the younger kids. The interweaving of the 17th-century history of Red House into Sam’s life in his school days was very imaginative. The story gained great depth when he met Rebecca Vavasour in the 1980s and then again in 2024, and how his life took a significant turn in the changing political times in England. I liked how the plot brings Rebecca into Sam’s life, her impact on his character, and her important role in changing the direction of his life. I was riveted as England found itself in ever-mounting political chaos and turbulence. Sam is drawn inexorably into the political mayhem. I loved the cover, which vividly captures Red House and key characters in the story. Cavalier is an absorbing character-driven story interwoven with intricate British history.