Act Of Oblivion

Robert Harris, Hutchinson Heinemann, £22

Act Of Oblivion is set in 1660 with two English colonels in America, accused of high treason.

On their trail is a man tasked with finding and bringing to justice - in the most horrific way - those responsible for the murder of Charles I.

Harris breathes vibrant life into historical events, imagining them as they may have played.

A gripping thriller, it is a reminder of the dangers of a deeply divided and intolerant society.