The Mapmaker’s Secret
- Author John Pilkington
- Narrator Simon Mattacks
- Publisher Boldwood Books
- Publish Date 30 January 2026
- Run Time 8 hours and 21 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives, Historical adventure fiction, Historical crime and mysteries, Historical fiction, Modern and contemporary fiction, Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Social issues.
Click to open directly in the xigxag app.
Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.
Send as a gift Get in the xigxag appFlexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-bookĀ® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only Ā£3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- Ā£7.99
- Ā£6.99
- Ā£5.99
- Ā£4.99
- Ā£3.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles donāt include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
Pick up the next thrilling instalment in this gripping Elizabethan mystery series from John Pilkington. Fans of Andrew Taylor and C. J. Sansom will not want to miss this! š©øā ļø
'Pilkingtonās latest takes this long-running and popular series to a new level' - Booklist
A HAWK SOARS TO KILL...
Thomas Finbow is sent to help with a tragic fire at one of his master's tenant farms, but is soon embroiled in something far more sinister. The body of Simon Haylock is dragged from the blazing barn - and it appears he was dead before the fire even started...
All is not well on the Berkshire Downs, as a number of fearful murders are discovered, baffling the authorities and striking fear into villagers' hearts. Suspicion falls on strangers in the area, like the dour mapmaker Christopher Mead and the flamboyant travelling showman Paulo Schweiz.
But Thomas sees what others cannot, and with the help of Paulo's astonishing magic lantern show he starts to unravel the web of secrets and desire for revenge that have led to the murders - with astounding consequences.
Prepare to be gripped by this thrilling murder mystery! š©øš
*Previously published as The Mapmaker's Daughter
Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series:
āLarger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambienceā¦ Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages.ā - Booklist
'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review
āA sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteriesā - Library Journal
āThis latest entry in Pilkingtonās Thomas the Falconer series is a vigorous adventure featuring a likeable hero, an intriguing plot and a fine sense of period ambience.ā - Booklist
'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment! āāāāā Reader Review
Brilliant! A master of descriptive prose! āāāāā Reader Review
Interesting tale of intrigue, murder and mystery. āāāāā Reader Review
I was gripped from start to finish. A very well crafted read which was unputdownable. āāāāā Reader Review
Well-drawn characters in a colourful and dangerous world, drawn into a plot that will keep you guessing (and keep the pages flying by). Thoroughly recommended. āāāāā Reader Review
More from the same
About xigxag
Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UKās best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.