Pre-order Releases Feb 23, 2027
The Secret Seekers: A Book Detective’s Quest to Crack the Coded Messages of History’s Most Brilliant Women
From $18.88 / copy at 25+ copies; lower per-copy prices at higher quantities (see Volume pricing) As low as $15.68 at 1,000+
Volume pricing
The more copies, the less each one costs
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About the book
The Secret Seekers
"A thrilling and brilliantly written story of bookish mystery and startling discovery... The Secret Seekers is a sensational debut." — Bruce Holsinger, bestselling author of Culpability (Oprah's Book Club) and A Burnable Book
Coded messages, hidden carvings, ciphered pendants: what if the secrets of the women of Renaissance England are hidden in plain sight?
Now celebrated as an artistic and literary golden age, the Renaissance was more complicated—and turbulent—than we remember, especially for women. Royals vied for political leverage, plotted one another’s downfalls, and carried out illicit affairs. In this environment, knowledge was currency. To disguise their thoughts and writings, royal women created new alphabets and hid messages in their jewelry and monogrammed designs.
Harvard Renaissance scholar and renowned book detective Vanessa Braganza takes readers along for a Sherlockian adventure as she uncovers the secret lives of royal British women, from Katherine of Aragon to Mary, Queen of Scots. Finding clues hidden in monograms, notebooks, rare book markets, etchings, and jewelry, Braganza decodes the hidden messages that changed the course of history.
A blend of meticulous research and captivating storytelling, The Secret Seekers upends the male-dominated traditional historical narrative and brings to light the political maneuvering and love affairs of the era's women. Braganza unveils:
- The ciphers hidden in the work of Lady Mary Wroth, the first English female novelist
- A monogram carved into the marble of Henry VIII's palace that revealed clandestine correspondence among the women of his court
- The cryptic messages communicated by the brooches, rings, and pendants worn by Katherine of Aragon and Mary Tudor
In her witty, fast-paced voice, Braganza surfaces women’s literary accomplishments previously disguised and uncelebrated. Each discovery transforms these ghosts from the past into full-blooded people who quite literally left their mark.
What readers are saying
Details
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Author
- Vanessa Braganza
- Format
- Hardcover
- Release date
- Feb 23, 2027
- ISBN-13
- 9780063411234
- ISBN-10
- 0063411237
- Pages
- 288
- Carton quantity
- 12 copies
Who it's for
Made for classrooms and campuses
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Before release day
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The Secret Seekers for groups: pricing
Volume pricing applies automatically in your cart. No codes, no account needed.
| Copies | Price per copy | You save |
|---|---|---|
| 25 – 99 | $18.88 | 41% off list |
| 100 – 249 | $17.92 | 44% off list |
| 250 – 499 | $16.96 | 47% off list |
| 500 – 999 | $16.32 | 49% off list |
| 1,000+ | $15.68 | 51% off list |
Where can I buy 100 copies of The Secret Seekers?
BookPal sells The Secret Seekers in quantity. At 100 copies the price is $17.92 a copy, against a list price of $32.00, and the cart applies the volume tier automatically. Free shipping on most orders over $95 in the contiguous US. A specialist can quote a larger or mixed order.
- New books only, straight from the publisher
- Volume prices apply automatically in the cart, with no code needed
- Order at least 10 business days before you need the books (11 from mid-November through December)
What does The Secret Seekers cost when I buy for a group?
Volume pricing applies automatically in your cart, with no code needed. Price per copy: 25 to 99 copies, $18.88 (41% off list); 100 to 249 copies, $17.92 (44% off list); 250 to 499 copies, $16.96 (47% off list); 500 to 999 copies, $16.32 (49% off list); 1,000+ copies, $15.68 (51% off list). Need a different quantity, or a quote to forward for approval? Ask a specialist and we will confirm pricing before you pay.
How fast can I get copies of The Secret Seekers?
This title is not released yet. Pre-orders ship when it is, currently scheduled for February 23, 2027. Need them by a specific date? Request a quote and we'll confirm timing before you pay.
Can you ship to several locations or people's homes?
Yes. We ship group orders to one address, to multiple sites, or to individual recipients, in the US and internationally. See fulfillment options.
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Yes. We accept purchase orders upon approval, as well as cards, PayPal, ACH, wire transfers and checks. BookPal is a tax-exempt supplier in all 50 states. See purchase orders and sales tax exemption.
What if I find a lower price?
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The Secret Seekers: A Book Detective’s Quest to Crack the Coded Messages of History’s Most Brilliant Women
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