The Black Thistle

In 1651, a fatally wounded Scottish
trooper is found by an English patrol. Before he takes his
last breath, he reveals the details of a major plot being
hatched against Scottish leaders and English generals within
Clarke Castle-the same castle where many kidnapped Scots are
being held.
Luke Tremayne and his sergeant, Andrew
Ford, have just arrived in Oban, Scotland, via the English
republic's newest man-of-war, the fifty-four gun Providence.
As the warship remains anchored in the sea loch, Luke and
Andrew come ashore to receive details of their mission from
their new ally, David Burns, a man of considerable wealth
and passion for his cause. After Burns briefs Luke on the
Scots' three political groups, six assailants press up the
stairs to Burns' chambers and deliver a pouch that contains
a coded message. Luke soon discovers that he must not only
rescue the prisoners at Clarke Castle, but also must uncover
the local leadership of this organization created by the
King.
As Scottish leaders plot and murder their
way to a solution, Luke becomes embroiled in a conspiracy to
murder the political elite and quickly finds out that an
ally is not who he appears to be.