Historical fiction · Tudor England
The Queen's Priest
The Queen's Priest book cover
A story of faith, loyalty, and conscience in the court of Henry VIII

The Queen's Priest

The story of Blessed Thomas Abell

The Queen’s Priest is a gripping historical novel based on the true story of Thomas Abell, the 16th-century priest who defied King Henry VIII and spent seven years of his life in the Tower of London.

Set against the backdrop of Tudor England, The Queen’s Priest follows Thomas Abell, a scholar and priest, thrust into the heart of royal intrigue when he is appointed as Queen Katherine’s confessor at the height of Henry VIII’s quest for annulment.

Torn between loyalty to his faith, his queen, and the demands of a king determined to reshape England, Abell’s journey is one of conscience, courage, and ultimate sacrifice.

“The Queen's Priest is an epic novel grounded in courage and conviction… a heroic priest who refused to abandon his faith.”

Melanie Dobson · Award-winning author
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Praise for The Queen's Priest

What readers are saying

★★★★★ Reader Reviews on Amazon

“The Queen's Priest is an epic novel grounded in courage and conviction. Inspired by the true story of Thomas Abell, chaplain to Katherine of Aragon, Theresa Abell Haynes powerfully portrays a man who risked everything to defend his queen and the authority of Scripture in a time when contradicting Henry VIII's heresy meant imprisonment and often death. I learned much about the beginnings of the Church of England and was captivated by this heroic priest who refused to abandon his faith. If you enjoy reading medieval-era fiction or inspirational biographies by authors like Eric Metaxas, you will love this story.”

Melanie Dobson · Award-winning author of Catching the Wind and The Black Cloister
★★★★★

“The story of Priest Thomas Abell grabbed my heart and held it until the very end… honestly, this book is worthy of being produced as a cinematic movie.”

Carolyn Warren · Amazon Review
★★★★★

“Compelling, well written and pertinent… a story of a man who refuses to compromise truth or integrity in the face of tremendous cultural pressures.”

Wendy Jo Cerna · Amazon Review
★★★★★

“I savored it—reading just a chapter or two each night because I didn’t want it to end… history, suspense, truth, power, devotion, and sacrifice woven together.”

Susie Crosby · Amazon Review
★★★★★

“My 6th grader enjoyed reading this as well. The Queen’s Priest would make an excellent companion to any homeschool curriculum covering this time period.”

Amazon Reader · Homeschool Parent
★★★★★

“The author takes you on a journey through 16th-century England and makes you feel like you were there… you will not be disappointed with this beautiful novel.”

Amazon Reader
★★★★★

“Excellent historical and theological depth… I feel like I understand Henry VIII’s divorce from a whole new angle.”

Amazon Reader
★★★★★

“A page-turner with literary-quality writing… I didn’t want it to end.”

Gretchen Huizinga · Amazon Review

Audio sample

Hear a sample from the opening chapters, read by Alex Bhat.

Author
Photo of Theresa Abell Haynes
Theresa Abell Haynes Journalist and historical novelist

Theresa Abell Haynes is a journalist and historical novelist who writes stories of faith, courage, and hope drawn from the lives of real people. Her debut novel is The Queen’s Priest: The Story of Blessed Thomas Abell.

She holds a master’s degree in the Religious Roots of Europe from Lund University in Sweden and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Her articles have appeared in WORLD and Clubhouse magazines.

Theresa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of 30 years, Kip.

Thomas Abell's graffiti in the Tower of London
Thomas Abell carved his name and symbol into the stone of the Tower of London during his imprisonment — a surviving witness to the real history behind the novel.
A Voice from the Tower

Thomas Abell's prison graffiti

One of the most powerful details behind The Queen's Priest is that Thomas Abell was not only a historical figure — he left a mark that can still be seen today.

During his years of imprisonment in the Tower of London, Abell carved his name and emblem into the wall of his cell. That surviving graffiti stands as a quiet testimony to his faith, endurance, and refusal to surrender what he believed to be true.

For readers, it offers a direct connection between the novel and the man who inspired it: not just a character in history, but a real voice preserved in stone.

The Tower of London
Tower of London
Hampton Court
Tudor Court
Tudor manuscript
Faith & History
The history behind the story

A life shaped by real events

This novel is rooted in the historical crisis surrounding Henry VIII, Queen Katherine of Aragon, and the English Reformation.

1527

Thomas Abell is drawn into Queen Katherine's household as Henry VIII begins seeking an annulment.

1532

Thomas Abell writes Invicta Veritas, a defense of Queen Katherine’s marriage to Henry VIII.

1534

Henry VIII declares royal supremacy over the Church of England, breaking with Rome.

1540

Thomas Abell is executed at Smithfield after years of imprisonment in the Tower of London. His name, carved into the Tower wall, still survives today.

Podcast conversations

Listen & Watch

Use this section for podcast appearances now, and swap in embedded players as links become available. Video interviews, readings, and event clips can live here later too.

Just Talkin’ About Jesus with Jan Johnson

A YouTube conversation about faith, writing, and the story behind The Queen’s Priest.

Watch on YouTube
So God Told You to Write a Book

A podcast interview on writing historical fiction and the journey of bringing The Queen’s Priest to readers.

Listen to the episode
Newsletter & Notes

From Theresa’s Substack

Follow along for behind-the-scenes research, historical insights, reflections on faith and storytelling, book updates, and future releases connected to the world of The Queen’s Priest.

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Join Theresa’s growing community of readers and receive new posts, updates, and future short fiction inspired by her historical work.

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Why readers may love it
  • True historical story based on the real life of Blessed Thomas Abell during the reign of Henry VIII.
  • Tudor intrigue inside the royal court of Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon.
  • Faith under pressure—a story of conscience, courage, and spiritual conviction.
  • Rich historical detail drawn from extensive research into the English Reformation.
  • Character-driven storytelling focused on loyalty, sacrifice, and moral courage.
  • Perfect for readers of Christian historical fiction, Tudor drama, and biographies of faith.
Book Details

At a glance

Publisher
Tall Tree Press
Language
English
Paperback
358 pages · ISBN 979-8-9928398-1-4
Ebook
ISBN 979-8-9928398-2-1 · Published July 30, 2025
Audiobook
Narrated by Alex Bhat · ISBN 979-8-9928398-3-8 · Published November 19, 2025
Hardcover
Coming soon · ISBN 979-8-9928398-0-7