Elizabeth Keysian | Updates

Jerry Abershawe: The Highwayman Who Haunted the Georgians

Elizabeth Keysian — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No figure is more closely associated with the romance—and the reality—of the English highwayman than Jerry Abershawe. Although he died in 1795, twenty years before the Battle of Waterloo, his reputation lingered well into the Regency. Long after his execution, travellers passing Putney Vale could still remember the place where his body had hung in chains, and novelists continued to invoke his name as a byword for danger on the road.

Born Louis Jeremiah Abershawe around 1773, Jerry was no gentleman outlaw in the mould of romantic fiction. He led a gang of robbers operating on the busy roads between London and Kingston upon Thames, preying upon wealthy travellers, mail coaches and anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. His headquarters were said to be the Bald-Faced Stag Inn at Putney Vale, from where he and his associates could watch the traffic heading out of London.

Highway robbery was a profitable business in the eighteenth century. England's roads were poorly policed, wealthy travellers carried cash, jewellery and watches, and there was no organised police force to pursue criminals. Heathland and woodland provided perfect hiding places, while fast horses offered a ready escape. A highwayman's cry of "Stand and deliver!" became one of the most famous phrases in English history.

Abershawe quickly gained a fearsome reputation. Unlike the fictional gentlemen highwaymen who politely relieved ladies of their jewels with a bow, or the historical Claude Duval, he was known to be violent. His downfall came in January 1795 when he shot and killed a constable attempting to arrest him. After months on the run, he was captured in a Southwark public house and brought to trial.

Contemporary accounts describe an astonishing lack of fear. He reportedly smiled at the judge while sentence was pronounced, sketched scenes from his own exploits on his prison walls, and chatted cheerfully on the cart ride to the gallows. On 3 August 1795 he was hanged at Kennington Common.

His punishment did not end there. His body was suspended in irons beside the Portsmouth Road at Putney Vale as a grim warning to other criminals. The gibbet remained a landmark for years afterwards, and Abershawe became the last highwayman in England whose body was publicly displayed in this way.

By the Regency era, highwaymen themselves were becoming rare. Better roads, mounted patrols, and improved policing made their profession increasingly difficult. Yet the legend endured. Readers thrilled to tales of masked riders, moonlit escapes and desperate pursuits across lonely heaths, even though the real men were often brutal criminals rather than gallant rogues. You've heard of Dick Turpin? Definitely not the least bit romantic!

And yet, highwaymen continue to fascinate us. History remembers the violence; fiction remembers the romance. Somewhere between the two rides Jerry Abershawe—a man feared in his own lifetime, yet transformed by time into one of the enduring legends of the English road. In my latest Regency romantic adventure, LYON ON THE LOOSE, I feature what appears to be a highway robbery. It gives Roland Chetwynd the opportunity to play the hero, but at a greater cost than he ever expected...

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How to choose a Regency romance hero...

Elizabeth Keysian — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Every good hero needs a foil, right? Someone with whom to argue, someone who understands them, someone who shows them in a good light. Well, that's what Roland Chetwynd has been in both THE LYON AND THE LAMB and THE LYON RAMPANT. He's the younger brother of the hero of the former book and keeps getting into scrapes, and becomes a frenemy of Piers Darvill, hero of the latter book, both foiling his plans but also helping resolve his problems.

I liked Roland, relentlessly cheerful in the face of adversity, wandering listlessly through life, trying to help his friends with well-intentioned schemes that went drastically wrong... so I decided it was time he grew up, got a sense of direction, suffered a bit, found his strength and gained the ultimate reward, a Happy Ever After ending. LYON ON THE LOOSE is Roland's story, full of wit, lunacy, ingenuity, and courage.

The book is out on July 15th and available to pre-order as a discount price until July 2nd. Check it out here-https://mybook.to/lyonontheloose

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Childhood Magic and the Inspiration Behind Lyon on the Loose

Elizabeth Keysian — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Some places never truly leave us. For me, one of those places is Framlingham Castle.

I first visited the castle as a child, and it seemed impossibly romantic and mysterious. I remember trees in the car park laden with what looked like magical golden apples. To a child, they might as well have belonged in a fairy tale, and I have never forgotten them.

My mother and I ventured onto the castle battlements. Neither of us was particularly fond of heights, and I distinctly remember the shiver of fear as we looked down from the walls. It was the sort of experience that stays with you—the feeling that something exciting, and perhaps a little dangerous, might be waiting around the next corner.

I also remember an antique shop in the town itself. Sitting in the window was a beautiful jewelry box, labelled as having once belonged to Lady Emma Hamilton. I desperately wanted it, but my holiday pocket money fell sadly short of the asking price. I still recall the disappointment.

When I came to write my newest Lyon's Den story, Lyon on the Loose, those memories came flooding back. The atmosphere of Framlingham—the ancient walls, the sense of history, the mixture of enchantment and unease—helped shape the setting and mood of the book. It is wonderful how places we visit as children can continue to inspire our imaginations decades later. Framlingham (with a little bit of Stokesay Castle mixed in) became the model for Mundlingham Castle, home to the heroine of Lyon on the Loose.

Sometimes the seeds of a story are planted long before we ever realise it.

As for the jewelry box that supposedly belonged to Lady Hamilton, I still wonder about it from time to time. Part of me wishes I had somehow found enough holiday money to buy it. Another part suspects it would have been very hard to prove the item's provenance. I'll never know, but perhaps that's fine. Writers live on questions, possibilities and half-glimpsed mysteries, and that jewelry box has remained one of mine.

Image courtesy of Michael Garlick, inner court at Framlingham Castle

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From supporting player to leading man!

Elizabeth Keysian — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fans of The Lyon and the Lamb and The Lyon Rampant will already recognise Roland Chetwynd, Leo's younger brother and perennial magnet for mischief. In Lyon on the Loose, he finally takes centre stage in a Regency adventure featuring undercover missions, a stolen necklace, masked balls, determined villains and an unforgettable heroine. Sometimes the most unlikely Lyon is the one who steals the show.

You've met Leo. You've met Piers. Now it's finally Roland's turn to roar.

Lyon on the Loose is on pre-order at $0.99/£0.77 for a short time only- just go to https://mybook.to/lyonontheloose.

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Flash Freebie!

Elizabeth Keysian — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

RONE Award-nominated Elizabethan Romantic Suspense, LORD OF LOYALTY, is FREE for the rest of today! https://mybook.to/Loyalty Fancy an authentic historical romance? This one's for you! #torturedhero #heroineindanger #ElizabethI #spies #traitors #wickedrelatives #forcedproximity

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For a short time only, The Lyon and The Lamb is FREE on Amazon – the perfect chance to discover one of my most emotional and dramatic Regency romances.

Elizabeth Keysian — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lady Araminta Lamb is fighting to protect everything she holds dear. Widowed and scarred by a cruel marriage, she knows she cannot face another husband. Yet without an heir, her home and her fragile sister’s future are in peril.

Leo Chetwynd, Earl of Aylsham, is equally desperate. Ruined by disaster and determined to save the orphanage that depends upon him, he has only one path left open: a marriage of necessity arranged through the notorious Mrs. Dove-Lyon.

There is just one complication. The bride chosen for him is the one woman he cannot endure.

If you love enemies-to-lovers tension, high emotional stakes, scandalous bargains, and a hard-won happily ever after, this book may be for you.

But do not wait too long—this free offer is only available for a limited time.

Download your copy here: https://amzn.to/3mwVGfS

#HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #FreeBook #KindleBooks #BookPromotion

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A FREE Historical Romance is up for grabs!

Elizabeth Keysian — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

She had a sweetheart once.

He tried to kill her.

Why should she ever trust a man again?

NEVER TEMPT A WIDOW is currently free to download—a story of betrayal, survival, and a woman determined never to be a victim again.

If you enjoy:

✨ High emotion

✨ Dangerous secrets

✨ A heroine with everything to lose

…this one's for you.

But not for long! Get your copy here- http://mybookto.temptawidow

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I’m Taking Over Kathryn Le Veque’s Historical Romance Book Club

Elizabeth Keysian — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I have some exciting news to share—I’ll be taking over Kathryn Le Veque’s Historical Romance Book Club on Facebook next week.

If you enjoy historical romance in all its forms—whether medieval, Tudor, or Regency—this is a wonderfully active and welcoming group of readers, and I’m very much looking forward to spending a few days there chatting, sharing, and (of course) having a bit of innocent fun.

I have quite a few things planned for the takeover.

There will be quizzes throughout the week—those light-hearted “create your own hero” and “name your book title” style posts that always seem to spark lively discussion. I’ll also be sharing excerpts, behind-the-scenes inspiration, and a little about how my stories come together.

There will, naturally, be giveaways. I’ll be offering audiobook codes for titles from my Trysts and Treachery series, along with an ebook giveaway from my Marry In Haste Collection, so there will be plenty of opportunities to win something.

And perhaps best of all, one of my books—Never Tempt a Widow—will be free for the duration of the takeover. It’s a story of betrayal, survival, and second chances, inspired in part by the old folk ballad Pretty Polly, and I’m looking forward to introducing it to new readers.

If you would like to join in, you can find the group here:

👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1322165637957843

You will need to join the group to take part in the discussions, quizzes, and giveaways.

I do hope to see some familiar names there—and perhaps a few new ones as well.

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Good news for Kindle Unlimited readers!

Elizabeth Keysian — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

My award-winning Gothic Regency romance Beguiling the Baron is now available to read in Kindle Unlimited.

🏅 Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal – Historical Romance

At Foxleaze Abbey, the reclusive Lord Ansford spends his days hidden away in a mysterious tower, leaving the care of his lonely young daughter to governess Galatea Wyndham.

Determined to discover what secrets her brooding employer is hiding, Galatea soon finds herself drawn into a dangerous mystery—and an even more dangerous attraction.

If you enjoy brooding heroes, spirited governesses, and atmospheric Regency romance, you may enjoy this story.

📖 You can read Beguiling the Baron now in Kindle Unlimited:

https://mybook.to/beguilingthebaron

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An exclusive free story for subscribers!

Elizabeth Keysian — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As a small thank you to readers, I am now offering a free story to anyone who joins my newsletter.

Subscribers receive updates about new books, occasional exclusive content, and a complimentary historical romance story upon joining.

If you would like to receive the free story, you can sign up here, on the FREE STORY page:

https://elizabethkeysian.co.uk

I hope you enjoy it, and thank you very much for reading my books.

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Elizabethan Romantic Suspense in Audio – Trysts and Treachery Series

Elizabeth Keysian — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lord of Loyalty

Poison, blackmail, and a wounded hero sworn to protect a hunted heiress.

The story follows wounded war hero Sir William Cavendish as he attempts to rescue the troubled heiress Isobel Marston from her scheming relatives.

But Will is being blackmailed, Isobel is being hunted, and falling in love could prove the most dangerous risk of all.

Lord of Loyalty received a Crowned Heart review and was nominated for a RONE Award, so it has become a particular favourite with readers.

Listen in to the glittering world of The Virgin Queen today!

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Tudor Intrigue in Audio – Trysts and Treachery

Elizabeth Keysian — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am delighted to say that the first two books in my Tudor romance series Trysts and Treachery are now available as audiobooks.

Lord of Deception

Secrets, spies, and a dangerous attraction at the court of Elizabeth I.

Alys longs to escape the cruel cousin with whom she is forced to live. When she meets a mysterious gardener named Kit Ludlow, she soon discovers he is far more than he appears — an exiled nobleman on a dangerous secret mission.

When a plot against the Queen is uncovered, Alys must decide where her loyalties truly lie… and whether she can trust the man who has stolen her heart.

Check out the audiobook!

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Adventure, secrets, and a handsome travelling apothecary… now half price in audio.

Elizabeth Keysian — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you enjoy listening to your historical romance, here is a little treat…

The audiobook of A Potion for Passion is currently half price for a limited time, so it is the perfect moment to grab a copy.

When spirited Flora Hartington encounters a handsome travelling apothecary, she sees a chance for adventure — and a brief escape from a family determined to control her future.

Unfortunately for her rescuer, Lawrence Campion, she is rather hard to shake off.

Lawrence dreams of becoming a physician and starting a new life in America. The last thing he needs is a determined young woman complicating his plans. But when his troubled past begins catching up with him — along with a dangerous secret — protecting Flora becomes unavoidable.

Romance, secrets, and a dash of adventure await…

Listen to the Audiobook

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