June 1, 2019
It's 1592, and the Black Death is rampant in London. But playwright and sometime amateur detective Kit Marlowe has other things on his mind. He's desperately trying to finish his latest play in time for its premiere at the Rose Theatre when a series of very odd things happens. First, an old enemy, Robert Greene, sends Kit a letter beseeching him to find out who is trying to murder Greene. Then the queen decides to shut down every theater in London to prevent the plague from spreading; the Rose's stage manager, Kit's friend Tom Sledd, goes missing; Sir Robert Cecil, the queen's spymaster, orders Kit to find out who killed his father's beloved nursemaid; and Kit finds himself reluctantly cast as the savior of Simon Forman, a man who calls himself a shaman but is, in fact, a dangerous sham. Despite the sometimes confusing multiple plots, readers will find themselves intrigued by Trow's fine tale, which is full of ribald humor, high-spirited adventure, intriguing twists, and realistic period ambience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)
May 1, 2020
When Baron Hunsdon, Elizabeth I's cousin, asks Christopher "Kit" Marlowe to take Lord Chamberlain's acting troupe on tour with a new play by Tom Kydd, Marlowe reluctantly agrees. But when he reads the play, he realizes it is completely unsuitable, so he decides to pen a new work himself. Unfortunately, his play is full of allusions that will not only raise the eyebrows of the Puritans but could also result in Marlowe being banned from the stage. But when a new cast member for the play is murdered and three more murders happen in quick succession, Marlowe knows something has already gone badly awry. Are the murders related to his play, or is there a more sinister reason? And if Marlowe offends Lord Chamberlain?or, worse, the Queen?will his own life be in danger? Vividly evoking the Tudor era, Trow's latest in the Kit Marlowe series features complicated politics, dark secrets, and plots and counterplots. Marlowe shines through as a mostly sensible character but one who can't help taking risks. Subtle humor, colorful characters, and a shock ending are all on display in abundance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)