John Shakespeare returns in this intriguing novella set in
Elizabethan England.
In the bitterly cold days before Christmas, John Shakespeare
is asked by his friend Joshua Peace to help investigate a
murder. Stripped naked, crowned with a wreath of holly, and
left in a snowbank, the unidentified man was shot in the
back and no one will investigate the death because he is an
Ethiop. Shakespeare identifies the man as Giovanni Jesu, a
companion to the Earl of Oxford, but why would this charming
man be treated so coldly in death? Shakespeare must unravel
the tangled web of a murderer who will do anything to
protect his secrets.
THE MAN IN THE SNOW by Rory Clements slips seamlessly into
the historical narrative of Elizabethan England, capturing
the tenuous political alliances, the fear of religious
persecution, and the steadfast people caught up in the
turbulent changes of the Reformation. The investigation
swirls around the mysterious Giovanni Jesu who cultivated a
carefree, intelligent, and charming mask in order to
survive. He was much loved, and yet someone murdered him in
cold-blood. Shakespeare must navigate the tricky social
hierarchy to find his answers. He is neither a man who can
fit into the aristocracy or into the servant class. It is
John Shakespear's confidence, ambition, and tolerance that
make him a remarkable sleuth. He isn't cowed by the
aristocracy or condemning of the lower classes. He sees
people as individuals which allows him to see past the
carefully constructed masks that are presented to the world.
Rory Clements has crafted a superb historical mystery with
the perfect balance of intrigue, suspense, and puzzling
clues in THE MAN IN THE SNOW. I will definitely look forward
to more John Shakespeare novels in the future. For
fans of
historical mysteries, this is a series that will not
disappoint.
A riveting novella set in Elizabethan England—perfect for
fans of C. J. Sansom and The Tudors.
Just a
few days before Christmas, a reluctant John
Shakespeare—brother of a rising playwright—answers a plea
for help from Joshua Peace, Searcher of the Dead, but he has
no idea the kind of menace he will face. A naked man has
been found in a snowdrift, a wreath of holly crowning his
head and a bullet in his back.
As all around him
prepare for the festive season, Shakespeare must unravel a
complex plot of passion and treachery and confront a
cold-blooded murderer who will not hesitate to kill again.
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