Description
A Kirkus Indie Book of the Month for July"Castle's characters brim with zest and real feeling... Though the plot keeps the pages turning, the characters, major and minor, and the well-wrought historical details will make readers want to linger in the 16th century. A laugh-out loud mystery that will delight fans of the genre." xa0xa0 xa0-- Kirkus, starred review "Murder by Misrule is a delightful debut with characters that leap off the page, especially the brilliant if unwilling detective Francis Bacon and his street smart man Tom Clarady. Elizabeth Tudor rules, but Anna Castle triumphs."xa0xa0 xa0-- Karen Harper, NY Times best-selling author of The Queen's Governess "Well-researched... Murder by Misrule is also enormously entertaining; a mystery shot through with a series of misadventures, misunderstandings, and mendacity worthy of a Shakespearian comedy."xa0xa0 xa0-- M. Louisa Locke, author of the Victorian San Francisco Mystery Series "Castle's period research is thorough but unobtrusive, and her delight in the clashing personalities of her crime-fighting duo is palpable: this is the winning fictional odd couple of the year, with Bacon's near-omniscience being effectively grounded by Clarady's street smarts. The book builds effectively to its climax, and a last-minute revelation that is particularly well-handled, but readers will most appreciate the wry humor. An extremely promising debut."xa0xa0 xa0--- Steve Donoghue, Historical Novel Society "Historical mystery readers take note: Murder by Misrule is a wonderful example of Elizabethan times brought to life...a blend of Sherlock Holmes and history." xa0xa0 xa0-- - D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review Brilliant Francis Bacon solves crimes in Elizabethan London with his ambitious assistant, Thomas Clarady, in this series of award-winning historical mysteries.1. Murder by Misrule. One of Kirkus Review's Best Indie Books of 2014.2. Death by Disputation. First In Category,xa02015 Chaucer Awards,xa0Elizabethan/Tudor period3. The Widows Guild. Long-listed for the 2017 Historical Novel Society Awards.4. Publish and Perish. Honorable Mention, Mysteries, Library Journal's 2017 Indie Ebook Awards.5. Let Slip the Dogs . Bacon and co. spend the summer at Richmond Palace in 1592.6. The Spymaster's Brother . Francis's older brother Anthony comes home from France.7. Now and Then Stab . Francis and Tom dig into a case best left buried. Anna Castle writes the Francis Bacon mysteries and the Lost Hat, Texas mysteries. She has earned a series of degrees -- BA in the Classics, MS in Computer Science, and a PhD in Linguistics -- and has had a corresponding series of careers -- waitressing, software engineering, grammar-writing, assistant professor, and archivist. Writing fiction combines her lifelong love of stories and learning. She physically resides in Austin, Texas and mentally counts herself a queen of infinite space. Read more
Features & Highlights
- Brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss -- and in danger.
- Bacon must put down his books and investigate the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray's Inn in order to regain the queen's favor. He recruits his unwanted protégé, Thomas Clarady, to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a wealthy privateer, Tom will gladly do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder.The first clues point to a Catholic conspirator, but other motives for murder quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend for the victim's legal honors and wealthy clients. Highly-placed courtiers are implicated as the investigation reaches from Whitehall to the London streets.Bacon does the thinking; Clarady does the fencing. Everyone has something up his pinked and padded sleeve. Even Bacon is at a loss -- and in danger -- until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule.
- One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Indie Books of 2014.
- Don't dally: jump right into the first book in this award-winning mystery series!
