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In this ingenious debut, Rory Clements introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England's most remarkable investigator, and delivers a tale of murder and conspiracy that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and a crime thriller.
In a burnt-out house, one of Queen Elizabeth's aristocratic cousins is found murdered, her young flesh marked with profane symbols. At the same time, a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, England's most famous sea warrior, is discovered, a plot which, if successful, could leave the country utterly defenseless against a Spanish invasion. It's 1587, the Queen's reign is in jeopardy, and one man is charged with the desperate task of solving both cases: John Shakespeare. With the Spanish Armada poised to strike, Mary Queen of Scots awaiting execution, and the pikes above London Bridge decorated with the grim evidence of treachery, the country is in peril of being overwhelmed by fear and chaos. Following a trail of illicit passions and family secrets, Shakespeare travels through an underworld of spies, sorcerers, whores, and theater people, among whom is his own younger brother, the struggling playwright, Will. Shadowed by his rival, the Queen's chief torturer, who employs his own methods of terror, Shakespeare begins to piece together a complex and breathtaking conspiracy whose implications are almost too horrific to contemplate. For a zealous and cunning killer is stalking England's streets. And as Shakespeare threatens to reveal a madman's shocking identity, he and the beautiful woman he desires come ever closer to becoming the next martyrs to a passion for murder and conspiracy whose terrifying consequences might still be felt today.
In a burnt-out house, one of Queen Elizabeth's aristocratic cousins is found murdered, her young flesh marked with profane symbols. At the same time, a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, England's most famous sea warrior, is discovered, a plot which, if successful, could leave the country utterly defenseless against a Spanish invasion. It's 1587, the Queen's reign is in jeopardy, and one man is charged with the desperate task of solving both cases: John Shakespeare. With the Spanish Armada poised to strike, Mary Queen of Scots awaiting execution, and the pikes above London Bridge decorated with the grim evidence of treachery, the country is in peril of being overwhelmed by fear and chaos. Following a trail of illicit passions and family secrets, Shakespeare travels through an underworld of spies, sorcerers, whores, and theater people, among whom is his own younger brother, the struggling playwright, Will. Shadowed by his rival, the Queen's chief torturer, who employs his own methods of terror, Shakespeare begins to piece together a complex and breathtaking conspiracy whose implications are almost too horrific to contemplate. For a zealous and cunning killer is stalking England's streets. And as Shakespeare threatens to reveal a madman's shocking identity, he and the beautiful woman he desires come ever closer to becoming the next martyrs to a passion for murder and conspiracy whose terrifying consequences might still be felt today.
391 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Rory Clements
27 books441 followersRory Clements has had a long and successful newspaper career, including being features editor and associate editor of Today, editor of the Daily Mail's Good Health Pages, and editor of the health section at the Evening Standard. He now writes full-time in an idyllic corner of Norfolk, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
January 29, 2012
A decently paced historical mystery, set during the crisis of 1587-1588. That's about all the praise I can give it. WHY do all the heroes of these sorts of novels ALWAYS have to fall into the mold of "the one person in a prejudiced society who has 21st-century notions of religious tolerance"? Couldn't we, just once, have a hero who actually BELONGS to his time, who, say, believes in Walsingham wholeheartedly and believes that Catholics are not just "following their conscience as best they know how and so we should allow them to do so" but are actually damned sinners who are a menace to the state? Wouldn't it be interesting to have a character such as that be sympathetic anyway? Wouldn't it help us to understand the time period, and maybe, our own time and our own unquestioned prejudices?
But no. We have John Shakespeare, William's brother, who is an incredibly enlightened man with modern notions of pluralism and multiculturalism, but who is nevertheless inexplicably trusted by Walsingham to root out Catholic plots against the queen. Jumping around between a dizzying array of seemingly unconnected characters, our intrepid hero unmasks traitors, tracks down murderers, deals with quite a lot of unnecessarily brutal fights and murders, and seduces a Catholic governess in what is one of the most laughable sex scenes EVER (yes, children, as we all know, good Catholic girls in the 1580's were only too ready to jump into bed with a man they hardly knew, especially if they suspected him of being an agent of the Usurping Bastard Queen. When this happened, the deflowering consisted of a moment of pain, followed immediately by practiced and ecstatic coupling, in a variety of exotic positions, and ending in simultaneous orgasms. You then proceeded to repeat the process twice before dawn. There was no fumbling, no shadow of inexperience, no worries about getting pregnant or catching an STD, no worries about sin, and quite a lot of knowledge about how it all worked and what made it pleasurable for a woman. Yes, that's exactly how it was).
I cared enough to keep going in order to find out who committed the initial murder, but that was also pretty underwhelming.
But no. We have John Shakespeare, William's brother, who is an incredibly enlightened man with modern notions of pluralism and multiculturalism, but who is nevertheless inexplicably trusted by Walsingham to root out Catholic plots against the queen. Jumping around between a dizzying array of seemingly unconnected characters, our intrepid hero unmasks traitors, tracks down murderers, deals with quite a lot of unnecessarily brutal fights and murders, and seduces a Catholic governess in what is one of the most laughable sex scenes EVER (yes, children, as we all know, good Catholic girls in the 1580's were only too ready to jump into bed with a man they hardly knew, especially if they suspected him of being an agent of the Usurping Bastard Queen. When this happened, the deflowering consisted of a moment of pain, followed immediately by practiced and ecstatic coupling, in a variety of exotic positions, and ending in simultaneous orgasms. You then proceeded to repeat the process twice before dawn. There was no fumbling, no shadow of inexperience, no worries about getting pregnant or catching an STD, no worries about sin, and quite a lot of knowledge about how it all worked and what made it pleasurable for a woman. Yes, that's exactly how it was).
I cared enough to keep going in order to find out who committed the initial murder, but that was also pretty underwhelming.
July 15, 2012
Didn't quite end up how I expected. For half of the book I was thinking four stars. It had ambiance, colourful characters and I really felt the Tudor world. But the back half of the book was a little disjointed and mashed together. I am yet to find a Medieval mystery series that I enjoy as much as the C. J. Sansom series. I have tried a couple now, this one and the Colitto series that starts with Inquisition. I think i might just give up and stick with Sansom's series.
December 18, 2015
I do like this era and the idea was good, I just don't think Clements managed to pull it off.
John Shakespeare is an investigator for Walsingham, charged with keeping Sir Francis Drake from being assassinated and rooting out any Catholic plots against the queen. Fellow investigator and rival Topcliffe always seems to be just ahead of Shakespeare in the investigation, using his brutal methods to get the answers he wants from the victims and perpetrators.
There were two things that jumped out at me from the start. First: I felt the characters were a bit one dimensional and typical, as in, the spunky girl willing to state her mind no matter what or the bad guys with no redeeming attributes or the hero just trying to do everything honourably. Second: the writing was so full of clichés it felt like I was reading a newspaper article not a book.
I did like the Will Shakespeare parts. I also liked how they all talked about Queen Elizabeth with her moods and avoiding her at times. I actually really enjoyed several of the bit players, Jane and the clubfoot guy (I can't remember his name right now), the two whores and Harry Slide........
The atmosphere was also well done. The legislation to go to church on Sunday and the fear of being Roman Catholic was portrayed great.
I found the last half too rushed, going here and there, it felt like it was all over the place, trying to tie up loose ends and characters.
John Shakespeare is an investigator for Walsingham, charged with keeping Sir Francis Drake from being assassinated and rooting out any Catholic plots against the queen. Fellow investigator and rival Topcliffe always seems to be just ahead of Shakespeare in the investigation, using his brutal methods to get the answers he wants from the victims and perpetrators.
There were two things that jumped out at me from the start. First: I felt the characters were a bit one dimensional and typical, as in, the spunky girl willing to state her mind no matter what or the bad guys with no redeeming attributes or the hero just trying to do everything honourably. Second: the writing was so full of clichés it felt like I was reading a newspaper article not a book.
I did like the Will Shakespeare parts. I also liked how they all talked about Queen Elizabeth with her moods and avoiding her at times. I actually really enjoyed several of the bit players, Jane and the clubfoot guy (I can't remember his name right now), the two whores and Harry Slide........
The atmosphere was also well done. The legislation to go to church on Sunday and the fear of being Roman Catholic was portrayed great.
I found the last half too rushed, going here and there, it felt like it was all over the place, trying to tie up loose ends and characters.
June 5, 2016
Good grasp on historical details. Hero has a touch of "the only modern man" syndrome, however.
For further review: http://susannag.booklikes.com/post/22... .
For further review: http://susannag.booklikes.com/post/22... .
May 1, 2010
MARTYR by Rory Clements, a novel set in the later years of Elizabeth I's reign, introduces us to the intelligencer John Shakespeare, older brother of the playwright. While investigating the brutal murder of a noblewoman, Shakespeare finds himself drawn into an assasination plot against Sir Francis Drake and the hunt for a deadly Jesuit; what he
discovers shakes his belief in himself and the world around him.
Mr Clements excels in his debut. While he can write spine-tingling action with flair, his best asset is his ability to render believable, flawed characters, as well as the complexities of a society torn apart by religious discord, poverty, and greed. Highly recommended for fans of C.J. Sansom and Steve Berry.
discovers shakes his belief in himself and the world around him.
Mr Clements excels in his debut. While he can write spine-tingling action with flair, his best asset is his ability to render believable, flawed characters, as well as the complexities of a society torn apart by religious discord, poverty, and greed. Highly recommended for fans of C.J. Sansom and Steve Berry.
June 16, 2011
There are some books that never quite escape the shadow of the books that inspired them. Here it is hard to escape the feeling that C.J. Sanson's Shardlake books were not just an important inspiration, their success was, for the publisher at least, the real reason behind this book. Even the one word title seems designed to evoke Sansom's oh-so successful formula. But Clements' novel is nothing like as well done.
Whilst not badly written, the characters are essentially flat and appear too obviously to be driven more by the demands of the plot rather than any inner life. The central character, John Shakespeare, can be shrewd or dim depending on the author's needs. Clues are scattered through the book more, it seems, because the plot demands them than for any particularly credible reason. None of which need necessarily matter, if the plot itself is sufficiently ingenious or thrilling - no-one demands perfection of an Agatha Christie or a James Bond movie. But again, the flaws are too evident.
The story of an assassin stalking Sir Francis Drake before the Spanish Armada clearly owes a debt to Day of the Jackal. In that book Forsyth's skill is in telling a story where we all know what the outcome must be but still creating tension. It is created in the calm professionalism of the killer and the desperate attempts to discover information about him and track him. The simplicity of the action gives it strength. Here that approach is unwisely put to one side, with extra deaths to investigate, incidents that appear to have been grafted on from another story, and the assassin displaying nothing of the deadly efficiency of the Jackal.
Finally, the world of John Shakespeare never rings entirely true. The characters might be dressed in the ruffs and doublets of the day, but they don't wholly convince as sixteenth century people. The most important part, for me at least, of Sansom's winning formula is therefore missing.
The novel is perfectly serviceable but don't expect anything that challenges or truely grips. For a more interesting approach to Walsingham's intelligenciers and the Armada you could try Patricia Finney's book 'Gloriana's Torch'.
Whilst not badly written, the characters are essentially flat and appear too obviously to be driven more by the demands of the plot rather than any inner life. The central character, John Shakespeare, can be shrewd or dim depending on the author's needs. Clues are scattered through the book more, it seems, because the plot demands them than for any particularly credible reason. None of which need necessarily matter, if the plot itself is sufficiently ingenious or thrilling - no-one demands perfection of an Agatha Christie or a James Bond movie. But again, the flaws are too evident.
The story of an assassin stalking Sir Francis Drake before the Spanish Armada clearly owes a debt to Day of the Jackal. In that book Forsyth's skill is in telling a story where we all know what the outcome must be but still creating tension. It is created in the calm professionalism of the killer and the desperate attempts to discover information about him and track him. The simplicity of the action gives it strength. Here that approach is unwisely put to one side, with extra deaths to investigate, incidents that appear to have been grafted on from another story, and the assassin displaying nothing of the deadly efficiency of the Jackal.
Finally, the world of John Shakespeare never rings entirely true. The characters might be dressed in the ruffs and doublets of the day, but they don't wholly convince as sixteenth century people. The most important part, for me at least, of Sansom's winning formula is therefore missing.
The novel is perfectly serviceable but don't expect anything that challenges or truely grips. For a more interesting approach to Walsingham's intelligenciers and the Armada you could try Patricia Finney's book 'Gloriana's Torch'.
February 6, 2010
What I learned from this book is that I won't be rushing out to get the next one. in future I'll wait for a new Matthew Shardlake
January 28, 2022
Not engaging, characters sound Victorian rather than Elizabethan,clichéd.
September 19, 2021
Read this in 2010, and its the 1st part, in chronological order the 3rd, of the wonderful "John Shakespeare" series, from the amazing author, Rory Clements.
This tale is set between the years, AD1586-1587, and we follow our chief intelligencer of Spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, John Shakespeare, leading several investigations, namely the murder of a high-born young woman, a secret assassination threat towards Sir Francis Drake, who's preparing his fleet against the invasion threat by Spain, and two Jesuit priests who are hiding in fear for their lives.
Very important to note is the fact that Mary, the Catholic Queen of Scots, who's incarcerated for treason at Fotheringhay Castle to be tried and executed there, and she will be seen later on as a kind of "Martyr" for the Catholics against the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I.
Also there's Richard Topcliffe, Elizabeth's henchman and priest-hunter who's shadowing John Shakespeare at every turn in his investigations.
What is to follow is an intriguing and suspenseful political and royal mystery, with John Shakespeare, who's William Shakespeare's older brother in this series, in the lead as investigator and chief intelligencer, but where the Cecil's behind the scenes and Sir Francis Walsingham at the forefront will show their force and power to get rid of the Catholic opposition against the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I, and so secure her reign for the coming future against all enemies home and abroad.
Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous series featuring John Shakespeare during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and because of that I would like to call this first episode: "A Marvellous John Shakespeare Start"!
This tale is set between the years, AD1586-1587, and we follow our chief intelligencer of Spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, John Shakespeare, leading several investigations, namely the murder of a high-born young woman, a secret assassination threat towards Sir Francis Drake, who's preparing his fleet against the invasion threat by Spain, and two Jesuit priests who are hiding in fear for their lives.
Very important to note is the fact that Mary, the Catholic Queen of Scots, who's incarcerated for treason at Fotheringhay Castle to be tried and executed there, and she will be seen later on as a kind of "Martyr" for the Catholics against the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I.
Also there's Richard Topcliffe, Elizabeth's henchman and priest-hunter who's shadowing John Shakespeare at every turn in his investigations.
What is to follow is an intriguing and suspenseful political and royal mystery, with John Shakespeare, who's William Shakespeare's older brother in this series, in the lead as investigator and chief intelligencer, but where the Cecil's behind the scenes and Sir Francis Walsingham at the forefront will show their force and power to get rid of the Catholic opposition against the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I, and so secure her reign for the coming future against all enemies home and abroad.
Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous series featuring John Shakespeare during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and because of that I would like to call this first episode: "A Marvellous John Shakespeare Start"!
May 8, 2012
The queen's cousin is found murdered in an unlikely place and in a terrible way. Spymaster Walsingham calls on his lieutenant John Shakespeare to solve the mystery. Shakespeare follows clues and red herrings and uncovers conspiracy.
I was rather underwhelmed. It looked exciting, it's a time period I enjoy reading about and I like a good mystery. The historical aspect was very well done (hence the 3 stars instead of 2) and interesting, the mystery, not so much. There was just too much trying to be contained in this story making the eventual reveal fall very flat with me. I frankly just didn't care any more. A few twists and turns and added clues are usually good, but 'Martyr' was making me feel like a martyr for trying to understand where all of the story was going.
This book just could have been much tighter, there was too much of it. Also John Shakespeare himself felt very boring to me. I was much more entertained by the multitude of side characters. Granted, much of the book changes perspective to the fringe characters, but as a leading man, shakespeare was just BORING. Certainly no D'Artagnan (the fictional hero stick to whom all fictional male heroes are measured to in my book).
It wasn't a bad book, just very blah. There are many other Elizabethan mysteries you could read and be much more entertained by.
I was rather underwhelmed. It looked exciting, it's a time period I enjoy reading about and I like a good mystery. The historical aspect was very well done (hence the 3 stars instead of 2) and interesting, the mystery, not so much. There was just too much trying to be contained in this story making the eventual reveal fall very flat with me. I frankly just didn't care any more. A few twists and turns and added clues are usually good, but 'Martyr' was making me feel like a martyr for trying to understand where all of the story was going.
This book just could have been much tighter, there was too much of it. Also John Shakespeare himself felt very boring to me. I was much more entertained by the multitude of side characters. Granted, much of the book changes perspective to the fringe characters, but as a leading man, shakespeare was just BORING. Certainly no D'Artagnan (the fictional hero stick to whom all fictional male heroes are measured to in my book).
It wasn't a bad book, just very blah. There are many other Elizabethan mysteries you could read and be much more entertained by.
October 28, 2009
As a fan of C.J. Sansom's outstanding Matthew Shardlake historical mysteries, I have to agree with the previous reviewer that John Shakespeare's debut outing doesn't quite measure up to that level.
However, Clements does a pretty good job keeping everything moving, until the last quarter of the book or so, which dragged for me. I kept feeling like we were heading for a big denouement, but it just slogged on (in the case of John's "frantic" chase to Plymouth, literally. . .) The requisite "winding up" of loose ends seemed to take forever!
John is similar to Shardlake in temperament (smart, sensitive, thoughtful, questioning the use and abuse of power by his fellow Englishmen in service to the Crown), but John is a bit of a wimp, frankly...Shardlake, even with his hunchback, seems tougher in a fight! Some of the supporting characters (Sir Francis Drake, Walsingham and Boltfoot Cooper) are very interesting, and I hope they return in future books. The villain in the piece, Topcliffe, is a totally reprehensible human being, and since he's also serving Elizabeth I and appears able to act with relative impugnity, I could see interesting conflicts ahead. He is so close to being over-the-top evil, however, that he overshadows the Jesuit assassin sent to kill Sir Francis, supposedly one of the key plots in the book. If this continues, I think I would rapidly lose interest in the series, as I don't think Shakespeare could be a competent "intelligencer" with someone on his own side (supposedly) constantly hiding/destroying/subverting witnesses, information and evidence!
Having said that, I will try the next in the series, but I do hope John toughens up a bit, if for no other reason than it will help him hold his own against Topcliffe.
However, Clements does a pretty good job keeping everything moving, until the last quarter of the book or so, which dragged for me. I kept feeling like we were heading for a big denouement, but it just slogged on (in the case of John's "frantic" chase to Plymouth, literally. . .) The requisite "winding up" of loose ends seemed to take forever!
John is similar to Shardlake in temperament (smart, sensitive, thoughtful, questioning the use and abuse of power by his fellow Englishmen in service to the Crown), but John is a bit of a wimp, frankly...Shardlake, even with his hunchback, seems tougher in a fight! Some of the supporting characters (Sir Francis Drake, Walsingham and Boltfoot Cooper) are very interesting, and I hope they return in future books. The villain in the piece, Topcliffe, is a totally reprehensible human being, and since he's also serving Elizabeth I and appears able to act with relative impugnity, I could see interesting conflicts ahead. He is so close to being over-the-top evil, however, that he overshadows the Jesuit assassin sent to kill Sir Francis, supposedly one of the key plots in the book. If this continues, I think I would rapidly lose interest in the series, as I don't think Shakespeare could be a competent "intelligencer" with someone on his own side (supposedly) constantly hiding/destroying/subverting witnesses, information and evidence!
Having said that, I will try the next in the series, but I do hope John toughens up a bit, if for no other reason than it will help him hold his own against Topcliffe.
November 4, 2018
I was in the mood for a meaty historical thriller, and I wanted to listen to it too. I did start out in audio. Simon Vance was great, (will certainly look for more narrated by him, I know he has an extensive library) but my connection in the car worked against me every day. I have the paperback so I finished it that way. I really liked John Shakespeare's character and I'll continue reading this series! I liked it a lot. I think I have the next in the series at home? I think?
March 29, 2017
An intriguing spy mystery full of foreboding. Rory Clements creates an authentic atmosphere. The reader feels as if he or she is wandering the dark streets of Elizabethan London. John Shakespeare is a likeable character. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
July 10, 2012
What a terrific ride. The time period was flawlessly described and the characters so very well established and constant. More later as the group finishes up but now maybe I can get some sleep!!
May 14, 2023
A very solid historical fiction if you've read CJ Sansom and his shardlake series give this a go.
June 5, 2021
An excellent little story about a fictional brother of William Shakespeare who works for Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s secretary, the original ‘M’ of intelligence.
The daft sex scenes, the rather rapid demise of the enemy (or one of them at least) and the usual enemy within who happens to be the Queen’s favourite are all that are negative about the story as the rest of it was interesting.
I like to know how terms we use today originated from in etymological terms and ‘in Limbo’ was one such term. It is also fascinating to learn the different names for a whorehouse or ‘bawdy’ house. It’s such a shame that when unexpected wealth fell on two working girls, Starling and Parsy, they stupidly got drunk and blew it all, in spite of being so careful up to that point. The other silly bit being the results of a visit to a witch and her whore as that was ridiculous, and Shakespeare behaved in a completely stupid way, or was he just naive, or both to fall into that trap. Any reader saw that coming.
Lots of stories that seem related then unrelated then related once more occur. It all came to a weird end and rather too abruptly e.g. Rosie’s baby, the ease of the death of the enemy which is usually drawn out like some Bond character that refuses to die (and let us be honest, Shardlake is one of those very Bond types who seems to bounce back from harm in every job he does).
I will read the rest of the series as I feel it unfair to compare it to C J Sansom, my favourite writer of this period, as it is wrong to expect every writer to have excellent historical knowledge and legal background but Clements does a grand job of describing the filth of the cities and even criticised the Shires for not knowing how to farm as well as the farms that existed near London. Oh how little has changed, London obviously does everything better now as it clearly did then.
My final criticism of the writer’s style is the excessive use of animal cruelty in relation to describing anything, it was almost every other page where an animal suffering or dying was an analogy or comparative in phrasing. I got very upset and weary of the abundance of it.
So Topcliffe will live to be an obstructive pain another day, Boltfoot will marry the maid Jane and Shakespeare (whose mother really was a Catholic) will bed a catholic maid in his own house and this will cause problems to be included in the next book, no doubt.
William’s father was called John Shakespeare incidentally..
The daft sex scenes, the rather rapid demise of the enemy (or one of them at least) and the usual enemy within who happens to be the Queen’s favourite are all that are negative about the story as the rest of it was interesting.
I like to know how terms we use today originated from in etymological terms and ‘in Limbo’ was one such term. It is also fascinating to learn the different names for a whorehouse or ‘bawdy’ house. It’s such a shame that when unexpected wealth fell on two working girls, Starling and Parsy, they stupidly got drunk and blew it all, in spite of being so careful up to that point. The other silly bit being the results of a visit to a witch and her whore as that was ridiculous, and Shakespeare behaved in a completely stupid way, or was he just naive, or both to fall into that trap. Any reader saw that coming.
Lots of stories that seem related then unrelated then related once more occur. It all came to a weird end and rather too abruptly e.g. Rosie’s baby, the ease of the death of the enemy which is usually drawn out like some Bond character that refuses to die (and let us be honest, Shardlake is one of those very Bond types who seems to bounce back from harm in every job he does).
I will read the rest of the series as I feel it unfair to compare it to C J Sansom, my favourite writer of this period, as it is wrong to expect every writer to have excellent historical knowledge and legal background but Clements does a grand job of describing the filth of the cities and even criticised the Shires for not knowing how to farm as well as the farms that existed near London. Oh how little has changed, London obviously does everything better now as it clearly did then.
My final criticism of the writer’s style is the excessive use of animal cruelty in relation to describing anything, it was almost every other page where an animal suffering or dying was an analogy or comparative in phrasing. I got very upset and weary of the abundance of it.
So Topcliffe will live to be an obstructive pain another day, Boltfoot will marry the maid Jane and Shakespeare (whose mother really was a Catholic) will bed a catholic maid in his own house and this will cause problems to be included in the next book, no doubt.
William’s father was called John Shakespeare incidentally..
March 24, 2012
Did you know that William Shakespeare, the infamous playwright, had an older brother called John who was an intelligencer for Secretary Walsingham? Neither did I. LOL John begins investigating the death of a woman, a noblewoman distantly related to Queen Elizabeth. Her body is found in a burned out house, carved with profane religious symbols--and she was with child, the fetus having been sliced from her body before the fire, which only partly consumed her body.
While he's investigating, he uncovers a plot to murder Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral of England's Royal Navy and their only hope to stave off a Spanish invasion, and must also try to foil that plot while still looking for the killer of Lady Blanche Howard. All the while, he's working at cross-purposes to one Richard Topcliffe, a trusted advisor to the Queen, who has it in for Shakespeare and always seems to be one step ahead of John's efforts. Walsingham, not wanting to incur the Queen's ire, tells Shakespeare he'll just have to put up with Topcliffe.
Set during 1587 with the backdrop of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots and the attempt by the government to hunt down and kill Catholic priests and arrest those found practicing Catholicism, this book was gripping at the same time as it felt tired and rehashed. The author used a lot of well-documented details to flesh out and authenticate parts of the story, but anyone who's read a bit of Elizabethan history will have heard most of it before. The story had an interesting beginning, but I found the intrigue to peter out a bit towards the middle and became rather predictable, even down to the romantic twist for Shakespeare. I'll probably read the next one in the series, although it won't be anytime soon.
While he's investigating, he uncovers a plot to murder Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral of England's Royal Navy and their only hope to stave off a Spanish invasion, and must also try to foil that plot while still looking for the killer of Lady Blanche Howard. All the while, he's working at cross-purposes to one Richard Topcliffe, a trusted advisor to the Queen, who has it in for Shakespeare and always seems to be one step ahead of John's efforts. Walsingham, not wanting to incur the Queen's ire, tells Shakespeare he'll just have to put up with Topcliffe.
Set during 1587 with the backdrop of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots and the attempt by the government to hunt down and kill Catholic priests and arrest those found practicing Catholicism, this book was gripping at the same time as it felt tired and rehashed. The author used a lot of well-documented details to flesh out and authenticate parts of the story, but anyone who's read a bit of Elizabethan history will have heard most of it before. The story had an interesting beginning, but I found the intrigue to peter out a bit towards the middle and became rather predictable, even down to the romantic twist for Shakespeare. I'll probably read the next one in the series, although it won't be anytime soon.
May 6, 2016
Trying a historical mystery again after Rebellion's Message. This one is set in the same time period, but Clements is much more impressive with his writing, plotting and evoking the sense of a bygone era. You may have heard of William Shakespeare, bard extraordinaire, who does make a brief appearance in this story. Well, Clements has invented him a sibling, John, on top of all of his real life brothers. John Shakespeare is a Queen's man working for Sir Francis Walsingham, who was the principle secretary to Queen Elizabeth the I and the original spymaster. As such he must undertake daring missions, solve murders and protect important personage, in this case Sir Francis Drake...all while navigating the delicate balance of court intrigues and social politics of the day. This was quite an enjoyable read, the historical setting was rendered vividly in all its unhygienic glory, the plot, convoluted and complicated as it might have been, was actually possible to follow confidently, John Shakespeare is a credible, strong and compelling character, a moral man in an often immoral world. He seems like a solid leading man for a series, as much as I dislike series. And the author has done a very good job of creating a literary universe worth revisiting. This interesting and entertaining armchair trip to Elizabethan England should appeal to any fans of history, mystery or, of course, a combination of both. Shakespeare (no, not John) did mention something about brevity being the soul of wit and this book is quite expansive, but it reads well and quickly enough, pacing being the key. Recommended.
March 18, 2015
I think that historical fiction such as this were responsible for coaxing me back and showed me the enjoyment to be had from reading, several years ago. I have enjoyed The Ratcatcher Novels of James McGee, CJ Sansom's tales of Matthew Shardlake, SJ Parris and her stories of Giordano Bruno, The Apothecary John Rawlings and the Blind Beak by Deryn Lake, Bernards Knight's tales of Crowner John and Paul Doherty's Hugh Corbett books. To all of these authors go my heartfelt thanks. I can honestly say that I have learned more about history from these books than I ever learned in History lessons at school, and the books were far more enjoyable.
With that as a background, I was very pleased to see a review of the latest in this series by an author who had passed under my radar. Martyr was the first in that series.
Mr Clements does not hold back on the crimes and atrocities committed in the name of Queen and Country, nor of others, during the telling of his story which would normally have me reducing my score. In this book however, he seems to get away with his telling of the gruesome happenings.
The story itself has a good pace and the scenes are well set and easily visualised as are all of the characters. I look forward to meeting some of them again in future novels
Reading books such as this make me realise what an uncertain life every class of person had in this era of our history and how lucky we are to have such freedoms today.
With that as a background, I was very pleased to see a review of the latest in this series by an author who had passed under my radar. Martyr was the first in that series.
Mr Clements does not hold back on the crimes and atrocities committed in the name of Queen and Country, nor of others, during the telling of his story which would normally have me reducing my score. In this book however, he seems to get away with his telling of the gruesome happenings.
The story itself has a good pace and the scenes are well set and easily visualised as are all of the characters. I look forward to meeting some of them again in future novels
Reading books such as this make me realise what an uncertain life every class of person had in this era of our history and how lucky we are to have such freedoms today.
November 14, 2023
This book was wonderfully written. Rory Clements did an aamazing job with word choice. Each word added the proper effect and drew you deeper into the book. Quite often I would stumble upon a word I've never seen before, and I fell into the habit of keekping a dictionary close at hand when ever I picked this book up. Despite the annoyence of having to pause mid sentence to look up a definition, it was worth it. It is quite refreashing to stray from the same old vocabulary most authors have. It was like drinking an ice tea after having drunk water all month.
Now on to the plot. I will try my best not to give away any important events. Having two cases running parallel to each other (a young girls murder and attempt at a generals life) was a good choice by Clements. It kept me thoroughly entertained. Clements also correctly and effectivly used English history throughout the book. He tied together important historical figures with fictional ones, which resulted in an exciting mix of character interaction.
Martyr is not for those who skirt around touchy subjects and themes. Sex is often present, along with gory details of torture and mistreatment.
I eagerly look foreward to reading Rory Clements next book centered around John Shakespear! I know I will not be disapointed.
Now on to the plot. I will try my best not to give away any important events. Having two cases running parallel to each other (a young girls murder and attempt at a generals life) was a good choice by Clements. It kept me thoroughly entertained. Clements also correctly and effectivly used English history throughout the book. He tied together important historical figures with fictional ones, which resulted in an exciting mix of character interaction.
Martyr is not for those who skirt around touchy subjects and themes. Sex is often present, along with gory details of torture and mistreatment.
I eagerly look foreward to reading Rory Clements next book centered around John Shakespear! I know I will not be disapointed.
July 20, 2017
This book was a quick, enjoyable read for me. As a fast-paced mystery with a likable protagonist and a skilled creation of the Tudor world, it captivated and held my attention. I liked the fact that even though Queen Elizabeth never appears in a scene, the reader is given a strong impression of her character and heavy hand on events.
"Those who caught her eye lived a life between heaven and hell depending on her moods, which were as changeable as the weather: one moment sunshine and balm, the next thunder and rage."
Digging a little bit deeper, this book has a few flaws. John Shakespeare makes a great first impression, but I began to wonder what it was that he really believed and stood for as the book carried on. He is willing to risk his life to do his job, but why? The religious battle that grips the country seems to matter little to him, and he has no problem arresting one Catholic and sleeping with another.
Yet it wasn't until the odd Mother Davis bit that I took this book out of 5-star contention. I'm not even sure what to say about that strange episode.
The conclusion of the book felt a bit rushed after all the suspense of getting there, but the appearance of Will Shakespeare was a fun way to wrap things up. This is a series that will go on my TBR.
"Those who caught her eye lived a life between heaven and hell depending on her moods, which were as changeable as the weather: one moment sunshine and balm, the next thunder and rage."
Digging a little bit deeper, this book has a few flaws. John Shakespeare makes a great first impression, but I began to wonder what it was that he really believed and stood for as the book carried on. He is willing to risk his life to do his job, but why? The religious battle that grips the country seems to matter little to him, and he has no problem arresting one Catholic and sleeping with another.
Yet it wasn't until the odd Mother Davis bit that I took this book out of 5-star contention. I'm not even sure what to say about that strange episode.
The conclusion of the book felt a bit rushed after all the suspense of getting there, but the appearance of Will Shakespeare was a fun way to wrap things up. This is a series that will go on my TBR.
December 4, 2018
Good story but too graphic for me. A little too painful to read.
July 30, 2019
This is the first book in a series, similar to that of CJ Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake series, and SJ Parris’s Giordano Bruno series. I’ve really found myself addicted to such books this year, so I was really excited to get stuck in to Martyr.
Set in Elizabethan London, John Shakespeare, older brother of William, is under the employ of Sir Francis Walsingham, England’s spymaster. He tasks Shakespeare with the investigation of the brutal murder of a young noblewoman, a murder that is believed to be linked to wanted Jesuit priests. Whilst getting his teeth into the mystery of Blanche Howard’s murder, he finds links to a plot against the life of England’s Vice-Admiral, Sir Francis Drake. The Jesuit priests are under the pay of King Philip II Of Spain, sent to assassinate Drake. Shakespeare uncovers further twists and conspirators, coming head to head with one of the Queen’s own men, Topcliffe, where there is a personal quarrel as well.
I really enjoyed reading this, Clements has created some very detailed, fully fleshed out, likeable/dislikable characters. London feels very real, there are plenty of details, which make you feel like you can actually hear, see, and smell the streets of Elizabethan England. I cannot wait to get started on the next book in the series.
Set in Elizabethan London, John Shakespeare, older brother of William, is under the employ of Sir Francis Walsingham, England’s spymaster. He tasks Shakespeare with the investigation of the brutal murder of a young noblewoman, a murder that is believed to be linked to wanted Jesuit priests. Whilst getting his teeth into the mystery of Blanche Howard’s murder, he finds links to a plot against the life of England’s Vice-Admiral, Sir Francis Drake. The Jesuit priests are under the pay of King Philip II Of Spain, sent to assassinate Drake. Shakespeare uncovers further twists and conspirators, coming head to head with one of the Queen’s own men, Topcliffe, where there is a personal quarrel as well.
I really enjoyed reading this, Clements has created some very detailed, fully fleshed out, likeable/dislikable characters. London feels very real, there are plenty of details, which make you feel like you can actually hear, see, and smell the streets of Elizabethan England. I cannot wait to get started on the next book in the series.
February 23, 2019
I have already bought the next book in the series as I was confident I’d like it and I was right. The story is not all that original but I love all the details and that the book doesn’t shy away from the real life in this period of history. I find it incredible how much life turns on a sixpence and you could find yourself being hanged for basically nothing. I recommend the book to anyone who likes historical fiction.
May 19, 2020
A good, well written and fast paced Tudor murder mystery. First in the series and had to use a lot of self control not to buy the next one immediately! Good historical details interwoven with a decent plot and characters.
October 24, 2024
This book was meh. I wasn’t a fan of how women were depicted throughout. Honestly, the author talked about breasts way too much. We get it, the male characters are pervs, who are fixated on women’s bodies.
October 21, 2017
Investigator John Shakespeare (older brother to a certain actor and playwright) is tasked by spymaster Francis Walsingham with looking into the brutal murder of Blanche Howard, a young cousin to Queen Elizabeth, and preventing an assassination plot against Sir Francis Drake from achieving its aims.
The first in a series of seven books, this was a well-plotted though somewhat longwinded historical mystery that kept me interested but occasionally had me wishing for a swifter pace.
The first in a series of seven books, this was a well-plotted though somewhat longwinded historical mystery that kept me interested but occasionally had me wishing for a swifter pace.
January 7, 2020
Definitely scratches that Elizabethan mystery itch. A tad slow in spots but overall worth reading for that cozy (except for descriptions of torture) Shakespeare vibe.
March 23, 2015
A fabulous, well-paced historical crime book set during the latter years of Elizabeth’s reign (it opens in 1587), a time when conspiracies abounded, suspicions towards Catholics and fears for Elizabeth’s life were rife in a country still trying to lay firm Protestant foundations. This was an era when paranoia was alive and well (and often with good reason) and Mister Secretary, Sir Francis Walsingham and his spies or intelligencers played a significant role in shoring up the safety of the land and its monarch.
Enter John Shakespeare, brother to William and a clever, generous and handsome bloke to boot, who is recruited into Walsingham’s network. Between the brutal murder of one of the queen’s cousins in a burnt out house on London Bridge and a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, John has his work cut out. Alongside all this, King Philip and his armada threatens, Mary Stuart is poised for execution, while Jesuit priests walk the streets, harvesting English souls, evading capture by hiding in the houses of Catholic sympathisers.
Tasked with discovering Drake’s would-be assassin, the killer of the queen’s cousin and the recusants hiding the Jesuits, Shakespeare is forced to confront his own beliefs, his heart’s desire and the fears and realities of both Protestants and Catholics alike.
Watching his every move but always seeming to be one step ahead is the awful character of Richard Topcliffe who, in real life, was known to be a blood-thirsty sociopath with a genuine love for torture. His name alone was enough to cast a long and horrifying shadow – and if you read books on the torture of the time and what this man did, it still will…
Topcliffe knows that John has secrets, secrets that could undermine his position, family and his life. But when the assassin and Topcliffe start to threaten those John has grown to love, the stakes become even higher.
I thoroughly enjoyed what at times is a very, very gory book that doesn’t hold back from the shocking realities of Elizabethan life for the men and poor women who were held in thrall by violent, powerful people. The constant pressure brought to bear on Catholics and the religious schism that existed at the time is painful to read, but also reflects what was again a reality for many folk.
In some reviews I’ve read, readers’ criticise Clement, the author, for giving his hero what they term “modern religious sensibilities”, meaning, I think, a tolerance for both sides of the religious divide. The historical facts record that just like in any period, while there were fundamentalists and those who truly believed their soul was at stake if they adhered to a different set of religious principles, there were also those very tolerant and even ambivalent about specific religious practices, even if they never doubted God. This period was not as black and white as many other writers of the era make out, so in that regard, I think Clement has done something very original and interesting with John Shakespeare and the other characters who populate this book. Certainly, his evocation of the era is outstanding and his use of language rich and fruity.
I really enjoyed this book and upon finishing it, immediately commenced the next in the series.
Enter John Shakespeare, brother to William and a clever, generous and handsome bloke to boot, who is recruited into Walsingham’s network. Between the brutal murder of one of the queen’s cousins in a burnt out house on London Bridge and a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, John has his work cut out. Alongside all this, King Philip and his armada threatens, Mary Stuart is poised for execution, while Jesuit priests walk the streets, harvesting English souls, evading capture by hiding in the houses of Catholic sympathisers.
Tasked with discovering Drake’s would-be assassin, the killer of the queen’s cousin and the recusants hiding the Jesuits, Shakespeare is forced to confront his own beliefs, his heart’s desire and the fears and realities of both Protestants and Catholics alike.
Watching his every move but always seeming to be one step ahead is the awful character of Richard Topcliffe who, in real life, was known to be a blood-thirsty sociopath with a genuine love for torture. His name alone was enough to cast a long and horrifying shadow – and if you read books on the torture of the time and what this man did, it still will…
Topcliffe knows that John has secrets, secrets that could undermine his position, family and his life. But when the assassin and Topcliffe start to threaten those John has grown to love, the stakes become even higher.
I thoroughly enjoyed what at times is a very, very gory book that doesn’t hold back from the shocking realities of Elizabethan life for the men and poor women who were held in thrall by violent, powerful people. The constant pressure brought to bear on Catholics and the religious schism that existed at the time is painful to read, but also reflects what was again a reality for many folk.
In some reviews I’ve read, readers’ criticise Clement, the author, for giving his hero what they term “modern religious sensibilities”, meaning, I think, a tolerance for both sides of the religious divide. The historical facts record that just like in any period, while there were fundamentalists and those who truly believed their soul was at stake if they adhered to a different set of religious principles, there were also those very tolerant and even ambivalent about specific religious practices, even if they never doubted God. This period was not as black and white as many other writers of the era make out, so in that regard, I think Clement has done something very original and interesting with John Shakespeare and the other characters who populate this book. Certainly, his evocation of the era is outstanding and his use of language rich and fruity.
I really enjoyed this book and upon finishing it, immediately commenced the next in the series.
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