Revenger: A John Shakespeare Mystery

An intricate series of mysteries involving extraordinary historical figures at play with the intelligencer, John Shakespeare, who just happens to be the older brother of William. The Earl of Essex has an urgent assignment for Shakespeare to find a woman from the failed colony of Roanoke in Virginia; she has been sighted in London, although there were no survivors from the settlement. An additional case for Shakespeare is the mysterious double suicide of two young lovers. With the help of his friend, Joshua Peace, an early pathologist, they find upon closer examination that the pair were brutally murdered. There is also a plot set in motion by Essex and his retinue to gain control of the throne and depose Elizabeth. Robert Cecil, a member of the privy council, has persuaded Shakespeare to accept Essex's assignment in order to spy on him; Cecil is aware of the conspiracy and fears for the Queen's life. Shakespeare and his assistant, Boltfoot Cooper, will become dangerously entangled in the murder probe of the lovers as well as the treasonous plots led by the Queen's favorite courtier, Essex.It is noteworthy that in Elizabethan England there was an excessive amount of spying probably due to internal unrest and external threats from France and Spain. It is possible that there were more agents and double agents afoot than generally known: all were enticed by generous payments for information. This may have been the reason Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster, was reduced to poverty at the end of his life due to costly payments to his agents. Another historical person of interest is Richard Topcliffe, the Crown's chief enforcer against the practice of Catholicism. He is infamous for his barbaric forms of torture and the use of rape in pursuit of his victims. One such victim was the Jesuit priest, Robert Southwell, who was captured in Anne Bellamy's home while celebrating a secret mass. Topcliffe or one of his men was implicated in the rape of Anne, who had arranged for the capture of Southwell. Fortunately, influenced by Shakespeare, Catherine did not attend the mass avoiding confrontation and arrest. Topcliffe, loyal in service to the Queen, died in a state of poverty, having spent much coin for his spies.John Shakespeare is an investigator, incorruptible and loyal to Cecil and the Queen. At times, I found him overwhelmed by an excess of historical and fictional events as well as numerous characters - I think a listing would have been helpful. John is certainly not an outlier: such as Steven Saylor's wonderful finder, Gordianus. Or is he similar to CJ Sansom's clever hunchback lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, who has investigative skills, but at times is reckless in the use of them. Both of these characters reached out to me and I was able to form a bond with both Gordianus and Matthew - Regretfully, this did not happen with Shakespeare.

This book is amazing. John Shakespeare has so many problems to deal with. He had tried to retire from the intelligencer business, but the powers that be simply won’t let him. He is brought back against his will to work for both the Earl of Essex and Robert Cecil (not an easy combination). Essex has heard a rumor that a woman from the New World colony set up by his rival, Sir Walter Raleigh, has been sighted in London. But, that should be impossible. Essex wants the facts. Meanwhile, Shakespeare’s wife is under threat as a Papist, and their differing views are causing a rift in their marriage. And bodies are found, one the daughter of a person somehow entangled in Shakespeare’s investigation. And that’s just the very beginning.The author expertly carries the plot (plots) through, and, as complicated as it gets, it all comes together and makes sense throughout. Well done. I also liked that he included interesting female characters.He also has conveyed the struggle and filth of everyday life in the latter days of the reign of Elizabeth. It’s very smart, well researched, and very readable. I couldn’t put it down.That said, I would hesitate to read another book in the series (this was my first) simply because of all the blood and gore. It certainly was a violent age, and Shakespeare is investigating violent crimes, so the book does not have the sense of gratuitous violence, but it is certainly relentless. I am not a fan of violent movies or books. As much as I admire the author’s skill, I’m not sure I want to be subjected to such grim violence again.

British writer Rory Clements' new novel, "Revenger", the second in his Elizabethan setting, is even better than is first, "Martyr". Clements' central character - John Shakespeare (older brother to you-know-who) - is an "intelligencer" for Sir Francis Walsingham, principal secretary to Elizabeth I. Meaning he investigates and "looks into" problems at court and in the country as a whole. In the first book, Shakespeare helps foil a plot against Sir Francis Drake and becomes involved in the Protestant/Catholic on-going struggle.In this second in the series, Shakespeare has retired from "intelligencing" after Walsingham's death. He marries a Catholic woman and has a child and begins a school for poor children in London. But in 1595, Shakespeare is "persuaded" to head back into the life of an intelligencer. Put to work by Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex - young boy-toy of the aging Elizabeth - to find an elusive woman in London, who may - or may not - be Eleanor Dare, a possible survivor of the lost Roanoke Colony. Added into the mix is a plot against the life of Elizabeth - in the waning days of her rule - by the Devereux family, as well as the on-going, simmering dispute between Protestants and Catholics. And those are the major plot points; there are quite a few smaller ones. Somehow, though, Clements never gets the plot lines confused in his writing, so the reader doesn't.Life in Elizabethan England was often, to paraphrase Thomas Hobbes, "short, brutish, and nasty". Plague often swept the cities, and daily life was not easy. Certainly many of the characters in "Revenger" didn't meet particularly happy ends; death by horrific means was depressingly common. Clements doesn't make light of ugly death in his work. It appears as an often justifiable end to many a badly-lived life.Rory Clements has really developed an interesting set of characters in his series. Brother William makes a couple of appearances in the books, but the main character is John Shakespeare. I'm pleased that there is a third book in the series, already published in England and that I ordered from AmazonUK. Clements is a good writer; seemingly getting better with each book.

I am enjoying this series set in late Elizabethan England. There is intrigue, mystery, and lots of nasty characters galore. You can almost smell the streets as John Shakespeare makes his way through them on secret government business.

I am very impressed by the historical accuracy of the background material upon which this fictional novel is written. I spend a great deal of time 'fact-checking which makes the story even more interesting.

Good read

Fast paced book.

Rory Clements books are magnificant reading. I had never enjoyed reading as much as i do now asi have discovered this author. This book is another gem..