Francis Bacon is charged with investigating the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray’s Inn. He recruits his unwanted protégé Thomas Clarady to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a privateer, Clarady will do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder. Bacon’s powerful uncle Lord Burghley suspects Catholic conspirators of the crime, but other motives quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend … contend for the murdered man’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 the brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss — and in danger — until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule.
more
Castle does a great job hanging an interesting fictional narrative on an accurate historical framework. Having Francis Bacon, the inventor of the modern scientific method, be her chief protagonist is brilliant
I had a hard time getting through this book
All books in this series are engaging, entertaining and fun to read. Highly recommended!
An interesting take on that period of history. Learned a good bit about the ways of the church and not all of them flattering. Worth reading to learn about the period.
I always enjoy reading historical novels because I learn some history and I am often inspired to learn more about the characters and the period. It was a good mystery and well written.
I can’t handle books with too much suspense but I enjoyed this book since it was mostly a whodunit. The characters were interesting as well as the time period.
Good historical fiction
I love escaping into Francis Bacon’s world. The characters are very real and the situations that they become involved in are full of accurate historical detail.
Murder among the Gentry in Elizabethan England… Good book.
A different setting for a murder mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kept me guessing as to who committed the murders. Some fun twists and turns with some history sprinkled throughout.
A really good read. I like the series
If you like boring, confusing, prose then this book is for you!
may be well written, but does not “trip my trigger”. i’m curious about who did do it, but not enough to finish the book to find out.
This book is set in Elizabethan England and many of the characters did exist. I loved the depiction of the characters. they came alive and I loved their witty repartee. It held my interest until the end.
I just adored Francis Bacon and his band of merry law students. I had already read the second book in the series and wanted to go back and pick up the first to get a little backstory. It was even better! This one takes place at the Inn of Courts. A member of Gray’s Inn is found murdered and Francis is called upon to solve it. Two more murders follow and someone even attempts to murder Francis. Everything seems to be connected to the ” Catholic conspiracy” to sneak materials into Elizabeth’s Protestant England. Meanwhile, student Tom Clarady has fallen madly in love with a Flemish limner who may have witnessed the first murder. Good 16th century fun.
Couldn’t really engage with any of the characters. Sorry.
Intelligent story with Interesting historical details and characters.
l Enjoyed the book very much and appreciated the glimpse into an England with specific classes and their interactions.
I’m not a fan of novels that take place in the past but this was more of a mystery and was pretty good.