"A delightful mystery"
Affluent merchant Godfrey Middleton wants only the best
for the wedding of his beloved oldest daughter Catherine.
Among the festivities on Godfrey's lavish estate is a
performance by The Queen's Men acting troupe currently
performing on the London stage. The troupe include best
friends Tuck Smythe (a ham who wants to act, but has no
talent) and Will Shakespeare (a wannabe writer). Tuck overhears a nasty plot to kill the shrewish bride
and use the more malleable and seemingly promiscuous
younger sister to steal the host's wealth. Accompanied by
his best friend Will, he tries to keep Catherine safe.
When Catherine apparently dies anyway, the two amateur
sleuths investigate the homicide in order to expose the
killer. THE SLAYING OF THE SHREW, the second Shakespeare
amateur sleuth tale (see A MYSTERY OF ERRORS), is a
delightful tale that cleverly uses references from the
great Bard that smoothly flow within the plot. The story
line is well written so Elizabethan mystery fans will enjoy
the who-done-it and the characters make the era seem
alive. However, this tale, like its predecessor, clearly
belongs to Simon Hawke's irreverent look at the author
considered by most as the greatest English writer of all
times. This means to write or not to write a third tale,
that is not the question, only when. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted November 15, 2001
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