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Der Marlowe-Code
Raffiniert und intelligent – ein brillanter Mystery-Thriller!
London 1593: Christopher Marlowe, neben Shakespeare genialster Bühnendichter seiner Zeit und kühner Spion Königin Elizabeths I., wird Opfer eines brutalen, ungeklärten Mordes.
New York 2004: Kate Morgan, Renaissance-Expertin und Ermittlerin mit Verbindungen zum Geheimdienst, übernimmt einen spektakulären Auftrag. Und erfährt am eigenen Leib, dass ein verschlüsselter Text aus dem 16. Jahrhundert brisante Geheimnisse bergen kann. So brisant, dass heute noch Menschen dafür sterben...
London 1593: Christopher Marlowe, neben Shakespeare genialster Bühnendichter seiner Zeit und kühner Spion Königin Elizabeths I., wird Opfer eines brutalen, ungeklärten Mordes.
New York 2004: Kate Morgan, Renaissance-Expertin und Ermittlerin mit Verbindungen zum Geheimdienst, übernimmt einen spektakulären Auftrag. Und erfährt am eigenen Leib, dass ein verschlüsselter Text aus dem 16. Jahrhundert brisante Geheimnisse bergen kann. So brisant, dass heute noch Menschen dafür sterben...
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
48 people are currently reading
1137 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Silbert
3 books37 followers"Renaissance scholar and former private investigator Leslie Silbert has parlayed her experiences into a thriller that moves back and forth between the sixteenth century and the present day. Bestselling author David Morrell calls The Intelligencer “a fascinating blend of Renaissance espionage and modern intrigue,” and the acclaimed historical novelist, Sharon K. Penman, warns that it is “dangerous…for once you pick it up, you cannot put it down.”
Leslie graduated from Harvard in 1998 with a degree in the History of Science. She’d spent the spring of her junior year abroad, reading Elizabethan drama at Oxford, and was so taken with the subject—particularly the playwright and spy, Christopher Marlowe—that she chose to enter Harvard’s graduate program in her field in order to further immerse herself in the Renaissance. Taking a blend of history, history of science and literature courses, she focused on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century ideas about curiosity and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge. At the heart of her research was the question: What type of knowledge was the most dangerous to pursue back then and why?
A year later, she decided the academic track wasn’t for her and applied for positions with some P.I. firms. As she tells it, “I loved school—for me, it’s hard to beat books and professors—but I got a little restless, liked the idea of taking my interests into the real world for a while…pursuing secrets myself instead of just reading about other people doing so. And when I interviewed with a former CIA man who’d once headed up the clandestine service, well, I knew that’s who I wanted to work for, to learn from.”"
Leslie graduated from Harvard in 1998 with a degree in the History of Science. She’d spent the spring of her junior year abroad, reading Elizabethan drama at Oxford, and was so taken with the subject—particularly the playwright and spy, Christopher Marlowe—that she chose to enter Harvard’s graduate program in her field in order to further immerse herself in the Renaissance. Taking a blend of history, history of science and literature courses, she focused on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century ideas about curiosity and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge. At the heart of her research was the question: What type of knowledge was the most dangerous to pursue back then and why?
A year later, she decided the academic track wasn’t for her and applied for positions with some P.I. firms. As she tells it, “I loved school—for me, it’s hard to beat books and professors—but I got a little restless, liked the idea of taking my interests into the real world for a while…pursuing secrets myself instead of just reading about other people doing so. And when I interviewed with a former CIA man who’d once headed up the clandestine service, well, I knew that’s who I wanted to work for, to learn from.”"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
April 27, 2013
There's a certain kind of novel that I like to blame on the Indiana Jones franchise. It appeals to academics and hobbyists who dabble in and become experts in little pockets of knowledge that, frankly, the rest of the world just doesn't give a damn about. They know their stuff, they've read their books, they're ready for the pop quiz--but it's a quiz that's never coming. All that's left is to sit back amongst one's dusty tomes and simply daydream about excitement and adventure in a foreign land where only an Academic can save the day. There will be suspense, intrigue, and, by God, there will be khakis and a whip.
Unfortunately, I'm a sucker for this type of novel. It's my guilty pleasure because it's the antithesis of the life I live, happily sitting in my papasan chair, sipping coffee, and reading book after book after book. The idea that I could be out there, saving the day, with my literary knowledge and rapier wit, is just fun. Impractical. Impossible. And did I mention fun?
However, while this is admittedly the reading equivalent of sitting down and inhaling a bag of chips and then feeling guilty later, I do have some requirements for this type of book. It has to be fast-paced, it has to be clever, it has to know its topic well (I don't mind when the narrative digresses to cleverly teach me something I did not know before), and it has to have, if we're to continue with the potato chip analogy, some texture, some flavor, some crunch. Don't hand me a bag of plain potato chips when I know that I could have a bag of cheddar-bacon-sour cream-barbecue-nacho-chicken and waffles (yeah, apparently that is a chip flavor)-smokehouse ribs-ultra-maximum-loaded-flavor-explosion. If I'm going to feel guilty later, might as well go balls out now.
Alas, The Intelligencer is a bag of plain potato chips. Silbert knows her subject well and sprinkles interesting historical tidbits throughout the novel, but everything else is just bland. Bland characters, bland dialogue, and a bland mystery. The novel consists of two alternating plot lines: one set in Elizabethan England and one set in present day New York. In Elizabethan England, playwright Christopher Marlowe lives a double life as a spy for his country, a plot which parallels that of present day Kate Morgan, grad student turned private investigator. Marlowe investigates a smuggling operation that could put his life in danger; Kate investigates a shady art dealer while also looking into the appearance of a strange book chronicling secret intel from Queen Elizabeth's own spy network. We can also assume her life will be in danger and that these two narratives will eventually converge with the present day Kate unraveling the shocking truth behind Marlowe's death (not a spoiler since Marlowe's death has always been presented as mysterious).
The alternating plotline seems unnecessary as the one about Marlowe is far superior and more interesting. The interruptions by Kate in the present day slow down the narrative and lessen the tension created in Marlowe's world. The characters are stock and their dialogue is clumsy. Kate Morgan also seems to be a carbon copy of the author, Leslie Silbert--even the way Kate is described matches Silbert's author photo. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I kept feeling as though I was just peering into Silbert's daydream, starring herself, and daydreams are only interesting to the person conjuring them up.
Ultimately, there was not enough to keep my interest and I stopped reading somewhere around page 100. Perhaps the mystery eventually picked up steam to carry the novel through to the end, but nothing I had read up to that point convinced me it would be worth my time to finish. Besides, I have much tastier offerings awaiting me on my bookshelves and, damn it, now I want a bag of chips.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
Unfortunately, I'm a sucker for this type of novel. It's my guilty pleasure because it's the antithesis of the life I live, happily sitting in my papasan chair, sipping coffee, and reading book after book after book. The idea that I could be out there, saving the day, with my literary knowledge and rapier wit, is just fun. Impractical. Impossible. And did I mention fun?
However, while this is admittedly the reading equivalent of sitting down and inhaling a bag of chips and then feeling guilty later, I do have some requirements for this type of book. It has to be fast-paced, it has to be clever, it has to know its topic well (I don't mind when the narrative digresses to cleverly teach me something I did not know before), and it has to have, if we're to continue with the potato chip analogy, some texture, some flavor, some crunch. Don't hand me a bag of plain potato chips when I know that I could have a bag of cheddar-bacon-sour cream-barbecue-nacho-chicken and waffles (yeah, apparently that is a chip flavor)-smokehouse ribs-ultra-maximum-loaded-flavor-explosion. If I'm going to feel guilty later, might as well go balls out now.
Alas, The Intelligencer is a bag of plain potato chips. Silbert knows her subject well and sprinkles interesting historical tidbits throughout the novel, but everything else is just bland. Bland characters, bland dialogue, and a bland mystery. The novel consists of two alternating plot lines: one set in Elizabethan England and one set in present day New York. In Elizabethan England, playwright Christopher Marlowe lives a double life as a spy for his country, a plot which parallels that of present day Kate Morgan, grad student turned private investigator. Marlowe investigates a smuggling operation that could put his life in danger; Kate investigates a shady art dealer while also looking into the appearance of a strange book chronicling secret intel from Queen Elizabeth's own spy network. We can also assume her life will be in danger and that these two narratives will eventually converge with the present day Kate unraveling the shocking truth behind Marlowe's death (not a spoiler since Marlowe's death has always been presented as mysterious).
The alternating plotline seems unnecessary as the one about Marlowe is far superior and more interesting. The interruptions by Kate in the present day slow down the narrative and lessen the tension created in Marlowe's world. The characters are stock and their dialogue is clumsy. Kate Morgan also seems to be a carbon copy of the author, Leslie Silbert--even the way Kate is described matches Silbert's author photo. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I kept feeling as though I was just peering into Silbert's daydream, starring herself, and daydreams are only interesting to the person conjuring them up.
Ultimately, there was not enough to keep my interest and I stopped reading somewhere around page 100. Perhaps the mystery eventually picked up steam to carry the novel through to the end, but nothing I had read up to that point convinced me it would be worth my time to finish. Besides, I have much tastier offerings awaiting me on my bookshelves and, damn it, now I want a bag of chips.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
October 21, 2017
I was about 34 pages in here when I knew I was doomed. I kept on going, for a bit but it seemed so slow and draggy to me. I wanted to like this one, it's a good idea, and it starts pretty well. The old manuscript tied in to the past.... The enigmatic Marlowe, and his death, and what's the middle eastern connection. Yes, it should have been good, it should have been enthralling. Maybe some of you will find it so.
We'd just found a guy dead in at his desk and suddenly I realized I was struggling to stay involved...a very bad sign. I pushed ahead and held out a bit...and then skipped ahead.
So, give it a try. This should have been an excellent book as the subject matter is. The research here also seems good even if I'm not an expert in Elizabethan history (then or now for that matter). When this kind of thing happens I always wonder if it's just me. Am I just jaded? Have I just read so many books that I'm somehow, burned out? Or is it jut a matter of taste? Oh well. As I said I just couldn't get into this book and found it painfully slow at times...maybe you won't. See what you think.
We'd just found a guy dead in at his desk and suddenly I realized I was struggling to stay involved...a very bad sign. I pushed ahead and held out a bit...and then skipped ahead.
So, give it a try. This should have been an excellent book as the subject matter is. The research here also seems good even if I'm not an expert in Elizabethan history (then or now for that matter). When this kind of thing happens I always wonder if it's just me. Am I just jaded? Have I just read so many books that I'm somehow, burned out? Or is it jut a matter of taste? Oh well. As I said I just couldn't get into this book and found it painfully slow at times...maybe you won't. See what you think.
January 1, 2018
This is a book split in two time frames. The modern day, in which Kate Morgan is an operative for a company that blurs the line between private investigation and intelligence service, and the 1593, with the events that lead up to the death of Christopher "Kit" Marlowe, renown playwright and sometime spy for Her Majesty. The two plots link up nicely, and we see a conspiracy growing in both times. There's a side plot about a supporting character that I saw coming a mile off, but it's an entertaining book. Good read with modern espionage and the historical version.
May 29, 2009
There's a 16th-century manuscript/compilation in this novel called The Anatomy of Secrets, and really it's the maguffin that holds the whole plot together. My bet is that Silbert originally called her novel The Anatomy of Secrets, but then some bright spark changed the title.
Speculation, of course. This is one of those novels where there are two parallel narrative strands, one relating derring-do going on in the historical past while the other concerns itself with derring-do going on in the present. The central figure of the "history" strand is Christopher Marlowe; major supporting cast members include Francis Walsingham. On the face of it, The Intelligencer would seem to be a novel designed with precisely me in mind.
Reader, my fingers trembled as I opened it.
And of course I was disappointed; but I was surprised by just quite how disappointed I was. The book isn't extraordinarily bad — please don't get that impression. It's just, well, flat. Silbert writes with the earnest worthiness of someone who's subscribed to one or two creative-writing correspondence courses too many. The result is that, while the words seem all to be there and in roughly the correct order, there's no conviction at all in the telling of her tale. I never caught a single whiff of 16th-century London, nor even of modern London and New York City, where the "present-day" strand is located.
It was a terrible pity, because Silbert clearly did her research and had lots of interesting ingredients to throw into the stewpot. Maybe it'll all work better next time.
Speculation, of course. This is one of those novels where there are two parallel narrative strands, one relating derring-do going on in the historical past while the other concerns itself with derring-do going on in the present. The central figure of the "history" strand is Christopher Marlowe; major supporting cast members include Francis Walsingham. On the face of it, The Intelligencer would seem to be a novel designed with precisely me in mind.
Reader, my fingers trembled as I opened it.
And of course I was disappointed; but I was surprised by just quite how disappointed I was. The book isn't extraordinarily bad — please don't get that impression. It's just, well, flat. Silbert writes with the earnest worthiness of someone who's subscribed to one or two creative-writing correspondence courses too many. The result is that, while the words seem all to be there and in roughly the correct order, there's no conviction at all in the telling of her tale. I never caught a single whiff of 16th-century London, nor even of modern London and New York City, where the "present-day" strand is located.
It was a terrible pity, because Silbert clearly did her research and had lots of interesting ingredients to throw into the stewpot. Maybe it'll all work better next time.
March 12, 2018
Zanimljivo štivo. Dobar špijunski triler. Malo me nervira taj konstantan prelazak iz prošlosti u sadašnjost, jer se taman zahuhtam sa Kejt i krene neka akcija, pa me preseku sa prošlošću. Bilo je par nekih obrta, koje nisam očekivao, na koje sam reagovao sa: Opa! Zanimljiva knjižica.
July 12, 2010
I almost gave this one star, but then I thought, it wasn't an unintelligent book, even if I didn't really like it. The main downsides for me were the jumping back and forth between time lines, the unnecessary and obviously gratuitous details about life in the 16th century (they didn't know what a fork was! Lettuce was an exotic delicacy!) meant to impress us with how much research the author had done, the seeming meandering tangents that shoot off, with no clear inkling as to how they tie into each other until the very end (and even then I was kind of confused), and the frankly murky character motivations. Oh, and the fact that at the end, the big reveal of who the bad guy was is done in a way that completely leaves the reader out of the loop, even until that time we had been privy to all the thoughts and considerations which the main character had. I think it could have been done without resorting to fake trickery like that.
On the semi-positive side, the dialogue was snappy and real-sounding, the characters brightly drawn without becoming caricatures, the venues described authentically, and the entire setting and premise had enough tension and momentum to keep me going, despite my not entirely understanding what was going on at times.
So, while I think this had a good idea at the base of it, it wasn't executed in the best possible manner. If you like the sort of spy novel where there is a historical puzzle to solve, you could do worse.
On the semi-positive side, the dialogue was snappy and real-sounding, the characters brightly drawn without becoming caricatures, the venues described authentically, and the entire setting and premise had enough tension and momentum to keep me going, despite my not entirely understanding what was going on at times.
So, while I think this had a good idea at the base of it, it wasn't executed in the best possible manner. If you like the sort of spy novel where there is a historical puzzle to solve, you could do worse.
August 23, 2019
An interview with the author at the end indicated she was working on making this a series. It's been 15 years! Where's the next one?!
July 21, 2021
This was kinda interesting, but slow. There were a few intriguing mysteries and a couple things I didn't expect, but overall it wasn't a huge winner for me. I enjoyed the historical and modern bits but there were a lot of things and people to try and keep track of.
August 17, 2018
2.75
Although the plot, the writing and the characters were quite amazing and her work in general was an outstanding work , i got extremly annoyed by the constand switching from the past to present (a personal thing).All in all its worth reading.
Although the plot, the writing and the characters were quite amazing and her work in general was an outstanding work , i got extremly annoyed by the constand switching from the past to present (a personal thing).All in all its worth reading.
March 19, 2023
DNF; At first , I thought wow, i’m going to like this, and jacket said there would be a sequel, but I saw there never was. And now I see why; got through 100 pages and said: who cares? And now I see the reviews are 3.3, about as a bad as I’ve seen. Convoluted and not worth following. I know the book is almost 20 years old , but if you happen to come across it, don’t !
February 2, 2011
Leslie Silbert presents a very enticing book, using two different story lines, one in England at the end of the sixteenth century and one in the present. These events are of course interrelated, making the book a very enjoyable read and allowing us to understand better what is happening in our times. It is easy to notice that Silbert has a fair amount of knowledge about the historic topic she explores and the writing in the passages set in the times of Elizabeth I is great. However, when she gets into the present day part of the book, we observe a clear deterioration in the quality of her writing
Overall, this is a very good novel, but besides the somewhat sloppy writing in the current times passages I was a little disappointed by the scarce detail given about the code breaking process. The author focuses a lot more in the action when dealing with Kate Morgan, than in explaining more thoroughly how she breaks each code. I think that if Silbert had elaborated more in this aspect she would have maintained the reader's interest at a higher level in the Morgan part of the book.
Overall, this is a very good novel, but besides the somewhat sloppy writing in the current times passages I was a little disappointed by the scarce detail given about the code breaking process. The author focuses a lot more in the action when dealing with Kate Morgan, than in explaining more thoroughly how she breaks each code. I think that if Silbert had elaborated more in this aspect she would have maintained the reader's interest at a higher level in the Morgan part of the book.
August 7, 2011
This is definitely closer to 3.5 stars... 3 stars for the first half of the book, and 4 for the second half. The protagonist is a former grad student turned private investigator (as is the author) - yes, I'm a sucker for books written by and/or featuring academics, but mostly if they're doing something cooler than what we typically do. :) It mixes a historical fiction mystery with a current-day mystery. The first half of the book takes awhile to get into - partly because so many characters are introduced between these two plotlines - but once I hit the half-way point, I didn't want to stop reading until I found out what was going on. Some twists and turns as the story continued convinced me it's worth checking out what else Silbert has written (but apparently her 2nd novel, which continues with the current-day characters in this novel, is not yet complete).
July 3, 2007
I'm a sucker for historical mysteries that have a present-day element and this one didn't disappoint. "As The Intelligencer's interlocking narratives race toward a stunning collision, and Kate closes in on the truth behind Marlowe's sudden death, it becomes clear that she may have sealed a similar fate for herself. Propelling us from the shadows of the sixteenth-century underworld to the glitter of Queen Elizabeth's court, from the dark corridors of a clandestine American op-center to the cliffs of Capri, The Intelligencer is at once a murder mystery, a tale of poetic inspiration, and a richly detailed foray into parallel worlds of espionage and political intrigue separated by centuries." Book summary from the jacket.
September 21, 2009
A great book that combines history and a thriller, combining action from the past and the present. There is a lot of intrigue and everything sounds so plausible! Maybe because the author is herself a spook and has a master's degree in science history. I could not put this one down. Unfortunately, I discovered a newly placed signpost while reading this book on my walk to work. Ouch.
I bought this book at a little book cafe called "Grounds For Reading". I wanted some books for summer similar to DaVinci code and this was one of several he recommended. I'll be posting those as well. I mention this because, sadly, the store seems to have closed for good. If you like Dan Brown, I think you will love Leslie Silbert!
I bought this book at a little book cafe called "Grounds For Reading". I wanted some books for summer similar to DaVinci code and this was one of several he recommended. I'll be posting those as well. I mention this because, sadly, the store seems to have closed for good. If you like Dan Brown, I think you will love Leslie Silbert!
April 9, 2012
My mother gave me this book. You might notice a trend in my books. I really enjoy reading books that take place in London or England. This book is not well known, and I believe it's the only book about the main character. The author sets it up for there to be more, but I don't think she's finished them?? But I did really enjoy this book. There were lots of twists and turns, and I couldn't put it down. It goes back and forth between present day London and 16th century London. It also has a lot of information about playwrights in London. I'm sure not all the information is factual, but you could tell the author had done her research. If you're into London and espionage, I would definitely recommend this book.
August 27, 2014
Audiobook - abridged
This was narrated by Jan Maxwell and Alfred Molina who did a great job. The story though, I wish it would have been about Phillip Marlowe or about Kate Morgan not both. Even when their stories somewhat (but not really) intertwine I still would have preferred the story to be about one or the other.
I liked that it had a "happy for now" ending, without everything ending in rainbows and daises. 3-1/2 stars
This was narrated by Jan Maxwell and Alfred Molina who did a great job. The story though, I wish it would have been about Phillip Marlowe or about Kate Morgan not both. Even when their stories somewhat (but not really) intertwine I still would have preferred the story to be about one or the other.
I liked that it had a "happy for now" ending, without everything ending in rainbows and daises. 3-1/2 stars
September 6, 2007
Apologies to FLO for inflicting this book upon you. It's not horrible but it's made for tv movie book, like a watered down version of the Da Vinci Code, which was not a good book in my opinion. Like Da Vinci Code, the ideas are interesting, but very very poorly written. I was disappointed because it seemed like it could have been a really fun book. I really wanted it to be good, willed myself to think it was ok. Lent it to poor Flo who was also forced to read it! Sorry Flo, I inflicted this book on you!!!
April 1, 2012
Not sure why this got such terrible reviews. A sucker for anything having to do with Elizabethan England, and especially Renaissance intrigue, I truly enjoyed this. It's intelligent (a lot of solid historical scholarship here) and sophisticated, and a first-rate thriller, just what I would expect from an author who received an M.A. from Harvard in the History of Science, studied Renaissance literature at Oxford, and who currently works as a private investigator in NYC. Have seen it compared to The Da Vinci Code, but I think its much more like The Eight.
February 23, 2013
The book is basically two stories in one novel, a present-day storyline and a hisorical (Renaissance-era) one, and they both grab your attention and don't let go. Full of action, intrigue, clever dialogue, intellectually-stimulating historical fact, excellent character development, and plots twists toward the end that that throw the reader for a loop.
May 9, 2012
Silbert has taken her academic research and her personal work to make a story quite real. She works a time warp between Elizabethan times and today into a tight suspense story. Most compelling!!!! I hope that Silbert has another great story in her pen.
June 9, 2021
Spies abound in the court of Elizabeth I. She has to name her Secretary of State and the rivalries between the Catholics and Protestants lay the background for this page turning mystery. The promo "If you liked the Da Vinci Code, you will love the The Intelligencer" is accurate.The New York City based Kate Morgan works for the Slade Group, a very private investigation team. She is hired to solve the mystery of an attempted robbery of a valuable 16th century bound book that lists the scandals and enemies of the two factions in Elizabethan time. The story flips between the period of Christopher Marlowe's mysterious death and the present. Kate's background as a Renaissance scholar makes her job of translating the manuscript to learn the importance of it quite easy. Unfortunately a 21st century criminal has a different reason for involving Kate and that is revenge for a wrong he believes her family committed. I learned a lot about the society surrounding Queen Elizabeth I. It definitely held my attention. The only complaint I had was Silbert included many characters and sometimes it was hard to decide whose side they favored. Some are real and others are figments of her imagination. No one knows much about Marlowe's last days or who killed him, but Silbert's research and adoration for the poet are evident. I am recommending this novel to anyone who likes mysteries and the Elizabethan period. After I finished I learned that a lot of Silbert's life as a true private investigator in New York City is incorporated in the character of Kate Morgan. I am sad that I could find no other books written by her.
December 11, 2017
Having just returned from London, and seeing The Secret Agent (a play about Sir Francis Walsingham and Elizabeth I) at the Globe Theater complex, and having just finished reading The Queen's Agent (a bio of Walsingham), I was excited to revisit The Intelligencer, a novel of Christopher Marlowe, which I'd last read in 2005.
Marlowe was a contemporary of Walsingham as well as Shakespeare, and was in addition a spy for the Elizabethan crown, it's generally accepted that he was in Walsingham's pay. Although by the time of The Intelligencer, Walsingham is dead and Sir Robert Cecil, Lord Burghley, and his son, are mostly in charge of the Elizabethan spy apparatus.
The Intelligencer is a two-timeline mystery, pairing Marlowe's exploits and life with the adventures of Kate Morgan, a private investigator, who in fact works for a CIA front organization. The common thread is the discovery of a book containing Walsingham's most valuable secrets. In Marlowe's time, the hunt for the book is on. When a modern day researcher discovers the book, events are set in motion linking the two timelines.
The Intelligencer is good fun if you are at all interested in Elizabethan times, especially in regards the theater or the spy world or both. It's readily accessible, although having just read The Queen's Agent, a biography of Walsingham, I was well prepared for the historical side of it. Best of all, since I'd read it 12 years ago, I'd forgotten the ending and the bad guy for most of the book, so it was a good read the second time too!
Marlowe was a contemporary of Walsingham as well as Shakespeare, and was in addition a spy for the Elizabethan crown, it's generally accepted that he was in Walsingham's pay. Although by the time of The Intelligencer, Walsingham is dead and Sir Robert Cecil, Lord Burghley, and his son, are mostly in charge of the Elizabethan spy apparatus.
The Intelligencer is a two-timeline mystery, pairing Marlowe's exploits and life with the adventures of Kate Morgan, a private investigator, who in fact works for a CIA front organization. The common thread is the discovery of a book containing Walsingham's most valuable secrets. In Marlowe's time, the hunt for the book is on. When a modern day researcher discovers the book, events are set in motion linking the two timelines.
The Intelligencer is good fun if you are at all interested in Elizabethan times, especially in regards the theater or the spy world or both. It's readily accessible, although having just read The Queen's Agent, a biography of Walsingham, I was well prepared for the historical side of it. Best of all, since I'd read it 12 years ago, I'd forgotten the ending and the bad guy for most of the book, so it was a good read the second time too!
March 20, 2021
When I saw the list of characters at the beginning of the book, I knew I was going to be disappointed. It's never good when an author feels the need to give you a cast list including names and brief descriptions of who each person is.
I really wanted to like this book, but there were too many characters, and the author didn't make it easy to remember who was who. Parts of the book were very interesting, and despite a frustrating plot hole, the ending was pretty good, but I certainly wouldn't compare it to Da Vinci Code. It was a bit too slow paced and dry for that. There's a lot of potential here, but the execution could have been far better. I actually still want to like it, but this one was only just okay
I really wanted to like this book, but there were too many characters, and the author didn't make it easy to remember who was who. Parts of the book were very interesting, and despite a frustrating plot hole, the ending was pretty good, but I certainly wouldn't compare it to Da Vinci Code. It was a bit too slow paced and dry for that. There's a lot of potential here, but the execution could have been far better. I actually still want to like it, but this one was only just okay
October 21, 2017
Intelligencer era la palabra que usaban en el Reino Unido del siglo XVI para nombrar a los espías. Al parecer, el dramaturgo Christopher Marlowe, además de a escribir obras de teatro, se dedicaba a espiar para el Imperio británico. Y de la vida misteriosa de este personaje se sirve Leslie Silbert para crear una novela de acción con muy poco suspense y con una evidente falta de gancho palomitero tan necesario en este tipo de novelas, pero bastante decente. ¿Por qué? Porque la protagonista es una profesional, no una imbécil que se cree especial, porque los diálogos están muy bien escritos y porque el texto es bastante respetuoso con la historia. Eso sí, el final es penoso.
January 27, 2019
The Victorian London story line is a bit boring, with too many characters making me confused till the last page. Readers don't really care about who is who. The current day story line is much better, although the whole story lacks a strong person that really grabs me. Quite a few guys are faceless, like Kate's father, her boss, her coworker the it guy, her best girl friend, etc. The author really should have cut off 2/3 of all characters and focus on Kate and Marlow. That would be a better book. Overall the parallel stories are good by design. And it intrigued me to read till the end. Also Marlow is not dead is a good imaginary virtual history.
February 16, 2019
What really happened to Christopher Marlow? Is the answer to be found in a 16th century manuscript recently unearthed by a London work crew renovating a 16th century building? Kate Morgan is excited and eager to find out. With flash backs to the 1500 Elizabethan London and life with Christopher Marlow interspersed with intrigue, romance, and international intelligence, to say nothig about kidnapping, Silbert combines a well-written tale with historical detail not often found in contemporary fiction. The multilayered plot doesn't disappoint and the character development is delightful including the secondary characters. For a first novel, Silbert has successfully engaged.
April 10, 2018
I read this book just because Ms. Silbert's bio was so attention-grabbing! With degrees from Harvard in History of Science, further education at Oxford in Renaissance literature, and working as a private investigator, she must have stories to tell. And she does. This is a cool tale of intrigue and suspense, jumping from Marlowe's and Shakespeare's London to present day New York. Great twists and turns. I enjoyed it.
April 20, 2020
The book was hard to get into due to an overly complicated plot, with a lot of characters to keep track of. It was two stories taking place in different eras which are linked, one historical and one present day that related back to the historical story. Overall it was a good story with a few good surprises, but I found I got lost at times as it was overly detailed.
July 4, 2020
Cover promised that if I loved The Da Vinci Code, I'd love this. Not so much. The premise was fascinating but I got lost with all the characters (despite the author offering a list of characters at the beginning of the book), and then some twists and turns just didn't make logical sense. I did learn a few interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth's spy department.
September 8, 2025
This was a very differnt book. Written by a woman who studied old lit and crimes, it is told in the times of the murder of Christopher Marlowe (SHakespeare contemp) and then in modern day. The detective is herself a Renaissance scholar turned private eye. Kate Morgan investigates a theft and murder involving a mysterious, antique manuscript recently unearthed in central London.
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