The Bawdy Basket

Nicholas Bracewell #12

by Edward Marston

Theatre troupe Westfield s Men take on a new actor, Francis Quilter, after reaching new heights of success. But with the new member, brings new trouble. Quilter s father, Gerard, is on trial for the murder of an enemy, but he denies the charge and Nicholas Bracewell sets about proving his innocence. However, Bracewell s loyalty to Francis drives a wedge between the players. Who will clear the Quilter family name? On their quest for the truth, they stumble across an unlikely ally, who may just hold the answers they re looking for. "

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, British Literature, Crime

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston

Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.


Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly excellent mystery where the good guy dies early, the murder comes later and you know who the bad guy is from the start and thoroughly enjoy watching him being undone.

[Charlie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - I didn't think that this one was quite as good as the previous one in the series because it sees the company separated which I don't like, but that's just personal opinion. I can understand that this split might bring the company together stronger in future books, and I hope it does just that. I did like the mystery, but it seemed a bit implausible in places. Nevertheless it was really interesting and engaging, especially towards the end as it comes towards a climax.

Genre? - Historical / Crime / Mystery

Characters? - Nicholas Bracewell / Lawrence Firethorn / Francis Quilter / Gerard Quilter / George Dart / Owen Elias / Barnaby Gill / Eliard Slaney

Setting? - London (England)

Series? - Nicholas Bracewell #12

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 18/20

[BeesReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another success for Nicholas "Mr Goody TwoShoes" Bracewell, most perfect of warriors, most perfect of men. (A bit tongue in cheek here!)

The father of a friend and fellow member of Westfield's Men troop is executed for murder, but his son believes he is innocent and Nick believes his friend. The story is how they set about proving his innocence (I don't think I'm giving anything away here - it's pretty clear this is how it will pan out from just a few pages in).

The only quibble is how many times the author uses the phrase "bawdy basket" to refer to the young woman. Was it a real slur of the time or did he make it up? Apparently according to Professor Google it is an obsolete term for a peddler of obscene books and other small items. Other than being a peddlar, there's no reference to 'obscene books' being peddled in the story.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 2002, The Bawdy Basket is the 12th in the Nicholas Bracewell series of Elizabethan murder mysteries. The plot concerns the execution of a man for a crime he allegedly didn't commit, and his connections with a moneylender and a prostitute (the bawdy basket of the title). A second plot involves the acting troupe's playwright being seriously distracted from his work by a love affair. In other words, the plot is just a little bit daft and often improbable, but it works after a fashion - these stories tend to be character driven, so the plot is just a vehicle for the various antics of the highly eccentric main characters. Fun!

[Marie (UK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book i have read by this author. I don't think it matters whether you have read the previous books in the series, the characters are fully defined and the plot is easy to follow. For me the biggest problem is that the first 100 pages are so repetitive and add little to the plot which i think could have been equally well laid out in half the number of pages. A gentle and enjoyable mystery nevertheless

[Alan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know exactly what you're going to get with this series, and this doesn't fail to deliver. Full of atmosphere, with larger-than-life characters and an impossibly perfect hero, this is another case involving Nicholas Bracewell and his troup of Elizabethan players. Will Nicholas solve the murder and save the day? And how many times can the author write 'bawdy basket'....? :) Fun, diverting stuff.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the quest for justice, Nicholas lends his time, wit and understanding to his friend Frank, and this is because Frank's father is beheaded for a crime he didn't commit and as events unfold they come to learn that there is a very thin line between judges and justice.
If you are looking for one of those mysteries that revolve around societies and class, ranking among gentlemen and ladies, this could be a recommendation.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mystery. We know what happened and follow the sleuths as they try to gather evidence to clear the man convicted and accuse the evil doers. Writing very choppy.

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great story the writer of these books certainly has imagination

[Carolyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting setting in time and place but I craved more descriptive details.

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A standard Marston affair, enjoyable as always though not anything really substantial or innovative. Still, a fun and easy read.

[Matthew Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique take on historical crime. The story is interesting and gripping, while also having entertaining characters and plots. This is an exciting read that is hard to put down.

[Sef Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed every one of Marston's Elizabethan series and this is no different. I particularly like the domestic details - here we see more of Anne's work as a milliner, and get a glimpse into the world of the Fair. Nicholas is a great hero and the supporting characters just as well-drawn. A brilliant series.

[Karen Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nicholas Bracewell series by Edward Marston is such a gratifying read with each instalment offering more in terms of richness of plot, insight into regular characters, terrific, witty and meaningful dialogue and immersion in Elizabethan London and, in particular, the theatre scene.
When the novel opens, Lord Westfield’s Men are undergoing something of a renaissance. Everything is running smoothly, their plays are all being well-received, Edmund Hoode, their playwright is in the throes of his muse and penning a masterpiece, the men themselves are getting along and even their cranky, unpleasant landlord has been felled by illness. Of course, this great fortune cannot last. Not far into the book, things start to go awry. Not only does one of the men, Frank Quilter, a relative newcomer to the troupe, reveal a shocking injustice with tragic consequences that’s beset his family and must be avenged, but Hoode, one of the reasons for their continued success, intends to leave the profession and thus Lord Westfield’s Men, throwing all their livelihoods into jepoardy.
Of course, Nicholas Bracewell, the troupe’s book holder, takes it upon himself to help colleagues and friends in crisis. Investigating the accusation that saw Frank’s father hanged for murder, Nicholas finds his loyalties torn. Wanting to help Frank, but finding the other shareholders of the Men are not willing to let Nicholas do so - in fact, they’re considering letting Frank go lest his name tarnish their reputation - Nicholas is in a bind.
When he nonetheless begins investigating the murder Frank’s father was said to have committed, the evidence is stacked against the man. That is, until young Moll Comfrey, a bawdy basket who had a close relationship with Quilter senior enters and says she can prove Frank’s father didn’t commit the crime he’s just been sent to his death for that everything changes.
But it’s a race against time as not only does Edmund’s leave-taking of the Men draw near, depriving the players of their playwright, but those wanting to stop Nicholas looking into the murder, scheme how to end not only his snooping, but the careers of those closest to him once and for all.
Another fast-paced, fabulous read that brings Elizabethan London and all its glory, gore and filth to life with aplomb.

[Suzane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 12 in the Nicholas Bracewell Mystery Series
Library book

I enjoyed this episode much more than the last. Interesting cast of characters outside the theater company, with more time spent getting to know them. Nick seems more human in this book: he makes a couple of errors in judgement that have dire consequences. Anne plays an important role in solving this mystery - I like her character, so this was fun. And Firethorn discovers he can't bend every person in the world to his will.

We know who the bad guys are early on; the mystery lies in determination of their motives.

One good outcome (among several) is that Lord Westfield's money problems seem to have been ultimately solved by the end, at least for now (hooray!). The resolution of all the problems besetting the company was very clever.

[Don Maker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of fun, in a cartoonish way. I say "cartoonish" because most of the characters are caricatures; they are all essentially terribly admirable or just terrible, good guys and bad guys alike. The plot is very contrived, predictable, and extremely repetitious, but I love Elizabethan England (wouldn't want to have lived there, however ...) and stuck with the story because it does have some humor and interesting bits. Marston has written more than a dozen of these, and it seemed like he was stale; I haven't read any of the earlier books in this series, but will not do so based on this one.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The father of a young member of the company is hanged for a murder he didn’t commit, and Bracewell goes to the aid of Frank Quilter (the son) to help him discover who framed his father. Edmund Hoode, the playwright of the company falls head over heels in love with a wealthy widow who wants him all to herself, and he threatens to leave the company. These are literate well written mysteries and I enjoy them.

[Deedee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's the 12th in the series. All the series regular are present; however, the author assumes the reader already knows the characters, and so doesn't describe or present them. So, I wouldn't recommend this one for anyone who hasn't read the preceding novels in the series. Additionally, the plot was exceptionally unrealistic. It's like the author is getting tired of this series, and is ready to go on to other characters and other time periods.

[Cat. · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, Edmund falls deeply in love with a wealthy woman who wants him to quit the theatre, Nicholas gets involved in helping to redeem the name of another player's father who was hanged for a murder he didn't commit, the King's Men nearly disband due to their patron's bankruptcy, and I still don't know what the hell a bawdy basket means in slang!

Other than that, quite a good book. Lots of plotlines and good new characters.

[John Szalasny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Bracewell is indeed a good friend to have! This episode involves clearing the good name of the father of one of the actors in the troupe, wrongly accused and executed for murder. This book can be easily read as a standalone, but readers of the series will be entertained by the adventure as well as the usual backbiting of Westfield's Men.

[Therese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very drrrrrrry.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man’s father is hung for murder he didn’t commit. Hoode’s new woman asks him to leave Westfield’s men. Cases intertwine, and are resolved nicely. One of the better stories.