A Serpent in the Garden: A totally gripping historical crime thriller

by Howard Linskey

‘A thrilling adventure wonderfully evoked as Shakespeare turns spy’ James Oswald London, 1592. 28-year-old William Shakespeare is the rising man of English theatre. But plague has hit the capital, and the playhouses are to be shut. Livelihoods, and lives, are at stake.

Lady Celia Vernon is one of the first to perish but did she really die of plague? Her cousin, the Earl of Southampton, orders Will to discover the truth in a London filled with conspirators, cutthroats and traitors.

The Queen's spymaster, Robert Cecil, suspects the Earl of treason and orders Will to spy on him in return. Caught between two of the most powerful men in the kingdom, Will cannot possibly serve both masters, and could easily become the next victim of the killer he is trying to catch.

With his future, safety and life on the line, Will uncovers a devastating secret, and changes the course of his, and the world’s destiny forever.

An utterly compelling historical mystery offering a new and fascinating look into the personal life of the great William Shakespeare.

Praise for A Serpent in the Garden ‘Impressive... a delicious tapestry of intrigue and adventure’ Crime Time

‘A masterpiece’ Rachael Blok

‘I don’t think I’ve ever read any fictional account that so accurately portrays the terrible autocracy that was in force during Elizabeth I’s reign. I couldn't put it down’ Barbara Nadel

‘Absolutely fantastic. Clever, sly, funny, gripping – everything to make it a terrific read’ Ajay Chowdhury

‘A rich page-turner – the sights, sounds and atmosphere of 16th Century London pour from the pages’ Isabel Ashdown

‘Up there with the best historical fiction I’ve read – Will Shakespeare is an almost competent private eye’ James Oswald

‘I haven’t had this much fun in the Elizabethan era since Joseph Fiennes woo’d Gwyneth Paltrow’ Douglas Skelton

'One of the best historical novels I’ve read in years' Robert Rutherford

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical

352 pages, Hardcover

Published January 30, 2025

About the author

ABOUT ME
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .

I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.

My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.

My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.

I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.

On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.

Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.

I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.

I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.

I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.

I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:

Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE

+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com

Reviews

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about William Shakespeare early in his career; his company has just performed his first play, Henry VI, to great acclaim. But Will is still insecure about his talent and stands in the shadow of the great Christopher Marlowe. But that’s not really what this book is about. Having attempted to draw the attention of the wealthy Earl of Southampton as a potential patron, Will suddenly finds himself targeted by the powerful Robert Cecil, who wants to use him to spy on said Southampton. Cecil threatens Will with dire punishment—like the rack—if he doesn’t come back with evidence of the earl’s treasonous behavior; Robert hates Southampton with a passion, and Will is to bring him down… or else. At the same time, Southampton has instructed Will to find out about the suspicious death of his cousin Lady Celia; did she die of the plague or was she murdered by her husband? Two spy assignments? Will was caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place:

‘If you succeed, I will look kindly upon you and your work. I am known to be a generous patron.’ And before that cheerful seed had even been planted in Will’s mind, he added, ‘Fail and I will overlook you.’
So, there it was. The Earl of Southampton’s generous patronage was available to Will but it would come at a price. This would be a dangerous game and the spectre of Sir Robert Cecil still hung over any pact he might make with the lord he was meant to be spying on.

While investigating Celia’s death, Will falls in love with Rosalind, Celia’s companion who was with her until the end. Of course, since Shakespeare was married with two children, that relationship couldn’t go anywhere, but it takes up a good portion of the book. I almost lost track of the Cecil plot, but it comes around again in good time. Frankly, I thought the novel was unfair to Cecil; it made him look more like an inquisitor than secretary of state; I can’t see him making those kinds of threats, especially since his father, the great William Cecil, was still alive. However, this is a novel, after all, and I had to excuse a certain amount of poetic license. Overall, I really enjoyed the read; it moves along swiftly and smoothly, and we get a good feel for the playwrights and theatre companies of the Elizabethan era.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books by this author including his brilliant Ian Bradshaw series, but this was something a little different! But, I trust this author, and with such great trust comes great responsibility! And he stood up, cos my trust was repaid many times over... And, tbh, I do love me a good dollop of historical FACTion when done right...
So... we begin in 1592 with a relatively young William Shakespeare still trying to become the playwright we know him as today. But here he is just plain Will, who has had a sort of hit, but the plague has closed the theatres so his career is a bit on hold... So... he does what anyone else would do in this situation, he plays detective and spy! And so begins a rather convoluted story centred around the death of Lady Celia Vernon who perished from the plague. Or did she? Will is tasked to find out by her cousin the Earl of Southampton who, interestingly enough is suspected by Robert Cecil, one of the Queen's inner circle, of treason and who want Will to spy on him. (told you it was convoluted) Thus he is caught between two rather nasty and scary people, when all he really wants to do is write and perform his plays...
As well as Shakespeare there are a whole host of other "real" people who are woven into the plot herein. I won't name them, but being a history and theatre buff, I am more than familiar enough with them to confidently say that this author knows what he is doing, and has definitely done his research. Certain poetic licence does apply in moderation...
I especially loved the way that Will used this experience to combat his writers block and also as his own research tool for his future plays. There's some great foreshadowing, and we also see where he got some of the "names " and inspiration he uses in his later plays!
The setting always felt real too. Both the time and place and I found myself completely immersed therein. So much so that I really didn't want the book to end, to have to say goodbye to all the characters I have bonded with on my journey. It was all rather sad. Until I found out it was book one of a new series and subsequently did a little happy dance. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: A Serpent in the Garden by Howard Linskey

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently finished A Serpent in the Garden by Howard Linskey, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in London in 1592, the story puts a fresh spin on the life of a young William Shakespeare, who is just beginning to make his mark on the English theatre scene. The city is gripped by the plague, forcing theatres to close and threatening the livelihoods of many, including Will himself.

The plot kicks off with the suspicious death of Lady Celia Vernon, which her cousin, the Earl of Southampton, believes wasn't caused by the plague. He enlists Shakespeare’s help to uncover the truth, sending Will into a treacherous web of conspiracies and danger. Meanwhile, the Queen's spymaster, Robert Cecil, is keeping a close eye on the Earl for suspected treason and pressures Will to spy on him. Caught between these two powerful figures, Shakespeare is pulled into a high-stakes game where trust is scarce and his own life hangs in the balance.

One of the most striking aspects of the book was its rich depiction of Elizabethan London—the environment, noises, and mood were so tangible they seemed to come alive within the story. The author's writing is clever and engaging, blending historical detail with a well-crafted mystery that kept me turning pages. The characters felt authentic and compelling, and the pacing was spot on—never dragging but also never rushed.

The cover art caught my eye first; it perfectly sets the tone for a historical mystery steeped in literary intrigue. If you enjoy historical fiction with a dash of thriller elements, especially one that explores Shakespeare’s world from a fresh perspective, this book is definitely worth your time.

All in all, A Serpent in the Garden earned a solid four stars from me. It’s a fun, well-written adventure that offers both entertainment and a fascinating glimpse into the life (and secret dangers) surrounding one of history’s greatest playwrights.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and A Serpent in the Garden by Howard Linskey took me to the world of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is at the start of his career, having successfully written and performed Henry VI. Unsure of himself he believes he needs to form his own company and to do that he needs a wealthy patron. Setting his sights on the Earl of Southampton he soon finds that his talent is not enough to secure what he needs as the Earl sets him the task of determining if his cousin really did die of the plague or if there was something more sinister behind it. Just when he is trying to work out how to achieve this he is summoned by Robert Cecil, a powerful man in the court of Elizabeth I. He believes Southampton to be a threat and a deviant and insists that Will spies on him. Failure to do so would be bad for Wills health but he is not sure what he can do.
Shakespeare has got himself in the middle something that he was not expecting, and it will set him on a path that will see his life in danger more than once. He doesn’t know who he can trust, and this leads him to be deceived by someone totally unexpected. He is also still struggling with his writing, but you get the feeling at times that he uses his investigations to avoid the writer’s block. Will is a lover not a fighter and more than once he is out of his depth with others coming to his rescue.
Will does become invested in finding out what happened to the Earls cousin even courting her maid to glean as much information as possible. Although married with children he alludes to it being a marriage of necessity more than love, but it will get him little other than the evidence he so desperately needs but even that comes at a cost. Will still needs to rely on his words and his acting to extricate him from his other obligations but his actions will ultimately play on his conscience.
There are quite a few colourful characters in the book, some real and some not and Linskey draws on events of the time to add to the story and weaves them into the outcomes of the two tasks set for Will seamlessly transporting the reader into the time of Elizabeth I and a London that was full of plague and distrust. Billed as William Shakespeare Mysteries Book 1 I look forward to the next in the series

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Shakespeare, a 28 year old actor who has written a few plays but had no major success, encounters a moribund spell in 1592 when the theatres are closed due to the plague. Ambitious, he needs a patron to support his writing, and hopes there is one on the horizon when the wealthy Earl of Southampton asks him to visit his home to entertain his guests. However the ruthless courtier Robert Cecil has Shakespeare brought to him under guard, and gives orders that the writer must provide incriminating details that will help him in his feud with the Earl. When Shakespeare is asked to investigate the suspicious death of Southampton's cousin, Celia, the plot thickens. The appearance on the scene of an attractive young woman (whose skin is 'dark tan') named Rosamond may bring to mind Shakespeare's play As You Like It - which is indeed mentioned in due course - but the complex and unforeseeable plot is all Linskey's own. He has taken his ability with plot, character, and compelling jeopardy for a close 3rd person protagonist, from his modern crime novels, and moved them into a vividly-recreated Elizabethan London. There are episodes of humour from the strong supporting characters, but the ingenuity of the plot, its multiple deceptions and blind alleys, and the skill with which Linskey inserts observations on the the predicament of a writer, meditations on fame, and thoughts about how to stay on the right of ruthless fascistic authorities, are all immensely compelling and thought provoking. A rich and enjoyable reading experience. The expression 'bringing the past to life' is often misused, but Linskey admirably succeeds in doing that in this, his first real historical novel. I do hope it sells well - it deserves it.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of Howard Linskey and for me this is his best to date, different in style to some of the previous books, but with that same high quality, a read which deserves your full attention.

This is a read where you have to savour every word, an exquitisely crafted novel, a story full of heart with a real depth to quality of the narrative

A rip roaring read of 16th century London, the writing captures in great detail the feeling for the times and the city bringing it gloriously to life, you can feel yourself being transported back in time, it evokes the sights and sounds of the period

The plot weaves an interesting narrative full of mystery and intrigue, where Will turns spymaster, having to balance the wants and demands of two masters, one wrong turn could, prove fatal, inventive and ingenious plotting that allows for plenty of subterfuge and shrouds the story in a myriad of suspenseful drama, and brings in an eclectic mix of characters. There are plenty of twists and the unexpected, it plays a lot on decpetion and manipulation, all the while you can see Will taking everything in seeing each situation as a potential play

The characters within the book sing out at you on the page, here you have a young Shakespeare when he was simply Will, at times I felt quite sorry for him, Married but alone in London, you can see him falling for Rosalind. You get a glimpse of Will the playwright and his use of words, the eloquence with which he can mesmerise his foes as fights his inner self to find the right words for the given situation

To some degeree whilst the book has Will front and centre the plot is more focussed on two foes The Earl of Southmapton and Sir Robert Cecil who have one thing in common a hatred for each, both powerful who Will would do well not to turn into his enemy, as a power struggle is n play

The descriptive nature of the book portrays the hardships and dangers of the times, where death lurked in every corner and the tower awaited those who would seek to displease the Queen

Not a fast paced book, it flows along there is a terrific sense of tension and drama built in leading up to the dramatic ending

There is so much to admire within this book, Historical fiction of real quality, a page turner, where each page brings forth richly detailed prose. You can see that it is a period which has been well researched by the author to get whole tone and feel for the times so vividly on the page

I have to admit that Shakespeares plays leave me cold, this however, warmed my heart, a read of mystery and intrigue, I was captivated from the opening pages and held mesmerised throughout

Would definitely recommend, a quality slice of historical mystery fiction

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

am neither a student nor a big fan of Shakespeare. I’ve had my moments with some of the plays but for the most part I don’t get the importance. The author however has randomly chosen some quotes to begin each chapter and they had me wondering if I should revisit the plays someday.

The book was unexpectedly interesting. I say it that way because in the beginning, I found it hard to move through the content. The author sticks with the appropriate language and mode of conduct for the period, making everything seem slower. At one point, however, once the stage is set ( had to use the imagery somewhere), the pace picks up and a lot of things happen simultaneously.

William Shakespeare has only written one play when the plot of this one begins. The livelihood of the actors and related jobs is at stake when the Queen orders all the theatres to shut down because of the plague. Shakespeare needs a patron and when he targets one man, the decision puts him in the crosshairs of a man who has the Queen’s ear and is always on the lookout for threats against the crown.

I found the historical representation quite fascinating. The amount of intrigue and double crossings seem distinctly uncomfortable. The plot (s) were well done as well and my rating is as much for the story as for managing to turn around my expectations within a few chapters.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did Not Finish. Fiction set in 1592, London. I was expecting a mystery, or at least a thriller. The story started with William trying to seduce a well-born lady into giving up her virtue to him. When he fails, he talked with his friend about the merits of having sex with well-born ladies versus prostitutes versus his wife (as William is married and has 3 children). The next bit involved interacting with a man who is suspected of having sex with his handsome, young male patron and William trying to get the notice of that patron. Then we've got a scene where a man interrogated William about what he thought about Sodomy and aren't all actors homosexual. I'm not actually interested in a treatise on what this fictional William thinks about all forms of sex, so I quit.

[Bill Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHAKESPEARE as detective is so good you realise he was wasted as a playwright.

It's 1592 and plague has closed London’s theatres. A young and green Will, with one play to his name, is out of a job.

It gets worse when he is forced by two dangerous rival nobles to spy for them.

Will must find the answers they want while trying to stay alive in this clever crime tale that blends pace and humour into a riveting read, believable and funny.

Great fun for Shakespeare lovers but you're not Bard if you don't know his plays. More! More!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a historical crime series featuring a young William Shakespeare
Will is drawn into the shadowy world of Elizabethan espionage
Loved seeing Shakespeare at the beginning of his career
You’re introduced to lots of colourful characters and Will doesn’t know who to trust
You are immediately transported to Elizabethan England and a London full of the plague
Thanks @howardlinskey @canelo_co & @netgalley for a fab new historical mystery series, look forward to reading future instalments

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly BRILLIANT

I honestly could not put this book down, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I was completely transported to Shakespeare’s London, and the worlds they lived in - one the world of the theatre, one the violent and noxious streets, one the highest court in the land ruled by the Queen and her courtiers and one ruled by the political and religious forces behind the Queen. A fantastic read, highly recommended. 5 stars from me!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book. I listen3r to the audio version and the voice actor was phenomenal. he did each of the characters so wonderfully that I forgot that it was only one actor doing each character. this is the first in the series and I am so excited to read the next book. I love all things Shakespeare and it was wonderful getting to see Shakespeare in a different type of role. That of an amateur detective.

[J Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historic read

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading A Serpent in the Garden and feel that I now know William Shakespeare and his friends so much better. A really enlightening feel to historic England in 1592 and the story has been very cleverly written with some true facts to go well with the fiction.

[Anita Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life and times of Shakespeare feels like something I am familiar with from various films, TV and books, but this was an unusual take. Many of the characters are real people and I was drawn in by the plot and wanted to know how things would turn out.
It seems that there was a lot of research by the author to add plenty of authentic details.
I would definitely read more by this writer.

[Mandira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner- interesting, insightful and realistic creation of Elizabethan London. Some twists and turns in the story - some more predictable than others, and loosely based on the real events. Quite a few chuckles along the way. Would be willing to try further books in the series if/when released.

[Sara :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting read! I love historical fictions and adding in a murder plot/espionage is a sure way to a good book in my opinion :)

As it’s based on ‘Will’ Shakespeare’s life I can justify this is technically English revision for my exams as well so bonus point for that 😂😂

[Sally Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about a great man

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an utterly excellent read, full of witty little easter eggs about writing and nods to the names of shakespeare’s characters. This twinned with a fascinating plot that blends fiction with real events and you are left with a knock out of a read. theres so much to love about this novel and the sheer amount of research that has gone into it. definitely a read of the year contender for me 5*