The Vagabond Clown

Nicholas Bracewell #13

by Edward Marston

When unexpected disaster strikes Lord Westfield's Men during a packed performance, Nicholas Bracewell, the theater company's stage manager and all around performer of miracles, must save the day once again. A melee caused by disguised men is brought under control, but before the troupe can lament their destroyed set Nick discovers a body in the stands with a knife sticking out of it's back. They soon realize they are out one theater and one clown: Barnaby Gill, always hilarious on the stage and hopelessly curmudgeonly off, has broken his leg.
With long months of repairs before them, Westfield's Men embark on a tour of the Kent countryside in order to salvage some of the down time. They hire a stand-in for Gill, one Gideon Mussett, a gifted comedian and an even more gifted drunk. It seems no clown is perfect; while Gill has never been a barrel of laughs when not in front of an audience, Musset simply doesn't seem to know when to quit being funny.
Their major wound bandaged, no matter how temporarily, Nick and the troupe are hoping to leave their troubles behind. But misfortune follows them at every turn, and the company finds that no matter what they do or where they go someone very sinister is just moments behind. It's up to Nick Bracewell to find out what's going on, and exactly how it ties in to their wayward comedian. Will the Vagabond Clown prophecy the end of Westfield's Men, and perhaps the demise of Nick himself? Longtime readers of mystery master Edward Marston will line up to find out in this suspenseful entry in a series that never disappoints.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Crime, 16th Century

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2003

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

[Maria Thermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does Marston do it? This is another nail-biting and highly entertaining excursion into the Elizabethan era, where book holder with Lord Westfield's Men, London's premier acting troupe, finds himself up to his neck in murder and intrigue. This time, somebody is really trying to destroy the actors' livelihood.

During a performance of a new play a brawl among members of the audience breaks out. Soon the brawl heads towards the stage, where clown and fellow sharer in the acting company's fortunes Barnaby Gill happens to be on his own at that moment. Dragged off stage and severely beaten, Gill is trampled by fleeing audience members and left for dead. A member of the audience, a young member of Lord Westfield's party, is found stabbed. The stage and scenery are in ruins, the landlord is furious to the point of forbidding the actors to ever stage a play at his inn again. Worse, their clown Barnaby Gill has suffered a broken leg.

Driven from their venue at the Queen's Head in Gracechurch Street, the acting troupe has no choice but to bring forward their tour into Kent, where they are to perform at various venues, including Dover Castle. How will they manage without their famous clown? Can they still muster the will to stage a play? Nicholas Bracewell hits on an idea: a substitute clown must be found. And this happens to be Gill's least favourite person in the world, his old adversary Giddy Mussett.

It is a complex mystery with plenty of red herrings leading the reader astray. Before long, there are more murders, mishaps and kidnappings threatening the future of Lord Westfield's Men. Can Nicholas Bracewell solve the mystery and save the day?

As always, the banter between actors is priceless and exceptionally well presented. Verbal spats between Gill and Giddy are hilarious and Marston's use of historic fact is sufficient to conjure up the era without ever overwhelming the reader. It's a greatly entertaining read, unputdownable, beautifully conceived. One is only sad at the end that the splendid character, rogue Giddy Musset, the vagabond clown of the book title, won't appear in future mysteries. Shame, for he's such fun and a great nemesis for arrogant Gill.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - I really enjoyed this novel because of the play-offs between Barnaby Gill and Giddy Mussett. I think it really added comedy to this book having two clowns instead of just the one. I also think that it sometimes helps to take the troop away from London so that you can introduce new areas which aren't so familiar to the characters. However, I did feel like it wasn't quite as good as some of the previous ones, as the mystery didn't grip me quite so much.

Genre? - Crime / Mystery / Historical

Characters? - Nicholas Bracewell / Lawrence Firethorn / Giddy Mussett / Barnaby Gill / Owen Elias / Richard Honeydew / Anne Hendrik / Margery Firethorn / Alexander Marwood

Setting? - London (England)

Series? - Nicholas Bracewell #13

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 17/20

[Sue Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m afraid I didn’t finish this book. I picked it up at the library having recognised the author’s name from a detective story involving a monk that I had really enjoyed. Had I realised that this was book thirteen in a series, I might (should) have thought twice. I dare say those who knew and loved the characters already would enjoy it, but I didn’t and so found all the banter a bit pedestrian.

[Jo Jenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have enjoyed any of Edward Marston's books you will enjoy this.
When someone watching a play is murdered the actors are forced out of their homes and out on a tour of Kent.
Danger and 'accidents' follow them and they need to find their torturer before it's too late.
Marston sets the scene beautifully and I could fully imagine Elizabethan England for a touring troop of actors.
I am currently living in Kent and I loved the fact that certain pubs in Canterbury were there back in Elizabethan times.
The book as a whole captured my imagination but I did struggle with the final reasoning behind the actions of the killer. It is difficult to really explain all the issues of the day it felt a little extreme to be killing people for the reasons given. However thinking back to my history lessons from over 30 years ago I know the reasons given were likely to exist. I would have liked those things to have been explored further so the reader understood more about why people would go to such extremes.
Overall an easy read that was very enjoyable.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2003, 'The Vagabond Clown' is the 13th in the Nicholas Bracewell series of mysteries set around a London-based theatre group in Elizabethan England. This tale takes the group out of London on a short tour of venues in Kent. As is often the case, the plot is pretty daft but is held aloft by some superb interaction between the regular characters, most of whom are a little eccentric. Enjoyable.

[Ellemay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasent easy read. There was enough actionbto keep me interested if I didn't want to think about solving the mystery and enough red herrings so the the answer wasn't obvious from the beginning. Look forward to reading some more in the series.

[Mizbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

library

Great book. Wanna read the rest in the series. This one is book 12, I think.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Judging by the very long list of other titles by the same author inside my copy it seems he can do this sort of thing almost effortlessly. Maybe that's why this one reads like writing by numbers or as if the author did not really put a lot of effort into it.

But if you like dialogue which borders on spoof you might like this: "He'll feel my rigour first." "You shall have it at the point of my sword." "Begone you foul wretch. You offend our sight." "I'll terminate the villain's miserable life."

There's another (to my mind) rather curious thing that Marston does with language in that he doesn't match words with the character or situation intended. Thus, a landlord is variously described with anger by characters as 'vile', a 'rogue', and a 'foul wretch' which made me think of a particularly nasty individual but he is, in fact, rather pathetic. A central character's wife is introduced as being 'formidable' but she 'bustles about' loving everyone and instantly obeys her husband's commands. A ship is described as 'bobbing violently'. (I thought only corks bobbed violently.) And a dangerous man threatening to kill someone is described as 'waving [his] dagger' about.

It all rattles along though. I'm glad that others have enjoyed it :-)

[socks · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first books that started me on my journey towards becoming a bookworm; my mother dragged to a charity shop, and told me to pick a book to read over summer. I had never been so invested in a book other than the ones my mother would read me as a child; I laughed and gasped at lines of dialogue, which despite following the Shakespearean style of language, always seemed to be in character, and gave each of the performers a life in every line; each line delivered like a true actor.
My favourite character, had to be Barnaby, a clown both on and off the stage, brought great comedy to every scene, and made me happy to see his name appear on a page.

[GBL · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic read from the pen of Edward Marston who writes a variety of mystery novels. I have read his Railway Detective series but this was my first novel in the series set in the world of the Elizabethan theatre.
The story is not demanding but the characters are interesting and the various conflicts within the theatre company are enough to keep the interest of the reader.

[Anne Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and immersive. Marston plays teasingly with the theatrical characters in Lord Westfiekd’s Company. Nicholas Bracewell seems like an Elizabethan Superman, there is nothing he cannot do. An interesting wander around Elizabethan London and Kent, where I live, although not recognisable today!

[Flame Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished it 2 days ago and this book is actually pretty good. It never gets boring and its unputdownable. The fights between giddy and gill never get old. It has a good twist in the end about the killer. Would definately check out more of edward marston's books.

[Neha Hebbar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book claimed to be a murder mystery but it was lacking in the mystery aspect
It felt more like a story about the life of a theatre troop . If u go into this book with no expectations, then it is quite pleasant read

[Malcolm Balster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable romp through Elizabethan theatre land.
The political twist in the finalé was well disguised, and like Nick Bracewell, I saw rivals trying to bring Westfields men down.
Fast moving and thoroughly engrossing

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable series set in Elizabethan theatre land! A murder mystery that kept me guessing, and entertained and enlightened along the way. Very good series.

[Roger Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent historical mystery story set in the world of the touring Elizabethan theatre troop.

[Bigbear Woolliscroft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why, but whenever Marston brings Elizabethan religion into the Bracewell stories the plot falls apart (see trip to Jerusalem).

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

an incredible read loved reading this series of books

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but not as good as other series by same author

[Becky Gotch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really couldn’t get invested in any of the characters in this book. Read it to the end as I don’t like to not finish a book but I won’t be reading any more from this series.

[Veronica Freeney · Rating 3 out of 5]

a
An enjoyable murder mystery set in Elizabethan England

[Matthew Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and unique piece of historical crime fiction. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout and it is an easy and enjoyable read.

[Ruth Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this. It was so interesting being set in Tudor times. It added that extra layer to it. Need to look out for the others now.

[Lucy Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Amazing writing and in depth characters, all of which I really enjoyed! 😀🤡

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Westfield’s men are an interesting bunch. While performing one day in their usual venue, a group of men from the audience leap on stage and cause a furor, in which Barnaby Gill, the clown, breaks his leg. Later it is discovered that a man in the audience was murdered at the same time. The theater needs repair work and Westfield’s men decide to go on tour until they can return to their home stage. Giddy Mussett is hired to take Barnaby’s place. Barnaby insists on coming on tour as well, even though he has to ride in a wheelbarrow and can’t act, but he hates Mussett and wants to keep an eye on him. Soon Mussett is killed, and other misfortunes strike the group. The last and worst is when Lawrence Firethorn, the manager of the company is kidnapped and taken aboard a ship that is about to sail. Nicholas Bracewell solves the mystery of who wants to do the company so much damage. I wish there had been a few more clues along the way as to whom the villain might have turned out to be, and the reasons for the crimes.

[K.B. Hallman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Marston's most engaging work. I guess at this point in this series he was tired of writing it. Everything about this book was limp--the writing, the plot, the characters. The only funny line in the book was the last line of the book. The only engaging part of the book was in the forty pages or so.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gill breaks a leg and has to be in a wheelbarrow. Very good again.

[Kinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. I enjoyed the mystery.