The Nine Giants

Nicholas Bracewell #4

by Edward Marston

While his acting troupe, Lord Westfield's Men, searches for a new home--and finds it in The Nine Giants--stage manager Nicholas Bracewell is confronted by the murder of a young man

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Audiobook

235 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1991

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

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marston's writing makes you feel like you are in Shakespeare's London. But his plot

of a corrupt politician who tries to stay in office after losing an election could be ripped out of 2021's headlines.

While not a comedy speeches like this are peppered throughout the novel.

‘Who are you to speak, you pimp, you goose, you carrion crow! I am that same wife you talk so rudely of and I am as sound a Christian as any woman alive. Fie on your foul tongue, you varlet, on your sewer of a mouth, on that running sore of a mind that you scratch for argument to make it bleed villainy. Out, out, you clod, you tottering wretch, you drunken bawd, you scheming devil, you thrice-ugly beggar, you vile and noisome vapour. Draw off lest you infect us all with this leprous speech of yours!’ She stood over him with such fearsome rage that he cowered before her. ‘A foul fiend, am I, sir? I will haunt your haunches with my housewife’s toe for that. I have spindly legs, you say. They hold me better than those poor, mean sticks of yours that cannot hold up the weight of a beer-filled belly without they bend like longbows at full draw. Pizzle-mad, you claim …’

Even in Elizabethan London's immigrants take the blame for the ills of society.

‘They are everywhere!’ replied Renfrew, pointing his sword in different directions as he spoke. ‘Aliens are taking over London. We have Genoese, we have Venetians, we have cheese-eating Swiss. You may find Germans in every street and Frenchmen in every bawdy house. There are Dutchmen in Billingsgate and Polish in Rotherhithe. We are beset by strangers!’

[Dokusha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein politisches Komplott im London des 16. Jahrhunderts. Das war mal eine etwas andere Atmosphäre, die Sitten und Gebräuche der Zeit unterschieden sich doch ziemlich von unseren. Edward Marston schafft es, einen in die Epoche zu versetzen, nicht nur mit dem, was er schreibt, sondern auch damit, wie er schreibt. Sein Stil ist gewollt altmodisch und hilft kräftig dabei mit, sich 500 Jahre zurück zu denken.
Und meine erste Befürchtung, der Stil und die Geschichte könnten sich als langweilig erweisen, war unbegründet. Es war eine angenehme Lektüre

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best Elizabethan Mystery yet.
Nicholas Bracewell, book holder for Lord Westfield's Men, is once again at the centre of an investigation that takes him through the less savoury parts of London in search of the truth. Hindering his progress is Lawrence Firethorn, actor-manager of the players, who has seen yet another woman to fall in love with and to perform for. Despite both parties being married, one of them to the Lord Mayor elect of London, an illicit love tries and fails to raise its head. After a well-timed intervention by Bracewell, both doomed lovers never consummate the relationship. Both marriages survive.
This is merely a side plot to the main story of bribery, corruption, murder and more in the pursuit of greater riches than already possessed by those too blinded by them to appreciate what they already have.
Nicholas Bracewell, with the help of his friends and colleagues, manages to foil the plots being planned against the Lord Mayor elect, despite other deaths occurring along the way.
Westfield's Men remain based at the Queen's Head and normal life, such as it is, for the players, returns.

[Moravian1297 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had enjoyed the last book in this Nicholas Bracewell series, 'The Trip to Jerusalem', to such an extent, I think that it was always gonna set up its predecessor here, 'The Nine Giants', as a fall guy. Kind of a self fulfilling prophecy, I know, but it's certainly the kindest way I can think of, to say that I found the book somewhat disappointing.

The story, very much takes an age to get going, where there's a lot of faffing about on the peripherals, getting to know the one time characters, specific to this tale.
I'm also in a quandary about the amount of 'romance' which features in the book. Mainly the lecherous machinations of the Westfield men's leader, Laurence Firethorn, whom this time falls head over heels in lust over Matilda Stanford, the young wife of Mayoral elect candidate, Walter Stanford, Master of the Mercers. To complicate the romantic intrigue even further, Matilda, unintentionally and very much unreciprocated, also wins the heart of the acting troupe's resident writer/poet and actor, Edmund Hoode.
So, when Firethorn entreats, begs and eventually threatens Hoode to ghost write romantic missives for Laurence to woo Matilda, the resulting fights and arguments between the pair, with some extremely creative verbal abuse and tip top, medieval swearing, are really quite amusing. However, that amusement is tempered by my general, all round hatred of slushy romance! Be that as it may, the belligerence between the pair is especially heightened when Edmund finds out that Firethorn's latest paramour is none other than his own contemporary melancholic, love interest, Matilda Stanford and inevitably, it's Nicholas Bracewell whom has to pick up the pieces and act as peacemaker and referee, but thankfully, he usually has a cunning plan up his sleeve, which will hopefully serve the best interests of everyone involved! Perhaps the book had just a bit too much sloppy romance, but there was ever much clever wit and farcical scenes aplenty to combat it, and save the day.

The story also highlighted the racism/xenophobia of the day, which was quite prolific. There was one scene in particular which I found rather poignant, and which could easily have been transported to today, with little difference from that day to this.
We have two knaves, wayward nephew of Walter Stanford, Michael Delahaye (whom had faked his own death and was going by the name, James Renfrew) and his henchman, Firk. Their plan, to murder a young Dutchman, Hans Kippel, whom also lodges with Nicholas Bracewell's landlady and occasional lover, Anne Hendrick, was also apprenticed in her hat manufacturing business, and whom had witnessed a foul murder, committed by Delahaye and Firk, and so had to be silenced, permanently! After previous attempts on the life of Kippel had been foiled by Nicholas Bracewell, this latest Machiavellian plot by Delahaye and Firk, was to be executed by rabble rousing the drunken London apprentices on their May Day celebrations, by whipping up a fury of racism and xenophobia, and in the resulting melee and confusion, they would seek out young Kippel and kill him.
The passage where Delahaye and Firk are shouting their racist provocations, could easily have been taken from an anti-immigration demonstration on last night's News at Ten! Honestly, it could so easily have been Farage or Tommy Ten Names screaming out their ill informed bile and hate to their band of idiotic stooges, haha! You were caught not knowing whether to laugh at said idiocy or be very, very frightened, 1930's Germany anyone?
I'll use the quotes here, but I'll anachronistically substitute the names of the book's characters, Michael Delahaye and Firk, to that of Nigel Farage and Tommy (Ten Names) Robinson,

'With pint (it was actually a ‘sword’ in the book) in hand, Nigel ran into the yard and struggled (‘jumped’ in the book) up onto a table so that he could stamp on it with his feet to gain attention. Even the swirling revelry was stilled for a second. Farage was a stinking (‘striking’ in the book) figure, with a voice like a constipated gull (‘that knew how to command’ in the book).
'Friends!' he yelled. 'There's villainy abroad!'
'Where sir? shouted Tommy on cue.
'Close by this inn. I saw it with my own eyes. Five brawny Dutch apprentices set on one poor English lad and gave him such a drubbing that I fear for his life.'
'Shame!' roared Tommy Ten Names
'Where are they?' howled a dozen voices.
'They are everywhere!' replied Farage, pointing his swilling pint in different directions as he spoke. 'Aliens are taking over London. We have Genoese, we have Venetians, we have cheese-eating Swiss. You may find Germans in every street and Frenchmen in every bawdy house. There are Dutchman in Billingsgate and Polish in Rotherhithe. We are beset by strangers!'
'Drive the aliens out!' bellowed Tommy.
'Vengeance on the strangers!'
'Break their foreign heads!'
'Kill them! Kill them!
'London belongs to Londoners!' urged Tommy Ten Names.
'Those swarthy gentlemen now swagger through our city and defile our women folk! Foreigners out, I say!'
'Foreigners out! Foreigners out!'
Farage whipped them up until their bloodlust was so strong it simply wanted direction in order to expend itself. He and Tommy led the charge......'

To be sure, you couldn't make it up! Change those Western European nationalities to ones of Asian, African, Slavic and Central/South American people, and hey presto, you're at a meeting of Reform or Unite the Clans or some other egregious band of desperados and racists! Remorsefully it would seem, that people never learn, and to quote Super Hans from ’Peep Show’: ‘People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis, you can’t trust people Jez’. Just like his namesake there, Hans Kippel certainly couldn’t!

Nevertheless, there was also an excellent twist near the book's conclusion, involving the afore mentioned Michael Delahaye's identity, which until its reveal, I hadn’t guessed at whatsoever! And by the last quarter of the story, I couldn't put it down, haha! So I might really be fooling myself, in saying that I found the book disappointing, by the time I’d finished it, the book really wasn't that bad all told, vis-a-vis why I've rounded it up to four stars! Keep. Them. Coming.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series, historically accurate and with an entertaining plot. This one was perhaps less enthralling than some of the others in the series, but still kept my attention and I enjoyed it very much.

[Pamela Mingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entry in Edward Marston's Nicholas Bracewell series.

I enjoy this Elizabethan mystery series because of its consistency. Each book has humor, a rather convoluted plot, quick-witted dialogue, and of course, Nicholas Bracewell, bookholder of Lord Westfield's Men, saving the day.

This story involved devious plotting among some of London's leaders to either grab or maintain power. In the process of doing this, several murders occur. Bracewell is stage manager of Lord Westfield's Men, who rely on him for everything. He also ends up managing most of what occurs among the villains and secondary characters.

Very pleasurable reading.

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book holder and stage manager for Lord Westfield's men, Nicolas Bracewell, goes above and beyond his job description to solve a couple of murders, save the company from eviction, foil a plot against the Lord Mayor-elect and save the leading man from embarking on a potentially disastrous affair. The story keeps a good pace and combines humorous and bawdy elements with pathos and romance.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicholas Bracewell, bookholder of the Westfield’s Men acting troupe, is in a quandary: his employer, actor/manager Lawrence Firethorn, has requested that he discover the identity of a young lady in the audience with whom Firethorn has fallen in love (well, lust really). But Nick knows that Firethorn’s wife will not put up with such behaviour, especially when it turns out that the lady in question is the young wife of London’s new Mayor-Elect. On top of that, the owner of the inn that serves as the troupe’s base is planning to sell and the new owner absolutely hates theater, putting the actors in danger of becoming homeless. And, Nick’s landlady’s apprentice has been viciously attacked by unknown men, and finally, he helps a waterman pull a corpse out of the River Thames. And that’s just the beginning of Nick’s troubles….”The Nine Giants” is the fourth in a series about this Elizabethan theatrical troupe, and like its predecessors, there are a number of inter-related stories being told at the same time. The setting is well-described - the reader can practically smell what 16th Century London would be like - and the characters are intriguing, especially Nicholas Bracewell. I’ve been reading these out of order, as I happen to find them, and I don’t think I’ve missed much by doing so. If you like your mystery reading with a dose of history, Mr. Marston’s work is well worth your time; recommended.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1991, The Nine Giants is the 4th in a long series of Elizabethan mysteries set in London against a background of an acting company called Westfield's Men. Like many in the series, this entry features an often flimsy, obvious and at times daft plot but, because it is part of a series, scores highly due to the interaction of a regular cast of flamboyant and eccentric characters. The plt in this case is connected with the election of the Mayor of London no less, which is a great cue for some brilliant period detail of the sort that Marston excels at. Enjoyable, but a little too obvious at times.

[Malcolm Balster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Elizabethian murder mystery. This time is intrigue and corruption in the City of London and Westfields men are threatened with eviction which could lead to the troop disbanding. The murder of a Dutch apprentice, who was witness to another murder, gives the author the chance to relate the racism and xenophobia that may have been present in Elizabethan England. Unfortunately, the wording used reflects that used by some right wing commentators today.
Once again Nicolas Bracewell proves to be an excellent book holder and sluth and as ever Marston brings the threads together well, but in a somewhat rushed way I felt this time.
Another very enjoyable read.

[Francesca Vella · Rating 2 out of 5]

As usual with the other Edward Marston books, I sometimes get lost in the characters and whose who. However, after reading the 4th book in the series, I’m finding it to be too repetitive, especially with the way in which characters seem to hide who they are until the last minute, when all is revealed.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the description of the Elizabethan era in this novel. But the character of Nicholas Bracewell seems too perfect. He is loyal, brave, good at fighting, swimming, horse riding, ex-sailor, negotiating, plotting, has a great sense of art, equality and justice, and is good-looking.

[Elaine Benwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plodding plot and too many characters, but I managed to get through to the end. It was just okay. This is the first one of the series that I have read and I doubt I will be reading any more.

[Carole-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mine is a Corgi PB edition published 1991

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable book

[Tony Gothard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this slightly out of order so I'm back to book 3 now
Good feel of the Elizabethan era and some new words which I had to look up!!!!!

[Matthew Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and entertaining crime story. The unique setting and story makes this a gripping read. The characters are interesting and it is an easy series to get into.

[Jan Madden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got to page 81 and gave up .
It’s an awful book. The story never got going
Too much description of plays & theatres , not enough action

[David Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

[Maria Thermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth novel in the series sees protagonist Nicholas Bracewell's resource and detective skills put through even greater paces as ever before. Now secure in the Elizabethan world he has conjured up for us, Edward Marston delivers a superb murder mystery with great style and just enough period detail to suck us into the whirlpool that is 16th century London and without boring us with too many facts.

Plot:

Set against the backdrop of mayoral elections and the rivalries that pulse through London's various guilds, the novel starts with an ordinary working day in Nicholas Bracewell's life. After another command performance by Lord Westfield's fine troupe of actors, their book holder and stage manager Nicholas is on his way home, when he and his waterman discover a naked corpse floating in the Thames. The dead man has been badly beaten and his face has been smashed in.

When Nicholas returns home to his lodgings and the loving arms of his landlady Anne Hendrik he discovers another calamity has befallen his little world: a young apprentice charged with delivering hats to a rich client was apparently badly beaten and nearly robbed on his way home to his mistress. The boy kept the money safe, but at what cost? For now he cannot recall anything that happened to him and he grows more despondent and depressed as the days pass. Will Dutch apprentice Hans ever recall what befell him on his way across London Bridge?

Worse is to come still, for the Queen's Head, where the Westfield Men store their stage equipment, props and costumes and give most of their performances is to be sold to a rich brewer, who loathes the theatre and actors and wants to shut all theatres down at once. If the troupe of actors lose their professional home, they face poverty and starvation, for London's authorities in 1589 do not approve of theatricals in their august midst and will do anything to shut theatres down rather than allow new venues to be built.

As if being threatened with eviction wasn't enough to turn Nicholas' hair grey, his leading actor Lawrence Firethorn has fallen in love with a most unsuitable young lady, whose husband is in a position to put a stop to Westfield's Men for good, should he ever find out what is going on behind his back.

Worse, fellow actor and playwright Edmund has fallen for the same damsel - how on earth is Nicholas going to dissuade both infatuated actors from seducing the young wife of the influential leader of London's most important guild?

Before long, Nicholas' own life is threatened, another murder occurs and more victims are lined up to be slaughtered, for two men's ambitions and one mad man's revenge won't let them rest until their foul deeds are done.

Marston weaves a highly entertaining and gripping plot with some hilarious sub-plots of the romantic kind thrown in. It's also a complicated mystery this time, where most things are not as they seem and a great many people have hidden agendas. Couldn't put it down and read it in one glorious session. My favourite part? The scene between actor Lawrence and the waterman; their trading of insults warms the heart!

[Annie (is so far behind 😬) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't love this series, but I enjoy it and easily wile away time on my daily commute getting lost with Lord Westfield's troupe in Elizabethan London. I only have very minor complaints: would a waterman genuinely know how to read and write? In 16th C England, it would be far more realistic that he would be illiterate. He could absolutely come up with poems and music, but would be unable to transcribe anything to or from paper.

And the dialogue is slightly exhausting. I find myself skimming if there's a lot of it happening.

As I say, very minor complaints. I like the series well enough that I pick them up when I find them at thrift stores and they're pleasant and enjoyable enough that I'm continuing the series (and have picked up random books in other series as well).

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicholas Bracewell is the "book man" (general manager) of an Elizabethan theatrical troupe sponsored by Lord Westfield, which mainley plays at the Queen's Head Inn. He lodges with Anne Hendrik, who is the widow of a Dutch hatmaker.
Bracewell is juggling the negotiations for a renewal of the the Company's contract with the Inn, the volatile emotions of two of the Company's actors in lust with the same woman, the literary hopes of a poetically-inclined waterman, and a serious case of multiple murders.
The book drove me crazy--the story would be galloping along, threading the many characters well, when everything would screech to a halt while the author inserted a "HISTORICAL FACT". Now, I enjoy historical tidbits, but I don't like being thunked over the head with them in the middle of a metaphorical car chase. 1 1/2 stars on this one.
Task 5.5

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I’ve been buying random books in this – the Nicholas Bracewell series – whenever they appear on this cheap book site, so I end of reading the as much in order as I can manage. This is the 4th book in the series, and all follow Nicholas Bracewell, the bookholder (think stagemanager) of the Westfield’s Men, a theatre group. Set in Elizabethan times, he sorts out the troubles and worries of the players, the crew, and usually alongside some sort of crime or murder, as you do. It’s a very playful series, despite sometimes grim occurrences, and as a fan of Shakespeare and the era, as well as being involved with a theatre group myself, it’s very recognisable.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Elizabethan London, a troup of actors becomes unknowingly embroiled in politics as the lovely young wife of the Lord Mayor Elect attends one of their plays and is spied by the womanizing lead of the troupe and the actor who also writes most of their play. Both men are smitten and contentious quarrels arise. The twists and turns of the story lead to the uncovering of immense graft amongst the Lord Mayor's cronies, deaths, and the taking of another man's name.

[Wayne Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like these books mainly for the insight into the past and this time we get to learn a little of the Lord Mayors of London. The historical background as always is fascinating and the mystery itself is interesting enough to keep you reading. As always with Edward Marston there are quite a few coincidences that happen to Westfield's men to bring them into the plot that in real life probably wouldn't happen, but if you can forgive those then you'll find it an enjoyable read.

[Ivan Benedict · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a weak spot for mysteries set in old England (Cadfael series,
Father Brown stories, Sherlock Holmes). This one is set in old
London. The murder actually happens a way into the book and isn't
quite the major mystery. There's lots of fun involving a theater
company that continues throughout the book. There's romance,
mayoral politics, and some other threads that are woven into the
story - eventually all coming together at the end.
Marston writes an interesting story.

[Vicky Thomasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Trip to Jerusalem, I was saddened to believe that it was the last in the Nicholas Bracewell mysteries. Imagine my delight when I realised there are actually 16 books in this series! The Nine Giants was equally as good as the first three, if not better. I enjoyed every page from start to finish. I love the mix of history and a good murder mystery.

[Terri Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always reliably entertaining. Quirky, fun characters; and always a good plot, with journeys into some of the character's personal lives; evokes the time period descriptively and colorfully. Recommended!

[Emer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd one. It didn't blow me away but it kept me interested. Elizabethan fictional mystery with some historical fact mixed in. Some likeable characters and well written. An easy read that doesn't tax the brain. I'd read another of his works. :-)

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourth in the Nicholas Bracewell series set in Elizabethan England. Interesting information on the role of the Lord Mayor of London.