Witch Hammer

Kit Marlowe #3

by M.J. Trow

July, 1585. Desperate to escape Sir Francis Walsingham's clutches and pursue his chosen career as a professional playwright, the young Christopher Marlowe abandons his Cambridge studies to join Lord Strange's men, a group of travelling players. En route to perform at Oxford, the players are rehearsing amongst the famous Rollright Stones on the Warwickshire border when their efforts are interrupted by the discovery of the corpse of actor-manager Ned Sledd, found beneath the King's Stone, a silver-handled bodkin buried deep in his throat. Is it an act of witchcraft, a human sacrifice to mark the witches' festival of Lammastide? Or could the killer have a more personal reason to wish Sledd dead? Kit Marlowe determines to find out.

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

Audio CD

First published June 28, 2012

About the author

Meirion James Trow is a full-time teacher of history who has been doubling as a crime writer for seventeen years. Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda in South Wales he now lives on the Isle of Wight. His interests include collecting militaria, film, the supernatural and true crime.

Reviews

[Shomeret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because the case involves Stratford, Shakespeare makes an appearance. I didn't like the way he was portrayed. For a while, I thought Trow subscribed to the Marlowe hypothesis for authorship of Shakespeare's plays which makes no sense to me for a number of reasons. By the end of the book, it seemed possible that Trow didn't have that intention at all, but I was annoyed until then.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable mix of historical fiction with Kit Marlowe the smartest man in the room. The theater group goes through Stafford-on-Avon and young Shakespeare shows up. Tired of his life, wife, and children, he wants to get to London and be a poet and playwright. I like the depiction of the "glove-makers son" but am not one of the doubters. Good story well told.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has woven a Shakespeare line into almost every page. The story is fine and the the characters are interesting. The book was an OK read but I probably don't need to read a sequel. It takes place in the the 16th century and has a fun way of integrating intrigue, theater, humor with a traveling troupe around the countryside of old England.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series featuring Christopher Marlowe. I think Trow does an excellent job of brining Marlowe to life. Would love to see this series as a TV show - HBO, Showtime, BBC America - are you listening?

[Heather Domin · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be reviewed for Historical Novels Review Feb. 2013

[Jakenv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Must have been a bad day for reading. Liked idea but moved slowly & seemed destined to be trite. Mystery was how this received good ratings.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately as much as I liked what the preview said about this book I was very disappointed in the way this author wrote I really couldn't get into this book at all

[Margareth8537 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have quite enjoyed the Christopher Marlowe series. Quite well written if fantastical

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had all elements I would normally like in a book -- Elizabethan, semi-historical, mystery. . But it didn't keep me enthralled, nor do I feel motivated to seek out others in the series.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best one so far. Really enjoyed it

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the Peter Maxwell stories. Got a bit confused.