A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare

Elizabeth and Richard Literary Suspense #2

by Donna Fletcher Crow

Elizabeth and Richard want nothing more than a quiet, romantic honeymoon with a touch of literary charm. So they have chosen the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Perfection. Until they find that Desdemona's brilliantly acted death scene wasn't acted and Elizabeth's costume designer sister and her actress roommate are terrified that they are slated to be the next victims.A Midsummer Eve’s Nightmare has “all the elements of a throat-gripping, sleep-robbing thriller, while still wooing the reader with the tenderness of sweet romance. . . this is a charming page-turner that will keep readers on edge to the very end.” Kathi Macias, Twilight of the Raj series“Crow delivers entrancing moments and plenty of suspense with lots of suspects in her twisty murder plot, and the killer’s identity remains a mystery until the very end. Crow’s descriptions of the Elizabethan theater, the period music, and, especially, Shakespeare’s plays, are delightful. If you love Shakespeare and want an insider’s look at the theater world, this book is for you.” Susan Fleet, Absolution, 2009 Best Suspense-Thriller, Premier Book Awards

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

202 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Donna Fletcher Crow loves to give books away. If you would like a copy of one of her best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates series, go to her website: http://www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com

Donna is the author of 50 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. The award-winning GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England is her best-known work, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history.
Donna authors 3 mystery series: The best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates Vitorian true-crime series; The Monastery Murders; and The Elizabeth and Richard Literary Suspense.

Donna and her husband have 4 adult children and 14 grandchildren. She is an inveterate researcher and an enthusiastic gardener. You can see pictures of her research trips and her garden, learn more about her books, subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and read her blog at: www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com

Reviews

[Christine Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooded specters of thespians long dead seem to navigate the catwalk high above the darkened stage.

I’ve always been a fan of the traditional cozy murder mysteries. So I was excited to discover a modern-day voice that has captured that fast-paced and snappy dialogue that you would find in a Tommy & Tuppence who-dun-it. That voice is Donna Crow, award-winning English novelist who lives in Oregon.

She has written numerous books, but this is the first one I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. She keeps to the traditional style but beautifully updated.

Her sleuths are newlyweds Elizabeth and Richard Spenser, an educated and stylish couple who are on their honeymoon. But these two are pulled away from their romantic trysts by the shady goings on at a local theatre. In the silent and darkened hall it seems someone is out to injure Elizabeth’s sister, Tori, ... or worse.

Amidst delightful snippets of Shakespearean speeches that are expertly woven throughout the story, is a hilarious maze of misconstructed dialogue and mayhem of action. Even the police detective quotes Shakespeare, proving the universality of the Bard.

With an adroit hand at humor and sleek banter, Donna Crow combines a lighthearted romance with the dangerous world behind the curtain. And her characters Elizabeth and Richard share their Christian faith unobtrusively and with deft intelligence.

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Crow does a wonderful job weaving mystery through a honeymoon getaway form Elizabeth and Richard in the second of this series.
The mysteries will keep you guessing, but you will also get an enjoyable romp through a Shakespearean festival.
I love the way Shakespeare is interjected in just the right places, and sometimes in subtle ways.
Descriptions of backstage are delightful and when the apartment is trashed the description is so vivid the reader feels as though they are standing in the midst of the mess.
Characters are well-developed and interact in a natural manner, however the reader will learn new things about each of the characters throughout the book - keeps it very interesting.
The author has 35 books to her credit and has just recently added mysteries to her playbill - a good move.

[Donna Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be a better honeymoon spot for two literature professors than a Shakespeare Festival? Until an actress friend is killed and another put in terror of her life. Set at the historic Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable!

Honeymoon at a festival in Oregon! Sounds terrific! Accidents, harassment, and death haunt the plays being presented. Elizabeth and Richard find themselves involved and search for perpetrator!

[Martha A. Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of Shakespeare knowledge

Obvious love Shakespeare's plays, harder yo follow the mystery. The previous book was more fun and i am fond of Shakespeare.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series that combines cozy mysteries with literature and adventure.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting mystery, but with a few more 'iffy' elements for a Christian reader. Sadly, the characters also seem to get more of their direction in the story from Shakespeare, than from the Bible...

[Margaret Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyable

This is such an intriguing mystery filled with many twists and turns to a great adventure with lovable and entertaining characters.

[Deon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on #KindleUnlimited

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth and Richard are at a Shakespeare festival when the murders start.
A very clever story intertwined with the Shakespeare plays they are watching.