Lock Up Honesty

Francis Bacon Mystery #8

by Anna Castle

The most corrupt court in Elizabethan England has turned deadly.

Francis Bacon’s clerk, Thomas Clarady, has finally passed the bar. Now it’s time to sue for his livery in the Court of Wards. Alas, nothing is simple in the most corrupt institution in Tudor England. The attorney tries to wring a bribe from Tom, who refuses in threatenting terms. When the attorney turns up dead, Tom’s the most likely suspect. He goes into hiding, leaving Bacon and Lady Dorchester to find out who really did the deed.

Every ward has reasons aplenty to hate the court and its officers. Some guardians have been keeping dark secrets from their wards. That attorney had other targets closer to home. As Tom’s wits unravel, Francis and Trumpet must take on his roles in the investigation as well as their own. Clues lead them in circles. The best ones lead straight back to Tom. Can they catch the villain before the sheriff grows tired of waiting?

Genres: Tudor Period

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2022

About the author

Anna Castle writes the Francis Bacon mysteries and the Professor & Mrs. Moriarty mysteries. She has earned a series of degrees -- BA in the Classics, MS in Computer Science, and a Ph.D in Linguistics -- and has had a corresponding series of careers -- waitressing, software engineering, grammar-writing, assistant professor, and archivist. Writing fiction combines her lifelong love of stories and learning. She physically resides in Austin, Texas and mentally counts herself a queen of infinite space.

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm addicted to the Francis Bacon novels. After 8 books, I feel like I know the characters personally, and I always like historical novels featuring real people. This one centers of the Court of Wards, the very real and very corrupt office that extorted enormous bribes from people whose fathers had died before their 21st birthday. The law required them to have a guardian regardless of how old they got unless they won their "livery" from the Court. The guardians made enormous money off their wards and thus had no reason to help them win their livery. Even worse, if the guardian proposed a marriage and the ward turned it down, then the ward had to pay his or her guardian a huge sum of money. That debt alone get them in bondage. Guardians would propose dreadful matches just to get this indebtedness. Tom Clarady is tired of fighting the officials and paying them bribes. He loses his temper with a couple of them, they are murdered soon after, and he is the most likely suspect. Francis Bacon is assigned the task of solving the murders, assisted by Tom himself and Trumpet.

The author researches the era very well. I learn things like the fact they crushed lavender across their floors to ward off fleas. The clothes are described in luscious detail, and meals reflect the way people of means ate at the time. E.g., a dinner might consist of whitefish, conger in souse, green pottage, salmon baked with vinegar and onions, Roast tench and florentine custard. I have to look things up just to see what they were!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1594 Thomas Clarady is now a barrister. His next step is to attain his livery from the Court of Wards. Unfortunately an Attorney of the Court of Wards has been poisoned, a Richard Strunk. The same man that Thomas recently threatened. Frances Bacon is asked to investigate the murder. Also friend and bored Lady Dorchester helps. Hoping to catch the guilty party before the Sheriff arrests Clarady.
An entertaining, well-plotted, and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likable and varied characters. A good addition to the series, which can easily be read as a standalone story.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via BooksFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corruption and bribery rife from the clerks through to the highest ranking officer in the legal system of old England. Poor Tom, just when the finish line is in sight and he can almost taste his freedom, to be hauled back by being told that he has to pay the Kind's fee, again, when he had already done so. Enough to make a man resort to savagery, not to mention murder. But Tom is innocent. But that does not stop another from making sure that he is the scapegoat so that they can literally get away with murder.

Another intriguing read from Castle, As always, rich with detail, and accurate details as well, so much so, you can almost transport yourself to Elizabethan England.

[Avis Witter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am constantly amazed by the amount of research done by Ms. Castle in the Francis Bacon series. This latest book is no exception. So much detail about the workings of the Court of Wards in Elizabethan times and the corruption that was so much a part of it. This is one of my favourite times in history and I am always thrilled to receive my ARC and read about another situation Francis Bacon and his cohorts find themselves in. For me there is nothing more interesting and compelling than to read a story intertwined with real history. 15 out of 10 for Lock Up Honesty.

[Elizabeth Hallenbake · Rating 5 out of 5]

the story was gripping. I really couldn’t see which of the suspects guilty.

Another enjoyable story in the series. I couldn’t put the book down hopping our protagonists would be safe. Looking forward to next in the series.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are genuine and the historic aspect is intriguing. This story is well written with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I think this might be my favorite in the series so far. I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated 5 stars. Another fantastic entry in the Francis Bacon historical mystery series set in 16th century England. Detailed historical setting, wonderful dialogue and characterizations. Somewhat disappointed that there is no Audio version available for this title.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are so addictive - the history is wonderful, the characters so well done and the mystery, while I usually figure out who did it, the getting there is great. I can't wait to see what Francis, Tom & Trumpet get up to next!

[Erin McAvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis Bacon doesn't disappoint. It was nice to see all the characters grow up a bit and realize that life is many things at 30 but not necessarily what you expected. Thanks for the latest installment - I hope to see another!

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, so much interesting history paired with some enjoyable fictional characters. Wonderful historical fiction

[William N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable

I'm going to miss this highly unusual series. I've come to really like the characters and will fine a great void when they are gone.

[Jalean · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is excepcionally amazing.

[Alan Lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts out good for Tom Clarady. He passes the bar and is paying the fines to the Court of Wards so as to obtain his livery. However, after being asked for a bribe, and refusing, Tom's world goes downhill from there. He storms out of the meeting with the court attorney, who then is found dead later on. Tom is the likely suspect. Francis Bacon and Lady Alice Dorchester do their thing to track down the murderer. I felt the ending didn't tie up everything. Lady Alice and Catalina have no closing. Tom has a minor one. Francis plans to set up for the next regent. Anna also says there won't be another Bacon novel until 2023. It's now 2025 and I have yet to see a new Francis Bacon Mystery novel.