Death of Kings

Shakespearean Murder #2

by Philip Gooden

DEATH OF KINGS

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

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Philip Gooden lives in Bath. In addition to his Nick Revill series, Sleep of Death, he is the author of The Guinness Guide to Better English and the editor of The Mammoth Book of Literary Anecdotes. Each of his Nick Revill mysteries revolves around a Shakespearean play mirroring life - in Sleep of Death the play was Hamlet, in this offering it is Troilus and Cressida.
AKA Philippa Morgan.

Series:
* Shakespearean Murder
* Tom Ansell

Reviews

[Scott Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining second installment of the Nick Revill series set in Shakespeare's time. I enjoy the way the author weaves Shakespeares plays into the story but in my opinion this was not as enjoyable as Sleep of Death.

The story centers around a plot against the Queen which could have been very interesting but it just didn't deliver as much as I hoped. He ended up explaining and wrapping up several plot points in the last thirty pages in a strange way. It felt like the author just wanted to be done with the story.

I like the series though and will definitely read more.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the events recounted in Sleep of Death, Nick Revill, is now a junior member of the acting troupe The Chamberlain's Men and in February 1601 finds himself caught up in dangerous political intrigue.

Queen Elizabeth is in her 68th year and with no child or appointed successor there is widespread unrest and speculation about the situation. Supporters of her former favourite Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, commissioned a special performance of Shakespeare's Richard II, a play notable for its theme of the over-throwing and murder of an anointed king. The play was performed on the 7th February 1601 and on the morning of 8th February, Essex and his supporters attempted a revolt that was quickly quelled.

Using this historical context Gooden weaves a playful, often bawdy, tale in which poor Nick is up to his neck in plots and counter-plots as he is recruited as an informant by the Queen's Secretary, Sir Robert Cecil. Nick is such a likeable character and his narration is full of wit and references to Shakespeare's works. Aside from his career as a writer and promoter of historical fiction as one of The Medieval Murderers, Gooden writes non-fiction on the English language and that familiarity serves him well in these novels giving an authentic favour to the dialogue. Overall, it was a very light and enjoyable read.

[Laurel Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t finish this book as both the writing style and the protagonist annoyed me to the point I could not get into the groove of the story. Why is Shakespeare constantly referred to as ‘WS’ alongside mentions of ‘Master Burbage’, etc in the same sentence?

My gripe with the character of Nick Revill is his near constant use of ‘poor player’ (aimed at himself) and the way he reacts to life in London as though he were both apart from it and above it even though he chose to move there for his life vocation. I get that not every elizabethan Londoner, native or otherwise, would have liked the blood sports going on at the time but the way he attempts to justify his stance doesn’t quite gel. Not sure why.

[Trina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I plodded through this book as my book club had set a loose genre of anything royalty related. I am pleased that l persevered and completed it but that is about all. I was bored and didn't find any kind of point to the book.

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this as I'd was going through an historical phase and just didn't seem to pick the right books. The writing was good, only I was expecting more intrigue and less politics. Just not for me.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty fun read, though a little confusing at parts.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a fan of historical mysteries so I had this book laying around and thought I would give it a try.
The book was OK. I just found it readable but not very enjoyable.

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

skipped the epilogue. annoying ass protagonist ruined this for me

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DEATH OF KINGS (Historical Mystery-1600s) – G+
Goodin, Phillip – 2nd of series
Robinson, 2001- UK Trade Paperback
Nick Revill, an actor with The Chamberlain's Men, is caught up in the politics of the day as Queen Elizabeth I is aging and feared to die without an heir. He is asked to serve as a spy for the government against those suspected of having their own plans for the Queen's successor.
*** Unfortunately, this was not much of a mystery. However, it was a wonderful portrayal of the period and politics of that time. The writing is clever, full of literary references and humor. Nick is an engaging protagonist and Shakespeare an interesting secondary character. While not the best mystery in the series, I highly recommend Goodin to those who love Shakespeare and/or English history.

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second of the Shakespearean Mysteries and whereas the first was based around Hamlet which I knew, this one was around Richard II and Twelfth Night which I did not. Unlike the first, I dont believe that this was any detriment to the understanding/enjoyment of the novel.
I suppose that this is a bit of a 'Who-done-it' but it is really a spy intrigue set in a well described Elizabethan London.
I dont think that it is worth a 4th* but who knows if number three in the series will make it. They cant be that bad as I am still reading them!

[Rachel Burton · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice easy read for the holidays! A story of Elizabethan spies, the heir of Elizabeth 1 (or lack of) and the Earl of Essex with some lovely background about Shakespeare, the Globe, and the art of playing in Elizabethan London.

Enjoyable, but written by someone with a huge amount of knowledge about Shakespeare and his London and not as much knowledge about turning a passable plot into a page turner.

[Pari {Ridhee} · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was seriously a disaster. There is no murder. Its more of a mystery. There is a lot of suspence in the book and that makes it boring. There are like only two murders. There should have been only the suspense at the end, not in the between. I couldnt even understand half of the book. Its all jumbled up. There are parts which are not needed and parts which are not good in a murder book.

All in all I hated this book.

[Arnita Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I gave this book 3 stars I did not like it as much as the first book of the N. Revill series. It was hard to get through and I found it confusing at times hopefully the next book is better.

[Rob · Rating 1 out of 5]

don't waste your time

[Sonia]

Read the first 30 or so pages. A bit labored. A bit tawdry. eh. moving on...