The Bawdy Basket

Edward Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles, a fairly prolific and extremely good writer of mainly Elizabethan and medieval mysteries. He has also written mysteries under his own name with both sporting and golf backgrounds. However it is primarily the books that take place earlier in history that I am interested in. He read modern history at Oxford and has had many jobs, including university lecturer, but fortunately for all his readers, he turned to the writing profession. Another excellent offering about the troupe of actors known as Lord Westfield's Men. Once again the group are under threat. This time they risk losing both its creative genius and more importantly its financial backing. The troubles begin with the execution of a prosperous businessman Gerald Quilter, unjustly convicted of murder. Quilter's son, Frank has recently joined the troupe and is determined to clear his father's name and perhaps unwisely Nicholas Bracewell, the company manager and solver of many of the problems that have overtaken the group in the past, agrees to help, but what will be the consequences for Lord Westfield's Men . . . The author's love for the Elizabethan theatre comes shining through this series of books. Plus his knowledge of the period fills the pages with authenticity and the sights and sounds of the streets and inns of Elizabethan London.

It's the 12th episode of Edward Marston's Elizabethan Theater Mystery featuringNicholas Bracewell, and if you've stayed with the series so far, you are assured ofanother exciting foray into murder, mayhem, and mystery in 17th century Merry Olde England. Once again, Westfield's Men find themselves facing the usual plethora of problems, some theatrical, some personal, some criminal (that is to say,"murderous"). Once again, it appears that this illustrious and dynamic theatrical troupe will face its final curtain! In "The Bawdy Basket," young actor Frank Quilter's father has just been executed at Smithfield. Believing him to have beeninnocently condemned, Frank sets out to right the wrong and to return honor and dignity to his family name. He enlists his friend Nick Bracewell to help him. Of course, clearing this case is not so simple, as the pathways to righteousness areindeed anything but straight and narrow. Winding through the alleys and byways of London, the duo run into all kinds of obstacles. In addition, Edmund Hoode, the company's irreplaceable playwright, has fallen in love once again and is determined to leave the theater, much to the consternation of the rest. That problem has to be be solved. And Marston does solve all the problems, of course. Despite his usual stilted dialogue, the book runs true to course. "The Bawdy Basket" further illustrates theconditions and situations of Elizabethan England and for students of medieval history (and who love historical myteries), this episode deserves a standing ovation.

The Westfield's Men Players are at the top of their form and should be enjoying their success. But, when one of the player's father is falsely convicted of murder and their author falls in love with a woman who wishes to support his art far from the theater, the company is rocked. Unless 'book-holder' Nicholas Bracewell can sort things out, the company may be destroyed. When a witness to the father's innocence (a prostitute or 'bawdy basket') is found, things begin to look up--until the woman too is murdered. Now Nicholas and his friends have to worry about their own survival as well as the survival of their company. Set in the Elizabethan theater scene, THE BAWDY BASKET gives a convincing view of the sights and smells of the time when theater reached its greatest peak. The ever-competent Nicholas is a solid figure in the midst of the emotional and not always rational actors, each fighting for their moment in the public acclaim. Author Edward Marston relies a bit too heavily on coincidence and on on-the-nose dialogue to overexplain motivations, but nevertheless delivers a highly enjoyable mystery.

It should have been one of their more glorious summer seasons. Instead, the Westerfield players are now facing near annihilation! When the players first learn that Frank Quilter's father (Gerard) has been executed for murder, the superstitious actors, sure that Frank's father was guilty of the crime, and worried that the notoriety of the Quilter name will rub off on them, are anxious that Frank be asked to leave the company. Only the threat from their much valued stage manager and problem solver, Nicholas Bracewell, prevents this turn of events. Sure that Gerard was innocent of the accusation of murder, and eager to help Frank clear his father's name, Nicholas threatens to leave the company unless Frank is allowed to remain, and he (Nicholas) be allowed to investigate the case brought against Gerard. The company also faces another threat to their well being: their faithful and brilliant playwright, Edmund Hoode, has fallen in love (again) with a rich and beautiful widow, and who seems to have her own plans for Hoode -- none of which includes his remaining with the company! Threatened on all sides, the players cannot help but wonder if all this spells the end of the company... Unless, of course, Nicholas manages to clear Gerard Quilter's name as well as come up with a plan to detach Hoode from his rich inamorata! But will Nicholas be able to successfully clear Gerard Quilter's name? There are, to begin with, many vexing questions that have to be answered. For instance, why did two seemingly respectable merchants testify that they saw Gerard commit the murder? Why was Gerard fitted up for the charge in the first place? And who was the powerful enemy that set all this in motion? Before long Nicholas has managed to discover the answers to all these questions -- but not before more murders are committed and an attempt is made on his life...Brisk, breezy and totally engrossing, "The Bawdy Basket" unfolded at an incredibly breathneck pace. I finished the book before I even realised it -- I was that absorbed with the novel. However, I must own that the mystery at hand is not a very complicated one, nor are there any red herring suspects or cunning turns in the plot that will keep you guessing to the very end. Nevertheless, it was still an intriguing and interesting mystery novel and a definite pager turner. With so many Elizabethan theatre mystery novels being published almost everyday, ( and most of them being quite good), I was relieved to note that Edward Marston has not lost his entertaining and witty touch, and that the Nicholas Bracewell mystery series still remains one of the best (as well as one of my favourites) around. A fantastically good read.