The Malevolent Comedy

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. Westfield's Men, the most successful troupe of theatre players in medieval London are once again a prime target of jealousy and resentment. With many different theatre groups vying for the attention of the theatre going public, rival groups are not above acts of sabotage and other activities that will put their rivals on the back foot. However when one of the actor's is found murdered it is a step too far. Other appalling events continue. The leading man Laurence Firethorn is stalked by a mysterious lady and Laurence is quite perturbed by this, as it is usually him who does the stalking. Their leading apprentice is abducted and there is even an attempt on their patrons life. Nicholas Bracewell faces an almighty struggle to save his beloved company yet again. 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.

Edward Marston's latest Tudor mystery pits his hero, Nicholas Bracewell, against an unseen foe, apparently determined to bring Lord Westfield's men, the acting troupe, to their knees. One difficulty after another arises, and suspicions turn gradually to the new playwright, whose personality leaves much to be desired. A cute subplot revolves around the actors' attempts to rouse the group's house playwright by playing matchmaker. I thoroughly enjoyed Marston's ability to transport the reader to another time and place. If mysteries be the music of escape, play on! Procure a copy of The Malevolent Comedy, and fall under the author's enchantment.

Another enjoyable story of Westfield's Men and Nicholas Bracewell sovling mysteries in Elizabethan England. The pace, the plot and the descriptions of Tudor England are still as fresh as with the first novel in the series. I thoroughly enjoy anything by Marston (Doherty).

Amongst the many mystery series that Edward Marston (one of Paul Doherty's many pseudonyms) writes, the Nicholas Bracewell Elizabethan theatre mysteries are one of my favourites. Not so much for the mystery at hand, which is, most of the time really riveting and absorbing, but mainly because of the series' lively cast of characters and the vivid and colourful manner in which Mr. Marston brings the world of the Elizabethan theatre to life. It's beginning to look as if the theatrical company, the Westfield's Men, is currently experiencing the worst of fortunes. Their resident playwright's, Edmund Hoode, creative juices seems to have dried up, while their bitterest rival, Banbury's Men, is riding high with their latest play, "Lamberto." If things continue is they are, it could mean the end of Westfield's Men. So that when an upstart, young playwright, Saul Hibbert, presents the company with a play that has all the hallmarks of being a hit, actor-manager, Lawrence Firethorn, immediately snaps at the chance to make his company successful again. Only this time it looks as if he may have made a pact with the devil. For Saul Hibbert is a brash, grating and conceited individual who believes that he knows better than anyone else, and that his "superior" intellect entitles him to all sorts of liberties. And it isn't too long before he's antagonising most of the company -- Nicholas Bracewell, the company's book holder, especially. But when one of the troupe is poisoned while on stage, and a series of suspicious events begin to plague the company, Nicholas beings to wonder if someone just might have a serious objection to Hibbert's play, and just how far this person will go to see that the play is never performed again; or if some rival of the company is trying to shut them down. Nicholas is determined to protect his friends. But in order to do so he will have to knock heads with the very unpleasant Hibbert... Entertaining and lively, "The Malevolent Comedy" was a treat to read from beginning to end. The mystery subplot is a very straightforward one, with very few surprising twists and turns; however, the author did provide us with a few red herring suspects, thus successfully keeping us guessing as to who was out to stop the play from being performed, and why. The fantastic bit about this book though, and what made it a very entertaining and fun read was how the author portrayed the book's regular characters -- the lively wit and camaraderie, and the humorous manner in which the players come up with a plan to end Edmund Hoode's dry streak, made for an enjoyable and beguiling read indeed. And while this particular installment did not compare quite so well with previous entries in the level of intricacy and suspense, "The Malevolent Comedy" still did make for a fine 4 star read, and one that I would heartily recommend to anyone looking for a good Elizabethan-era mystery novel to read.

The Westfield Men troupe has fallen on hard times as attendance for their performances are meager and shrinking. Book-holder Nicholas Bracewell worries because playwright Edmund Hoode seems to suffer from writer's block. Knowing they need a quick fix if the group is to survive, puffed-up playwright Saul Hibbert is hired, but his conceit proves a handicap as the players detest his attitude and his failure to pay his bills at the Queen's Head Inn almost shuts down the performance. However, Hibbert's first play starring the Westfield Men is a major success with the audience especially when one of the performers dies so realistically on stage from poison. Actually the actor really died from poisoning, but Bracewell saves the show. At the next performance, an incident also occurs; this leads Bracewell to conclude someone is trying to destroy their troupe either to get back at the new bard or to shut down this den of iniquities as many believe traveling acting troupes are sinners. In his fifteenth Westfield Men mystery, Edward Marston does his usual terrific blending of Elizabethan Theater comedy of the absurd manners with a wonderful murder investigation. Readers taste the late sixteenth century through the interactions, foibles, and blunders of the prime players. The who-done-it is cleverly devised so that the audience wonders along with Bracewell who wants to insure the show does not go on. Harriet Klausner