|
|
| Plot Summary of Much Ado About Murder |
|---|
"
Forge, Dec 2002, 23.95, 30 pp.
ISBN: 0765302411
After leaving their hamlet for cash, wannabe playwright Will Shakespeare and his equally hopeful thespian Tuck Smythe think all's well as they are on the brink of fame (and steady meals with decent ale) when the plague strikes. To reduce the chance of the epidemic spreading, theaters are closed. With the halls shut, Will markets a sonnet romance writing business while Tuck toils at a smithy.
Former troupe player Ben Dickens introduces Will and Tuck to his friend, goldsmith Corwin. who loves Hera, the daughter of wealthy Genoa ship trader Master Leonardo, who recently relocated to Britain. When Hera's reputation goes into a tankard, a hurt Corwin ends their engagement. However, someone murders Leonardo with Corwin considered the prime suspect. Will, Tuck, and Ben scrutinize the crime and the victim, only to learn that when it comes to an Elizabethan tragedy in which the world is the investigative stage, homicide is Much Ado About something deadly to the actors.
The third Shakespeare and Smythe sleuth story is an exciting historical mystery that engages the audience with its insight into the Bard and the era he wrote his great works. Though the plot moves slower than the first two novels as the who-done-it fails to take the stage until the fourth act, fans will relish the relationship, oft dysfunctional, between the protagonists. Will and Smythe accompanied by Ben set forth on A MYSTERY OF ERRORS while trying to solve THE SLAYING OF THE SHREW'S FATHER. MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER is much ado about strong writing that thou the reader will taketh to enjoy.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of Much Ado About Murder |
|---|
|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
|
|
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 18th century
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- life in that culture
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Norah Lofts
12:50:53 AM
Suzanne Weyn
4:47:34 PM
Wilma Counts
1:23:32 PM
George W. Bush
5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Anonymous
12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino
10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer
10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield
10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls
10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan
9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi
9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine
9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington
9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody
9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden
9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn
9:55:48 PM
More message boards
|
