Book reviews

The Slaying Of The Shrew
Simon Hawke Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Simon Hawke Books
New book search
Simon Hawke Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Slaying Of The Shrew
"

Forge, Dec 2001, 23.95, 240 pp.
ISBN: 031287894X

    Affluent merchant Godfrey Middleton wants only the best for the wedding of his beloved oldest daughter Catherine. Among the festivities on Godfrey's lavish estate is a performance by The Queen's Men acting troupe currently performing on the London stage. The troupe include best friends Tuck Smythe (a ham who wants to act, but has no talent) and Will Shakespeare (a wannabe writer).

    Tuck overhears a nasty plot to kill the shrewish bride and use the more malleable and seemingly promiscuous younger sister to steal the host's wealth. Accompanied by his best friend Will, he tries to keep Catherine safe. When Catherine apparently dies anyway, the two amateur sleuths investigate the homicide in order to expose the killer.

    THE SLAYING OF THE SHREW, the second Shakespeare amateur sleuth tale (see A MYSTERY OF ERRORS), is a delightful tale that cleverly uses references from the great Bard that smoothly flow within the plot. The story line is well written so Elizabethan mystery fans will enjoy the who-done-it and the characters make the era seem alive. However, this tale, like its predecessor, clearly belongs to Simon Hawke's irreverent look at the author considered by most as the greatest English writer of all times. This means to write or not to write a third tale, that is not the question, only when.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Slaying Of The Shrew
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
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - elizabethan era
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Kind of investigator - skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - actor
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
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: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - revenge
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 - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Slaying Of The Shrew
Face Down Across The Western Sea by Kathy Lynn Emerson
The Fyre Mirror by Karen Harper
The Siren Queen by Fiona Buckley
The Thorne Maze by Karen Harper
Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom


Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

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
James Patterson 12:08:13 PM
George W. Bush 2:32:02 AM
Anonymous 2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters 9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody 6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught 11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen 9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts 1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino 9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky 11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman 12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer 7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller 8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn 12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden 2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM

More message boards