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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Much Ado About Creative License, May 17, 2004
I discovered this book at a discount bookstore, and being the Shakespeareophile that I am, I was intrigued. I was even happier to discover that "Much Ado About Murder" is just one of Hawke's books in a series of Smythe and Shakespeare mystery novels. Hawke writes this novel from the time period of Shakespeare's life, where not much is known about the poet. His novel is most definitely speculation, but it is an enjoyable read. We are quickly introduced to Tuck Smythe, a player in the King's Men, who rooms with Shakespeare, a down-on-his-luck player, who writes some sonnets on the side to earn some money to keep himself fed. Due to their connections, these two players come into contact with various sorts - the seemingly-wealthy would-be patrons, and the band of roving apprentices who fashion themselves to be thieves. Trouble ensues for Tuck Smythe as he befriends Ben Dickens, a returning soldier who used to be a member of the King's Men. And sure enough, Shakespeare and Tuck find themselves at the heart of a murder mystery, desperately trying to clear the name of an innocent acquaintance. Hawke's narrative is relatively quick-paced and filled with sly quips that any reader of Shakespeare will recognize. These will, of course, later become lines in the plays that Shakespeare struggles to write. In fact, Shakespeare seems to get some of his best lines from others, asking them if he could write down what they said and credit it as his own. Anyone familiar with "Much Ado About Nothing" will recognize the parallels to this novel's plot, with some inventive differences. At times, however; the narrative seems too bogged down with characters before it hits its stride about half-way through the book. Yet I look forward to reading the others in this series.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A winning historical mystery told with wit & humor, January 17, 2003
This review is from: Much Ado About Murder (Shakespeare & Smythe Mystery) (Hardcover)
Third in the series of Shakespeare & Smythe mysteries, Simon Hawke has won me back over after my disappointment with novel number two, _The Slaying of The Shrew_. In _Much Ado About Murder_, Hawke has recaptured the sly wit and droll humor of his main characters, and writes a rather straight forward mystery that is most enjoyable. Instead of weaving a story filled with useless red herrings, he has used restraint and created a story that shows imagination and talent in it's very simplicity. A pleasant diversion told extremely well.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Adventures of Shakespear--detective, January 1, 2003
This review is from: Much Ado About Murder (Shakespeare & Smythe Mystery) (Hardcover)
Symington (Tuck) Smythe and his friend Will Shakespear find that the theater business can be chancy. London's council has banned theater production and their company's tour of the countryside was largely a bust. Now, back in London, they rehearse, drink too much beer, and wait for something positive to happen. In the meantime, Tuck makes money using his blacksmith skills rather than his (dubious) theatrical ones and Shakespear writes sonets for the amusement of England's nobility (and for his own profit). In these hungry times, the apprentices of London frequently go wild, stealing, breaking heads, and generally causing problems. A rich merchant from Genoa looks to be a godsend to the theater, but murder puts a definite damper on that plan. When a friend of Tuck and Shakespear is accused, the two must, once again, turn detective to uncover the true killer and free their friend. Author Simon Hawke tells a charming tale. Fans of Shakespear will get a chuckle out of the way Hawke puts well known lines from the bard into the mouths of his characters--for Shakespear to adapt later in his famous plays. I found the early going to be interesting but slow--Hawke spends the first half of the book setting up the mystery, then swings into action in the second half of the book. Hawke's London feels authentic, with dirt, wild apprentices, disease, and a sense of hope that the future may be brighter. Tuck is an interesting and sympathetic character--his love for the theater matched only by his lack of talent. MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER is certain to generate some smiles.
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