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The Fair Maid of Bohemia: A Novel

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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.

The theatre players called Lord Westfield's men are in imminent danger of disbanding. The plague is sweeping through England and the London Inns and Theatres are all but empty, as people fear contagion. Just as it seems there is nothing left for them they are invited to perform at the Imperial Court in Prague. They believe an event such as this will be their greatest achievement yet.

The invitation is from Sophia Magdalena, a great beauty and the great-niece of Rudolph II. In confidence their patron Lord Westfield has given Nicholas Bracewell some secret documents that must be delivered to and English doctor at Rudolph's court, a man named Talbot Royden. While on route to Prague, one of the actor's is brutally murdered during their first performance. The journey starts to become a nightmare, particularly when Nicholas realises that he was the intended victim. Nicholas needs all his skills to rescue the company from the world of danger and deceit they have found themselves in.