The Malevolent Comedy: An Elizabethan Theater Mystery Featuring Nicholas Bracewell (Elizabethan Theater Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Edward Marston (Author)

Book Description

Series: Elizabethan Theater Mysteries | Publication Date: June 16, 2005

The theaters of Elizabethan England can be a very dangerous environment. With dozens of troupes competing for the attentions of a fickle theater-going public, rival companies regularly resort to nefarious activities to thwart a competitor's success, tensions occasionally erupt into violence and, in some instances, the result is murder.

So it is no surprise that Westfield's Men, the most successful troupe in London and a prime target for jealousy and resentment, are plagued by a series of practical jokes. But when one of their actors is murdered, the humor turns distinctly sour. Appalling events continue: Lawrence Firethorn, actor-manager, is stalked by a mysterious lady; the sole copy of The Malevolent Comedy, the company's new play, is stolen; their leading apprentice is abducted; and there is an attempt on the life of Lord Westfield, their patron.

It's soon clear that someone more vicious than a practical jokester is trying to destroy the troupe. Nicholas Bracewell, the resourceful book holder, has an almighty struggle to save his beloved company from certain demise. Of course thwarting disaster is Nick's specialty, and Edward Marston's longtime readers will thoroughly enjoy this suspense-filled, raucous romp filled with the delightful backstage antics of mystery fiction's favorite ensemble cast.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this lively and entertaining caper, the 15th in Marston's Elizabethan Theater Mystery series (after 2004's The Counterfeit Crank), the Westfield Players have once again fallen on hard times. "Audiences have been thin of late," laments veteran book-holder Nicholas Bracewell, "because we've been guilty of putting on meager fare." To remedy the situation, the company engages upstart playwright Saul Hibbert, whose haughty attitude soon infuriates the players. When Hibbert gets behind in his rent at the Queen's Head Inn, the company nearly loses its performance venue there. Opening night of Hibbert's play, however, is a huge success made even more stunning when a young actor making his debut is poisoned on stage. Suspicions range from Hibbert's many foes to fanatical Puritans who see the London theater world as "purveyors of sin." Though some culprits are known to the reader early on, Nicholas leads a suspenseful search for a kidnapped apprentice that takes us through London's seedier neighborhoods to a satisfying, if unsurprising, resolution. Quick scene changes and witty dialogue provide mostly comical fare with an authentic medieval flavor.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Marston hits the mark again with another Elizabethan theater mystery featuring stalwart Nicholas Bracewell. As the resourceful book holder for Westfield's Men, Nick is drawn into a web of intrigue and deceit when a young cast member is fatally poisoned during the premiere of an acclaimed new play. Chief among the suspects is Saul Hibbert, the talented but odious playwright harboring a closet full of skeletons and a grudge against Nick. After several other perilous mishaps, it becomes increasingly clear that someone is determined to prevent The Malevolent Comedy from ever being staged again. In order to save his company from financial ruin and expose a murderer, Nick hatches a dramatic plot worthy of his theatrical roots. Another authentically constructed period piece dripping with suspense and scattered with hilarious bits of comic relief. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (June 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312342837
• ISBN-13: 978-0312342838
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,469,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Malevolent Comedy, August 31, 2005

By 

Nancy johns Mohlere "Nancy J. Mohlere" (Huntsville, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Malevolent Comedy: An Elizabethan Theater Mystery Featuring Nicholas Bracewell (Elizabethan Theater Mysteries) (Hardcover)

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).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Malevolent Comedy is not so funny!, August 22, 2005

By 

Billy J. Hobbs "Bill Hobbs" (Tyler, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Malevolent Comedy: An Elizabethan Theater Mystery Featuring Nicholas Bracewell (Elizabethan Theater Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The latest "Elizabethan theater Mystery featuring Nicholas Bracewell" by Edward Marston comes with no surprises and certainly nothing new in plot or character development. It's Marston, tried and true.

The author, who doesn't write under any known pseudonyms, is well respected in the genre and, in addition to the Bracewell series, writes the Domesday Book episodes, equally engrossing and well researched. Like his UK colleague Paul Doherty (who does write under a number of other names), his historical takes are absorbing!

In "The Malevolent Comedy" we find Marston's stable (and staple) formula: the nasty landlord, his equally nasty wife, the tempestuous Lawrence Firethorn (great actor that he is), Edmund Hoode (once again, "losing his Muse"), Barnaby Gill (the obnoxious gay clown), Richard Honeydew (the sweet young boy who plays the lead female roles), the trademark kidnappings (of course), etc., and, because it's a murder mystery, at least one body (usually a member of the cast). And, naturally, Lord Westfield's Men (their company)in their intense rivalry with Banbury's Men is on the verge of losing (a) their reputation, (b) their license, (c) their theatre, etc. Yes, you've read this in all the Nicholas Bracewell stories.

Still, despite the fact that not much is new in this book, this series is well worth the read. I haven't missed a one and recommend this one heartily. I wish Mr. Marston would give us something new, but until he does I'll continue to read the series.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fifteenth Book in the Series, December 1, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Malevolent Comedy: An Elizabethan Theater Mystery Featuring Nicholas Bracewell (Elizabethan Theater Mysteries) (Hardcover)

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.