4.0 out of 5 stars
One Devil too many, May 31, 2010
First Sentence: London was the capital city of noise, a vibrant, volatile place, surging with life and clamorous with purpose.
Lord Westfield's Men, an Elizabethan acting company, is presenting a new play, "The Merry Devils." Contrary to the stage direction of book-holder, Nicholas Bracewell, a third "devil" appears when the scene only calls for two. Upon the second presentation, Bracewell decides to have there be three devils, but only two appear. The third is found dead under the stage. Threats increase and Nicholas must find who is behind it before anyone else dies.
Marston is one of the best at crafting time and place. He takes us from the workings of the theater, to the streets, to the properties of nobles to Bethlehem Hospital, otherwise known as Bedlam.
This was a time when Christianity and superstition were intertwined and strict Puritanism was on the rise. The cadence and syntax of the dialogue reflect the period while delightful metaphors and humor exemplify the characters.
The cast of characters is interesting and appealing. Marston has provided enough of Bracewell's background to bring him to life but has, intentionally to us and the other characters, left much in the shade. The members of the company reflect the egos, insecurities and conflicts one would expect without be stereotypes. All the characters have dimension and substance.
I did appreciate the character of Dr. John Mordrake, based on Dr. John Dee, mathematician, scientist, occultist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He seems to be the subject of numerous books these days.
Although there was a very good, twisty plot and a dramatic ending, it did feel overly contrived. However, that did not diminish my enjoyment or my anticipation of Marston's next Elizabethan Theater book.
THE MERRY DEVILS (Hist Mys-Nicholas Bracewell-England-Elizabethan) - G+
Marston, Edward - 2nd in series
St. Martin's Press, ©1989, US Hardcover - ISBN: 0312038631
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Second in the Elizabethan Theatre Series, November 29, 2006
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.
Nicholas Bracewell, book holder for Lord Westfield's Men, a company of actors, is fresh from accomplishing the task of holding the group together during a recent plot against the queen, Elizabeth I. The Queen's Head galleries are about to ring with laughter when The merry Devils a new comedy is performed by Lord Westfield's men. The landlord is somewhat fearful that mischief will follow, but Nicholas sees only a harmless comedy, a play that will not summon up real devils. Why then do three devils suddenly appear on stage, one looking remarkably life-like, and then one imp is found dead beneath the stage?
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Supernatural Elizabethan mystery (some mix!), July 18, 2003
What happens when an unexpected supernatural guest shows up on the stage of a play in Elizabethan England?
I was confused at the beginning of this book because there is a large cast of characters, and they are all introduced at the same time... once I got the characters straight in my head (I think) I found this mystery enjoyable.
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