Customer Reviews

The Pale Companion (Shakespearean Murder Mysteries, No. 3)

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Goodin writes a very good story with a excellent, clever dialogue that feels true to the period without being over the top. The historic detail and settings are well done. But it's the character of Nick that really drives the story. I am a big fan of this series, and very much enjoyed this entry to it.

Nick Revill and the acting company to which he belongs have left London to play for a nobleman's wedding. As the wedding is to occur at midsummer, Shakespeare's play A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is planned. Before he even reach the manor, however, Nick is attacked at an amateur play, haunted by a pale ghost-like being, and tended to by a beautiful girl. The reluctant looking groom tells Nick that there is more to the marriage than pure bliss--but even these premonitions don't prepare him for murder.

With the occasional assistance of Justice of the Peace Adam Fielding, Nick tries to get to the bottom of the death of a strange wild man found hung, an apparent suicide. The dead man had hinted at a secret when he'd met Nick--and Nick fears that the secret may be buried with him. What he doesn't expect is that the wild man's death will be the first of several--and that he will be thrust in the midst of a mystery that may prove fatal to himself.

Author Philip Gooden writes convincingly of the stage during Shakespeare's day as English theater is still emerging from its earlier, more primative roots. Nick is convincing as a young man, filled with hormones, proud of what he has accomplished as an actor, and yet unwilling to accept the death of even a crazed man without questioning it. The mystery itself is enjoyable with plenty of twists and turns, false trails, and hidden motives. Gooden leaves a few red herrings unexposed and complicates matters a bit at the end, but delivers a fine story.

Philip Gooden is, in my opinion, one of the most creative historical mystery writers around. Not only has he been able to fit his mysteries around Shakespeare's plays (successfully and in an interesting manner at that), but he has also written (three so far) vastly different kinds of murder mysteries, and all within the same series. The first Nick Revill book for example ("Sleep of Death"), was a psychological murder mystery of sorts, while the next one ("Death of Kings") was more of a novel of murder and political intrigue. This latest Nick Revill installment again is slightly different from the first two in that it is almost a 'cozy' murder mystery. "The Pale Companion" takes place in the country, at Instede House (the country estate of Lord and Lady Elcombe) -- an estate that is quite the architectural gem, even if there seems to be an atmosphere of gloom and menace all over the place!

The Chamberlain's Men have been asked to journey to the country in order to perform at the wedding nuptials of the heir to Instede House. They are to perform William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." And for Nick Revill, one of the younger actors in the company, this performance also heralds his ascent through the ranks to playing more significant roles. Only a portion of the Chamberlain's Men are to make this journey across the Wiltshire Downs, and some of the parts are to augmented by members of the house party itself (indeed the part of Demetrius is to be played by the groom's brother). As such, Nick has been promoted from playing much smaller and more insignificant parts to that of Lysander, one of the star-crossed lovers, in this production. However, Nick's excitement over his new role (and over the prospect of a new love) soon suffers a set back. In spite of the fact that there is an air of festivity at Instede House, there also seems to be a sense that there is something menacing and evil lurking under everything. Could the unhappy truth that Lord Elcombe's elder son has no desire to marry his chosen bride be colouring the atmosphere at Instede House? Or the fact that both Lord Elcombe and his steward, Oswald Eden, seem to be rather unpleasant individuals? Or could Nick's feelings of unease stem from the enigmatic utterances of the wild man (who lives in the woods adjoining Instede House), who claims that Instede House has its fair share of dark and dangerous secrets? Whatever the case, the grim atmosphere is definitely getting to Nick! And then the wild man is found hanged in the woods. Everyone assumes suicide. But Nick discovers evidence that points to the contrary. With the help of the local magistrate, Nick sets out to discover why the wild man was murdered, and exactly what dark secrets Instede House holds...

"The Pale Companion" is a deeply atmospheric book. Not in the sense that it is a gothicky read, but rather that there is a dreamlike quality that quite colours the mood of the book. Everything that happens, everything Nick sees and observes, has that otherworldly quality, so that (along with Nick) one is sometimes unsure as to whether or not what we see our detecting hero observing is fact or fiction. This sets the tone, and makes reading "The Pale Companion" very compelling. It can be argued, however, that mystery-wise, this novel is not quite that exciting a read. The plot is not a deeply complex one that is full of cunning twists and turns, nor is it full of read herring suspects for the reader to ponder over. Indeed, Philip Gooden takes quite a while to set the stage, and the first murder doesn't even take place till halfway through the book. But, if you're looking for a book with an interesting storyline, good historical detail, complete with compelling characters, and a narrative that will keep you amused and glued to the pages, than you can't go very wrong with "The Pale Companion." All in all, this latest Nick Revill adventure makes for some truly brilliant reading.

It is Midsummer, 1601, and the Chamberlain's Men (the smaller, traveling troupe) are off to a country estate to perform Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as part of the festivities for the wedding of Lord Elcombe's son. Nick Revill, who is happily working his way up to larger parts in the renowned company, will be playing one of the lovers, Lysander. His eye is also caught by the intelligent and beautiful Kate, daughter of Adam Fielding a magistrate of Salisbury. And he can't seem to leave mysteries alone. There is the mad wild man, Robin, living rough in the woods of the estate who claims he was once the ruler of a substantial domain. There is the moping son who seems as if he will be headed for a funeral rather than a wedding. There is a small band of traveling players who perform crude morality plays, who are allowed on the estate to keep the servants thinking of duty and damnation. And there is a heavy atmosphere and hints of white-clad spirits. All is not well on the Estate of Lord Elcombe. Eventually, there are deaths.

There are nice echoes of the play in the plot and characters, with lovers and rumors of fairies and moonlight madness. And of the strange spell of the country in summer, versus Nick's other stomping grounds, the bustling city of London. The first death is a suspicious hanging that is investigated by the magistrate, Fielding, who is aided by Nick's observations, but it doesn't occur into well into the book, after the atmosphere and situation is set up. Fielding is an astute observer in a more methodical manner, which he reveals to Nick, who is well-content to follow his lead. The mystery is involved, and with lots hidden until the end and even a few things that are never quite resolved. I found the pace a little slow, but it did work well to create the feeling of those lazy days of summer. The details of an Elizabethan wedding... and funeral and bits of Shakespeare, as well as action at the end, made it a worthwhile read.