“Trow goes out on a high note with his sterling 11th and final mystery starring English playwright Kit Marlowe … Trow reinforces his place at the top of the Elizabethan mystery subgenre” – Publishers Weekly Starred Review

The inaugural performance of Christopher Marlowe’s controversial new play is marred by sudden, violent death in this lively 16th century mystery.

December, 1592. England is entering dangerous waters as thoughts turn to the question of the ageing Queen Elizabeth’s successor. Christopher Marlowe meanwhile is leading a troupe of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men on tour with a controversial new play.

Marlowe expects his latest play, Edward II, to ruffle feathers. What he doesn’t expect is it to lead to is sudden, violent death. The morning the tour is due to begin, the newest member of the cast is found stabbed to death in the local brothel. And when a second murder, and then a third, disrupt rehearsals for the inaugural performance in the Great Hall at Scudbury Manor, it becomes clear that someone is determined to prevent this play from being performed – at any cost. But who … and why?