Historia Magazine

The magazine of the Historical Writers Association

  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • New Books
    • TV, Film and Theatre
    • One From The Vaults
  • Latest Releases
  • Columns
    • Doctor Darwin’s Writing Tips
    • Watching History
    • Desert Island Books
  • Awards
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Historia in your inbox

A Stage for Murder by Peter Tonkin

15 May 2018 By Editor

Christmas 1598.

Will Shakespeare and the Chamberlain’s Men are desperate. Locked in a legal dispute with Giles Allen their landlord, they have been homeless for more than a year. Forbidden to use The Theatre and forced to share stages with their rivals, they are going bankrupt in spite of their popularity at court.

As the New Year and yet another cripplingly expensive court appearance looms, they secretly dismantle their playhouse – and plan to transport it to the South Bank.

But as the stage comes down, disaster strikes – there is a body beneath it. A frozen corpse with a look of utter horror on its face.

They summon Tom Musgrave, Master of Logic, hoping that he will be able to solve the mysterious death.

But even as Tom goes to work, their attempt to cart the dismantled theatre across the frozen Thames almost costs Shakespeare his life – and reveals yet another corpse. Both carry coded messages which refer to an ancient, rarely-performed old play called Hamlet.

Set against a meticulously researched background, Tonkin’s fifth Musgrave murder mystery explores the fatal outcomes of the political tangles of the time, reaching from war-torn Ireland, secretive estates in the English midlands and the great University spy-factories of Oxford and Cambridge to the deadly snake-pit which is Elizabeth’s court in London at the dawn of 1599.

petertonkin.com

Share this article:Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Latest Releases

Search

Latest Releases

The Lying Dutchman by Graham Brack

20 May 2022

Dead in the Water by Mark Ellis

19 May 2022

Widows of the Ice by Anne Fletcher

15 May 2022

See more new releases

Let’s stay in touch

Sign up for our monthly email newsletter:

Or follow us on social media:

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook

Editor’s Picks

From the Mill to Monte Carlo by Anne Fletcher

15 June 2021

William of Orange's army arrives in England

Why the Glorious Revolution was . . . well, neither

4 November 2018

Historia Q&A: Ben Kane

15 May 2018

Popular Topics

16th century 17th century 18th century 19th century 20th century 2020 Ancient Rome Andrew Taylor Anglo-Saxons author interview biography book review Catherine Hokin ebook Emma Darwin Giveaway historical crime historical fiction history HWA HWA Crown Awards HWA Debut Crown Award HWA Non-Fiction Crown interview Katherine Clements London Matthew Harffy medieval new release paperback research review Second World War Shortlist short stories the writing life Tudors TV drama TV review Vikings writer's life writing writing advice writing tips WWII

The Historical Writers’ Association

Historia Magazine is published by the Historical Writers’ Association. We are authors, publishers and agents of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction. For information about membership and profiles of our member authors, please visit our website.

Read more about Historia or find out about advertising and promotional opportunities.

ISSN 2515-2254

Recent Additions

  • History, historicity, historiography and Arthurian legend
  • The Lying Dutchman by Graham Brack
  • Dead in the Water by Mark Ellis

Search Historia

Contact us

If you would like to contact the editor of Historia, please email editor@historiamag.com.

Copyright © 2014–2022 The Historical Writers Association