A MURDER BY ANY NAME
By Suzanne M. Wolfe
Publication Date: October 9, 2018
Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover & eBook; 326 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher's Summary
(I've highlighted in red the portions that enticed me to read A Murder by Any Name)
When a brutal murder threatens the sanctity of the Elizabethan court, it’s up to a hot-tempered spy to save the day.
The court of Elizabeth I is no stranger to plotting and intrigue, but the royal retinue is thrown into chaos when the Queen’s youngest and sweetest lady-in-waiting is murdered, her body left on the high altar of the Chapel Royal in Whitehall Palace. Solving the murder will require the cunning and savvy possessed by only one man. Enter Nicholas Holt, younger brother of the Earl of Blackwell—spy, rake, and owner of the infamous Black Sheep tavern in the seedy district of Bankside. Nick quickly learns that working for the Queen is a mixed blessing. Elizabeth—salty-tongued, vain, and fiercely intelligent—can, with a glance, either reward Nick with a purse of gold or have his head forcibly removed.
When a second lady-in-waiting is slain at Whitehall, the court once again reels with shock and dismay. On the trail of a diabolical killer, Nick and his faithful sidekick—an enormous Irish Wolfhound named Hector—are treading on treacherous ground, and only the killer’s head on a platter can keep them in the Queen’s good graces.
Purchase Links:
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Praise for A Murder By Any Name
“Captivating… Fans of Fiona Buckley’s Ursula Blanchard and Kathy Lynn Emerson’s Rosamond Jaffrey will be delighted to add Wolfe to their reading lists.” ―Booklist
“[A] promising series launch… Fans of Elizabethan historicals will be satisfied.” ―Publishers Weekly
“An excellent series kickoff by Wolfe that cleverly highlights both the mystery and the many ills of Elizabethan times.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“In vivid passages, Suzanne Wolfe’s novel brings to the reader the light and dark of Elizabethan England, its squalor and splendor, filth and riches, intrigues and delights.” ―NY Journal of Books
“A deeply atmospheric and richly textured Elizabethan mystery… I was captivated by Nicholas and Hector as they navigated court treachery and the dark recesses of the lower classes in this compelling Elizabethan mystery.” ―Shelley Freydont, New York Times bestselling author
“Wolfe’s descriptions are unparalleled, immersing the reader in the time period as they join her wily protagonist on his quest to catch a cold-hearted killer.” ―Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries
“I stayed up reading much too late to finish this book! Wonderful Elizabethan atmosphere, well-drawn and unusual characters, action and intrigue and excitement―I felt like I was in the 1570s” ―Amanda Carmack, award-winning author of the Elizabethan mysteries
“Bewitching! Suzanne Wolfe opens the door to Elizabethan life through her masterful creation of the sympathetic spy, Nicholas Holt. An exciting start to a promising new historical mystery series.” ―Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of the Mas Arai series
“A classically plotted whodunit set against the background of Elizabethan London and the court of Queen Elizabeth the First, both of them well researched and vividly realized, with a wealth of detail. One can almost smell the reek of the 16th century streets and waterways.” ―Fiona Buckley, author of the Ursula Blanchard Elizabethan mysteries
My Take:
From the introductory paragraph, I was taken by the vivid language and descriptions that involve all four senses...whether I wanted them to or not. I'm a huge fan of description...I like to read those paragraphs slowly and let the words pull me in :)
Ahhhh, Elizabethan England...I never tire of it...Elizabeth I is an icon, and her rule is one I doubt historians will ever stop researching, no matter how much factual knowledge we digest...I loved how Wolfe pulled in historical characters, namely William Shakespeare and the Walsinghams, along with the fictional characters to make the story hold even tighter.
One of the things I appreciate so much about historical fiction is the attention to more than just the glowing parts of the story. In some "romantic" versions of Elizabeth's story, all the reader sees is court at its "best"...opulent parties, decorations, love stories, debauchery, money, between the rich, richer, and richest inhabitants. It's as if the others don't even exist except to keep the wine pitchers refilled. That's not so in A Murder by Any Name. While the story does take place in the court of Elizabeth I, the story is the focus, not her majesty. Elizabethan court seems to be the setting rather than the plot...I thoroughly enjoyed this strategy!
Ah, Hector...put a canine sidekick in a story, and I'm pretty much all yours :)
Ahhhh, Elizabethan England...I never tire of it...Elizabeth I is an icon, and her rule is one I doubt historians will ever stop researching, no matter how much factual knowledge we digest...I loved how Wolfe pulled in historical characters, namely William Shakespeare and the Walsinghams, along with the fictional characters to make the story hold even tighter.
One of the things I appreciate so much about historical fiction is the attention to more than just the glowing parts of the story. In some "romantic" versions of Elizabeth's story, all the reader sees is court at its "best"...opulent parties, decorations, love stories, debauchery, money, between the rich, richer, and richest inhabitants. It's as if the others don't even exist except to keep the wine pitchers refilled. That's not so in A Murder by Any Name. While the story does take place in the court of Elizabeth I, the story is the focus, not her majesty. Elizabethan court seems to be the setting rather than the plot...I thoroughly enjoyed this strategy!
Ah, Hector...put a canine sidekick in a story, and I'm pretty much all yours :)
The Author
Suzanne M. Wolfe grew up in Manchester, England and read English Literature at Oxford University, where she co-founded the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society. She served as Writer in Residence at Seattle Pacific University and taught literature and creative writing there for nearly two decades. Wolfe is the author of three novels: A Murder by Any Name, The Confessions of X, and Unveiling.
Thirty years ago, she and her husband, Gregory Wolfe, co-founded Image, a journal of the arts and faith. They have also co-authored many books on literature and prayer including Books That Build Character: How to Teach Your Child Moral Values Through Stories, and Bless This House: Prayers For Children and Families. Her essays and blog posts have appeared in Image and other publications. She and her husband are the parents of four grown children. They live in Richmond Beach, Washington.
For more information, please visit Suzanne M. Wolfe’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, December 17
Review at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, December 18
Excerpt at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, December 19
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Guest Post at Jathan & Heather
Thursday, December 20
Feature at The Lit Bitch
Review at Peppermint Ph.D.
Friday, December 21
Feature at What Is That Book About
Sunday, December 23
Review at Carole’s Ramblings
Thursday, December 27
Review & Interview at Jorie Loves a Story
Friday, December 28
Review at Tar Heel Reader
Review at Amy’s Booket List
Monday, December 31
Review at Tudor Enthusiast
Wednesday, January 2
Excerpt at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
Thursday, January 3
Excerpt at T’s Stuff
Guest Post at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
Friday, January 4
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Monday, January 7
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Tuesday, January 8
Guest Post at On the Tudor Trail
Wednesday, January 9
Review at Reading the Past
Thursday, January 10
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at Clarissa Reads it All
Friday, January 11
Feature at The Book Junkie Reads
Feature at View from the Birdhouse
Monday, January 14
Review at Maiden of the Pages
Tuesday, January 15
Interview at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, January 16
Review at A Book Geek
Thursday, January 17
Review at Coffee and Ink
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 3 hardcover copies of A Murder By Any Name! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on January 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
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