1582- Ist mission of John Shakespeare for Sir Francis Walsingham (Principle Secretary to the Queen of England). Set in the heart of a Judas nest of conspirators who threaten to bring down the monarchy; those who would see Queen Elizabeth deposed - or worse, murdered - and the 'true queen' Mary on the throne in her place. Shakespeare learns that traitors came in many forms. Good read.

It is now 1582 and Sir Francis Walsingham has been training John Shakespeare to be his apprentice. So now he has been sent to Sheffield to assess the fortification of the castle holding the Queen of Scots, and then proceed to Warwickshire, his home county to investigate the situation of the secret Catholics.
A very enjoyable mystery, I liked most of the characters and look forward to reading the next in the series. ( )

This is a prequel novel to the series featuring intelligencer John Shakespeare, fictional brother to the playwright. This starts from his youth in the early 1580s when he first comes to the attention of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham and first makes the acquaintance of the sadistic heresy hunter Topcliffe. I enjoyed this more than the novels covering his later life - John comes across as a more human figure, caught on the horns of the dilemma between loyalty to his Queen and country and the Catholic sympathies of many members of his extended family, the Ardens (his mother's side). His assistant Boltfoot Cooper also came across as a more substantial and deeper character. Last but not least, William himself gets much more of a role here (he is very much in the background where he appears at all in the later novels), here at the point in his early life where he falls in love at the age of 18 with the 26 year old Anne Hathaway. Enjoyable stuff, if rather predictable, having read four of the later novels. ( )

British author Rory Clements has returned with his fifth in his "John Shakespeare" series, "The Queen's Man". However, inexplicably, the novel is actually first in sense of time.

Shakespeare has been recently recruited by the Queen's Secretary, Francis Walsingham. He has little or no experience of the role he is being groomed for. He has only recently recruited Boltfoot Cooper, his reliable and loyal sidekick in later books. Much of the storyline is focuses on Shakespeare's developing relationships with these two. We also witness the origins of his longstanding feud with the odious Richard Topcliffe; and we learn more about Shakespeare's family and his brother Will than we've previously been privy to.

Shakespeare is given the task of uncovering a plot to free Mary Queen of Scots. It is 1582 and Mary, Queen of Scots, is still a thorn in the side of Elizabeth. Although under guard at Sheffield Castle, moves are afoot to free the Queen of Scots and her mere presence is fomenting religious disharmony between Protestants and Catholics in Elizabethan England.

John is sent to check the security of Sheffield Castle. He is also to sniff out any plots of treason. John soon is involved in situations that not only endanger him but his family and friends in his home village of Stratford-on-Avon.

This is a very interesting novel taking some plot lines from recorded history. Many of the leading characters are actual historic figures from that time. The author has done a good job of weaving fact and fiction together in this historic novel. The dialogue, characterizations and flow of the story are very well done.

It was a little strange after having read the other books in the series to be taken back by the author to the start of his original storyline. However, once I got over that, filling in some backstory for these characters was fascinating.

I've pre-ordered the next in the series - hope the wait is not too long. ( )