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“A feverishly paced action adventure” (The New York Times) about a long-lost Shakespeare work and a killer who reenacts the Bard’s most bloody murders
Jennifer Lee Carrell’s highly acclaimed debut novel is a brilliant, breathlessly paced literary adventure. The action begins on the eve of the Globe’s production of Hamlet when Shakespeare scholar and theater director Kate Stanley’s eccentric mentor Rosalind Howard gives her a mysterious box, claiming to have made a groundbreaking discovery. Before she can reveal it to Kate, the Globe is burned to the ground and Roz is found dead…murdered precisely in the manner of Hamlet’s father.
Inside the box Kate finds the first piece in a Shakespearean puzzle, setting her on a deadly, highstakes treasure hunt. From London to Harvard to the American West, Kate races to evade a killer and solve a tantalizing string of clues hidden in the words of Shakespeare, which may unlock one of history’s greatest secrets.
It's not McNenny's fault that Carrell's thriller, hinging on the burning of the Globe Theater in 1613, turns out to be much ado about nothing. McNenny reads at a heart-thumping pace, which is perfect for Kate Stanley, a theater director and former scholar, who is both chasing the past and being pursued by killers in the present. McNenny's performance gives Kate the right combination of brainy sleuthing and brainless commitment to a dangerous investigation. She does not fare as well with the other characters, especially the men. In particular, a London inspector in charge of the murder case of Kate's Harvard mentor sounds Indian or Pakistani, even though he is from the Caribbean. Listeners will ignore the peccadilloes as they are caught up in Kate's breathless trips from London to Cambridge and even the West Coast. For those interested in this popular genre of Shakespeare revised and revisited, the catchy plot and McNenny's exuberant performance are both gripping and vastly entertaining. Simultaneous release with the Dutton hardcover (Reviews, July 16). (Sept.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationAt first, this debut novel seems to be a moderately paced historical "what if," but it rapidly turns into a transcontinental "whodunit." The murder of a Shakespearean scholar at a new production of Hamletis tied to a small box that has its own Pandora-like qualities for its receiver, director Kate Stanley. With the lure of a lost Shakespeare play and clues from his classic works, the book belongs to the same genre as Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Codeand the movie National Treasureand became a New York Timesbest seller upon its release last fall. It's a solid follow-up to Shakespeare scholar Carrell's The Speckled Monster, a study of the fight against smallpox that won Carrell the acclaimed Discover Great New Writers label from Barnes & Noble. The audio is read well by Kathleen McNenny and should find an audience in most public libraries. Recommended.
—Joyce Kessel
Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2008
I was looking forward to this novel. Ever since Byatt's Possession, I've been looking for the next great literary mystery. This, however, was not it. The writing is uneven, and the plot is ridiculous in that the characters behave in ways that don't make sense and don't seem to fit with how they are characterized elsewhere. Specifically, I find it absurd that Kate Stanley would pursue this the way she does. Moreover, Carrell draws on 'occult Shakespeare' in a way that is ludicrous--I nearly fell of my chair with laughter when the whole Psalm 46 theory was actually brought up and treated with some seriousness by Kate and the others. As an academic, I find this treatment of academics to be completely unrealistic. This novel smacks of conspiracy theory in a way that only Dan Brown comes close to, and no, I didn't think much of The Da Vinci Code either. I'm all for fantasy, but this kind of pseudo-historical fiction just doesn't work in many cases, especially not when as ill-thought-out and poorly written as Carrell's work.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 13, 2008
I personally enjoyed this book very much. While the first couple pages were slow, the storyline picked up fast and kept me intrigued throughout the whole novel. I found myself gasping out loud several times with the plot twists near the end of the story--overall, I would recommend this book to anybody.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 2, 2008
If you enjoyed the DaVinci Code, you'll love Interred. It has the same exciting pace and historical attention to detail. I'm not a Shakespeare buff but enjoyed learning about the history and mysteries that abound around this famous writer. This would make a great movie.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Fans of Dan Brown, rejoice! Here¿s a fast-paced mystery that¿ll hold your attention. The scholar is a Harvard-educated authority on Shakespeare, the goal is to find the long-lost manuscript and may be even find out the true identity of the legendary poet. There¿s murder, a handsome stranger, cryptic letters serving as breadcrumbs showing the way and friends who may be enemies and vice versa.
It is a satisfying read that keeps you turning the pages despite all the many Williams of Shakespeare¿s time that are so hard to keep track of. I enjoyed the fact that it was written in the format of a play with acts and interludes and that the villain wasn¿t who I thought it was (oh, I believed myself so clever!). I think I would have enjoyed it more if the author gave us glimpses of the villain along the way, the way Dan Brown does. This device serves to speed up the pace and with the entire story done from the perspective of the scholar it got bogged down in the academic explanations a couple of times.
All in all it is a very good debut novel and I can only hope that the author will write another soon.
Eldread
Posted September 26, 2011
Readers who enjoy Katherine Neville's The Eight and other similar works will love this series. Meticulously researched, but the research never overshadows the fast-moving plot as we learn more about Shakespeare's life, works and historical speculation about that work. There is a second, interwoven story set in Shakespeare's time that helps frame the contemporary story. A page-turner, with many twists and improbable-yet-fun mysterious benefactors and old friends popping up at just the right time. Followed by an equally good sequel, Haunt Me Still.
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Posted August 2, 2011
I dont like shakespeare. But this book has given his works new life!
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Posted January 15, 2011
This book kept me guessing right up to the end...unpredictable,and curiously intriguing
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Posted June 17, 2010
This Shakespeare-themed thriller comes up short on what Shakespeare's characters abound in -- character. There's plenty of plot, sufficient action, and foreshadowing dripping from every page. But it's hard to stay interested in a book if you can't stay interested in the characters. These days comic book characters are more vivid than these stereotypes. The only creation with potential gets killed off in the first few pages. I wish the story were driven by something other than flashes of incredible insight and intuition.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged."Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides." ~William Shakespeare, King Lear
A hit-and-go paced novel with twist and turns at every page. With the recent discoveries about the implausibility of the boy from Stratford-Upon-Avon writing the most widely read opus in literature; Carrell delves deep into the mystery that has been debates for centuries. Each discovery leads to another mystery which will leave your shocked by the unexpected results. A can't-put-down read for audiences of any field or background.
Fans of historical fiction will love the thoroughly researched topics discussed in the novel. Literary fanatics will begin to be nostalgic as they see another side of Shakespeare. All will be left wondering why they wasted time in class on Shakespearean sonnets and not the mysterious and controversial history surrounding him. At times the novels take turns that are entirely implausible and leaves the reader disappointed in the lapse of creativity. However, the scholarly intrigue of true-living figures will keep the audiences guessing. Some knowledge of the seventeenth century will be useful as many names mentioned are obscure and not widely studied. A must have for reading by the fireside. Definitely a book to gain the creases of a book that leaves the reader guessing even after the ending page.
Shakespeare's lost plays? Do they exist? And wouldn't it be astounding to find one of them hidden in an out-of-the-way place or in an old chest? To paraphrase the Bard, "the play's the thing~~~"; that's the core of this fantastic mystery novel. And it is superb ~~ a treat for the mind, philosopical or otherwise. Ms Carrell's style is immensely readable, her research superb, her knowledge of all things Shakespeare equally superb. And, in the grand British tradition of who-dunnits, nothing is given away until the end & the reader is left only with clues to solve the puzzle. A grand tale told the old-fashioned way by a superb writer & a must for anyone's library.
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Posted May 6, 2010
The plot moves quickly and really sucks you in. It is great for lovers of historical (with liberties) mysteries and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike. Although it explores unconfirmed theories about Shakespeare and who he was (or wasn't), it was a thrilling ride and a must read! I loved it and I am looking forward to reading her next novel. I just received it!
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Posted April 16, 2010
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I was never a Shakespeare fan and was not sure how I would receive the book, however, the plot was engaging and captivating. It also entwined many facts about Shakespeare, the time and the cities it was set in. Carrell hedges plausible theories of the identity of Shakespeare in a dramatic twist. Her characters share different opinions of his life and identity, although, the reader is left to choose for themselves. The plots and twists are definitely worthy of The DaVinci Code incorporated with impeccable research! As soon as I was done with the book, I carted out 4 Shakespeare texts from college with a whole new perspective and focus!
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Posted April 12, 2010
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To be honest, I bought the book because it was on sale and one of the reviews on the dust cover said the action in it compared to the Da Vinci Code, so that's what I was looking for. Boy was I disappointed. The action while not completely boring is nor nearly as cliff hanging as any Dan Brown book I have read. Long story short, It's a book about a lost manuscript of Shakespeare and the quest to find it. If you are stuck in an airport and need something to get you through, or you are an avid Shakespeare fan, then I would recommend this book, otherwise pick up the nearest Dan Brown book and go with that.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 8, 2010
I hope this is just the beginning for Jennifer Lee Carrell! What an outstanding first novel, in my opinion, the story is very interesting and the characters are easy to empathize with. The concept of the mystery surrounding Shakespeare and the many theories over the years regarding the possibility of another writer or group of writers being responsible for his plays is intriguing. She does a brilliant job of helping the reader visualize the story. Such a thrilling adventure it was the first book I've read that quickly in a while, as I just couldn't tear myself away from the excitement... every page led to another mysterious situation.
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Posted November 17, 2009
I cannot help but think there is a big part most are missing from this story-the mystery revolving around Shakespeare and his plays. If anything, this book made me want to pull out my books from college, and reread all of them. Looking away from the obvious gaps in the plot, I think all the mystery of Shakespeare was captured. I love the idea of missing manuscripts! The other part I loved was that Shakespeare was never what he appeared and when looking at his texts, you were able to read between the lines to get closer to his meaning. I feel that this eliment was captured in this book. Like I said, I'm a big nerd, and Shakespeare's work always makes me geek out just a little bit. So this book was exciting for me, and made me want to go back to reading texts in the Stacks.
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Posted June 19, 2009
I anticipated that this book would be a hard-to-put-down thriller. It was nothing of the kind. The chase for the lost, Shakespeare manuscript was convoluted, and too difficult to follow to be a simple, pleasurable read. Also, I felt that that the plot was stretched out too much; more quantity than quality. I often had to remind myself of why the main character was even on the quest in the first place.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The plot, the search for a lost manuscript, would have been alright if it were based upon more than the initial murder. Any normal person would have let the police handle matters instead of running off chasing a beyond tiny clue. Too much running around. It began to make no sense. I almost didn't finish the book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Good mystery, like the back and forth between time periods and the mystery with historical quandry. Does leave a little hanging, so as not to fully wrap up the historical part. Cna't wait for the second book!
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Posted October 7, 2008
The last time I read Shakespeare was 25 years ago, so I did not read this book with the keen eye of the prior reviewer. I read it with the interest of the 'common' person and enjoyed every bit. I did sometimes find the sheer number of characters involved to be somewhat ponderous. The author's transition from past to present was also sometimes ponderous. Overall, this was a page turner. I'd recommend to any mystery lover. Especially someone who doesn't read too hard into the details of movies like National Treasure or books like DaVinci Code.
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Posted December 24, 2007
I think this book was a good idea because I truly enjoy this type of storyline, but by the time I got about 2/3 through the book it was becoming convoluted and almost too confusing to keep track of everything and I don't always like to have to 'think' that hard when reading a book. . . .but I persevered and finished it and am glad I did.
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Overview
“A feverishly paced action adventure” (The New York Times) about a long-lost Shakespeare work and a killer who reenacts the Bard’s most bloody murders
Jennifer Lee Carrell’s highly acclaimed debut novel is a brilliant, breathlessly paced literary adventure. The action begins on the eve of the Globe’s production of Hamlet when Shakespeare scholar and theater director Kate Stanley’s eccentric mentor Rosalind Howard gives her a mysterious box, claiming to have made a groundbreaking...