Review: Spies, Double Agents & Plots Galore!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2013
“Knowledge is everything.” John Shakespeare’s friend Arthur Gregory points out… and acting on that statement, Shakespeare, older brother of author William and an “intelligencer” for Sir Robert Cecil, begins to unravel the mystery behind the death of a young man found in the snow a few days before Christmas.  I must confess this is my first Rory Clements book and I have to say… it is an intriguing teaser which should make any reader want to explore the other John Shakespeare books.  With a unique balance of historical and fictional characters, Clements provides a clear glimpse of  life during Elizabethan times and avoids the pit into which some historical novelists fall by making their books and their characters sound stodgy and boring.  Regarding Queen Elizabeth’s and Mary Queen of Scots’ claim to the same throne, one of the characters states "In truth, sir, it is like having two wives in one bedchanber or kitchen, a thing that is always likely to lead to death."There are spies, double agents, mysteries and plots galore in this book.  There are villains and nasty characters around every corner, dragging young maids from their beds, hiding behind trees and creeping through hallways.  The author is very adept at presenting a complex story line in the novella format.  This book will keep you on edge as John Shakespeare races to save an innocent from becoming the next victim of a killer who believes “knowledge is everything”. For those who enjoy historical fiction and a good mystery, The Man in the Snow will make a great short read during this busy time of year.Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book directly from the author.  I was not paid to read or review this book.  All opinions are my own and I was never influenced by anything or anyone.