Death by Disputation

By: Anna Castle

Narrated by: Joel Froomkin

Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thomas Clarady is recruited to spy on a group of radical Puritans at Cambridge University. Francis Bacon is his spymaster; his tutor in both tradecraft and religious politics. Their commission gets off to a deadly start when Tom finds his chief informant hanging from the roof beams. Now he must catch a murderer as well as a seditioner. His first suspect is volatile poet Christopher Marlowe, who keeps turning up in the wrong places. Dogged by unreliable assistants, chased by three lusty women, and harangued daily by the exacting Bacon, Tom risks his very soul to catch the villains and win his reward.

©2014 Anna Castle (P)2018 Anna Castle

enjoyable historical fiction.

I received this audiobook, from the author, free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed listening to this book it was a very good mystery with several surprises. The narrator was ok but I like some other better. looking forward to listening to more in the series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Spies and intrigue!

Love the vocabulary of the day!

Joel Froomkin did a good job of narrating. Brought the characters to life.

I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Well Done!

What a great continuation to the Francis Bacon series. I haven't read or listened to many books from this time period of 1500's, but I found it fascinating. Tom, Francis Bacon and rest of the characters were well done. I did not see some of the twists coming. The imagery in this book was so vivid too. The story was well plotted and kept me engaged.
The narration by Joel Froomkin was spot on! He is delightful to listen to with his various character voices and British accent. This book is a standalone listen and part of a series. I love it when an author includes actual historical details into a book. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator in the future.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good historical mystery

Once again, Thomas Clarady is commissioned by Sir Francis Bacon to do a little spying on radical puritans at Cambridge University. But when Thomas finds his chief informant dead, a whodunnit begins with Thomas being chased by murderers and lusty women.

I still find it odd that these are called the Francis Bacon Mystery Series when Thomas is clearly the main character and Francis Bacon is on the sidelines. However, they are fun mysteries set in the 16th century England, which makes for a totally different environment and situations from today. Anna Castle keeps the action and comedy going at a brisk pace.

And once again narrated by the incomparable Joel Froomkin, giving these characters and the situations much depth and humor.

Can't wait for the next in the series....

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Another Great Read

Anna Castle welcomes you back into her well crafted historical fiction mystery with all the best characters from book one. Although it could be read as a stand alone book--a feat many authors struggle with--this book was just as witty and artfully written to keep the reader fully engaged. I'm becoming a true fan of Castle's writing and love how each book includes historical persons breathed into life by her carefully plotted words all playfully tied up in an intriguing mystery.

Joel Froomkin out does his first performance in this book's narration. Great cadence, easy tone of voice, subtle but distinct character voices and superb timing. His art of being able to juggle all the characters Castle wrote in is outstanding.

Overall a fantastic read and I recommend it to all who love a good mystery and like to dabble in history.

This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Boring...

Incredibly dull... I had a very difficult time finishing this one. The plot was thin and underdeveloped along with the characters. Additionally, the use of actual historical figures such as Sir Francis Bacon during a period as historically important as the Reformation, and taking it completely out of context, really ended up frustrating me. The dialogue and humor are more consistent with the Victorian era and don't make sense in this story at all, and the repeated attempts at bawdy humor simply fell flat. Just wasn't for me. As for the narration, it was well done. The narrator voiced the various characters well and maintained a light and humorous tone, which is what I believe the author was going for. Or at least I hope that's what she was going for! ***This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.***

Great historical mystery

I was provided with a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

I love history in the main and I particularly love the traumatic and turbulent times of the Tudors, Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth I, the soya, the intrigue and the constant threat of execution are all part and parcel of the daily life then.

Anna Castle has managed to tie all of these aspects together, bringing sedition (religious extremism) together with fraud, murder and spying in a world of education.

Having studied at Cambridge myself in the early part of the 21st century, it is amazing to hear of the places that I saw when wandering the city. My love of history is given full consideration in this novel and the author even provides a reason for small changes that none but the true historical researcher would be able to catch.

The narrator really makes the whole story come alive for the listener, providing appropriate accents for the locals, the londoners, the aristocracy and the serving people. It is a joy to be able to tell each character just from the accent.

I will be looking out for more from this author and narrator as I enjoyed this book immensely.