First line: “William the Silent is dead.”

Summary: Christopher Marlowe, the playwright, is also a spy for Queen Elizabeth. He is tasked with discovering who is plotting to kill William the Silent. He sent with his companion, Dr. Lopez, to a small inn where he encounters a female agent who is assigned to help him in his quest.

Highlights: I liked that it was mystery set in Elizabethan England. I have read several different ones set during this time and really enjoyed them.

Lowlights: Very slow paced and confusing plot lines. The initial mystery is solved quickly but more is added and entangled. I made it about a third of the way through before deciding to quit.

FYI: Second in the series.

Christopher Marlowe is in a muddle again. He is summoned to The Bell Inn for a mission to the Netherlands to prevent the assassination of William the Silent. He and Leonora Beak fail at the last moment, but learn that this is part of a larger plot to remove Queen Elizabeth from her throne and place Mary, Queen of Scots on the English throne. And then Leonora is murdered. Marlowe has two conflicting missions, but with the help of Scottish Travelers, he manages to thwart the plot, save the queen, solve the murder, and advance his own career. The pleasure of The English Agent lies in the details that color the tale and the the twisted path Marlowe has to unwind to gain victory of sorts in the end. If you enjoy a well-told tale, read on!