I had two disadvantages when I read this book, first that it's the eight book in the series about Kit Marlowe and I have not read any previous book. And the second, this is an era that just doesn't really my thing. However, I went through a period when EVERYTHING looked interesting on NetGalley. That means I have a lot of books to go through that I, in hindsight perhaps should have passed over. This one is one of them.

Anyhow, this is a story about a murder, and it's the Queen's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham that has been poisoned. Walsingham former righthand man orders Kit Marlowe to find out who killed Walsingham. So, Kit is off consulting scientists and thinkers of the School of Night to find out what poison it was and who murdered the spymaster.

I found myself not really taken with the story, actually now and then I felt a bit lost even. Like some thought processes from Kit's side took place outside the story in the book. It could just be me of course, not really finding neither the plot nor the characters especially interesting. On the plus side, Shakespeare shows up now and then in the story, not a terribly good playwriter apparently...

Eleventh Hour is probably a great book for fans of the era and those that love this series. I, however, will not bother with more books in this series.

Another outing with Kit Marlowe, Elizabethan playwright and sometime spy, investigating the death of his former master, Sir Francis Walsingham, also know as Elizabeth I's spymaster in chief.

I will preface this by saying that some basic knowledge of the Tudor Court might be warranted as a veritable cast of characters moves across the stage as Kit investigates, all the while attempting to put on his play, Faustus, and outwitting a certain Will Shaxsper.

I love Marlowe, and MJ Trow has managed to bring him to life rather well. Looking back on my notes I am reminded of the satirical humour of "Upstart Crow" featuring David Mitchell.

Francis Walsingham served the Queen for twenty years as her spymaster and now he is dead – at the eleventh hour. It is up to the playwright and poet, Kit Marlowe, “the Muses darling”, to discover if natural causes are to blame or if it is something more sinister and if so, to discover who murdered the Queen’s spymaster. Numerous well-known characters make their appearance in the book from William Shakespeare to Walter Raleigh, Henry Percy, the ninth Earl of Northumberland and Dr John Dee, the Queen’s magus but their roles are at times confusing. The story does, however, provide an interesting insight into life during Elizabeth’s reign and the political intrigue that was part of her court.

I found the book very difficult to get into and heavy going throughout. I am not familiar with the other books in the Kit Marlowe series so I possibly missed out on nuances and relationships from previous stories. Some of the characters seem to know each other but their relationship is unclear to the first time reader.

Saphira

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

M J Trow gives us the eighth Kit Marlow mystery in Eleventh Hour. Kit Marlow is tasked with identifying who poisoned Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I' s spymaster. How to unmask this very clever murderer; suspects include five scientists who include high nobility and spies. Dark and moody in tone; intriguing look at the theatre and spies.

Fans of the Elizabethan stage will crack a smile as the origins of familiar phrases reveal their origins in this action=packed murder mystery. Kit Marlowe's reputation as a playwright allows him entry to the rich and powerful as he investigates the death of Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster and Marlowe's former employer.

ELEVENTH HOUR: A Tutor Mystery (Hist. Mys-Kit Marlow-England-1590) - VG
Trow, M.J. – 8th in series
Crème de la Crime – First World Publication Edition – July 2017
First Sentence: The linen stretched over the tenter-grounds like winding sheets, ghostly pale under the Norton Folgate Moon.
Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster to Queen Elizabeth, is dead. It is believed by Nicholas Faunt, Walsingham’s right-hand man, that he was poisoned and impeaches playwright and former spymaster Christopher Marlow to uncover the killer. In order to so do, Marlow seeks the help of leading scientists and thinkers, many of whom are members of the so-called School of the Night.
Trow truly captures the feel and meter of the period but not so much that it is incomprehensible. In fact, the writing often gives the sense of listening to music.
It is not uncommon for historical mysteries to focus on Kit Marlow as a spymaster. Here, one can appreciate seeing Marlow the playwright--
Marlow had the rare skill of being able to walk and read at the same time. His boots rang out on the cobbles as he strode, one hand holding the book, the other flinging out to the side placing players and poetry in the air around him.”--and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the state preparation. The references to “Will Shaxper,” of whom the character of Marlow is quite dismissive while constantly quoting lines now attributed to the Bard, and the fascinating Dr. Dee are enjoyable.
In fact, Trow truly makes all his characters come to life—“The choirboy in Marlow was never far from the surface, thought he would die rather than admit it and he hummed under his breath the soaring Tallis of his youth.” There are many characters from history brought to life, but it can also be confusing as many of them are referred to by several different names each. But stick with it; it is definitely worth it.
Trow’s subtle humor is such a pleasurable aspect of his voice—“It was quite incredible that when you put a perfectly normal, intelligent person on a stage and ask him to walk its length, he suddenly had the gait of an ostrich with ague.” It comes through in even the most ordinary scene—“Carter was trying to look inconspicuous, to give him credit where it was due, but sitting on one horse and leading another, it was tricky to say the least.”
One cannot help but be amused by the numerous references about Shakespeare being determined to write a play about Henry the Sixth. Shakespeare did, in fact, write a trilogy of plays on Henry VI, and they are now credited as having been co-authored by Marlow.
“Eleventh Hour” may not be for everyone, but it is delightful for those who love the period and the works of Marlow and Shakespeare. There is a very clever exposure of the killer wherein “the play’s the thing.”

My Thoughts

‘Sir Francis Walsingham is dead.’ There was no point in trying to break it any other way than directly. Dee had to swallow his cry of surprise. ‘What?’ he mouthed. ‘When? How?’ Marlowe shrugged. ‘When? Two days ago at the eleventh hour. As to how, it depends on whom you ask,’

I was attracted to this book on a number of bases - Tudor, playwrights and mystery! What a great idea to make a twist and propose Walsingham died perchance from sinister means rather than of natural causes! Sign me up!

What I failed to note, however, was that this was book eight in a series. Luckily they are indeed standalone and Trow’s writing of both person and place was well done. I found Kit Marlowe to be a fabulous lead character, such charisma and delightful in his detective role. Assigned the job of hunting for the truth, an array of famous characters cross his path in his search to unveil the villain. I loved Trow’s portrayal of many of these notable Tudor characters; of particular note is the fun way he presented William Shakespeare. So many famous characters Trow brings vividly to life in this classic whodunit.

‘You are the School of Night,’ Marlowe began.
One of you in this room killed the Queen’s Spymaster. I intend to find out who.’

Problems arise for me because no one was as strong as Marlowe in engaging the reader, and at times I found the plot to be a little confusing. I also found the inclusion of a supernatural element a little out of order. However, if you are a fan of this series, you will undoubtedly be delighted with this latest instalment, embarking with Kit Marlowe on another famous adventure.

“You have a knack for these things,’ he said. ‘A nose for treachery –and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I want to know what was in that cup and who put it there.”

Of course, what had escaped my notice was that this is the eighth book in this series. However, once again, I managed to land on my feet in that at no time was I floundering or adrift as Trow is far too an experienced and capable writer to let that happen. When Francis Walsingham dies, it falls to Kit Marlowe to try to discover who is the culprit. In this twisting Elizabethan plot there are no shortage of suspects and I really enjoyed reading about Marlowe’s investigations as characters I’ve known from history books leapt to vivid life in this Tudor whodunnit.

Trow clearly had a blast with some of these characters – his depiction of William Shakespeare is particularly amusing and somewhat controversial, given that in this incarnation, poor bumpkin Shakespeare is thoroughly adrift in the London theatrical scene and desperate for work. Though Marlowe is reluctant to employ him as a writer or an actor, given that he is not very good at either. I also enjoyed reading Trow’s version of Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir John Dee. However, the character at the centre of all of these shenanigans is Kit Marlowe himself. Written in third person viewpoint, Marlowe is a complicated, somewhat driven character who provides a series of masks depending on who he is with. I really liked Trow’s characterisation – his detached observation of the people around him and his unwillingness to wear his heart on his sleeve makes him an interesting, complex protagonist.

In order for this book to work, the world building also has to be believable and sharp without slowing down the pace by too much description. Trow has nailed this. We never forget that we are in Tudor England with people whose worries and concerns are so similar to ours – yet also so very different. The climax of this story, along with the denouement worked really well. I certainly didn’t see it coming. Yet there is also another surprise at the end of the book relating to the title which leaves this book on a doozy of a cliffhanger. I shall definitely be looking out for the next book in the series and have already ordered the first one from the local library.

This is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys good quality historical mysteries along the lines of C.J. Samson’s Matthew Shadlake series.

April 1590 and Sir Francis Walsingham, the spymaster of Elizabeth 1 is dead. Nicholas Faunt, his associate, is convineced that Sir Francis was murdered and instrusts Christopher Marlowe, the Spymaster's 'projectionist', to uncover the murderer.
Though a standalone book most of the characters are presented as complete with the expectation that you know their story.
An interesting mystery which is the latest in a series with a very likeable character in Marlowe. I enjoyed the book and the setting of Tudor England that I would like to start the series from the beginning.

This was a really fun novel. My official review will be up on the Historical Novel Society website and in their print publication, Historical Novel Review, in August 2017.

Playwright Kit Marlowe is plunged into the hunt for the truth when Sir Francis Wallingham dies. Are natural causes to blame or something more sinister?
From the description, I didn't realize I was jumping into a series. Immediately, I realized my mistake as certain characters are referred to in ways that made it obvious the reader ought to be aware of who they are. This made it difficult for me to really get into the story, which is heavy going.
Kit Marlowe was a fascinating character and I did enjoy following him through his investigation. He was charismatic, and the author side of me appreciated his title 'the Muses' Darling.' He amused me very much. The others were...unremarkable. As to the plot, I was often confused, so I didn't particularly enjoy it.
I also did not like the supernatural element of the book.
Perhaps this is usual to the series and fans know what they are getting. So, to those who know Kit Marlowe will probably enjoy his newest adventure.

'Eleventh Hour' is engaging from the start, with a superb evocation of the time period, exquisite vocabulary choices and descriptions, and a wealth of detail to titillate the senses. The characters are engaging and, whilst not always historically accurate, it is abounding in entertainment value and cannot fail to retain the interest of the most avid reader, particularly those with a penchant for the Tudor period.
Kit Marlowe shines in the guise of the Spymaster's 'projectionist', doubling up with his usual day job of a playwright, and the character virtually comes to life on every page with an abundance of literary charm, though poor Will Shaxsper does not fare so well and receives quite rough justice at the pen, or quill, of the author, appearing as a bumbling idiot and a 'wannabe' to the much more experienced and skilled, Marlowe - saying that, the wealth of literary quotes sprinkled liberally throughout the novel could be confusing for the reader and might cast doubt on whose words are attributable to whom!
The novel is a veritable feast of entertainment with its ambiguous plot and its changes in historical detail, mixed in with more factual information, so that the reader is never quite sure what is real and what is fiction, which falls in line nicely with the whole idea of the story - what if Marlowe had been a spy, and a detective, and a playwright - all rolled into one? Here we are given the chance to see and it is presented to us wonderfully in a beautifully descriptive authorial style that will be hard not to love. The murder mystery is handled well, though it drags a little in parts - this is forgiven though as the use of language and mastery of descriptive detail does provide a nice balance to the whole piece. For those who like a mystery to solve, this is worth your time - you will not be disappointed.

Great book. Totally loved it. :) ☆☆☆☆☆ rating.