100 Pages A Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews

" Ben shook his head, bemused,  'It seems too simple.'
 Bacon answered crisply, 'Simplicity is often the sign of truth.' "

A highly entertaining murder-mystery set in Elizabethan England with a wonderful set of characters.  Francis Bacon has fallen out of favor with Queen Elizabeth and on the day of the Queen's Day Pageant he stumbles across the body of his former tutor and fellow barrister at Gray's Inn, Tobias.Smythson.  Francis is tasked with solving the murder, which may very well include a Catholic conspiracy, and will hopefully place him back within the Queen's favor.  Francis sends out four of his students, including Thomas Clarady to do most of the dirty work for him.  While trying to solve Smython's murder, the Season of Misrule returns, where pranks and silliness abound; there will be several more murders, Thomas falls in love with a widow who may or may not have a live husband and all of Tom's friends may not appear to be who they seem.

Anna Castile presents an engaging mystery with smart and witty writing.  I'm pretty much up for anything set in the Elizabethan era and I enjoyed reading about real-life characters Francis Bacon and Queen Elizabeth herself.  Bacon is a favorite of mine and he was placed in a very believable role of the sleuth, his work in developing the scientific method and empiricism makes his character a good teacher as well as prime candidate for solving the intricate mysteries during the season of misrule.  While Francis is the sleuth, most of the story comes from Thomas Clarady's point of view, a young and dashing student who easily falls in love with one of the key witnesses to the murder.  Tom's character was entertaining and humorous as he and his friends try to track down witnesses.  I do wish Francis would have made more appearances, hopefully there will be more Francis Bacon Mysteries to come.