The Counterfeit Crank

by Edward Marston

Overview

Nicholas Bracewell befriends a young beggar who is trying to eke out a living as a counterfeit crank, pretending to have spectacular epileptic fits in order to get money from gullible bystanders. When the beggar is murdered inside Bridewell, Nicholas has to pose as a beggar himself in order to get inside the notorious institution so that he can solve the crime. Counterfeiting of all kinds is exposed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780749018467
Publisher:	Allison & Busby, Limited
Publication date:	05/21/2015
Series:	Nicholas Bracewell , #14
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	1,007,448
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Edward Marston has written over a hundred books across many series. They range from the era of the Domesday Book to the Home Front during WWI, via Elizabethan theatre and the Regency period. He is best known for the hugely successful Railway Detective series set during Queen Victoria's reign.

Editorial Reviews

Right from the start of British author Marston's clever historical, the 14th entry in his Nicholas Bracewell series (after 2003's The Vagabond Clown), troubles beset the Westfield Players. Bracewell's sleuthing skills are much needed after playwright Edmund Hoode collapses from "falling sickness," stage carpenter Nathan Curtis and tireman Hugh Wegges lose their purses to a gambler, and gatherer Lucas Peebles is robbed of all the ticket money. The hapless group then suffers the ultimate indignity when their costumes are stolen and they're forced to perform in borrowed outfits "visibly the wrong size, shape, and color." Amid all this distress, a tender romantic interlude between "counterfeit crank" Hywel Rees, an actor of a different sort, and his beloved Dorothea turns tragic when the two are imprisoned in Bridewell Palace, once a royal residence, now a house of ill repute. These intrigues move rapidly with scene changes and subplots reminiscent of an Elizabethan stage play, and lead to a breathtaking finale when Nicholas and company use their stock-in-trade disguises to unmask a fraudulent operation close to home. A handy dramatis personae helps us keep all the names straight in this complex but beguiling tale. (Aug. 11) FYI: Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

The book holder for the Westfield's Men theater troupe, Nicholas Bracewell attempts to save his actors from the travails of Elizabethan London. The string of woes begins with the unaccountable illness of the troupe's resident playwright. A noteworthy historical series. Marston lives in England. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

"A deliciously saucy Elizabethan romp guaranteed to delight both historical mystery buffs and fans of the enormously popular film Shakespeare in Love."

Booklist

Hearing David Thorpe narrate this mystery set in the sixteenth century is akin to seeing a play being performed by an entire ensemble. Lord Westerfield’s Men is the name of the troupe of performers at the Queen’s Head Theatre. Listeners will appreciate hearing the actors’ witty yet literate arguments and sharing their personal lives. The two subplots are equally well rendered: The actors rescue Welsh beggars—counterfeit cranks—who have been sent to a workhouse and soft-spoken Edmund Hoode, the troupe’s playwright, is stricken with a mysterious illness that prevents him from finishing the troupe’s next play. In addition to Thorpe’s superlative storytelling and accents, his presentation of Laurence Firethorn is superb. Also, Nicholas Bracewell, the book holder (prompter), has a gentle voice that belies his steely determination. Thorpe’s portrayals of all the characters create an unforgettable listening experience. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2018 - AudioFile