Players of Death

A thrilling adventure wonderfully evoked as Shakespeare turns spy — James Oswald

Previously published as A Serpent in the Garden

Will Shakespeare as a detective is so good you realise he was wasted as a playwright... This clever crime tale blends pace and humour into a riveting, believable and funny read — Sun Pick of the Week

London, 1592. At 28 years old, William Shakespeare is the rising man of English theatre. But plague has hit the capital, and the playhouses are to be shut. Livelihoods, and lives, are at stake.

Lady Celia Vernon is one of the first to perish, but did she really die of plague? Her cousin, the Earl of Southampton, orders Will to discover the truth in a London filled with conspirators, cutthroats, and traitors.

The Queen's spymaster, Robert Cecil, suspects the Earl of treason and orders Will to spy on him in return. Caught between two of the most powerful men in the kingdom, Will cannot possibly serve both masters and could easily become the next victim of the killer he is trying to catch.

With his future, safety, and life on the line, Will uncovers a devastating secret, changing the course of his, and the world’s destiny forever.

An utterly compelling historical mystery offering a new and fascinating look into the personal life of the great William Shakespeare.

Praise for A Serpent in the Garden

A thrilling adventure wonderfully evoked as Shakespeare turns spy — James Oswald

Impressive... a delicious tapestry of intrigue and adventure — Crime Time

Hugely entertaining, clever, engaging. An all-round delight — Trevor Wood

A masterpiece — Rachael Blok

I don’t think I’ve ever read any fictional account that so accurately portrays the terrible autocracy that was in force during Elizabeth I’s reign. I couldn't put it down — Barbara Nadel

Absolutely fantastic. Clever, sly, funny, gripping – everything to make it a terrific read — Ajay Chowdhury

A rich page-turner – the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of 16th Century London pour from the pages — Isabel Ashdown

Up there with the best historical fiction I’ve read – Will Shakespeare is an almost competent private eye — James Oswald

I haven’t had this much fun in the Elizabethan era since Joseph Fiennes woo’d Gwyneth Paltrow — Douglas Skelton

One of the best historical novels I’ve read in years — Robert Rutherford