Suzanne M. Wolfe’s new novel, the first in a mystery series set in Elizabethan England, is now available! A Murder by Any Name: An Elizabethan Spy Mystery has already received praise from acclaimed writers and book review sites.
The court of Elizabeth I is no stranger to plotting and intrigue, but the royal retinue is thrown into chaos when the Queen’s youngest and sweetest lady-in-waiting is murdered, her body left on the high altar of the Chapel Royal in Whitehall Palace. Solving the murder will require the cunning and savvy possessed by only one man. Enter Nicholas Holt, younger brother of the Earl of Blackwell―spy, rake, and owner of the infamous Black Sheep tavern in the seedy district of Bankside. Nick quickly learns that working for the Queen is a mixed blessing. Elizabeth―salty-tongued, vain, and fiercely intelligent―can, with a glance, either reward Nick with a purse of gold or have his head forcibly removed.
When a second lady-in-waiting is slain at Whitehall, the court once again reels with shock and dismay. On the trail of a diabolical killer, Nick and his faithful sidekick―an enormous Irish Wolfhound named Hector―are treading on treacherous ground, and only the killer’s head on a platter can keep them in the Queen’s good graces.
Praise for A Murder By Any Name
“An excellent series kickoff by Wolfe that cleverly highlights both the mystery and the many ills of Elizabethan times.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Captivating…. Fans of Fiona Buckley’s Ursula Blanchard and Kathy Lynn Emerson’s Rosamond Jaffrey will be delighted to add Wolfe to their reading lists.”
—Booklist
“[A] promising series launch… Fans of Elizabethan historicals will be satisfied.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A deeply atmospheric and richly textured Elizabethan mystery…. I was captivated by Nicholas and Hector as they navigated court treachery and the dark recesses of the lower classes in this compelling Elizabethan mystery.”
—Shelley Freydont, New York Times bestselling author
“A classically plotted whodunit set against the background of Elizabethan London and the court of Queen Elizabeth the First, both of them well researched and vividly realized, with a wealth of detail. One can almost smell the reek of the 16th century streets and waterways.”
—Fiona Buckley, author of the Ursula Blanchard Elizabethan mysteries
“Filled with splendidly rich historical details, A Murder by Any Name takes readers on a twisty journey through the glittering royal court and the dank, shadowy alleys of Elizabethan London. Wolfe’s descriptions are unparalleled, immersing the reader in the time period as they join her wily protagonist on his quest to catch a cold-hearted killer.”
—Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries
“Bewitching! Suzanne Wolfe opens the door to Elizabethan life through her masterful creation of the sympathetic spy, Nicholas Holt. An exciting start to a promising new historical mystery series.”
—Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of the Mas Arai series
