The Queen's Player

This is the third book of the author's that I have read. And the second of the trilogy on "The Lost Years of William Shakespeare". I must say, this is an author that needs to be discovered! He has an amazing writing talent, constructing books of incredible depth and detail, with accurate historical underpinnings, great stories, and a good dose of levity. Not at all "stuffy" like you might expect from the portrayal of this era, instead it's an easy flowing, fun, and hard to put down book. While this second book of the trilogy could be read as a stand-alone novel, I think you would enjoy it a lot more if you read the first volume, "What News On The Rialto".
In this episode, Wildman really fleshes out the character of William Shakespeare. While not a swash-buckling romp like the first volume, in this one you really get a sense of who Shakespeare is, of what makes him tick, and of where he is going. It's really quite masterful. I honestly cannot wait for the final volume of the trilogy. And of any more ideas the author comes up with.
And, I would be negligent if I did not mention his first book, "The Diplomat of Florence". Set in Florence, Italy in the early sixteenth century, it's one of my favorite books. Just incredible!

I received an advanced readers digital copy of “ The Queens Players” through Net Galley . My thanks to the author, the publisher and publicist and Net Galley for an enjoyable novel.
“ The Queen’s Players” is an historical mystery novel set in the years of Queen Elizabeth. England seethes with rumors of a Spanish fleet and army coming to invade the country, with the purpose of deposing the Queen and returning Catholicism as the state religion. It is also the time of the the so called “ Lost Years” of one William Shakespeare. The author endeavors to fill in these years using topical persons, facts, events and his fiction. He does it very well.
The book is filled with the sights and sounds of 16 th. Century London in all its grimy, smelly and vibrant charm. The reader is alongside Will in the theater, in noisy taverns and musty inns, walking the noisy , narrow streets and dining with friends like Christopher Marlowe. It is all very well painted for the reader to become immersed in and fodder for the fan of historical novels. And, there is another prominent and dangerous figure in Will’s life: Sir Francis Walshingham, the Queen’s spymaster. Will Shakespeare is, in the author’s setting, a agent, though somewhat unwillingly, of the Royal chief of spies. So you have a bit of a play on words in the title, with Will Shakespeare , actor playing a spy on a chessboard commanded by the Queen - a Queen’s Player.

In the year of the book , about 1585-1590 , Will Shakespeare is working as what the author terms a book-holder and general stage manager as we might call it today, for a troupe of traveling players. Among his duties is, most importantly, to keep control of the actual script for safekeeping .Like the costumes , props and scenery the handwritten and annotated playbook is a valuable asset to the company. He also writes bits of dialog , occasionally does a bit of acting and generally keeps the company in order. He is not yet Shakespeare the playwright, though he is beginning to have inklings ( forgive the pun) of writing his own plays. But the troupe’s tour is cut short when one of the major players kills another major actor in a duel over a woman. Will, a witness to,the duel, suspects that the affair was contrived. But why? That is the rest of the engrossing story to read and enjoy.
The author has an interesting afterword which sets out some of the historical context of the book. He did his homework, and it showed. This is the second book in a planned trilogy of the Lost Years” . I have not read book number one, but I plan to. Good reading, and I recommend “ “The Queen’s Players.”
Content warnings: Bawdy happenings.

"The Queen's Players" is a gripping novel set in the city of London in the 16th Century, in the Elizabethan era, where the reader will discover more about the life of the famous author and playwright William Shakespeare.
Wildman immerses the reader in a mystery story where you can see how Shakespeare, after having returned from Italy, develops his career as a bookkeeper and general stage director by joining one of London's acting companies. In this theatrical company, Shakespeare must be responsible for maintaining control of the royal script for safekeeping, as well as the costumes, props and stage. Among other tasks to be carried out he must write fragments of dialogue, there are few times when he deploys his role as an actor. As you read the story, characters appear that give life and emotion to it, such as Christopher Marlowe, a friend of Shakespeare, or Sir Francis Walshingham, the Queen's master of spies, who plays an evil role.
During one of the company's tours, a fateful event occurs: one of the main actors kills another important actor in a duel for a woman action that triggers a set of situations that make the playwright and poet think if what happened was a coincidence or an alibi. Pushed by the unexpected outcome, William Shakespeare is forced to play the role of agent and spy in this story. Hence, the reader can discover the reason for the choice of title, is Shakespeare a player chosen haphazardly by the Queen or not?

This was a really good book!! The characters, everything was so well written. I really enjoyed it,the descriptions, the writing,all of it was well done.