This was a really well done historical fiction novel, it had that concept that I was hoping for and enjoyed getting to go into Shakespeare’s world in this. The characters felt like they were supposed to in this universe and was everything that I wanted from the description. GD Harper has a great writing style and can’t wait for more from this author.

This novel re-examines the infamous 16th-century murder of Thomas Arden and the execution of his wife, Alice. Weaving together historical documents and new research, the book explores a compelling theory linking the crime to Shakespeare’s early life and the mystery surrounding his first play.

This book is an interesting and entertaining historical mystery with a strong plot. The characters are a bit underdeveloped. Alice’s evolution from a naive young woman to an adulterer and murderer doesn’t show any real character transformation. Rather than being a person with agency, she’s portrayed as a victim and pawn of the men around her. I can believe that she was manipulated, but she certainly wasn’t innocent.

The portrayal of Shakespeare as a young man was interesting and plausible, though not at all the way I would have imagined him. Shakespeare’s grammar school education would have included the classics, such as Ovid’s Metamorphosis. The idea that Shakespeare didn’t have the creativity to devise his own stories doesn’t quite ring true to me. As the book itself points out, plays were subject to censorship, so sticking to new treatments of familiar subjects was the safe route. The Shakespeare of this book lacks the genius I would expect. Still, it’s impossible to write a portrayal of Shakespeare that resonates with all readers, or even most of them. We all have an idea in our heads of what Shakespeare was like, with very few facts to support that impression.

The book does a good job of explaining why, if ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM was Shakespeare’s first play, he wouldn’t have wanted his name associated with it. This is where the book shines. It’s pretty convincing in this area, especially when combined with current scholarship. Fans of Shakespeare and Tudor history will find much to enjoy in this novel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was beyond excited to get my hands on an advanced reader’s copy of GD Harper’s, “Arden: The Astonishing Untold Story of Shakespeare’s First Play”, and it did not disappoint. This captivating historical fiction mystery follows two storylines decades apart.

One is of Alice Arden, a beautiful, love-struck girl manipulated by powerful men unbeknownst to her. We are deeply involved in their day-to-day life as Alice and her husband’s world and social status begin to crumble. Her husband is murdered, and Alice is ultimately burned at the stake before a raging and joyous crowd in Faversham.

The other storyline is about Will Shakespeare. It was fascinating to be a part of his humble beginnings, his inner world with his wife and children, his dread of working as a glover for his father, and his desire for more. Attracted to Alice's story due to Arden being the family name of his mother (Mary Arden), he researched firsthand accounts of Alice’s story and wrote his first play, Arden of Faversham. There is debate whether this was, in fact, Shakespeare’s first play, as he does not give himself credit for it. Harper’s storyline and reasoning to help debate this are brilliantly based on historical evidence and are very thought-provoking.

Harper’s skillful weaving of the two storylines, the intricate plotting, and the introduction of devastating new evidence about Alice and the murder of Thomas Arden make this book a must-read for fans of the genre and Shakespeare alike.

Thank you, #NetGalley, #GDHarper, #BooksGoSocial, and #GingerCat, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #Arden.

When Thomas Arden was found murdered, suspicion soon fell upon his wife, Alice Arden. Alongside her lover, Tom Mosby, & several servants, Alice was found guilty & sentenced to a hideous death by burning. But was she really the mastermind behind the murder or was there someone else pulling the strings from the shadows? Half a century later, William Shakespeare, is drawn to writing about the murder due to a slight family connection, but if he did write the play, why does it not bear his name?

Based on a real life murder & subsequent research which has brought to light evidence which suggests that Shakespeare may have been the author of the play about the crime. This is a fictional imagining of what could have happened, which can be a difficult task to pull off, but I think it has been done extremely well in this case. Although it is a little slow at the start, I found myself drawn into both narratives (it is a dual narrative of both Shakespeare & Alice Arden) although I enjoyed Shakespeare's musings a little more. I also appreciated that the author worked in events from Shakespeare's life & also what could have inspired him to write some of his greatest plays. An excellent read with some intriguing hypotheses. 4.5 stars (rounded down)

TWs: infidelity, murder, execution, mention of sexual assault.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, BooksGoSocial/Ginger Cat, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Engrossing story based on a little-known incident in Tudor England based on a theory about Shakespeare's inspiration for his first play that reads very convincingly and logically argued. I liked it very much!

(Full review in link)

Thankyou to NetGalley for an arc copy of this book, and a huge thanks to the author for a beautifully paced and well researched story.

I hadn’t heard either of the Faversham murder, or that the play “Arden of Faversham” had been recently attributed as a work of Shakespeare, by The Oxford Shakespeare 2016 edition.

This is a glimpse into the connection between two unrelated “Arden’s” who lived 40 years apart.

We join Shakespeare, the son of a disenfranchised Mary Arden, on his journey from a young, impulsive and unskilled runaway hiding from trouble, to the talented, insightful and wealthy bard he is remembered as today.

His rise in fortune, fame, and knowledge plots in tragic balance against Alice Arden, wife of another disenfranchised (and again, I hadn’t grasped quite how shocking that word should be felt/understood, until reading the story of the Faversham Ardens) and her catastrophic downfall and unimaginably awful end.

The research and information at the back of this book is a gift all by itself and I will absolutely be looking for other works from G. D. Harper.

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a tale woven between different characters and historical fiction written carefully and with care for portraying real stories.

Arden is a masterfully crafted historical narrative that immerses readers into the heart of one of the most sensational crimes of the sixteenth century. At its center is Alice Arden, a captivating and questionable figure: wealthy, idealistic, and executed at the stake for the murder of her husband, Thomas Arden, the former mayor of Faversham. But was she truly guilty? Or was she a pawn in a far more tangled web of duplicity and betrayal?

What makes this story even more intriguing is the unforeseen link to William Shakespeare, born thirteen years after Alice’s grim fate. Why does his earliest known play, centered around this notorious murder, remain anonymous? With meticulous research, the book intertwines two seemingly distant lives—Alice Arden, demonized in history, and Shakespeare, celebrated across centuries—revealing hidden connections and long-buried truths.

Drawing on newly uncovered historical documents and the latest academic research, Arden doesn’t just retell an old crime; it reshapes it, exposing corruption, conspiracy, and artistic intrigue. The result is a captivating blend of true crime and literary detective work, presenting an innovative theory about Shakespeare’s enigmatic early career.

Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Arden offers readers a riveting and thought-provoking exploration of justice, power, and legacy. This is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction, Shakespeare enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to the magnetism of untold stories.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this eCopy to review

"Arden" by GD Harper, is a fascinating journey into the life of William Shakespeare and the infamous murder of Thomas Arden by his wife, Alice Arden.

The book delves into the early years of Shakespeare, exploring how he transitioned from glovemaker, to a theatre worker, to an actor, to a playwright. The central plot revolves around the murder of Thomas Arden by his wife Alice and her lover, Tom Mosby. Harper weaves a compelling narrative that connects Shakespeare’s first play, "Arden of Faversham," to this real-life crime. The historical backdrop is richly detailed, making the story come alive.

Shakespeare is portrayed as a young, ambitious man, eager to make his mark in the world of theatre. Alice Arden is depicted as a complex character, driven by frustration and desperation. The supporting characters, including Thomas Arden and Tom Mosby, are well-drawn, adding depth to the narrative.

The novel explores themes of ambition, justice, and the power of storytelling. Harper’s exploration of these themes is thought-provoking, and the historical context adds a rich layer of authenticity to the story. The idea of Shakespeare drawing inspiration from real-life events is intriguing, and the tension between fact and fiction is well-handled.

"Arden" is a unique blend of historical fiction and literary intrigue, with a compelling premise and well-developed characters. It’s sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction and those interested in the early life of Shakespeare.

Arden by GD Harper is a beautifully crafted tale of two individuals, separated by forty years, with the one entirely unaware of the other, that reimagines the hows, whats and ifs of Shakespeare's earliest efforts to become a playwright and the story that 'called' to him to enable him to do so.

Offering us two points of view, that of Alice Arden, and Shakespeare himself, we travel through the years that lead to Alice's crisis and see how Shakespeare was himself plagued by her story. To begin with, Alice is the most likeable character. Young, bright, and vivacious, she pulls the reader along through the years when Shakespeare is not at all the man we might expect him to be. His life is difficult (perhaps because he makes it so, to be honest), but soon his dreams of being an actor and writing plays becomes his driving force. At the same time, Alice's life is blighted by her marriage to a man of ambition but no regard for the life of his wife, who is deeply unhappy. Shakespeare's life improves as events rumble towards their awful conclusion for Alice. But he is still somewhat haunted by the tale of Alice Arden, and I adored how her final narrative is teased from those who have knowledge of it that isn't known by all. It is horrific.

This was such an engaging narrative. I liked neither character at points, but they both had endearing qualities that made it a joy to read this fictionalised account of what might have been.

It's a fabulous story.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

Arden is a book that you'll not forget for a pretty long time. It's captivating, the writting is so good, the characters are fantastic, the plot is immaculate. Chef's kiss!

Truly fascinating examination of Shakespeare's early life, career and possible motivations.

I hadn't heard of the murder of Thomas Arden and the execution of his wife, Alice, or the theory that Shakespeare had written about it. While it did add depth to the tale, for me it was more about the exploration of the world and culture Will, our Upstart Crow had to overcome. I was less engaged with poor Alice, her unpleasant husband and equally nasty lover.

Excellent carefully researched and brilliantly written novel.

Having previously toured with The Maids of Biddenden, I knew I was going to love Harper's take on Arden.

Bringing history to life from between the covers, Harper delights with a fascinating tale of intrigue and mystery surrounding a young Shakespeare and Alice Arden.

The pacing of the book allows you, the reader, to immerse yourself into the crime that shook the 16th century.

Characters are credibly portrayed and the author's research into the time period meticulous.

I really enjoyed the book and I'm excited to see where the author takes us next.

Arden is an enthralling blend of history, mystery, and literary intrigue that breathes new life into one of the most scandalous murders of the sixteenth century. GD Harper takes the bones of a real historical event—the shocking death of Thomas Arden—and crafts a richly detailed narrative that examines not only the tangled web of motives and conspiracies surrounding his demise but also the hidden origins of England’s most celebrated playwright, William Shakespeare.

Alice Arden, often vilified as the architect of her husband’s murder, is at the heart of this story. Harper paints her as more than just the villain of a grim tale, instead offering a nuanced, human portrait of a woman caught in a dangerous game of power and deceit. The meticulous historical detail immerses you in Tudor England, with its rigid societal expectations and labyrinthine political intrigue. You can feel the tension in the air as accusations fly, secrets surface, and Alice’s fate takes a dark turn.

What elevates Arden beyond a gripping historical crime drama is its connection to Shakespeare. Harper’s bold theory about Shakespeare’s early life and his possible ties to this infamous case is both fascinating and provocative. It adds a layer of mystery that will have literary fans pouring over the pages, eager to uncover how these two seemingly disparate figures could be linked.

The writing is both vivid and precise, evoking a sense of time and place that is as compelling as the characters themselves. My only quibble is that the narrative occasionally gets bogged down in historical exposition, but for readers who love history, this will likely be a feature rather than a flaw.

4.5 stars for a masterful exploration of a historical mystery that blends fact and fiction so seamlessly you’ll forget where one ends and the other begins. Arden is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, literary conspiracy theories, and tales that challenge the way we view the past. 🔥📜