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ladyethyme's review against another edition
1.0
So boring that by the third chapter I actually DNF’d it and went back to reading a book about the introduction of coal to home cooking -and it’s production and processing. That’s how boring it is.
kinx128's review against another edition
4.0
Murder by Misrule is a highly entertaining story about murder, the law and politics; where none of which mix well together. This book is definitely a page-turner with very colorful characters. The storyline keeps you thinking to the very end.
I found Francis Bacon to be a tad tedious. His ongoing “ill health” made him very trying at times. However, his legal mind made him a terrific detective. I really enjoy when historical figures are made into fictional detectives and Ms. Castle had Bacon into a very intelligent detective. However, it is a good thing that Ms. Castle included Thomas Clarady in the story. He really brings life to it.
Thomas Clarady is quite a character. He is full life, love and gusto; plus underneath it all, he has a strong mind. I think Bacon and Clarady will make a good partnership for later books in the series. They are two sides of the same coin. Tom can effectively maneuver and persuade to get what he wants. If Bacon lacks finesse, Clarady definitely makes up for it. I look forward to more interaction between the two in later books.
The supporting characters were also very amusing. Ben and Trumpet have interesting storylines and I would very much like to see them more developed and involved with Bacon and Clarady. They all make for a very interesting quartet.
Overall, Murder By Misrule is a very engaging mystery and sets up this new series nicely. I’m really looking forward to the second installment.
I found Francis Bacon to be a tad tedious. His ongoing “ill health” made him very trying at times. However, his legal mind made him a terrific detective. I really enjoy when historical figures are made into fictional detectives and Ms. Castle had Bacon into a very intelligent detective. However, it is a good thing that Ms. Castle included Thomas Clarady in the story. He really brings life to it.
Thomas Clarady is quite a character. He is full life, love and gusto; plus underneath it all, he has a strong mind. I think Bacon and Clarady will make a good partnership for later books in the series. They are two sides of the same coin. Tom can effectively maneuver and persuade to get what he wants. If Bacon lacks finesse, Clarady definitely makes up for it. I look forward to more interaction between the two in later books.
The supporting characters were also very amusing. Ben and Trumpet have interesting storylines and I would very much like to see them more developed and involved with Bacon and Clarady. They all make for a very interesting quartet.
Overall, Murder By Misrule is a very engaging mystery and sets up this new series nicely. I’m really looking forward to the second installment.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
4.0
Francis Bacon has been banished from Queen Elizabeth's court. To restore himself to favor, he agrees to help his uncle identify the murderer wreaking havoc on the barristers at Gray's Inn. But even with the help of his riotous young law students, Tom, Stephen, Trumpet, and Ben, this mystery might prove more than a match for the brilliant Mr. Bacon.
Anna Castle is adept at creating the atmosphere of Elizabethan society. Both historical characters and fictional characters come alive in the bedrooms and common rooms of Gray's Inn, one of the four Inns of Court to which barristers and those studying Law must belong. I particularly enjoyed Thomas Clarady, the son of a privateer who gained access to Bacon as his tutor when his father shrewdly offered to pay Bacon's debts. Tom spends his time drinking wine, brawling in the streets, and crafting verses to sing beneath his beloved's window--but when inductive logic is required, his wits are quicker than many might suppose. The "Misrule" in the title refers to the season of joyful pranks just prior to Christmas where the Lord of Misrule prepares festivities for the holiday.
I began this book in a friend's car, listening to about a quarter of the audio version while we were carpooling home from a weekend retreat. After that, I had to resort to reading the rest on Kindle on my own. The prose has a literary luster to it, and Anna Castle's turns of phrase and figures of speech frequently make one laugh aloud, or at least smirk quietly into one's imaginary ruff. For exmple, Tom thinks of Law French as: "a deranged, unreadable mishmash of Old French and Latin with the odd lump of English bobbing up like uncooked fat in a sour stew."
One drawback of this book is that the mystery itself left something to be desired. Also, a few of the attitudes of the characters toward the end of the book seemed to relect modern sensibilities more than the sensibilities of the time. But despite this, the atmosphere, characterization, and prose was a feast for the eyes and the ears. This is my first Francis Bacon mystery, but I have also enjoyed Anna Castle's Professor and Mrs. Moriarty series.
Anna Castle is adept at creating the atmosphere of Elizabethan society. Both historical characters and fictional characters come alive in the bedrooms and common rooms of Gray's Inn, one of the four Inns of Court to which barristers and those studying Law must belong. I particularly enjoyed Thomas Clarady, the son of a privateer who gained access to Bacon as his tutor when his father shrewdly offered to pay Bacon's debts. Tom spends his time drinking wine, brawling in the streets, and crafting verses to sing beneath his beloved's window--but when inductive logic is required, his wits are quicker than many might suppose. The "Misrule" in the title refers to the season of joyful pranks just prior to Christmas where the Lord of Misrule prepares festivities for the holiday.
I began this book in a friend's car, listening to about a quarter of the audio version while we were carpooling home from a weekend retreat. After that, I had to resort to reading the rest on Kindle on my own. The prose has a literary luster to it, and Anna Castle's turns of phrase and figures of speech frequently make one laugh aloud, or at least smirk quietly into one's imaginary ruff. For exmple, Tom thinks of Law French as: "a deranged, unreadable mishmash of Old French and Latin with the odd lump of English bobbing up like uncooked fat in a sour stew."
One drawback of this book is that the mystery itself left something to be desired. Also, a few of the attitudes of the characters toward the end of the book seemed to relect modern sensibilities more than the sensibilities of the time. But despite this, the atmosphere, characterization, and prose was a feast for the eyes and the ears. This is my first Francis Bacon mystery, but I have also enjoyed Anna Castle's Professor and Mrs. Moriarty series.
ohwowanotherone's review
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A good combination of historical fiction and murder mystery.
100pagesaday's review against another edition
4.0
" Ben shook his head, bemused, 'It seems too simple.'
Bacon answered crisply, 'Simplicity is often the sign of truth.' "
A highly entertaining murder-mystery set in Elizabethan England with a wonderful set of characters. Francis Bacon has fallen out of favor with Queen Elizabeth and on the day of the Queen's Day Pageant he stumbles across the body of his former tutor and fellow barrister at Gray's Inn, Tobias.Smythson. Francis is tasked with solving the murder, which may very well include a Catholic conspiracy, and will hopefully place him back within the Queen's favor. Francis sends out four of his students, including Thomas Clarady to do most of the dirty work for him. While trying to solve Smython's murder, the Season of Misrule returns, where pranks and silliness abound; there will be several more murders, Thomas falls in love with a widow who may or may not have a live husband and all of Tom's friends may not appear to be who they seem.
Anna Castile presents an engaging mystery with smart and witty writing. I'm pretty much up for anything set in the Elizabethan era and I enjoyed reading about real-life characters Francis Bacon and Queen Elizabeth herself. Bacon is a favorite of mine and he was placed in a very believable role of the sleuth, his work in developing the scientific method and empiricism makes his character a good teacher as well as prime candidate for solving the intricate mysteries during the season of misrule. While Francis is the sleuth, most of the story comes from Thomas Clarady's point of view, a young and dashing student who easily falls in love with one of the key witnesses to the murder. Tom's character was entertaining and humorous as he and his friends try to track down witnesses. I do wish Francis would have made more appearances, hopefully there will be more Francis Bacon Mysteries to come.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
queencleo's review against another edition
3.0
Original review: Well marketed as a novel for readers who enjoy Sansom's Reformation murder mysteries, I had a serious sense of deja vu whilst reading the second in the series.
Unfortunately it seems that Death by Disputation has been mis-filed in the Kobo store under both titles and I was reading the same book twice. Disappointing.
Update 2020: Very happy I read this out of order as Death by Disputation is a better mystery although there is a lot less of Francis Bacon. Murder by Misrule introduces all of Castle's cast of Elizabethan characters and their secrets without allowing the reader to bond with any of them. I'm guessing that Tom was a popular favourite, which is why #2 is written from his POV. I think I'll pick up the 3rd at some point
Unfortunately it seems that Death by Disputation has been mis-filed in the Kobo store under both titles and I was reading the same book twice. Disappointing.
Update 2020: Very happy I read this out of order as Death by Disputation is a better mystery although there is a lot less of Francis Bacon. Murder by Misrule introduces all of Castle's cast of Elizabethan characters and their secrets without allowing the reader to bond with any of them. I'm guessing that Tom was a popular favourite, which is why #2 is written from his POV. I think I'll pick up the 3rd at some point
socorrobaptista's review against another edition
4.0
Adoro narrativas de detetives, e uma que envolve personagens históricos, uma garota que se disfarça de rapaz para estudar leis, muito mistério e suspense, vale a pena ler.
febyidrus's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
A lively & engaging tale, although the author did try to pack too much of her research into this tale - it was as though Ms Castle couldn't bear to waste a single fact! & the cast of characters was also a bit too large which made it hard for me to keep all the facts straight in my head. Even with the large ensemble it was still easy for me to guess the murderer.
Still an entertaining, fast paced tale with a mixture of real life characters -like Francis Bacon himself. I would have liked to have seen more of Mr Bacon, rather than his fictional sidekicks. & I would have liked this book to have kept more to the point. Fast paced & fun, so I may try another book in this series.
A lively & engaging tale, although the author did try to pack too much of her research into this tale - it was as though Ms Castle couldn't bear to waste a single fact! & the cast of characters was also a bit too large which made it hard for me to keep all the facts straight in my head. Even with the large ensemble it was still easy for me to guess the murderer.
Still an entertaining, fast paced tale with a mixture of real life characters -like Francis Bacon himself. I would have liked to have seen more of Mr Bacon, rather than his fictional sidekicks. & I would have liked this book to have kept more to the point. Fast paced & fun, so I may try another book in this series.
karenkay61's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I found this a hard one to get hooked into. As I’ve been on a trip some of the time, that may have distracted me. I see that the other books in this series have better ratings, so maybe they get better. I’ll try the next and see.
Not as much historical interest as I would have hoped.
Not as much historical interest as I would have hoped.