Reviews

A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein

vaporization's review

4.0

This was the first physical book I read in over a year because of quarantine, so that probably made me biased towards it. Also I was like smelling the pages because it actually smelled like a book so sorry to anyone who borrowed it at the library after me.

I didn't know anything about Christopher Marlowe before reading this so I was quite blindsided by everything that happened. Especially the ending. Of course after reading this I went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about his life.

rowan_simone's review

4.0

so gay. kit marlowe is in his icon era i think

poodily's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

rulubear's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

melausten's review

4.0

3.5

backstagebadger's review

adventurous challenging mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kelpish's review

4.0

3.5 rounded up to 4 because “queer Elizabethan espionage story based on historical events” is too up my alley to not reward.

schnaucl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a very well written novel based on the premise that Christopher "Kit" Marlowe was a spy, something the author's note at the end says there's actually some evidence in the historical record to support.

Epstein does a good job showing the toll espionage takes on Kit.   He can want the plots to fail but still feel sympathy for the people involved in the plots and still feel the weight of the consequences he helped bring about.

I've never read his plays but now i want to read Doctor Faustus.

It was  well told tell with interesting characters.

Sadly, it does follow history at the end, but that's hardly Allison Epstein's fault.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Classism, and Cursing

Minor: Alcohol, Torture, Drug use, Grief, and Homophobia

geisttull's review

3.0

listened to this one. good story

klobrc's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Alright. The romance didn't really do anything for me, which did not help.