The Day After Hamlet Died

by David Jarvis

What if Ophelia, the tragic girlfriend of Shakespeare’s famous Prince, didn’t commit suicide but was brutally murdered? In “The Day After Hamlet Died”, Hamlet’s grieving friend Horatio doggedly investigates as Danes continue to die. Can Horatio clear Hamlet’s name without becoming the killer’s final victim?

68 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2025

Reviews

[Rich Meyrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this clever and original take on the Hamlet story. Some may say it’s sacrilegious, but for me the premise is brilliantly contrived. In many ways it reminded me of the Aberystwyth books by Malcolm Pryce. I especially enjoyed the way Horatio talks to the reader, especially when addressing their perceived objections to the narrative. And not forgetting all those references to characters in other Shakespeare plays and beyond. In short, I smiled the whole way through the book!

[Craig Stucko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The real story! Or maybe different, but more fun!
I like what this rat race withdrawn writer, David Jarvis, has done. Taken a story that everyone knows and plays with the pieces to come up with an alternate ending. Not just a Shakespearian redo, more like a contemporary commentary on the human tragedy. All of this thoroughly supported by interesting characters, most especially the gravedigger, and references to popular movies as well as traditional classic books! Leaving out all of the thees and thous made it all the better. A fun quick read that will get a smile or two in the reading.

[Yomi Akinode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irreverent, not
It's an old crazy tale pretzeled to no end. Why wouldn’t it? When Ophelia and the man himself, Hornblower, re-mesmerized Helsingor. Yeah! Je déclare l'écriture drôle, monsieur Shakespeare.