Murder at the Rose

Casebook of Doctor Simon Foreman #2

by Judith Cook

When, in September 1591, Dr Simon Foreman and his servants, John and Anna Bradedge, attend an afternoon performance at London's Rose Theatre, they are keen to see a brilliant new device - the stage trap door. What they don't expect to see is one of the players falling to his death.

Genres: Mystery, Historical

352 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 1998

About the author

Judith Cook was a lecturer in theatre at the University of Exeter. She wrote several mysteries based on the casebooks of Dr Simon Forman, an Elizabethan doctor and astrologer.

Reviews

[Janette Townend · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is about an Elizabethan theater company, 'The Admirals Men' and the sudden deaths of two actors, the first taking place when Simon Forman is in the audience and he is called on to assist a victim. A well written and researched novel, glad I didn't live in Elizabethan times; while I would have enjoyed having my horoscope written, the medical remedies would not have been to my taste. Dr Simon Foreman is a reluctant detective but his dogged determination and strong sense of loyalty and strong sense of justice keep him on the scent, and away from the distractions of beautiful ladies. As opposed to the real life Dr Simon Forman who from the authors notes appears to have enjoyed a dalliance or three... with his femail patients.

I found myself interested in the characters and drawn into their situation; the book became a page turner for me when I reached the middle. I also enjoyed Judith's first book, 'Death of a Lady's Maid' and I am Looking forward to Judith's next book in the series.

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

on one level i liked this, because i'm a sucker for anything Elizabethan. throw in the theatre, and i'm yours. So a murder mystery centered on the Rose Theatre is something I will devour happily. However, i figured out the whodunnit halfway thru the book. this is not something i do. 20 pages before the reveal? sure, occassionally. but if i can figure it out 20 pages after the body is discovered, then you haven't crafted a terribly good mystery.