MARTYR

Simon Vance shifts vocal tones and accents as listeners enter this mystery of the sixteenth century. Vance reflects class, age, and gender to differentiate each of the real and imagined characters. The hero is investigator John Shakespeare, elder brother of William and assistant to Queen Elizabeth's secretary, Walsingham. Vance shades the sleuth's decisive actions with puzzlement and determination as Shakespeare works to thwart a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, solve the brutal murder of Lady Blanche Howard, and tiptoe around the era's religious and political unrest. Vance renders place as well he draws portraits. The bawdiness and intrigue of London streets are sometimes as chilling as the malevolence of the ruthless murderer. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2009]