Sleep No More (The Shakespeare Murders Book 4) - Guy Hale

Act IV: The Way To Dusty Death

Sir Morris Oxford lies critically wounded in Stratford Hospital. Oliver Lawrence, whose cunning plan put him there, thought his revenge was complete but it takes a lot to kill a King

Boundless ambition collides headlong with the cold fury of revenge as we enter the final scene of this tragedy. There can be no hiding place for those that harbour secrets. As Toby Marlowe and Fred Williams try desperately to catch their killer, a huge storm surges into Stratford and drowns all hope of a happy resolution.

On the dark streets of Stratford, something wicked this way comes! 

What did I think?

After the huge cliffhanger in Act III of The Shakespeare Murders I couldn't wait for Act IV and it not only did not disappoint, it completely exceeded my expectations.  Sleep No More is possibly the last book in the series and what a thrilling ending to a fabulous series.

Oliver Lawrence is still eluding the police as he takes revenge on the people he sees as responsible for ruining his acting career.  He is picking them off one by one as he re-enacts his own versions of Shakespeare's famous plays.  Sleep No More is Oliver's version of Macbeth and we all know you've got to watch out for Lady Macbeth.  I'm saying no more about the plot as it would spoil it, but it is absolutely breathtaking.

It's impossible to put this book down once you pick it up and it just gets more gripping as the story progresses.  The weather even plays a big part and my heart was pounding as the storm raged overhead, which just goes to show the talent of Guy Hale for evoking such a response from his carefully crafted words.

Whilst I'm sad that this may be the last book in the series, I am actually looking forward to reading all of the books again.  Sleep No More is without doubt a five star read in a five star series.  Very highly recommended and completely unmissable.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Put Out The Light - Guy Hale

Act III 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Spring 1972 

On the streets of Stratford four murders remain unsolved. For DC Toby Marlow there is only one potential killer: Oliver Lawrence. But nobody has seen Oliver for over fifteen years. They don’t even know what he looks like, they are chasing a shadow. 

Oliver’s first act is complete. As Spring turns to summer, Act III is about to begin. Like Othello, he is poisoned by lies from the past. Revenge has consumed him…Now is the time to put out more lights!

 

What did I think?

Put Out The Light is book three in The Shakespeare Murders series and what a cracker it is.  I am absolutely loving this series!  I do think you need to have read book one, The Croaking Raven, to enjoy this one though as it explains the motivation behind the murders.  I highly recommend book two, All Our Yesterdays, which is a prequel and further expands on the history of the characters.

This is a really clever crime novel in that both the reader and the police know who the murderer is; they just don't know what he looks like.  Oliver Lawrence hasn't been seen in Stratford for so long that even people who once knew him fail to recognise him.  This killer hides in plain sight as he picks off his victims one by one.

Revenge is a strong theme throughout the book as Oliver's victims aren't random.  They are all people who he deems to have ruined the acting careers of both him and his father.  Revenge is indeed a dish best served cold and Oliver is enjoying every morsel of his murder feast.

With quotes from Shakespeare's plays woven into the prose, Put Out The Light is a fantastic read for book lovers.  Although I don't know Shakespeare's plays that well, I love how Guy Hale writes one of The Bard's plays into the method of Oliver's killings in each book; in this case it's Othello.  I think if I was more familiar with Shakespeare I would pick up many more references so I might have to swot up before I read the next book.

Highly original and intelligent with lashings of humour, Put Out The Light is a fantastic instalment in this outstanding series.  It's a magnificent crime caper for lovers of literature and one I would highly recommend.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: All Our Yesterdays - Guy Hale

ACT II 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Spring 1932 

Six years after fire destroyed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a new troupe of actors is taking Stratford by storm. But offstage, Felix Richards suspects something is rotten in the state of Denmark. 

Morris Oxford feels he needs no introduction. The greatest actor of a new generation…The theatre means everything to him but his talent is tainted by the depths of his ambition. 

All Our Yesterdays, takes us back to where it all began. The stage is set, but uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

 

What did I think?

All Our Yesterdays is book two in The Shakespeare Murders series but it's a prequel to book one, The Croaking Raven, so it can definitely be read as a standalone.  It's a short book at just 107 pages long but it is filled with drama and intrigue.

It was great to be back in Stratford, treading the boards with the acting troupe led by Morris Oxford.  Unfortunately, Morris isn't the best actor in the group and when he is upstaged by Richard Jenkins he makes sure that it never happens again by giving Richard the smallest parts possible.  Oh Morris, you bitter and nasty little man!

The story is told by fellow actor Felix who is friends with both Morris and Richard.  Now if you've read The Croaking Raven you will know how the story ends and I'm not going to reveal whether it's a comedy or a tragedy but it's one that entertains from start to finish.

Haunting, dramatic and compelling, All Our Yesterdays is a riveting tale of a bitter rivalry in the theatre and it's one I would highly recommend.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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The Croaking Raven: 1 (The Shakespeare Murders) - Guy Hale

Stratford-upon-Avon, May 1972

DC Toby Marlowe has just landed his dream posting but the quiet streets of Shakespeare's Stratford are about to suffer a reign of terror. A name from the past has returned, intent on revenge.

A series of murders go unsolved but Toby realises that the killer seems to be following the plot of Hamlet.

Can Toby and his boss, DS Fred Williams, find the killer before all the actors at the RSC are dead? The Croaking Raven doth bellow for revenge.

 

What did I think?

Guy Hale may well have come up with the most ingenious plot for a book!  The Croaking Raven is absolutely brilliant and although I'm not overly familiar with Shakespeare's plays, I loved spotting the clues that our clever killer has left behind.

If DC Toby Marlowe hadn't transferred to Stratford, I think the police (DS Fred Williams in particular) would have been beating up a lot of suspects and getting lots of fake confessions while the body count continued to rise.  Toby very astutely notices that the clues relate to Hamlet so the police just need to read the play to predict where the killer will next strike.  This killer is very clever though and is intent on revenge.

I loved everything about this book: the ingenious plot, the 1970s setting, the engaging and compelling writing and the wonderfully well-developed characters.  I think anyone who has read Shakespeare will pick up lots of references to the Bard's plays but even if you're only vaguely familiar with Shakespeare (like me), it's still a hugely enjoyable novel.

It's also interesting to take a step back into the past and see how different is it to today.  It doesn't seem that long ago (for me, anyway) but it's quite shocking to think how discriminatory people were.  Whilst we may have made leaps and bounds in tolerance, I think we've taken a step back in humanitarianism with our ability to wound others through thoughtless comments on social media.

 

Incredibly clever and surprisingly witty, The Croaking Raven is an exciting start to a new and highly unusual series.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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