"She realised she was holding her breath, for there was something magical in the air. The actors were taking their places, an everyday metamorphosis from humble players to kings and queens, courtiers and clowns. It was a kind of alchemy, and it never failed to enthral her".
"And she knew she would sweep the stage a thousand times if it meant she could remain a part of this world within a world; this kingdom peopled by infuriatingly selfish but staggeringly talented players. Becaue the 'tiring house was her home, the one place she felt she belonged. The one place where no-one saw her as a wicked, worthless whore".
Twelve Nights by Penny Ingham is a suspensful and utterly compelling historical novel by Penny Ingham, set in 1592.
You're plunged into a dramatic murder scene from the start. John Wood, the player at The Theatre, crashes on the board amidst the performance of Twelfth Night and dies.
Magdalen Bisset, the wardrobe mistress of the Theatre, is accused of John's murder, for the simple reason that she is a woman, and poison is a woman's weapon. As we'll find out later there's another reason why the local policeman is set on revenge. While the death sentence looms over her head, Magdalen begins her own investigation, trying to find the culprit and escape the hanging charges.
It's not just herself she has to worry about. Her elderly grandmother has dementia and lives in a twilight zone, not always recognising people around her. "Who would care for her grandmother if she was convicted of John's murder? She had to keep Grand-Aggie safe; she had to keep a roof over her head. And in order to do that, she had to prove her innocence, for all other roads let to the noose".
The theatre owner, Richard Burbage, and the cast seem to be rather spiritless and inadequate in their support. Burbage has his own interests at heart, as the theatre is his main preoccuption, he wouldn't do anything to jeopardise its existence.
Shakespeare and Marlow are the only people who show compassion and pledge their support, even if it's rather a weak promise. William is considerate and kindly, but quite often appears detached, and not doing much to help. Kit lives his life precariously, and is not a man to be trusted. They are more passionate about the competition between themselves. It becomes obvious that "she could rely on no-one but herself to clear her name".
Magdalen is friends with both, and can see their vanity and weaknesses. Will is more compassionate and kind than Kit, but ultimately as self-absorbed and intent on promoting his own interests as the other.
"She had known the players half her life. She knew their foibles, their hopes and fears. In the space of one day, they could be funny, annoying, selfish, cruel and kind. In short, they were her family".
Trying desperately to discover the truth behind the death of her friend, Magdalen has to deal with the false accusations and the hostility of her landlady. Her landlord is known for sexually abusing his servants, while his wife accuses the victims of seducing her dear husband. When Magdalen is nearly raped by the obnoxious guy, the landlady is fuming at her, holding her responsible for the actions of the husband.
On top of all this, her senile grandma Aggie stubbornly adheres to her Catholic faith, and these are very dangerous times to be following the old faith. Magdalen sympathises with Catholics, but she isn't prepared to die for them.
There is only one person, a new addition to the theatre, who offers his help, but can Magdalen trust him? What are Matthew's secrets and agenda?
With just two weeks until the dreaded inquest, Magdalen has to explore the underworld of the city, and visit some of the high-ranking nobles, looking for the true killer, or it's the gallows for her.
Being a woman in Tudor times is a dangerous business, especially when you can rely only on yourself. The realities of the day are harsh and unforgiving.
Magdalen is a complex character. She is a strong female lead, kind, fiercely loyal to the theatre and her elderly grandmother, but also enjoying her drink too much and spending her free time in the pubs in the company of actors, when she should have been looking after her senile grandma.
Magdalen is devoted to the theatre. For her "it was a shining beacon rising above the squalor of its grim surroundings. A sanctuary from the troubles of her life"
The historical background is rich and well-researched. The life of a wardrobe mistress is described in great detail. From costumes and makeup, to buying fresh pig's blood for the scenes of gore and carnage, mending a stuffed dog and repairing Richard the Third's hump-back, observing the aristocrats arriving to watch the play for the details of the latest fashions, all these details are fascinating.
Penny Ingham is a fantastic storyteller. She brings London in the 16c into vibrant, credible life.
Twelve Nights is a gripping, twisty story, with dark malevolent undertones through and through, vivid and evocative. It's an intelligent, well-written and polished story. The quotes from works by Shakespeare and his contemporaries add a satisfying touch to the narrative.
This review is part of the blog tour for Twelve Nights.
Many thanks to Penny Ingham and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twelve-Nights-Heavenly-Charmers-Book-ebook/dp/B09ZRPGZL8/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Nights-Heavenly-Charmers-Book-ebook/dp/B09ZRPGZL8/
Author Bio –
I was born and raised in Yorkshire where my father inspired my love of history from an early age. He is a born story teller and would take us to the top of Iron Age hillforts, often as dusk was falling, and regale us with stirring tales of battles lost and won. Not surprisingly, I went on to study Classics at university, and still love spending my summers on archaeological digs. For me, there is nothing more thrilling than finding an artefact that has not seen the light of day for thousands of years. I find so much inspiration for my novels from archaeology.
I have had a variety of jobs over the years, including working for the British Forces newspaper in Germany, and at the BBC. When our family was little, the only available space for me to write was a small walk-in wardrobe. The children used to say, ‘oh, mum’s in the cupboard again’.
I have written four historical novels: The King’s Daughter explores the story of Aethelflaed, the Lady of the Mercians. The Saxon Wolves and the Saxon Plague are both set in fifth century AD, a time of enormous upheaval and uncertainty in Britain as the Romans departed and the Saxon era began. My latest is something a bit different. Twelve Nights is a crime thriller set in sixteenth century London, and features William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.
I now live with my husband in the Hampshire countryside. Like many others during the pandemic, we decided to try growing our own fruit and vegetables – with mixed results! We can only get better!
Social Media Links –
Facebook: Penny Ingham Author Page | Facebook
Instagram: Penny Ingham (@penny.ingham)
Twitter: Penny Ingham (@pennyingham) / Twitter
Website: Penny Ingham (wordpress.com)
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