Murder Most Foul

By Angela Randazzo, A.A. Randazzo, A.R. Rand

Before the plays, there was peril-Will Shakespeare's magical adventure begins.
London, 1575: The Elizabethan Age of Exploration.

Eleven-year-old Will Shakespeare is a troublemaker, but fighting other boys is the least of his problems. Discovering a Portuguese gold coin used as payment for traitors lands him in serious trouble. His parents send him from Stratford-upon-Avon to London, under the watch of his uncle, a captain at Queen Elizabeth's formidable Tower.
Thirteen-year-old Betts is a clever liar. Claiming to be the Queen's daughter denied a place at court, she now works as a scullery maid in the castle. Fearless and determined, she believes she can do anything a boy can-and sets out to prove it. Will and Betts meet-and sparks fly. They have nothing in common except a wild imagination, a thirst for adventure, and an ardent dislike for snobby royals.
When the crown jewels are stolen, Will and Betts become unlikely detectives in a deadly hunt stretching from the Tower's shadowy halls to the heart of royal intrigue. Will discovers the magic of The Tempest when he meets the theatrical impresario Professor Prospero and his cunning apprentice Cax. The enigmatic Prospero, who claims to be a wizard, is hunting for four enchanted stones to defeat the witch Sycorax. Will finds this hard to believe until he plunges into a world of sorcery and peril.
Along the way, Will and Betts encounter historical figures such as future explorer Sir Walter Raleigh and future astronomer Galileo. From stolen crown jewels to deadly murders and ancient secrets, each adventure tests their courage, wit, and imagination. Will's tortured relationship with his father and the appearance of a mysterious phantom lady add to his troubles. Through it all, the poet within Will endures. He feverishly jots down the intrigues that will one day inspire the great works we know today.The legend of Shakespeare continues-with a quill, and a mystery.

Book Two: Murder Most Foul
Danger and dark magic shadow Will Shakespeare as he hunts for the truth.
After the shocking theft of the crown jewels, Will and Betts are drawn into an even deadlier mystery: a student is murdered at Middle Temple, an ancient fortress filled with shadows, secret passages, and hidden tombs. Clues to the killer-and to the next enchanted stone, the Lapis Exillis-hide in the halls and even in Will's own burgeoning plays.
The enigmatic Professor Prospero warns that the witch Sycorax is watching, and Cax's cunning tests the limits of their trust. From crypts to Stonehenge, Will and Betts must navigate riddles, traps, and magical illusions to uncover the stone before dark forces claim it.
Friendships are strained, loyalties tested, and every step draws them closer to peril. In this deadly hunt, Will's imagination, bravery, and cleverness are the only weapons strong enough to survive-and to unlock secrets that may hold the key to life, death, and magic.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1546791590
• ISBN13: 9781546791591
• Release Date: August 2021
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"