The Shakespeare Secret

Shakespeare is a womanΓÇôthree women,in factwho hire a footloose actor as the face of their writing. When they become suspects in a plot to kill Queen Elizabeththeir secret identity is suddenly at riskΓÇôalong with the queenΓÇÖs lifeΓÇôin this imaginative historical novel for fans of Hamnet and The Tower. Everyone knows of William Shakespeare the rakish former actor and famous playwright. But few know the three women writing every word of his sonnets and plays: Mary HerbertCountess of Pembrokea frustrated poet; Emelia Bassanoa court musician with a passion for complex stories; and Jane Daggetta seamstress with an impressive ability to spin fantastic plots. Frustrated by the patriarchal restrictions of their sixteenth century societythey come together to write anonymously. Soon the three women come under the scrutiny of one of the QueenΓÇÖs spieswho notices their surreptitious meetings and odd behavior and suspects they are involved in an ongoing plot to kill the Queen. To help guard their secret as they face inquisitionthey hire an actor named Will Shakespeare to be the face of their endeavor and divert attention. As the plague deepens its grip on London and the QueenΓÇÖs man traces their every movethe women are forced to choose between admitting what theyΓÇÖve done and betraying each other to the Crownor hiding the truth at risk of endangering the Queen herself. The Shakespeare Secret is a thrilling feminist tale of perseverancejusticeand freedom where friendship and trust are put to the testfor fans of Tracy Chevalier and Charlie Lovett.