Murder Most Foul is a dark, witty and fast-paced novel, from one of Britain’s best-loved screenwriters.

It’s 1593, Elizabeth I is Queen, and everyone is terrified of the worst outbreak of plague in a generation. Shakespeare has only written six plays and is lagging behind his friend Christopher Marlowe, London’s leading playwright.

When Marlowe is stabbed to death in mysterious circumstances, rumors abound – but the one that won’t go away is that Shakespeare did it to remove his greatest rival. Will is determined to clear his name, and teams up with his old flame, Marlowe’s sister Ann, who has plenty of secrets of her own.

In their search to solve the crime, Will and Ann uncover a dark world of treachery, murder, and corruption – which in turn provides Shakespeare with scenes and characters which will appear in his greatest plays.

"An ingenious, funny and erudite thriller." —John O’Farrell, best-selling author of The Man Who Forgot His Wife and An Utterly Impartial History of Britain
"Funny, thrilling and full of wonderful easter eggs for Shakespearean theatre fans... a treat from start to finish."—David Greig, playwright and theatre director