Neal Roberts

Starting out as your regular Elizabethan murder/mystery, this novel quickly diverged into an examination of Elizabethan intrigues and Jewish identity in the Tudor period. It developed into something so much more than I was expecting, to my infinite pleasure. While I had some issues throughout the work with other aspects, the overall storytelling and themes explored I enjoyed to my fingertips.

I was not expecting the depth of politics Roberts incorporates. The push and pull of ambition with show more the Earl of Essex and his cronies against the remnants of Walshingham’s spy ring with ambassadors, spies, lawyers, and ordinary folk caught in the middle made for gripping suspense. I loved the intricacies and power plays used to push the different agendas around. Even with all of those details, I never felt lost in whom was loyal to who. The author has a real gift for this aspect of storytelling.

I also didn’t expect how Judaism was examined in an era when to be such was dangerous. While not as bad as being Jewish it Inquisition Spain, it still didn’t pay to be it in Elizabethan England. From small details like lighting a candle in remembrance of those lost to overt displays of anti-Semitism such as actual attacks in the street, Roberts examines what it meant to be Jewish in such dangerous times.

I’ve also got to give props for the author’s depth of research and usage of historical details. He uses real people and events to give his story weight. He’s also got a firm grasp on the atmosphere of Elizabethan England with all its court pageantry, both royal and law, and the details of everyday life for a lawyer or minor nobleman.

He’s got an extensive author’s note which I always appreciate in my historical fiction. At first after going through this, my enjoyment of the historical details wained a bit. It almost felt like some of the historical integrity was compromised needlessly in the pursuit of characterization. Yet, after reflecting, I feel that the license used by the author to build his characters through the court procedures of the day and other details were justified. They accomplish the goal so at the end of the day, it all worked out.

Noah’s character, as a result of the historical detail licenses and the author’s skill, was very well-rounded. I love how we got to explore his intelligence and courage in the face of scary, political odds. Even at the end when his big climactic ending occurred and all the weight of English law could be brought to bear on it, he never faltered in his pursuit of justice for his client or his loyalty to Queen Elizabeth. There were times where he could read is too perfect, but they were few in number.

The only part of this book I had a hard time getting behind was the Noah/Marie relationship. It felt very forced with no chemistry between the partners. It read as love at first sight with no development nor build up to show how the relationship got so deep. Every time they had a scene together I got bored fast. Thankfully, the rest of the book was great so it was a trade-off.

Ultimately, this is a great start off to a series following Noah and his adventures in Elizabethan law and intrigue. The author has a firm grasp on the times and Noah’s character, developing both to a fantastic degree. Even though I couldn’t get behind Noah/Marie thing, I still found this a great start. Sometime in the future when life gets a bit less crazy, I’ll definitely be checking out other books from the series.

Note: Book received for free from author/representative in exchange for an honest review. show less

When he witnesses a murder, Noah Ames embarks on an investigation into what he suspects is a plot against the Queen. He uses the skills he’s learned as a barrister to find the truth, risking everything to do so.

What I really liked about this was that the hero was not young. He’s had years of experience and uses it to his advantage. The interactions he has between his friends and younger barristers are witty. While there are MANY characters, the opening list was helpful in keeping them show more straight, and most of them are memorable in their own way, bringing something of importance to the story.

The level of historical detail was impressive and is something I always look for when reading a historical piece. The end note that explains exactly what was fiction and what was true was interesting and I’m glad it’s there.

There were only two points which I disliked. The first is that it’s written in the present tense, but I will admit that once I began reading and became caught up in the story I didn’t notice it as much. Secondly, the use of italicized words for emphasis and inflection is overused just a bit, in places where the words could have been allowed to stress the point without italicization.

Overall, this was a fantastic intrigue and one I would recommend to those who enjoy mystery, intrigue, and history. show less

A Second Daniel
By: Neal Roberts

I received an early review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I am recommending this book highly to all my friends! It is a fast-paced historical mystery. As soon as I finished reading it the first time, I picked it right back up to read again. I just can't get enough of this world Mr. Roberts has created.

Author:
Mr. Roberts is a lawyer and a serious history buff/ researcher. His portrayal of Elizabethan England and its law courts is beautiful show more and never pedantic. For example, around a quarter of the way through, we witness a case being tried. I exaggerate not, the topic was fascinating. The whole book has nuggets like this and they are all enthralling. The details are everywhere (clothes, manners, laws, words, food) and make an unusually rich dish. I had to read it the second time just to pick up information I missed the first time.

Characters:
At the beginning of the book, is a long list of characters (as in an Agatha Christie novel). This was daunting. However, to the credit of the author, all these characters are added to the story seamlessly. They were each well developed with unique voices. The author also has a flair for conversations. They were witty and smart. I loved it.

Plot:
The story is a mystery of the best kind. The are lots of juicy twists and turns with abundant surprises. There is an extra element in that the protagonist is a Jew and has been publicly hiding this secret for years. There is always the tension in the story that he will be exposed and lose everything he holds dear (the woman he loves, his position in society, his career). This problem was perhaps s bit too easily resolved. People were perhaps a tad bit too accepting. However, I will forgive the author this small kindness to his character as I so thoroughly enjoyed this book. Also, I hope that this character being Jewish will be important for future books. I expect we will see more tension on this point in future books. Overall, the conclusion to the plot was extremely satisfying.
One more point on plot. I loved, loved, all the bits of historical law included in this book. After the case, is solved, there are still bits of law to be so perfectly given. I am not a fan of law heavy books as a general rule but these were delivered with a flair and I was hooked.

Epilogue:
I really did appreciate this addendum at the end. The author details which parts are fiction and which are real. These extra insights were just fascinating. I was especially interested to hear how court cases really operated back then.

Conclusion:
I'll keep this part simple. I can't wait to read the next book by this author. show less

I received this ebook free for an honest review.
It's 1558 and a orphan acquires the patronage of Elizabeth I. Over thirty years later 'Noah Ames' is a barrister. He becomes embroiled in a murder and unfortunately comes to the attention of the Earl of Essex. What is the Earl plotting and can Ames uncover it.
Although an interesting tale, I did not like that the story was written in the present tense'