By Any Other Name

In this Shakespearean-era young adult romp, a down-on-his-luck actor and an English lord team up to solve the murder of Christopher Marlowe. Will Hughes, a sixteen-year-old son of traitors, is forced to become a spy for the queen after his mentor is murdered. He reluctantly teams up with Lord James Bloomsbury to hunt the assassin and defend the queen's life, while an unexpected connection blossoms between them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

London, 1593. Sixteen-year-old Will Hughes is a struggling actor working on Shakespeare's stage, pretending to be someone else to hide his true identity as the son of traitors. Offstage, he plays a part, desperately trying to keep his secrets safe and avoid the danger that lurks around him. All he desires is to earn enough money to return to his family and lay low until he can escape the queen's imperial schemes.

However, his plans are shattered when his mentor, the famous playwright Christopher Marlowe, is murdered under mysterious circumstances. Marlowe was a spy for the queen, tasked with hunting down a killer rumored to be part of an elusive order of assassins. His untimely death has put Will under a harsh spotlight, and he is now reluctantly named the queen's next spymaster.

To avoid uncomfortable questions, prison, or a worse fate, Will reluctantly starts his new career, hoping it will provide him with the resources to help his family. But at what cost? Adding insult to injury, he is partnered with the young Lord James Bloomsbury, whose entitled demeanor and unfairly handsome looks immediately grate on Will's nerves.

Together, Will and Lord James embark on a mission to hunt down the cunning assassin and defend the queen's life. As they work together, an unexpected connection blossoms between them, challenging their preconceived notions and forcing them to confront their own demons.

Through their adventures, Will and Lord James learn that sometimes the greatest heroes are the ones who are forced to overcome their own fears and insecurities. They discover the importance of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice in the face of danger, and they learn that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter future.

In the end, Will and Lord James successfully apprehend the assassin and save the queen's life. Their unlikely partnership has become a source of strength and inspiration, and they have learned that sometimes the greatest adventures are born out of unexpected circumstances.

Weight: 503g
Dimension: 210 x 140 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781665940719