The crime's the thing. William Shakespeare is perhaps the most famous and prolific playwright of all time. Millions have read and seen his works, but few know the man behind the works. For all his fortune and fame, little did he know that the greatest drama of his life would not be performed on stage. Welcome to Shakespeare's London, a world where the stage captures the hearts of every citizen, where darkness hides dangerous and vengeful creatures. It is in the darkness that Shakespeare finds himself the victim of treachery most foul. When Shakespeare is contacted by his dark mistress, the former love of his life, he is excited to see her again after so long a separation. Much to his horror, he finds that the years have not been kind; she is now disease-ridden and near death.

and she intends to blackmail him, threatening to expose their affair to the world unless he pays her considerable doctor's bills. A sudden fire cuts their meeting short and takes her life. Torn between grief and anger, Shakespeare learns that the fire was no accident, and that he is being stalked by a person obsessed with bringing his life to ruin. Hope soon comes in the form of a small boy, a would-be actor who happened to witness the arsonist. As quickly as hope appears, it is snuffed out when the boy is violently murdered. Worse yet, Shakespeare is the primary suspect. Out on bail, Shakespeare finds himself in a desperate race to uncover the truth behind the murder. With his reputation and his life itself on the line, Shakespeare must put down his quill and brace himself for a mystery like none other.

Rich in suspense, period detail, and intrigue, Time's Fool is Leonard Tourney's compelling journey through Shakespeare's world, a world you won't soon forget.