To Die, or Not to Die

Sam McCarver's historical mystery series featuring a young English professor and his intelligent, enthusiastic wife have gained rave reviews and a loyal following across the nation. Now, Five Star is very pleased to present the latest in the John Darnell mystery series, To Die, or Not to Die . . .

In 1919, Professor John Darnell, who has developed a reputation for solving mysteries that include alleged paranormal aspects, is called by the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He asks Darnell to look into the appearance of what seems to be a ghost that could ruin the town's preparation for the 150-year anniversary of the first Stratford Shakespeare festival. The renowned American stage and screen actor, John Barrymore, is coming to Stratford to star in Macbeth and Hamlet. The town's leaders and the director of the play are concerned with potential bad publicity from such ghost-like appearances.

John and his wife, Penny, who is seven months along in carrying her first child, travel to Stratford by train. John is quickly enmeshed in more than one mystery, especially as two murders occur within days after they arrive.

In addition to Barrymore, real-life actresses Ellen Terry and Sarah Bernhardt appear in the book and act as witches in Macbeth. Surrounded by suspects, Darnell apprehends the murderer and solves the mystery of a missing, potentially invaluable play manuscript possibly handwritten by Shakespeare himself. But the danger's not done yet as the sleuthing professor races against time to prevent an assassination of an English head of state visiting Stratford to see Hamlet.

An intriguing mystery set in the time of post-World War I Britain, and written with McCarver's impeccable detail and attention to the period, To Die, or Not to Die . . . is another entertaining entry in the casebook of John and Penny Darnell.


Genre: Mystery