8. Ingram Frizer (exact dates unknown) is primarily known as the man who killed Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe, Frizer, and several others were at a public house owned by Eleanor Bull. There was an argument about who would pay the bill, and Frizer stabbed Marlowe in the eye with Marlowe’s own knife. The circumstances of that event, however, remain so greatly suspect (the dead man’s face was too bloody to identify; Frizer was never indicted for the crime) that conspiracy theories abound. A favorite insists that Marlowe faked his own death, possibly in service to the Privy Council or even the Queen. It has even been suggested that after this “death” Marlowe began to supply a little-known London newcomer with plays, beginning with Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Merchant of Venice.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Acknowledgment should be made to decades of theatre work with institutions including the Actors and Writers Workshop, the Academy Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, and the Alliance Theatre for continually reminding me that the difference between theatre and life is entirely negligible. Also I acknowledge Lee Nowell’s contributions as first reader, best friend, constant companion, great artist, and spiritual cohort. Finally, acknowledgment is made to Keith Kahla and Janet Reid for cooking this up.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PHILLIP DEPOY is a novelist, a playwright, a poet, and a scholar. His work has been widely published and has won numerous awards, including the mystery world’s top honor, the Edgar Award. He lives in Decatur, Georgia.
Visit the author’s Web site at www.phillipdepoy.com. Or sign up for email updates here.
ALSO BY PHILLIP DEPOY
THE CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE SERIES
A Prisoner in Malta
THE FEVER DEVILIN SERIES
The Devil’s Hearth
The Witch’s Grave
A Minister’s Ghost
A Widow’s Curse
The Drifter’s Wheel
A Corpse’s Nightmare
December’s Thorn
THE FLAP TUCKER SERIES
Easy
Too Easy
Easy as One-Two-Three
Dancing Made Easy
Dead Easy
The King James Conspiracy
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
A Few of the Historical Personages
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Phillip DePoy
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
A PRISONER IN MALTA. Copyright © 2016 by Phillip DePoy. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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Cover design by David Baldeosingh Rotstein
Cover painting of Christopher Marlowe (Ospringe, 1584–London, 1593), oil on canvas, 1585/De Agostini Picture Library/Bridgeman Images
Cover photographs: woman in cloak © Paul Gooney/Arcangel Images; antique book © Brocreative/Shutterstock
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-05842-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-6258-6 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466862586
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First Edition: January 2016