American Katherine Stanley is the youngest ever director of Shakespeare’s Hamlet which is being performed at The Globe Theatre in London. As an American, her role has caused a few raised eyebrows among the Shakespearean acting circles. Katherine, or Kate, as she prefers to be known, is a well respected student of Shakespeare. Her mentor, Professor of Shakespeare at Harvard University, Roz Howard, pays Kate a surprise in London and gives her a mysterious gift. As Kate is busy with rehearsals, they agree to meet later that evening. 

          Before the two women meet up again, the Globe is set on fire and Roz’s body is later found in the theatre. Kate begins a terrifying adventure of discovery to resolve the mystery surrounding Roz’s death.

          Her journey takes her into dangerous territory as her path crosses those of people who believe that Shakespeare was a fraud, those who are searching for Shakespeare’s 'lost plays’ and of people who will stop at nothing to prove that their beliefs are correct. As Kate’s investigation progresses a dreadful pattern begins to emerge, a serial killer appears to be on the loose, modelling his sickening murders on Shakespeare’s plays.

          Kate is joined in her endeavours by a helper, seemingly sent by the now dead Roz, but she finds that she cannot trust or rely on anyone other than herself. 

          The outline of the plot of this novel is actually one of the hardest I have ever written in a book review. It is very difficult not to spoil the story line whist describing the bare bones of the plot, so I am going to stop here for fear of ruining the book for future readers!