In the Company of Knaves

The Lost Years of William Shakespeare Book 3

De: Anthony Wildman

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

London, winter of 1589. The city is alive with intrigue, and the players of Lord Strange’s Men are preparing to rehearse a new play written by one of their young actors—William Shakespeare. But then disaster strikes. The authorities shut down the company over a minor offense, leaving Will jobless and desperate.

Determined to press on, he begins crafting a grisly revenge tragedy—Titus Andronicus—hoping to sell it to another troupe. But before he can do so, his entire collection of playscripts is stolen. His reputation, his career—everything is at stake.

To have any hope of retrieving the stolen works, Will must step beyond the candlelit world of the theater and into London’s criminal underbelly. His unlikely ally? Edward ‘Cutting’ Ball, a notorious thief and conman with his own agenda. As their hunt takes them through back alleys, hidden taverns, and the grand halls of power, they uncover a tangled web of theatrical rivalries, treachery, and courtly conspiracy—one that reaches all the way to Queen Elizabeth herself.

With his future hanging in the balance, Will must navigate a world where a wrong word can mean the gallows, and the greatest performances happen off the stage.

Will Shakespeare outwit the thieves—or become a pawn in a deadlier game?


'Anthony R. Wildman crafts a powerful tale that will attract mystery and historical fiction readers as well as literary fans of well-crafted novels based on real people.' - Midwest Book Review

'I loved it. One of the best historical books that I've read in a long time.' - Reedsy Discovery

'A truly remarkable blend of historical fiction and speculative biography, this book is a must-read for history enthusiasts and lovers of literary drama alike' - International Review of Books