A Tip for the Hangman

“Marlowe’s story as the playwright may have told it himself: full of adventure, fun … and murder.” —BookRiot

“A clever concoction of genres, with a generous helping of historical fiction, espionage, class critique, and theatrical flair. . . Epstein vividly conjures up the world of Elizabethan theater . . . and adds on top a genuinely compelling spy story, creating an exuberant, irreverent romp.” —Crime Reads

“Epstein presents Marlowe as supremely capable, something of a trickster, a consummate liar, a fiendish lover—and someone capable of murder . . . The suspense is palpable. . . . Epstein breathes life into a celebrated figure.” —The New York Times Book Review

“This fizzy debut is a Tudor espionage tale, set among spies close to Mary, Queen of Scots. One of them is Christopher Marlowe, whose spy work bankrolls a rather promising theater career.” —The Chicago Tribune, 25 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2021

“Draws you into a morally convoluted world of spies, treason, politics, romance and murder. With a witty, captivating protagonist and fast-paced adventure, it’s the sort of book you should never pick up before bedtime lest you look out the window to see the sun rising. This is easily one of 2021’s best historical fiction books to date.” —The Michigan Daily

“Thrilling and romantic. . . . Epstein successfully evokes both the beauty and the brutality of 16th-century England.” —Historical Novel Society

“Epstein’s diverting debut gallivants through Elizabethan England. . . . A fun escapade.” —Publishers Weekly