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klobrc's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Alright. The romance didn't really do anything for me, which did not help.
rjsreadingnook's review against another edition
5.0
What a thrilling ride! It’s hard to believe this is a debut, because author Allison Epstein has crafted an intriguing historical fiction novel with such skill and mastery.
I have been a Christopher Marlowe fan ever since I read Edward II for fun back in my college days so this was a treat. I had no idea that he most likely was involved in spy work for Queen Elizabeth I. I understand based on the author’s notes that not all of the events in the book are accurate but it made for an exciting and entertaining read.
At the heart of the novel was an unexpectedly tender gay love story between Kit (Marlowe) and Tom. The romance was written perfectly and served as a way of showing Kit’s humanity and conscience during his downward spiral, especially in part 2 of the novel.
I strongly recommend this book for historical fiction lovers, especially people who appreciate LGBTQ+ historic figures.
Thank you to Doubleday for the gifted copy. #PRHPartner
Look for more of my thoughts on A Tip for the Hangman on Instagram on 2/18/21.
I have been a Christopher Marlowe fan ever since I read Edward II for fun back in my college days so this was a treat. I had no idea that he most likely was involved in spy work for Queen Elizabeth I. I understand based on the author’s notes that not all of the events in the book are accurate but it made for an exciting and entertaining read.
At the heart of the novel was an unexpectedly tender gay love story between Kit (Marlowe) and Tom. The romance was written perfectly and served as a way of showing Kit’s humanity and conscience during his downward spiral, especially in part 2 of the novel.
I strongly recommend this book for historical fiction lovers, especially people who appreciate LGBTQ+ historic figures.
Thank you to Doubleday for the gifted copy. #PRHPartner
Look for more of my thoughts on A Tip for the Hangman on Instagram on 2/18/21.
mcr1955's review against another edition
4.0
The best part of this book is the character of Kit Marlowe, charming, educated, very clever and interesting. The minor characters were well drawn also. The plot is engaging the fast-paced. Many events in the plot are reportedly true. Kit Marlowe's life began to spiral out of his control about 3/4 into the book and knowing where it was leading, I decided to stop.
irreverentreader's review against another edition
3.0
I had a really hard time rating this book and coming to terms with how I feel about it. It felt like it should have been a five star read--and it was for the first fifty pages. Allison's writing is beautiful and descriptive without it feeling forced or overly-contrived. Her relationship dynamics between Kit and Tom are so believable and pure that I was cheering for them from the start. It also was partially set in Cambridge, a location near and dear to me, so I was sure I was just going to gobble this book up.
But like quite a few of the reviews I read, the book never really snagged me. It was difficult to pick up and easy to put down. Nothing was particularly gripping, and yet there was certainly nothing bad about it. Like I said, Allison can craft words as well as a seasoned author, and yet there was just something missing/lacking. The two things I am able to pinpoint are 1) I had a difficult time understanding what made Kit want to serve the crown in the manner he did. He doesn't seem particularly patriotic nor does he feel threatened to do so. Therefore, much of the guilt and horror he went through due to his various betrayals felt a bit contrived. 2) I thought the book would have been better served with less POVs because besides Kit and Tom, I don't feel very invested in any of the other characters and often they weren't visited enough to feel like they deserved their own chapters.
Overall, I do think it's worth a read, but I just wish it would have been better--mainly because her writing has just such a lovely sound to it!
But like quite a few of the reviews I read, the book never really snagged me. It was difficult to pick up and easy to put down. Nothing was particularly gripping, and yet there was certainly nothing bad about it. Like I said, Allison can craft words as well as a seasoned author, and yet there was just something missing/lacking. The two things I am able to pinpoint are 1) I had a difficult time understanding what made Kit want to serve the crown in the manner he did. He doesn't seem particularly patriotic nor does he feel threatened to do so. Therefore, much of the guilt and horror he went through due to his various betrayals felt a bit contrived. 2) I thought the book would have been better served with less POVs because besides Kit and Tom, I don't feel very invested in any of the other characters and often they weren't visited enough to feel like they deserved their own chapters.
Overall, I do think it's worth a read, but I just wish it would have been better--mainly because her writing has just such a lovely sound to it!
mkthornton's review against another edition
4.0
A Tip for the Hangman was a very interesting story, but I think the book suffered slightly from the introduction of many new narrators in the second half of the book. This didn’t feel like a thriller to me and even though I thought the reimagining of Christopher Marlowe’s life was a cool premise, I struggled to maintain my enthusiasm for the story.
captainolyareads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
England, 1585.
In his last year at Cambridge, Christopher "Kit" Marlowe is offered an opportunity few people would pass up. Queen Elizabeth's spymaster has come with a proposition befitting Kit's reckless nature. Rumblings of a Catholic plot to put Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne has been growing louder, and no one on Her Majesty's side wants to be caught off-guard. They need an ear on the ground to keep them informed and Kit, with no money or prospects, has little reason to say no to the ask. Dispatched to Mary's chilly manor, he becomes an integral part of the household. Serving King and Country is harder than he thought, and when all is said and done, he's the only one surprised at the final outcome. Determined to put everything behind him, he uses the salary he earned through the spywork to set himself up in London and mount his first play. For five years, he lives the life he's always wanted; fame, a (slight) fortune, and a relationship with Tom, a former schoolmate. All good things have to come to an end, however, when he is inevitably sucked back into the world of espionage and treason. With the stakes getting higher and higher, it's more than just his life on the line now.
Sometimes a historical novel can read a little dry but aside from a few scenes, I thought this was a fun, intriguing novel that kept me hooked until its despondent end. There's so much to say about how good the writing is, how charming the characters, especially Kit, are. I especially enjoyed the scenes with Mary, Queen of Scots. Something that was a little frustrating about the novel, however, was how disjointed the two parts of the story felt. My interest waned as we progressed to a few years later. Second, I thought Marlowe was cavalier when it came to his relationship with Tom, given the time period and the punishment if caught.
After finishing this book, I immediately went and put the author's most recent novel on hold at the library. I'm looking forward to continuing with her work!
In his last year at Cambridge, Christopher "Kit" Marlowe is offered an opportunity few people would pass up. Queen Elizabeth's spymaster has come with a proposition befitting Kit's reckless nature. Rumblings of a Catholic plot to put Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne has been growing louder, and no one on Her Majesty's side wants to be caught off-guard. They need an ear on the ground to keep them informed and Kit, with no money or prospects, has little reason to say no to the ask. Dispatched to Mary's chilly manor, he becomes an integral part of the household. Serving King and Country is harder than he thought, and when all is said and done, he's the only one surprised at the final outcome. Determined to put everything behind him, he uses the salary he earned through the spywork to set himself up in London and mount his first play. For five years, he lives the life he's always wanted; fame, a (slight) fortune, and a relationship with Tom, a former schoolmate. All good things have to come to an end, however, when he is inevitably sucked back into the world of espionage and treason. With the stakes getting higher and higher, it's more than just his life on the line now.
Sometimes a historical novel can read a little dry but aside from a few scenes, I thought this was a fun, intriguing novel that kept me hooked until its despondent end. There's so much to say about how good the writing is, how charming the characters, especially Kit, are. I especially enjoyed the scenes with Mary, Queen of Scots. Something that was a little frustrating about the novel, however, was how disjointed the two parts of the story felt. My interest waned as we progressed to a few years later. Second, I thought Marlowe was cavalier when it came to his relationship with Tom, given the time period and the punishment if caught.
After finishing this book, I immediately went and put the author's most recent novel on hold at the library. I'm looking forward to continuing with her work!
carlystroud42's review against another edition
3.0
I SO wanted to love this book. The description had me captivated instantly.... the actual book, however... nah. Normally I can breeze through a book of this length within a few days, but it was like pulling teeth to get me to pick it back up!
It does have it's parts where I couldn't put it down, but they are few and far between. I feel as though it glazed over some big deal events (that from the description should have been the whole plot?) and focused too much on details that didn't really add to the story. I also feel as though the book jumped around a lot without notice. I caught myself a few times, looking back to see if I had skipped a page or paragraph etc.
I'm very sad that this didn't live up to what I wanted it to be!!!
It does have it's parts where I couldn't put it down, but they are few and far between. I feel as though it glazed over some big deal events (that from the description should have been the whole plot?) and focused too much on details that didn't really add to the story. I also feel as though the book jumped around a lot without notice. I caught myself a few times, looking back to see if I had skipped a page or paragraph etc.
I'm very sad that this didn't live up to what I wanted it to be!!!