Jill Paton Walsh, The Bad Quarto

The Bad Quarto

Jill Paton Walsh

St. Martin's. Apr 2007, $23.95

ISBN 0312354096

Imogen Quy serves as an effective college nurse at St. Agatha's College, Cambridge University. However, her serene academic world is shaken just as she is about to bike home for the evening. A stunned student calls for her assistance. She finds college fellow John Talentire dying, with her realizing it is too late for him as blood pours everywhere. Apparently following what the locals dub Harding's Folly from a previous human dive, John fell off the side of a tower that he was climbing.

At a BAD QUARTO production of Hamlet, the Kyd Society players imply that Talentire, a Shakespearean researcher, was murdered when his rope was loosened. Unable to either mind her business or forget the sight of all the blood as John died, Imogen quietly makes inquiries to what has been officially considered a tragic, foolish accident only to find the Shakespearean scholars being Lady Macbeth stock that has the Bard turning over in his grave.

Using the shortened Hamlet as a reason to investigate, Jill Paton Walsh provides the audience with a wonderful, amateur sleuth, academic whodunit. The scholars are quite a crew with Imogen realizing any of them could be capable of unethical behavior, yet pondering who would kill as she is convinced someone murdered Talentire. Imogen keeps the tale focused as a magnificent central character whose investigation provides a spotlight on the backstabbing rival fellows. (See DEBTS OF DISHONOR).

Harriet Klausner