Matthew Prior is beginning to make a reputation for himself in the London of Queen Elizabeth and compliments himself on his good business sense - that is until be discovers that his career is being manipulated by the Queen. He is once again dragged away from his beloved plays by the monarch in order to investigate the untimely death of his friend and fellow playwright Christopher Marlowe. As if working for the Queen is not bad enough Matthew is also charged by the Queen's new First Minister, the frightening and dangerous Robert Cecil to discover who has been destroying caches of arms and gunpowder along the Thames. Despite the death the year before of his amour, Rosemary Arden Matthew finds himself falling in love with the equally beautiful Kate Staple - who may or may not be a widow Matthew Prior once again negotiates the twists and turns of a fate he rarely chooses for himself, aided by his 'familiar' - a disembodied voice that sits on his shoulder and whispers in his ear. Excitement, danger and romance follow Matthew on his latest adventures and life is never dull in Queen Elizabeth's London