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David Taylor
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The Queen's Cipher Kindle Edition

by David Taylor (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 89 ratings
‘The truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.’

Award-winning investigative reporter David Taylor blends fact and fiction, suspense and satire into a vividly imagined novel in which an Oxford don uncovers a conspiracy of silence over the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays. The ingenious codes and ciphers of a medieval German monk disappear after his death only for one of his number codes to surface in an Elizabethan spy’s eye-witness account of what the Virgin Queen was doing behind closed doors.

Centuries later, research fellow Freddie Brett deciphers this long-forgotten report in Lambeth Palace Library and finds himself following a trail that leads him to the very book that established the Stratford actor’s credentials as a playwright and to a shadowy scientific brotherhood that treated drama as a form of mass communication. In unravelling this mystery Brett encounters not only academic opposition but an unseen enemy who will stop at nothing to possess the personal testimony of the man behind Shakespeare. As he races across Europe in search of such a prize, Brett’s life is in danger. But he was to know the full story. Even if it kills him!

The Queen’s Cipher is an extraordinary book; a highly entertaining detective story that challenges conventional history.
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  1. Print length
    337 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    16 Sept. 2014
  5. File size
    4.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NNLWHYK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ David Taylor
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 16 Sept. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 337 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 89 ratings

About the author

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David Taylor

David Taylor

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Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
89 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thoroughly entertaining and appreciate its reader appeal, with one describing it as a real page turner. The story quality and pacing receive mixed reactions.

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3 customers mention ‘Entertainment value’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thoroughly entertaining, with one describing it as compulsive reading.

"...best parts of the book, bringing the past to life in a vivid and entertaining way...." Read more

"Superb writing, compulsive reading... a real page turner of a book...." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. A novel to get your teeth into and become totally absorbed by." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Reader appeal’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one describing it as a real page turner and another noting its vivid storytelling.

"...some of the best parts of the book, bringing the past to life in a vivid and entertaining way...." Read more

"Superb writing, compulsive reading... a real page turner of a book...." Read more

"...writing is slick, the research impeccable, the story compelling and riveting." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Story quality’5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story quality of the book, with some finding it compelling while another customer mentions it takes a long time to develop.

"...reader think but all this happens in the background behind an interesting story. Really enjoyed it!" Read more

"Story line took a long time to develope. Let me flat." Read more

"...I enjoyed the twist and turns the main characters navigate through to find out the truth, and then the factual points are used to build depth in to..." Read more

"...The writing is slick, the research impeccable, the story compelling and riveting." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Pacing’2 positive1 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it cleverly done while others find it too complicated.

"A very clever way to present ideas about the authorship of Shakespeare's plays and poems - hide them in plain sight amongst a work of fiction with a..." Read more

"...There was far too much technical detail for a fictional novel. I wanted to give up many times, but persevered to the end...." Read more

"Brilliant, Clever and Thoroughly Entertaining..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • LDC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cleverly done!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A very clever way to present ideas about the authorship of Shakespeare's plays and poems - hide them in plain sight amongst a work of fiction with a contemporary flavour. And it works! Neither over complicated or heavy handed, the author uses exceptionally good evidence to make the reader think but all this happens in the background behind an interesting story. Really enjoyed it!
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  • Mrs F M Gilliland
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 December 2014
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    Good
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  • margret thorne
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 January 2015
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    Story line took a long time to develope. Let me flat.
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  • L C H Hill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 September 2014
    Verified Purchase
    If you want to read a book which makes you look at history in a different way, then this is it. Be prepared for the unexpected and for your view of Elizabethan drama to be challenged.

    The story of the book is told in two different time frames – the present interspersed with historical constructions, which for me were some of the best parts of the book, bringing the past to life in a vivid and entertaining way. You are led through a complicated unfolding of events by a rather endearing and unlikely hero, Freddie Brett who
    attracts two widely different women as helpmates during his quest.

    Whether you like the modern day characters or not, you will be fascinated by the decoding of Love’s Labour’s Lost, a play that scholars have long suspected of having a secret meaning. Now we know what that is!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • N
    2.0 out of 5 stars Too complicated.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 June 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I found the book really hard going. The characters were not easy to understand or empathise with . I kept waiting for something to happen. There was far too much technical detail for a fictional novel. I wanted to give up many times, but persevered to the end. I felt the ending did not finish of the book at all,and was too simplistic. I did enjoy the depicts of Elizabethan life. But all in all not the book it's self.
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  • Sophie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Clever and Thoroughly Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 October 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Superb writing, compulsive reading... a real page turner of a book. I enjoyed the twist and turns the main characters navigate through to find out the truth, and then the factual points are used to build depth in to the overall story. I highly recommend!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Andy Miller
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing home the Bacon ?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 February 2015
    It's cleverly done , entwined with a modern day literary treasure trail , little nuggets of literary history .
    Throw in an unexpected Irish man , and a cast of players one can believe in , and it makes a very enjoyable read.
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  • mrs m g jones
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2015
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    Pleased with item
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Top reviews from other countries

  • jaybee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare. the shamsters revealed .know the truth
    Reviewed in the United States on 20 January 2018
    Verified Purchase
    David Taylor has made as bold an attempt as the hero of his book to add to the flow of new information on the true status of Shakespeare.
    A 5 star rating is appropriate for readers who want to get to the truth surrounding the great British conspiracy to defend the undefendable that Shakespeare was not the man (or woman) as history wants him to be seen, including many of today's historians who have taken the "scientific" route that where there is no incontrovertible evidence tthen the man from Stratford must be it, regardless of the lack of evidence for him and the mass of circumstantial evidence against him. Not to mention the wall of silence and denial which those such as The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Folger Library put up against anyone even querying the basis from which many make very substantial profits from the Staratford Shakespeare industry. The Queen's Cipher gives more strength to the elbow of those increasing numbers who query the Stratford myth and is written in a more enjoyable form than the frequent academic mush designed and paid for presumably by those who profit from the implausible nonsense surrounding William Shakespeare.
    There is a more recent book written similarly to make the subject matter of interest to readers with open minds on the subject. It is called The Royal Secret and tells the tale of the true Shakespeare's birth as a concealed Prince and heir to the throne of England, and ruler of America. It is a story so dramatic that it eclipses those written under the name of the Shaken Speare icon by a man Jefferson named as the world's greatest and of whom it could be said was the true founder of the USA and its constitution and the dream of a new world order pursued today by those who rule.
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  • Linda kiefer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it however
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 March 2015
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    Interesting history twists but found the ending a bit anticlimactic. Enjoyed it however.
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  • Patricia
    3.0 out of 5 stars Well written, well researched, but slow!
    Reviewed in the United States on 14 November 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I gave up on this book midway. I'll probably go back and finish it, eventually. It is an exceedingly well-written and well documented story, digging into the idea that Shakespeare may have had a political as well as a literary calling. While I loved the idea I found the plot to be exceedingly slow-moving and finally realized that I was less than immersed in it. Maybe if I'm in a different mood..................
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  • augray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loving this novel
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 April 2015
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    I am going to review this book at only about 70% through. First time I have done this. I have always loved Shakespeare's sonnets and poems, but I have only read one of his plays through the years. So, there is a lot in this book I am not familiar with, as far as the politics at the time and the lives of other authors whom I have read but do not know much about. Nonetheless, this book has kept me very interested all the way through. The plot is about a young college Don, Freddie Brett, who is trying to discover if Shakespeare really wrote his plays. Not much is known about Shakespeare the man, but it is claimed he was not educated enough to have written some of what is attributed to him. Either someone else, in this book the focus is on Francis Bacon, wrote them, or at least co-wrote them. The main character in the book, Freddie Brett, and a couple of girlfriends who help along the way, have been meeting with some of the older Shakespearian influentials to find out what they might know. But afterwards these guys are being found dead, so someone does not want the story to come out. Also included is some discussion on the cryptology used by several writers during these times (mid 1500's+). I do not need to see how the book ends to give this one my 5 star rating. I did not find it boring at all so the writer must do a very good job of keeping things interesting, even when I don't know as much as I wish I did for some of it. I have always hoped William Shakespeare wrote was has his name attached to it. If you are a fan of poetry, especially back during these times, give this book a try, and I hope you find it as interesting as I have.
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  • lo1337a
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reframing the past: considering Shakespeare's work as politically revolutionary
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 October 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Displaying a phenomenal depth of research and an uncanny ability to re-imagine the past, the author grounds the story in the hard facts of a young, Oxford Fellow's search for proof of his controversial theories while spinning a thrilling tale about how the mastery of prose can shape the world. The pen is mightier indeed. The works of Shakespeare are as relevant today as they ever were in the undermining ofthe political establishment.

    The Queen's Cipher is a dynamic, eye-opening story that takes you from a modern Millennial world to the nascent years of Enlightenment. The historical aspects and high stakes should appeal to fans of Bernard Cornwell and Steven Saylor.
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