Review: Malediction The Cursed Play
By Kingsley Gittins
SEAN GUY’S NOVEL IS AN ENGAGING and well-written tribute to all things Shakespeare. The story takes the form of a reverse whodunit, where the actors in a cursed play are all alive but they’re convinced the curse will take one of their number before the performance is complete.
The setting is fictional, but has a very strong Elizabethan England feel. Readers will recognise elements of the great bard's work reflected in the variety of characters on show. Indeed, this is the where the The Cursed Play really shines; the distinctive and interesting performers in the play bring the action to life. This interplay creates the feeling of a performance for the reader, which will have you engrossed for hours.
The central mystery of the novel is a sound one, with enough red herrings and twists to keep even the most avid Sherlock Holmes fans guessing right until the very end.
Readers will find themselves picking their favourite characters and rooting for their survival, as tensions rise over the course of the narrative.
While primarily focused on showcasing the classic tragedies of Shakespearean theatre, there are a number of interesting supporting themes at play in the novel. The tension between old stick-in-the-mud male actors and the newly enfranchised female performers adds value and a contemporary relevance to the story.
I highly recommend this book, especially to those who love a good murder-mystery novel. The prose and pacing allow for an engaging read and the highbrow Shakespeare is subtly incorporated. The story is well written and the characters are excellent. Best of all, Sean is a local author and can be found running The Bookshop in the CBD. If this work proves anything, it’s that supporting local authors can be a lot of fun.
