One traitorous play. One treacherous bodice. One stitcher in between. London is bustling in 1598 when Ketren Pryce arrives filled with fashionable dreams. After saving an apprentice who favors gowns over britches, she earns a place as a stitcher in the city's greatest acting company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men. But her idyllic situation unravels when she finds a blackmailer's plot sewn into a crimson bodice, leading to courtly intrigue she must resolve to thwart a lunatic's doom. The Crimson Bodice blends together historical figures and a singular event to present the spirited lives and times of the Elizabethan playhouses and their actors, audience, friends, and family. Yet the playhouse can be a dark, often deadly place, filled with secrets and intrigue, where friends and enemies shift as quickly as the Thames. A must-read for lovers of historical mysteries, psychological thrillers, Renaissance drama, and strong female detectives . Get ready for a compelling journey into a world where loyalty and betrayal collide. Historical notes included. - Discussion questions , perfect for quizzes , tests , or book club reviews . - Created by a Renaissance literature educator . - Compact size: 5.5” X 8.5” (13.97 x 21.59 cm) The Crimson Bodice is a book I never thought I'd finish. I began it many years ago, back when my children were teenagers and I was starting a new job. Life—and career plans—put the novel on hold for about 15 years. I've always loved historical fiction and Shakespeare, and having taught both, I know that learning works best when it's fun. That's why I turn to historical fiction: I'm fascinated by the time, place, and people, but I don't want a textbook. I'm also a big fan of strong female heroines—that's where this story begins. This book is part of the Needle & Quill series. Each novel shares the same setting but follows different main characters. A few familiar faces appear across the books, but those connections are just for fun. Doré Ripley loves writing history through fiction and featuring characters (historical, fictional, or a little bit of both) who come alive in worlds long past. Worlds that exist only in imagination, or in faded, half-legible pages hidden deep within some forgotten library. Writing nonfiction has given her the background to make both those worlds come alive and inspire readers. After leaving the corporate world, Ripley earned a master's degree in English and began teaching. Always a scribbler, she wrote for a wide audience in popular magazines, scholarly journals, and textbooks. Conference papers took her all over the country to speak on myriad subjects ranging from fairy tales, comics, and science fiction to Renaissance and Medieval literature and all things noir. As a lecturer at California State University, East Bay, Ripley taught critical reading and writing to a culturally diverse mix of college students. She also taught many literature courses, including Science Fiction and Fantasy, American Masterworks, Children's Literature, Shakespeare, and more.