Set in 1349 England, British author Andrew Beattie gives readers an engaging second story in his Tales From the Middle Ages series. A disease known as the Black Death hovers over the cast of characters.

Twelve-year-old Will Hunter travels with a troupe who perform in one city after another in the county of Kent. Their plays are based on events in the Bible. While on the road to their next engagement they come across a young boy and his lifeless body hanging from a tree. But wait, Will sees the boy’s eyes flicker and with the help of his mean Uncle Tobias they cut the boy down. He is alive.

Thomas Rose is his name and happens to be the same age as Will. He joins the group to their next city. They soon realize how extraordinary this kid can be. Magic tricks, tumbling, juggling, and the most amazing: Thomas seems to be able to cure individuals who have gotten sick. A miracle boy.

Scared and desperate citizens reach out to Thomas for a cure to this deadly disease, but the church is skeptical and there is growing suspicion that Thomas is a fraud. Will believes in his new friend and tries to help and protect him from the anger of many.

Will’s first person narration through 25 chapters and an epilogue shows emotion in every heartfelt scene. The Angel Player also realistically portrays the realities of life clouded by a disease along with the aggressive disciplinary ways adults deal with the young in their care. The hardship reminded me of our most recent modern day pandemic.

This unique tale flows with page turning skill by the author. Both Will and Thomas are memorable characters. Thomas helps Will with acting techniques and is always by his side when needed. Those who love performing will be fascinated how it was done during this Middle Ages time period. THE ANGEL PLAYER is perfect for fans of Historical Fiction or anyone who enjoys a great story.

Book Birthday: September 26, 2024. Pages: 272

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Beattie is a London-based author, editor and archivist. Whilst The Secret in the Tower marks his debut as a writer of children’s fiction, he has previously written a number of stage plays for children which have been performed by schools and youth theatre groups in England, the United States and Australia – including Arthur, Boy King of Britain, which tells the story of the boy Arthur, the magician Merlin, and the Sword in the Stone; Brief Lives, which won the Scottish Community Drama Association’s Award for new writing for youth theatre in 2002 and was later staged at the East 15 Acting School in Essex in a production directed by the actress Alison Steadman; and a stage adaptation of Mark Twain’s novel The Prince and the Pauper. He has also written a number of books on history, travel and the environment. (Author’s Website)

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