Everyone likes the thought of a thriller with a classic theme and a plot that enticingly twists and turns around both fact and fiction. And where better to start than the highbrow world of Shakespeare's plays and his intriguing and little-known life?

American author J.L.Carrell takes our famous Bard and weaves around him and his famous characters a modern murder mystery straight out of the Da Vinci Code training manual.

Unfortunately, like Dan Brown's bestseller, the story requires far too much stretching of the imagination and has far too little meat on the bones.

The convoluted plot is confusing for those with little knowledge of Shakespeare and too lightweight and full of annoying errors for afficianados who thought it was going to be a fun and escapist read.

Central character Kate Stanley, who has been given the career chance of a lifetime and is directing Hamlet at the Globe, is unhappy when her former friend and Shakespeare tutor Roz Howard turns up out of the blue with a mysterious gift and begging for help.

Before she can explain further, Roz dies during a fire at the Globe - murdered, Kate realises, in the same manner as Hamlet's father who had poison poured in his ear.

Roz's gift turns out to be a Victorian mourning brooch decorated with the flowers that are thrown onto Ophelia's grave.

From here on, Kate is launched into a helter-skelter search for an ancient secret that will have enormous consequences for all concerned.

And just to make matters even more complicated, a deadly serial killer is also on the trail. Kate discovers he is modelling his murders on Shakespeare's plays and that he plans to turn her into the tragic Lavinia from Titus Andronicus who is raped, has her tongue cut out and her hands severed.

If only one had grown to like Kate, one might care what happens to her ... as it is, her fate becomes almost 'a consummation devoutly to be wished.'

(Sphere, paperback, £6.99)