Alice Fletcher works—disguised as a boy—as a stagehand at the renowned Globe Theatre. When her brother mysteriously vanishes after delivering a coded message in a seedy area of London, she seeks the help of Tom Cavendish, servant to the power-hungry Earl of Essex. But could she and Tom be getting themselves in deeper than they bargained for? Rich with the heady atmosphere of political intrigue—including a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth—and featuring such historical figures as Sir Francis Bacon and the Bard, this swiftly paced, suspenseful story will keep young readers on the edge of their seats.