The Fair Maid of Bohemia, by Edward Marston

This book is another in the Westfield's Men series, set in Elizabethan England. This time, however, the troupe of actors are forced to leave London to avoid the plague. The authorities have shut down all places where people congregate in order to cut down on potential infection.

Instead of touring the provinces, however, the actors are requested to perform in Bohemia for the Holy Roman Emperor. Before they leave, Nicholas is taken aside by two individuals and asked to carry messages to Bohemia. Immediately upon arriving on the mainland, one of the troupe is murdered, and it becomes obvious that the intended victim was Nicholas himself.

Once they arrive in Prague, at least one of the messages is impossible to deliver because the recipient is imprisoned. The Emperor appears to have lost his mind, and someone is still trying to kill Nicholas.

Good story. I knew who the bad guy was, but in spite of that it was nice to see the guys seeing something besides London.