Lady of the Play is an enthralling historical novel solving the mystery of the Shakespeare authorship question, written in parallel historical and contemporary chapters.

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The modern story begins with Sudie McFadden finding an original page from A Midsummer Night's Dream hidden in an ancient Booke of Common Prayer. She contacts Cynthia Parsons, a history teacher, to help her prove her ancestor, the original owner of the prayer book, was the true Shakespeare. Cynthia devotes her life to researching England's Shakespearean Era, trying to prove Elizabeth was the authentic Shakespeare. As portions of Elizabeth Trentham's secret life are unraveled, there is a smooth transition to historical chapters.

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Actual historical incidents are woven into chapters of the imagined life of Elizabeth Trentham, her innate genius, and how she obtained the necessary qualifications to be Shakespeare. These events begin with her childhood in Staffordshire, England, her ten years as a maid of honor in Queen Elizabeth I's court, collaboration with Edward deVere, the Seventeenth Earl of Oxford, and their subsequent marriage. The story continues by answering why it was necessary to hire an actor, Wm Shaksper, as their broker and, later, why they allowed him to take credit for the plays. Edward died in 1604, and Elizabeth continued to use Shaksper as her front until she died in 1612, the same year Shaksper was forced to retire. Included is her relationship with John Overall, one of the King James Bible translators.

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The fictional modern-day Cynthia faces intrigue, danger, and romance as others try to steal historical documents she had acquired, thwarting her efforts to reveal the truth.

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The novel's conclusion will show compelling evidence that solves this 400-year-old mystery. Because of the feminist nature of the book, it may appeal to women more than men; however, Lady of the Play ticks all the boxes of a great read, notwithstanding gender and whether you are a fan of Shakespeare or not.