Status
Missing
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Pan Books (2001), Edition: New Edition
Description
C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mysteries whisk listeners back in time to the tumultuous court of King Henry VIII. Shardlake has his hands full this time defending a young religious fanatic who has been thrown into Bedlam. On top of that, Shardlake's friend is murdered, and the quest to find the killer leads Shardlake right to the steps of the king's latest romantic conquest, Catherine Parr.
User reviews
LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
In this fourth book, Matthew Shardlake has been living a quiet but satisfying life, away from high politics and the dangers with which his previous investigations have been dogged; this ends on the night he finds a good friend and fellow lawyer with his throat cut, his body left on display in the
I think this is my favourite of the Matthew Shardlake series so far, in virtually every area of writing; Sansom’s characterisation, never weak, has really coalesced into a tight group of recurring faces with plenty of well-drawn first time appearances; none as vivid as first-person narrator Shardlake, whose evolution has been absolutely water-tight and believable. He is as enjoyable a sleuth as I’ve read, and set solidly in place by well-researched background that is finely detailed, amped with atmosphere, and merged seamlessly with the fictional plot.
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Inns fountain. Almost immediately, the case presents political entanglements, yet Shardlake vows to catch the killer for the widow of his old friend, for whom our gruff yet kind protagonist has buried feelings. But he and his fellow investigators (among them Barak and Guy), will face a new kind of wickedness, one they have few resources in place to deal with. A serial killer is targeting victims for perverted religious reasons in a time where any aberration of the mind is surrounded by superstition, and in a city roiling with religious resentments and extremes.I think this is my favourite of the Matthew Shardlake series so far, in virtually every area of writing; Sansom’s characterisation, never weak, has really coalesced into a tight group of recurring faces with plenty of well-drawn first time appearances; none as vivid as first-person narrator Shardlake, whose evolution has been absolutely water-tight and believable. He is as enjoyable a sleuth as I’ve read, and set solidly in place by well-researched background that is finely detailed, amped with atmosphere, and merged seamlessly with the fictional plot.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Another satisfying Shardlake mystery. I’m spacing these out and reading them slowly so that I’ve always got one to look forward to. So many historical mystery writers have problems balancing the history and the mystery. Not so Mr. Sansom. He gets it right. I’m alternately fascinated by the
In this outing we get a lot of Guy and Barak and Matthew’s relationship with each of them. Both are under strain, but for different reasons. It’s harrowing to read because they are so important to Matthew and his success, as well as his well-being. Another social aspect is brought into this one in the form of Dorothy; his good friend’s widow and old flame. I had hopes for Matthew with her. It’s strange to feel so much empathy with a character, but I do for Shardlake and wanted him to find romance. Alas, it was not to be in this novel and looks unlikely for the future. Bachelor he will remain. And Barak who is no longer one seems to long for that old life. Marriage isn’t what he expected it to be, especially after their first child is stillborn. Matthew does his best to help them through it, but they cannot talk to each other. Seems nothing does change under the sun.
The mystery itself is good, but I found the idea of a serial killer in this type of novel a bit questionable. It injects too much of now into the past for me. Sure, there were those types of killers back then I suppose, but somehow it seems out of place. Especially with Guy’s analysis to help push the investigation along scientific lines rather than demon possession which is pretty much the accepted reason why anyone does anything weird in 1543. I rather liked the political aspects of the murders in the past and sort of missed them in this book. Yes, Cranmer and the assistant coroner put him in a rather precarious position and he had to watch his step, but it was not in the same league as the Cromwell business. I wish that Sansom had focused on Guy’s problem as a secondary storyline instead of the one we had. After a while the deal with Adam and the Bedlam hospital just got repetitive and I wanted that to be over. I knew there was something screwy with Guy’s assistant after a while and really hoped there would be more repercussion for the jerk than there was. Possibly he’ll be a future enemy we’ll see crawl out from under a rock. Like Bealknap.
The thing that exasperates me the most about the Shardlake series is the religious climate of the times. Accurately portrayed or not it makes me shriek with outrage and roll my eyes at the stupidity. I really, really wish mankind could evolve away from this make-believe. It’s so destructive; corroding reason and destroying sanity. Everyone in Shardlake’s world is subject to religious foolishness in a really negative way; so far I haven’t read about one person it helped or even affected neutrally. The killer in the book is only one example of the extreme nature of religious zealots and is unfortunately realistic enough.
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culture of Tudor England and the clues to the puzzle. Matthew Shardlake is a highly interesting lead character; sympathetic, but not a wimp, decisive, but not reckless and smart, but not preternaturally so. He’s just a guy doing the best he can. Yes, he’s a straight-shooter, but he has dark thoughts just like anyone.In this outing we get a lot of Guy and Barak and Matthew’s relationship with each of them. Both are under strain, but for different reasons. It’s harrowing to read because they are so important to Matthew and his success, as well as his well-being. Another social aspect is brought into this one in the form of Dorothy; his good friend’s widow and old flame. I had hopes for Matthew with her. It’s strange to feel so much empathy with a character, but I do for Shardlake and wanted him to find romance. Alas, it was not to be in this novel and looks unlikely for the future. Bachelor he will remain. And Barak who is no longer one seems to long for that old life. Marriage isn’t what he expected it to be, especially after their first child is stillborn. Matthew does his best to help them through it, but they cannot talk to each other. Seems nothing does change under the sun.
The mystery itself is good, but I found the idea of a serial killer in this type of novel a bit questionable. It injects too much of now into the past for me. Sure, there were those types of killers back then I suppose, but somehow it seems out of place. Especially with Guy’s analysis to help push the investigation along scientific lines rather than demon possession which is pretty much the accepted reason why anyone does anything weird in 1543. I rather liked the political aspects of the murders in the past and sort of missed them in this book. Yes, Cranmer and the assistant coroner put him in a rather precarious position and he had to watch his step, but it was not in the same league as the Cromwell business. I wish that Sansom had focused on Guy’s problem as a secondary storyline instead of the one we had. After a while the deal with Adam and the Bedlam hospital just got repetitive and I wanted that to be over. I knew there was something screwy with Guy’s assistant after a while and really hoped there would be more repercussion for the jerk than there was. Possibly he’ll be a future enemy we’ll see crawl out from under a rock. Like Bealknap.
The thing that exasperates me the most about the Shardlake series is the religious climate of the times. Accurately portrayed or not it makes me shriek with outrage and roll my eyes at the stupidity. I really, really wish mankind could evolve away from this make-believe. It’s so destructive; corroding reason and destroying sanity. Everyone in Shardlake’s world is subject to religious foolishness in a really negative way; so far I haven’t read about one person it helped or even affected neutrally. The killer in the book is only one example of the extreme nature of religious zealots and is unfortunately realistic enough.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
When lawyer Matthew Shardlake discovers the murdered body of a dear friend, his determination to find his friend's killer and see justice done brings him once again into the political arena he has tried hard to avoid. Soon more murders are discovered, and it seems that the killer is motivated by
Religion is often a polarizing topic, but C.J. Sansom handles it in an unoffensive manner. It's not uncommon for religious adherents to be categorized as either “right” or “wrong”, “good” or “bad”. While it's clear to the reader which views Shardlake approves of and which he disapproves of, he doesn't condemn those with opposing views just because they hold those views. Nor does he approve of people whose opinion he agrees with just because they share the same view. He recognizes that there are sincere, humble people, as well as zealots or calculating opportunists, on all sides.
Matthew Shardlake is an unconventional yet appealing hero. He's professional, a loyal friend, and a gentleman. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake books are among the best historical mysteries available. He brings Tudor London to life. The series is best read in order since each book introduces at least one continuing character and since later books refer to events in earlier books.
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religion. The religious and political climate is already tense. The reformers have fallen out of the king's favor and the traditionalists have once again gained in favor. The investigation into the murders will require discretion, diplomacy, and good luck to satisfy one faction without arousing the wrath of the opposing faction.Religion is often a polarizing topic, but C.J. Sansom handles it in an unoffensive manner. It's not uncommon for religious adherents to be categorized as either “right” or “wrong”, “good” or “bad”. While it's clear to the reader which views Shardlake approves of and which he disapproves of, he doesn't condemn those with opposing views just because they hold those views. Nor does he approve of people whose opinion he agrees with just because they share the same view. He recognizes that there are sincere, humble people, as well as zealots or calculating opportunists, on all sides.
Matthew Shardlake is an unconventional yet appealing hero. He's professional, a loyal friend, and a gentleman. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake books are among the best historical mysteries available. He brings Tudor London to life. The series is best read in order since each book introduces at least one continuing character and since later books refer to events in earlier books.
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LibraryThing member baswood
This is the fourth book in the Mathew Shardlake Mysteries and the one that I enjoyed the least. First of all the positives: the depiction of mid sixteenth century London during the reign of Henry VIII is colourful and exciting, the dirt, the grime, the stench are ever present as Sansom concentrates
Shardlake and friends find themselves on the trail of a serial killer; a serial killer who is driven by a fanatical reading of the bible, which drives him to kill in ever more inventive ways to carry out his mission, which is to bring about the apocalypse. Shardlake works out that there are severn murders that will be committed in accordance with a section from the Book of Revelations; it is a race to stop the killer before he can complete the murders each one seemingly more gruesome than the last……………………….. stop me if you have heard this one before. It is a plot that Dan Brown might have written, in fact it is so bad, perhaps he did write it.
Sansom is adept at shoehorning his stories to fit with the historical facts and he does this here, but in my view he should not have bothered. A disappointing three stars.
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more on the poorer quarters of London than on the Palaces of the courtiers. He also captures the feeling of a city struggling with religious persecution, where speaking out of turn can lead to serious trouble and where a hardening of views on both sides of the catholic/protestant divide lead to confrontation. Sansom imagines vividly the sanctuary around the dilapidated Westminster cathedral and Bedlam the first of the hospitals for the mentally ill. His characters both historical and imaginary are well drawn, but in this story they have too much of a modern feel to them, especially the character of Mathew Shardlake and his friend Dr Guy Malton. Shardlake’s detective work and Dr Maltons clinical practices seem to me to be quite a few steps ahead of the period in which the story is based. However this did not spoil the story for me, but the plotting and storytelling did.Shardlake and friends find themselves on the trail of a serial killer; a serial killer who is driven by a fanatical reading of the bible, which drives him to kill in ever more inventive ways to carry out his mission, which is to bring about the apocalypse. Shardlake works out that there are severn murders that will be committed in accordance with a section from the Book of Revelations; it is a race to stop the killer before he can complete the murders each one seemingly more gruesome than the last……………………….. stop me if you have heard this one before. It is a plot that Dan Brown might have written, in fact it is so bad, perhaps he did write it.
Sansom is adept at shoehorning his stories to fit with the historical facts and he does this here, but in my view he should not have bothered. A disappointing three stars.
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LibraryThing member polarbear123
The fourth Shardlake mystery and I think the best novel so far by Sansom. The story seems to take no time at all to get going unlike some of the earlier books and there is plenty going on at all times - and we have got a real psycho murderer going around this time- great stuff and just as I was
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flagging this has picked me up and made me want to read the next one asap. Show Less
LibraryThing member ilurvebooks
Loved this book as much as the previous ones nearly cried when I finished this book as its the last one written to date on the Shardlake series.
LibraryThing member fidchivers
The Fourth in the Matthew Shardlake series (Dissolution, followed by Dark Fire and Sovereign)following the amatuer sluething and reluctant politicking of the hunchback lawyer, Matthew Shardlake in the time of Henry VIII.
In this book Shardlake is drawn into the world of medieval mental illness
I enjoyed the first few in this series, but will say this is the strongest so far, and the characterizations of the major players are more deeply explored. But they should probably be read in order, so start with "Dissolution" rather than this one, and work your way through.
In this book Shardlake is drawn into the world of medieval mental illness
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through a case he has taken on, and also through the murder of his friend, which puts him on the track of a serial killer. (Or is it someone with a political/religious agenda? part of the mystery.) He is again drawn into the world of court politics, a world he finds both uncomfortable and dangerous. Added to all this is the backdrop of King Henry's changing religious attitudes, and the effect this has on life and government in London. The action and suspense build as more murders are uncovered and the killer. . . well, it is a mystery.I enjoyed the first few in this series, but will say this is the strongest so far, and the characterizations of the major players are more deeply explored. But they should probably be read in order, so start with "Dissolution" rather than this one, and work your way through.
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LibraryThing member john257hopper
A great whodunnit - I had my suspicions as to who might be the killer, but I was wrong (and quite glad to be so). I'm not convinced that the background to the killings is realistic or that such a horrific series of murders could really be kept secret. But this is richly textured as ever and full of
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colour and life, even minor incidental characters are described in a way that makes you believe they really could have lived and are not just paper creations. The book gives a real feel for the politico-religious atmosphere of late Henrician England and you feel like you know the place and the people as well as your own. I hope there are more in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member mrtall
I am an avid murder mystery fan, I like historical settings, and I tried and tried, but I simply could not finish this book. It's hard to put a finger on its faults, but I'll hazard a couple of guesses. While setting his story in the 16th century, Sansom tries to shoehorn in a 20th-century
I feel bad, actually, for not liking this one more. It's obviously the product of serious research and it's not badly written, but it just refused to take off as I read it.
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serial-killer plotline. And his characters are flat: Matthew Shardlake, for example, is quite dull; he's a bit of a goody-two-shoes.I feel bad, actually, for not liking this one more. It's obviously the product of serious research and it's not badly written, but it just refused to take off as I read it.
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LibraryThing member brigidsmith
Matthew Shardlake flies into action again, with his usual reluctance. These books are great pageturners, and the detail feels authentic.
LibraryThing member fglass
The fourth and final book in the C. J. Sansom's Tudor mystery series. Good tempo throughout ( I mean throughout the whole series.)
LibraryThing member beth1980
A great book in the Shardlake series! Although I preferred the previous offering - Sovereign, it was still a good read, I love the characters and Sansom really makes Henry VIII's England come alive.
LibraryThing member everfresh1
Shardlake is still going strong and this fourth installment reversed the tide of diminishing returns and once again provides for very entertaining and very educating read. Once again, a great depiction of atmosphere of that time (year 1543, Henry VIII between his fifth and sixth wives).
LibraryThing member mamzel
Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked, brilliant lawyer in 1543 London, encounters a truly evil nemesis who is bringing to life seven scenes from Revelation. Each new murder is even more shocking and horrific than the last. Shardlake is immediately drawn into the hunt for the killer when he finds his
Sansom has a fabulous talent at drawing the reader into these stories and immersing them into 16th century life in good ole London. Shardlake is not the happiest of people - he suffers from his misshapen back, he is a lonely bachelor, and he helps the poorest and most abject of the city, but he is fiercely loyal to his friends and is a truly noble man.
This is a great series for readers who enjoy murder mysteries as well as historical fiction.
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friend brutally murdered in a frozen fountain. At the same time he is assigned a young man who is convinced that he has sinned against God and must constantly pray to be forgiven, to the detriment of any other normal functions like eating. His family puts him into the Bedlam, the only mental facility of the era, to protect him from being accused of heresy.Sansom has a fabulous talent at drawing the reader into these stories and immersing them into 16th century life in good ole London. Shardlake is not the happiest of people - he suffers from his misshapen back, he is a lonely bachelor, and he helps the poorest and most abject of the city, but he is fiercely loyal to his friends and is a truly noble man.
This is a great series for readers who enjoy murder mysteries as well as historical fiction.
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LibraryThing member barlow304
The 4th in this series featuring the hunchback Tudor lawyer Matthew Shardlake, who is once again dragged into matters of state when a madman hopes to trigger the Apocalypse through a series of murders. Exciting historical mystery with intriguing, but flawed characters.
LibraryThing member cathymoore
Sansom's fourth Shardlake novel. This time Shardlake is convinced by Archbishop Cranmer to look into the deaths of lapsed reformers, one of whom is a friend of Shardlake's. What is to the 21st century reader a psychotic serial killer, is to the 16th century investigator perhaps the devil himself?
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The brilliant Shardlake and his fantastic supporting cast: Barack, Guy Malton et al, are pitted against this killer against a background of religious disharmony as we reach the end of the reign of Henry VIII and his marriage to Catherine Parr. I loved this book as I have loved the previous Shardlake stories, although perhaps in this case it occasionally felt a little wordy and could probably easily have been chopped down by about 50 pages. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
In the spring of 1543 Henry VIII was hoping to make Catherine Parr his sixth wife, but she was understandably reluctant. Religious turmoil continued in England as the King turned back to practices some considered papist, and divisions grew among the Protestants. The wrong views could result in
Revelation did not disappoint. The details about life, religion, politics are so realistic that I felt immersed in the period. In fact, I occasionally had to shake myself when I emerged from the book back into 21st century life.
I thought the device of using the book of Revelation as the inspiration for the serial killing was very credible. I did figure out one clue to the identity of the serial killer quite early on although I was still surprised when he was unveiled.
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charges of heresy and subsequent burning. Because of her reformist sympathies, Reformers supported a match between Lady Catherine and the King, hoping for her favourable influence. Meanwhile, a friend of Shardlake’s is murdered. When Matthew promises his friend’s widow that he will find the killer, he doesn’t realize that the investigation will again bring him into contact with politics and people at court, not to mention a serial killer inspired by the Book of Revelation. He is soon investigating with London coroner Sir Gregory Harsnet at the request of Archbishop Cranmer, who suspects a plot to prevent the King’s marriage. And at great risk, they are keeping this knowledge from the King. Views differ as to whether they are seeking a madman or someone possessed by the devil. Matthew is also involved in the case of a young protestant radical who has fallen prey to a religious obsession, praying constantly for a sign from God that he is saved. The boy has been put into Bedlam for his own safety.Revelation did not disappoint. The details about life, religion, politics are so realistic that I felt immersed in the period. In fact, I occasionally had to shake myself when I emerged from the book back into 21st century life.
I thought the device of using the book of Revelation as the inspiration for the serial killing was very credible. I did figure out one clue to the identity of the serial killer quite early on although I was still surprised when he was unveiled.
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LibraryThing member Glorybe1
I have all the Shardlake books to date, and this is by far the best! I loved it! Its takes place in London in Henry Tudors' time, and is about the race to find a "serial killer" as we would call them today. Good upright people are being killed off in absolutely dreadful, mind-boggling ways!! A
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religious fanatic is following the book of revelation, killing people to bring about the end of the world! Great stuff, very well written. Had me guessing right to the end. A fabulous read. Show Less
LibraryThing member rkstafford
Fourth in the Shardlake series, set in 1543, as Henry is pursuing Catherine Parr. Shardlake pursues a serial killer who takes his inspiration from the Book of Revelations.
LibraryThing member bhowell
Revelation is a remarkable historical mystery taking place in Tudor England. The novels of C. J. Sansom are not just adventure stories that happen to take place in the 16th century. Sansom's character, lawyer Mathew Shardlake, is deeply involved in the sinister politics and religious strife of the
I particularly enjoyed the portrait of Cranmer and this prompted me to dig out a book that I bought a couple of years ago in a used book store in London. I am reading it now. It is called "My Lord of Canterbury, A Novel About Cranmer " by Godfrey Turton, published in 1967 by W. H. Allen. It is quite wonderful and I will review it when I am finished.
Revelation is a great thriller but it is quite gruesome and if you are sensitive to that you might want to read an earlier novel by Sansom to get a comfort level with the setting and the brilliant Matthew Shardlake.
I highly recommend the novels of C. J. Sansom.
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later reign of Henry VIII. Shardlake lives and works in London with a private practice but is employed from time to time by the great men of the day. In Sansom's earlier novels Shardlake carried out various commissions for Thomas Cromwell and in this book, his investigation of a series of gruesome murders brings him into conrtact with Archbishop Cranmer and Catherine Parr. Cranmer was, of course, the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury.I particularly enjoyed the portrait of Cranmer and this prompted me to dig out a book that I bought a couple of years ago in a used book store in London. I am reading it now. It is called "My Lord of Canterbury, A Novel About Cranmer " by Godfrey Turton, published in 1967 by W. H. Allen. It is quite wonderful and I will review it when I am finished.
Revelation is a great thriller but it is quite gruesome and if you are sensitive to that you might want to read an earlier novel by Sansom to get a comfort level with the setting and the brilliant Matthew Shardlake.
I highly recommend the novels of C. J. Sansom.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
This is the fourth Matthew Shardlake mystery set in Tudor England, and I found it just as good as the others. In this book, Matthew vows to avenge a friend's murder by finding his killer. He learns of a previous murder, sees a pattern, and realizes he's on the hunt for a serial killer who is likely
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to murder several more people. There are plenty of grisly murder scenes in this one. Matthew's sidekick Jack Barak, and his friend and apothecary Dr. Guy Malton, figure prominently in this story as well, and provide interesting subplots. There's only one book left in this series, and I'll be sad when it ends. Show Less
LibraryThing member passion4reading
Amongst a background of escalating religious extremism, Shardlake has taken on the case of Adam Kite, a teenage boy suffering from religious mania who has been placed in the Bedlam insane asylum. Whilst investigating the murder of his friend and fellow lawyer Roger Elliard, Shardlake, along with
As ever, Sansom's depiction of Tudor London is in a class of its own, the setting vivid and rich in detail, especially the descriptions of ever increasing religious strife and persecution, the suspicion and distrust that are once again pervading society at all levels, with neighbours informing on each other in a climate of fear. This is interspersed with musings on the nature of madness, with superstitious Tudor society offering up demonic possession as its most likely cause. Consequently the plot takes somewhat of a back seat, at first ambling along, then speeding up with the serial killer enacting the seven vials from the Book of Revelation with his victims in rapid succession. In my opinion it is stretching credibility just a bit too far to have Shardlake strike lucky with his shortlist of names of potential suspects when there could have been dozens of others who had migrated to London in the aftermath of the dissolution. As the body count rises and the nature of the murders becomes ever more grisly and violent, unfortunately it appeared to me that this could have been a book about any other deranged serial killer justifying their terrible deeds with religion, with echoes of Boris Starling's Messiah and David Fincher's bleak film Se7en, the Tudor setting almost incidental (the final prospective murder victim excepted). Towards the end, Guy and Shardlake are discussing the mind-set of religious fanatics, trying to understand their motivation; in his Historical Notes Sansom draws parallels with the Christian fundamentalists of Tudor times and the present, showing that parts of history are still very much relevant today, with the recent tragedy in Norway highlighting that humankind has not progressed at all since mediaeval times in that respect. To me that is the best kind of historical fiction there is.
(Originally written in 2011.)
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his assistant Jack Barak and his physician friend Guy Malton, crosses paths with that of a serial killer intent on bringing about the apocalypse.As ever, Sansom's depiction of Tudor London is in a class of its own, the setting vivid and rich in detail, especially the descriptions of ever increasing religious strife and persecution, the suspicion and distrust that are once again pervading society at all levels, with neighbours informing on each other in a climate of fear. This is interspersed with musings on the nature of madness, with superstitious Tudor society offering up demonic possession as its most likely cause. Consequently the plot takes somewhat of a back seat, at first ambling along, then speeding up with the serial killer enacting the seven vials from the Book of Revelation with his victims in rapid succession. In my opinion it is stretching credibility just a bit too far to have Shardlake strike lucky with his shortlist of names of potential suspects when there could have been dozens of others who had migrated to London in the aftermath of the dissolution. As the body count rises and the nature of the murders becomes ever more grisly and violent, unfortunately it appeared to me that this could have been a book about any other deranged serial killer justifying their terrible deeds with religion, with echoes of Boris Starling's Messiah and David Fincher's bleak film Se7en, the Tudor setting almost incidental (the final prospective murder victim excepted). Towards the end, Guy and Shardlake are discussing the mind-set of religious fanatics, trying to understand their motivation; in his Historical Notes Sansom draws parallels with the Christian fundamentalists of Tudor times and the present, showing that parts of history are still very much relevant today, with the recent tragedy in Norway highlighting that humankind has not progressed at all since mediaeval times in that respect. To me that is the best kind of historical fiction there is.
(Originally written in 2011.)
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LibraryThing member AriadneAranea
Historical fiction is my guilty pleasure - this one does not disappoint.
LibraryThing member dianaleez
Matthew Shardlake, C.J. Sansom's clever protagonist, faces off against a serial killer in 1543 London, in his newest adventure, 'Revelation.' Sansom's Shardlake series, known for its historical accuracy and interesting characters, is carefully plotted and entertaining. Shardlake, the hunchback
The characters from the earlier books are all present - Jack Barak and his wife Tamasin, Guy the former monk Moorish physician - but they are far more than stock figures - their lives are complicated, and they develop and change with each book. Jack and Tamasin are having problems in their marriage, and Guy has taken in an apparently likeable apprentice whom Matthew distrusts. Matthew himself is thinking of the possibility of love and marriage.
Sixteenth century London comes alive under Sansom's pen, and Matthew remains one of fiction's more compelling, unique, and sympathetic heroes.
On a personal level, I found the serial killings to be gruesome enough to make me uncomfortable and I found myself skipping over some passages. I deducted one star for this, although it probably won't bother most readers.
For readers who haven't read any of the series, think about starting at the beginning. It's a great series. The characters develop and their relationships change. It's 'Dissolution,' 'Dark Fire,' 'Sovereign,' and 'Revelation.'
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lawyer, is involved with the embattled Protestant faction he much mistrusts in the pursuit of a serial killer who is knocking off victims in a gruesome manner prescribed by the Biblical book of Revelations. The characters from the earlier books are all present - Jack Barak and his wife Tamasin, Guy the former monk Moorish physician - but they are far more than stock figures - their lives are complicated, and they develop and change with each book. Jack and Tamasin are having problems in their marriage, and Guy has taken in an apparently likeable apprentice whom Matthew distrusts. Matthew himself is thinking of the possibility of love and marriage.
Sixteenth century London comes alive under Sansom's pen, and Matthew remains one of fiction's more compelling, unique, and sympathetic heroes.
On a personal level, I found the serial killings to be gruesome enough to make me uncomfortable and I found myself skipping over some passages. I deducted one star for this, although it probably won't bother most readers.
For readers who haven't read any of the series, think about starting at the beginning. It's a great series. The characters develop and their relationships change. It's 'Dissolution,' 'Dark Fire,' 'Sovereign,' and 'Revelation.'
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LibraryThing member Northern_Light
This is the fourth Shardlake book and the best so far. It follows him as he works to solve the murder of his friend ina rather gruesome manner and finds himself involved in the political life of the King and the church again. He is also working with his doctor friend to keep a young man in Bedlam
This book really keeps you hooked from begining to end and the disturbing ending.
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who refuses to stop praying.This book really keeps you hooked from begining to end and the disturbing ending.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Mystery — 2010)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2008)
British Book Award (Shortlist — shortlist — 2009)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008
Physical description
672 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
1447285867 / 9781447285861
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 823.92 |