Revelation by C.J. SansomMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Spring, 1543. King Henry VIII is wooing Lady Catherine Parr, whom he wants for his sixth wife. But this time the object of his affections is resisting. Archbishop Cranmer and the embattled Protestant faction at court are watching keenly, for Lady Catherine is known to have reformist sympathies. Meanwhile, a teenage boy, a religious maniac, has been placed in the Bedlam hospital for the insane. When an old friend of Matthew Shardlake is murdered, his investigations lead to connections to both, and to the prophecies of the book of Revelation. Shardlake follows a trail of horrific murders that are igniting frenzied talk of witchcraft and demonic possession. For what else would the Tudor mind make of a serial killer...?
Another grim but gripping book in this series following Lawyer Matthew Shardlake during the 1500s.
I'm becoming more of a fan of historical fiction thanks to this series as it also combines crime, thriller and mystery, genres that I love. Set during the reign of Henry VIII it also gives an insight into politics and religion during that time and all the scheming that went on.
The book is quite gruesome in its descriptions of a series of murders taking place in London, the murderer following prophesies from the Book of Revelation. It's also very descriptive of London at the time, particularly of the squalor. One of the victims is a friend of Matthew's and he finds himself caught up in the investigation under instruction from Archbishop Cranmer, facing danger on more than one front and all under the veil of secrecy.
At 624 pages it's long but compelling and I was turning pages late into the night.
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I'm becoming more of a fan of historical fiction thanks to this series as it also combines crime, thriller and mystery, genres that I love. Set during the reign of Henry VIII it also gives an insight into politics and religion during that time and all the scheming that went on.
The book is quite gruesome in its descriptions of a series of murders taking place in London, the murderer following prophesies from the Book of Revelation. It's also very descriptive of London at the time, particularly of the squalor. One of the victims is a friend of Matthew's and he finds himself caught up in the investigation under instruction from Archbishop Cranmer, facing danger on more than one front and all under the veil of secrecy.
At 624 pages it's long but compelling and I was turning pages late into the night.
View all my reviews
The book sounds interesting and intriguing. Thanks for the review!! Happy weekend, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThis book doesn't sound like my cup of tea, but hearing about it opens my mind to a different time in history. Sounds like a lot going on in this plot!
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