Book Review - Dissolution by C J Sansom

Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is set in 1537, not my usual time period but essentially it is a "whodunnit?".

Henry VIII is on the throne and has appointed himself head of the Church. Great reforms are taking place and under Thomas Cromwell monasteries are being investigated. Dissolution is the plan. But then at a monastery on the Sussex coast one of Cromwell's Commissioners is brutally murdered.

Matthew Shardlake is ordered to investigate and bring the culprit to justice. Aided by an assistant Matthew finds himself questioning everyone and everything as the murder count rises.

I found myself enjoying this book the more I read. It starts off slowly but gathers pace. It's very atmospheric and has quite a few red herrings.


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Just Jot it January - Day 3 - Solo

As always visit here to find out more about the Just Jot it January Challenge.

Today's prompt from Dar is Solo.

Well thankfully I am not going through life Solo as I have a wonderful hubby and great family members.

However there are times when I appreciate being able to do things Solo.  I really enjoy going for a walk with just a Podcast or music for company.  I also enjoy spending time in the house on my own, just enjoying the quiet or being in sole control of the remote for the TV.  Thankfully I get enough of that as Hubby likes to take part in Open Mike sessions several nights a week so that gives me free rein with the TV.

I think that, although I have 2 brothers, because of the big age gaps between us I grew up feeling more like an only child so I'm used to doing things Solo.  I think that has made me a bit of a control freak too Something I need to work on lol.

Just Jot it January - Day 2 - Constellation

As always visit here to find out more about the Just Jot it January Challenge.

Today's prompt from Willow is constellation.

Well sorry Willow but I have no idea what to write about constellations - I'm no stargazer and the only constellation I can identify with any confidence is Orion.

We did take to looking up at the sky when the Space X Satellite train was launched and we could actually see it.  Living in a big city (London) means there is so much light around it makes star gazing a bit more tricky.  We were really surprised one year when we stayed somewhere deep in the countryside where there weren't even streetlights and it seemed sooooo dark to us.  Note to self after that trip - always pack a torch.

Hmm note to self - invest in a torch and put it in the car!

It's that time of the year again - JusJoJan 23!

The Just Jot it January challenge is hosted by Linda G Hill.  You can find her blog here together with all the rules, prompts, participants etc.

Essentially the idea is to post every day in January either following the prompts or not.  For me it's a good way to get back to regular blogging because by the end of each year I definitely start to flag.

I've been taking part in the challenge since 2017 (although I had a bit of a blip in 2021) and it definitely makes me up my game.

Today's prompt from Linda is "Resolution".  The last few years haven't been great when it's come to resolutions for me.  In 2018 I had started doing 18 in 18 - a list of 18 things to do during that year.  I carried that idea on until 2021 which of course was during the pandemic and I achieved very little.  There was no 22 in 22 and there won't be a 23 in 23 either.

There are definitely things I want to work on this year but I've come to accept that life has a habit of throwing a spanner in the works and the best laid plans go astray.  Bouts of illness are often the main culprit and there's been a few of those.  Nothing serious but as I've got older I've also tried to be sensible when unwell and not just try to carry on.  Inevitably that doesn't help with resolutions either.

I think to sum up my hopes for 2023 would be to say "be more present".

I definitely want to build on relationships - both friends and extended family, and to try and make more new friends in our new location.  It's not actually that new now as we've been here just over 2 years but the pandemic added an extra challenge.

I'd also like to work on my health and fitness but again a bout of something is delaying that at the moment.  I've not felt well since before Christmas and have a hacking cough.  Covid tests were negative so it's some other virus that's taking a while to go.  Christmas was very hectic with all our immediate family here on and off.  That was lovely because I do love seeing the grandchildren (and their parents!) but of course it's also exhausting so I'm allowing myself some rest time now to try and get on top of this virus before throwing myself into any sort of fitness/dieting regime.

Having said that Hubby and I did manage a 1.5 mile walk today before it got dark.  Definitely a slow amble rather than a brisk walk but it felt good to get out in the fresh air for the first time in about 3 weeks.

So a good day 1 for me!