Helpful Score: 1
A well written who dunnit with multiple layers. Though I thought I knew who did it and why it kept me engaged to the end at which I was surprised. Matthew Shardlake's investigation of self and the events in which he's surrounded are relevant to our own period of history and the political turmoil we must all endure.
Helpful Score: 1
Matthew Shardlake returns in the third historical mystery by C.J. Sansom. Shardlake is sent from London to York ahead of King Henry VIII's Progress with a commission to prepare the peoples petitions to the King and to care for the welfare of a prisoner to be brought back to the Tower of London. When a dying man whispers a deadly secret concerning the monarchy, Shardlake is thrown into a maelstrom of conspiracy, deceit, and death. Sansom, like few other authors, is able to immerse the reader into the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of 16th century Tudor England and he gets better and better with each book. I was hooked to the last page. Don't start this if you have important things to do because it is hard to put down.
Helpful Score: 1
With book 3 in the series we actually get to meet the great King Henry VIII. He wasn't a really likable person but he is only a minor character. Matthew Shardlake is the real hero. These books are real page turners and bring Tudor England to life.