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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed the murder mystery element of this and the characters were really well developed. But for me it was just too long. I thought the backdrop of Henry VIII's attempt to woo Catherine Parr was clever and it was refreshing to have a book set in the 16th century where the king isn't a major character, but there was so much material to cover (relating to the story and covering the history of that era) and it felt like it was really dragging in a few places.
One of the things I enjoyed most was the investigation of the concept of serial killers, at a time when the idea was so unfamiliar. It gave the mystery a chilling air. The narrative ties up nicely and there are interesting connections between story strands; I just wish it had been a bit more concise in places, it's a very long book!
One of the things I enjoyed most was the investigation of the concept of serial killers, at a time when the idea was so unfamiliar. It gave the mystery a chilling air. The narrative ties up nicely and there are interesting connections between story strands; I just wish it had been a bit more concise in places, it's a very long book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Religious bigotry, Murder
I am reading this series in completely the wrong order, first #6 and now #4, but it thankfully doesn't have that much effect on how much I enjoy these books. With both these books in this series, I find them so quick and fun to read, despite a large number of pages, and it definitely wasn't a fluke with Lamentation.
This book is a historical murder mystery set during Tudor times. Unlike other historical fiction books, it is not set in the Royal Court but rather with more ordinary people. The main character is a lawyer who is drawn into the murder mystery when one of his good friends is killed and he promises his widow to catch the guy. I do like Criminal Minds and this was very like a historical Criminal Minds as they race to catch a serial killer, putting the clues together while keeping the crime quiet from the general populace. It was so fast-paced, keeping me interested in the plot right up until the end.
What I like most about this series is how the royals aren't involved in anything more as minor characters but their actions have great consequence to the people in the novel. The religious tension of the time, when freedom of religion was just a far off dream and where everyone was a Christian but no one could agree on what that meant and how to worship, was interwoven in the story brilliantly and I especially liked how medicine and mental illness came up in the story. They were treated as historically accurate but Sansom managed to sneak more modern thinking in there with Guy the doctor, which I did appreciate.
Romance was not a major thing in this book, though I did like the subplot of Matthew's friend, Barack and his wife as they struggled with her miscarriage, but I wasn't such a fan of the will-they, won't-they of Matthew and his friend's widow subplot. Thankfully, it didn't come up that much throughout the book.
This book is another five stars one for me!
This book is a historical murder mystery set during Tudor times. Unlike other historical fiction books, it is not set in the Royal Court but rather with more ordinary people. The main character is a lawyer who is drawn into the murder mystery when one of his good friends is killed and he promises his widow to catch the guy. I do like Criminal Minds and this was very like a historical Criminal Minds as they race to catch a serial killer, putting the clues together while keeping the crime quiet from the general populace. It was so fast-paced, keeping me interested in the plot right up until the end.
What I like most about this series is how the royals aren't involved in anything more as minor characters but their actions have great consequence to the people in the novel. The religious tension of the time, when freedom of religion was just a far off dream and where everyone was a Christian but no one could agree on what that meant and how to worship, was interwoven in the story brilliantly and I especially liked how medicine and mental illness came up in the story. They were treated as historically accurate but Sansom managed to sneak more modern thinking in there with Guy the doctor, which I did appreciate.
Romance was not a major thing in this book, though I did like the subplot of Matthew's friend, Barack and his wife as they struggled with her miscarriage, but I wasn't such a fan of the will-they, won't-they of Matthew and his friend's widow subplot. Thankfully, it didn't come up that much throughout the book.
This book is another five stars one for me!
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
The 4th book in the Matthew Shardlake series is a big improvement on the 3rd. Matthew Shardlake, now a Serjeant of the Court in London is a successful lawyer and investigator (as well as a 'hunchback' or 'crookback'.) Shardlake is again drawn into the intrigue of the court, along with his faithful servant Barak, and his friend Guy, the doctor and ex-monk, when a series of gruesome murders is begun in London. There are links between Catherine Parr and the crimes, and since Henry the VIII is currently courting Catherine, Shardlake, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thomas Seymour are forced into an uneasy alliance in an attempt to catch the killer.
The Tudor mindset is unprepared to deal with the concept of serial killers, so Shardlake has to deal with a great deal of religious prejudice from both conservative Catholics, and liberal 'Bible-thumpers' or Protestants. The Protestants think that it's a sign of the end of the world...that the Revelation of St John is coming true, whereas the Catholics are trying to blame the reformers. In the midst of the murder and religious mayhem, Shardlake must also deal with some difficult personal circumstances, and a young boy who is unable to stop praying, and may be locked up or burned as a heretic if Shardlake can't protect him.
The Tudor mindset is unprepared to deal with the concept of serial killers, so Shardlake has to deal with a great deal of religious prejudice from both conservative Catholics, and liberal 'Bible-thumpers' or Protestants. The Protestants think that it's a sign of the end of the world...that the Revelation of St John is coming true, whereas the Catholics are trying to blame the reformers. In the midst of the murder and religious mayhem, Shardlake must also deal with some difficult personal circumstances, and a young boy who is unable to stop praying, and may be locked up or burned as a heretic if Shardlake can't protect him.
Hugely enjoy the Shardlake series, and find the history of the time so interesting. If I was still in school, I'd have been asking the history teachers so many questions about this book. I loved this one, and I'm trying to not gulp my way through the series and savour it!
I always look forward to slipping back into the grimy world of Tudor-era London with C.J. Sansom and his Shardlake series. This is number 4 (there are 7 altogether, so far) and in it we find Shardlake sucked into an investigation trying to identify a serial killer (almost unheard of at that time). Think the plot of the movie Seven, except instead of the 7 deadly sins being re-enacted, here we have a murderer killing to re-enact the 7 vials of wrath that the angels unleashed on the Earth in the book of Revelation in the bible. With each book in the series the number of pages grows; this weighed in at well over 600. I really think it could have been cut by 100-150 pages; there are several conversations that are almost identical. Who is the killer? Is he possessed by the devil? Is he a madman? How will he re-enact the next vial? Etc etc. This might be useful if you’re a slow reader who needs to be reminded of the plot every now and again but that ain’t me. Also the difference between papists and reformers was central to the plot of this book, and while I know the basics, the different terms used throughout the book to describe different factions, and the references to what they believe in, had me lost most of the time. BUT having said all that, the plot was actually really good, there was nice character development for the recurring characters and I still love the premise of these books. I just hope the next one is a bit shorter, or a bit less repetitive, or I’ll just have to read it slower!
C.J. Sansom continues with his great set of Tudor era historical mysteries, tapping into some of the controversies of the time to spin intricate tales sure to keep the reader enthralled. Matthew Shardlake has taken on quite a complicated case when asked to defend a young man who has been locked away in a mental facility. His crime, excessive praying and zealousness, leaves many wondering what is to be done. At a time when religious fervour is punishable by death when not in line with the Church of England, Shardlake must get to the bottom of this before things get out of hand. However, there are other issues, particularly when a friend is found murdered. As is often the case, Shardlake cannot steer clear of a mystery, though the King’s Coroner is quick to shut down the investigation. Shardlake is determined to get answers when asked by his friend’s widow. When Shardlake is approached by Archbishop Cranmer, he discovers that there may be more to the murder than meets the eye. It would seem that there are more murders with similar attributes, but those at the highest levels of Court do not want it known publicly. Shardlake examines what little evidence and documentation he can find, only to discover that the killer seems to be following a portion of the Book of Revelation, where death and destruction is rampant. Even with a list of the forms of murder, the interpretation is quite significant, not to mention the choice of victims. It would seem someone is trying to get rid of radical reformers, choosing brutal killings to make their point. When Shardlake and a few others are targeted by someone wanting the investigation stopped, it would seem he is on the right path. While all this is going on, Shardlake cannot forget his client, whose mental state remains as fragile as ever. Something must be done to quell the dramatic reaction of many in England, with ongoing questions at Court at what Henry VIII will do in his search for a new—sixth—wife. This may be one case that Matthew Shardlake wished he had left well alone. Brilliant in its delivery, C.J. Sansom taps into both the era and its intricate scandals to create a mystery like no other. Those who have loved the series to date will surely want to add this to their collection.
This is a great series for those who love their mysteries steeped in history and controversies of another era. C.J. Sansom does well to educate while entertaining the reader in a nuance-filled narrative. The story digs deeper than most of the Tudor history with which I am familiar, usually Henry VIII chasing a new wife or his offspring—Elizabeth—seeking to rule in ways never thought of before. It looks to the religious reformation within England and how powerful entities shaped the development of England and its Church at a time when things were still fairly new and shaky. Sansom continues to offer a little more of the backstory related to Matthew Shardlake. Gritty in his way of thinking, Shardlake faces much retaliation as he defends a religious zealot and comes to terms with his own beliefs in the face of a killer who wants to rid the country of non-traditional believers. The thread of religious dedication is an interesting sub-plot that Sansom has added to create more flavour to the Shardlake character. Shardlake remains a keen legal mind and wonderful investigator, working alongside his assistant, Barak. With a few characters from the history books, Sansom injects what many will already know about the heavy hitters of the era, but also finds time to shape new and unknown people to push the story forward. These characters serve various purposes and help to offer a more ‘down to earth’ approach to the story, with a topic that is anything but peaceful. Sansom has a wonderful way of weaving his characters into a glorious tapestry and will not disappoint. The novel is well-paced and offers more Tudor history as England comes into its own from a religious perspective. The novel is by no means out of the realm of any reader, though its topic and analysis can sometimes give it a ‘deeper’ and more ‘intense’ feel, alongside the long and intricate chapters that may be red flags for some readers. The patient reader may enjoy peeling back the layers of history required to digest the larger plot. I am eager that I gave the series another chance and want to get to the core of the Sansom reading experience.
Kudos, Mr. Sansom, for keeping me curious and wanting to know more. There may be many who write about Tudor times, but your mysteries offer a wonderfully unique angle.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
This is a great series for those who love their mysteries steeped in history and controversies of another era. C.J. Sansom does well to educate while entertaining the reader in a nuance-filled narrative. The story digs deeper than most of the Tudor history with which I am familiar, usually Henry VIII chasing a new wife or his offspring—Elizabeth—seeking to rule in ways never thought of before. It looks to the religious reformation within England and how powerful entities shaped the development of England and its Church at a time when things were still fairly new and shaky. Sansom continues to offer a little more of the backstory related to Matthew Shardlake. Gritty in his way of thinking, Shardlake faces much retaliation as he defends a religious zealot and comes to terms with his own beliefs in the face of a killer who wants to rid the country of non-traditional believers. The thread of religious dedication is an interesting sub-plot that Sansom has added to create more flavour to the Shardlake character. Shardlake remains a keen legal mind and wonderful investigator, working alongside his assistant, Barak. With a few characters from the history books, Sansom injects what many will already know about the heavy hitters of the era, but also finds time to shape new and unknown people to push the story forward. These characters serve various purposes and help to offer a more ‘down to earth’ approach to the story, with a topic that is anything but peaceful. Sansom has a wonderful way of weaving his characters into a glorious tapestry and will not disappoint. The novel is well-paced and offers more Tudor history as England comes into its own from a religious perspective. The novel is by no means out of the realm of any reader, though its topic and analysis can sometimes give it a ‘deeper’ and more ‘intense’ feel, alongside the long and intricate chapters that may be red flags for some readers. The patient reader may enjoy peeling back the layers of history required to digest the larger plot. I am eager that I gave the series another chance and want to get to the core of the Sansom reading experience.
Kudos, Mr. Sansom, for keeping me curious and wanting to know more. There may be many who write about Tudor times, but your mysteries offer a wonderfully unique angle.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes