A review by crashida
Revelation by C.J. Sansom

4.0

I think this book is my favourite so far out of the series. Based more around the religious fanaticism that emerged in the age of confessionalism, this murder mystery explored more of the popular culture than the institutions in Tudor England. Of course, it had an element of politics in it with the case being linked to Henry’s attempts to woo Catherine Parr, but I liked how this wasn’t the prominent storyline.

I really enjoyed the biblical references made in the book and it brought out the issues surrounding the way people experienced religion. Shardlake was dealing with ordinary people and the way they interacted in society. The way Sansom used the different characters to explore issues like poverty, the welfare system and much tension surrounding the religious climate gave voices to a larger amount of people with much clarity.

The book also explores mental health which was so interesting to see in the context of the Tudor period. The way Sansom explores such issues really makes the Tudor society that much more imaginable and allows for a more immersive experience. The book was dark, but it was also enlightening and I think it is aptly titled, given how much it revealed about the world Sansom has created in this series.