Summer, 1545. England is at war. Henry VIII’s invasion of France has gone badly wrong, and a massive French fleet is preparing to sail across the Channel . . .
Meanwhile, Matthew Shardlake is given an intriguing legal case by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr. Asked to investigate claims of ‘monstrous wrongs’ committed against his young ward, Hugh Curteys, by Sir Nicholas Hobbey, Shardlake and his assistant Barak journey to Portsmouth. There, Shardlake also intends to investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettiplace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam.
Once in Portsmouth, Shardlake and Barak find themselves in a city preparing for war. The mysteries surrounding the Hobbey family and the events that destroyed Ellen’s family nineteen years before, involve Shardlake in reunions both with an old friend and an old enemy close to the throne. Soon events will converge on board one of the king’s great warships gathered in Portsmouth harbour, waiting to sail out and confront the approaching French fleet. . .
Rating: 5 Stars
Positives: Where should I start? C. J. Sansom has proven to be an awesome author who has clearly researched his topic. I love Tudor history novels, and C. J. Sansom has created a masterpiece. The story is so intricate, and hardly anyone will guess the twists and turns that are present. And I'd be pleasantly surprised if anyone managed to work out what or should I say who connects the Ellen and Hugh stories together.
Negatives: My only issue is that the book gets off to a rather slow start. Other than that I have no complaints.
Would I recommend this book? Yes I would. Although it is a part of the Shardlake series you don't have to read the other books for it first to make sense.
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