Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Random House Canada
ISBN: 0735277087
Format: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book,
Audio-Book
Release Date: 23rd October 2018
Rating: 7/10
Synopsis:
Spring, 1549. Two years after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos...
The king, Edward VI, is eleven years old. His uncle Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, rules as Protector. Radical Protestants are conducting all out war on the old religion, stirring discontent among the people. The Protector's prolonged war with Scotland is proving a disastrous failure. Worst of all, the economy is in collapse, inflation rages and rebellion is stirring among the peasantry.
Since the old King's death, Matthew Shardlake has been working as a lawyer in the service of Henry's younger daughter, the Lady Elizabeth. The gruesome murder of the wife of John Boleyn, a distant Norfolk relation of Elizabeth's mother--which could have political implications for Elizabeth--brings Shardlake and his young assistant Nicholas Overton to the summer assizes at Norwich. There they are reunited with Shardlake's former assistant Jack Barak. The three find layers of mystery and danger surrounding the death of Edith Boleyn, as more murders are committed.
During their investigation, a peasant rebellion breaks out across the country. Yeoman Robert Kett establishes a vast camp outside Norwich and leads a force of thousands to overthow the landlords. Soon the rebels have taken over the city, England's second largest.
Barak throws in his lot with the rebels; Nicholas, opposed to them, becomes a prisoner in Norwich Castle; while Shardlake has to decide where his ultimate loyalties lie. As government forces in London prepare to march north and destroy the rebels, he discovers that the murder of Edith Boleyn may have connections reaching into both the heart of the rebel camp and of the Norfolk gentry...
Review:
**Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy
of the book in return for my honest review**
This book was a long read. Running at 800 pages made this one of the longest books that I've read for a while. But I ended up enjoying it. This is the 7th book in the Matthew Shardlake series, and I think this was my favourite.
This book is a mix of historical fiction and mystery/crime; two genres that I love. C.J Sansom does a fantastic job at creating an immersive Tudor setting. His background as a historian is shown with his attention to detail in setting the Tudor time period. The Tudor period is my favourite historical time period and I loved recognising various the different historic figures. This book in particular is set in around 1549 and focuses on Kett's Rebellion.
Shardlake travels to Norfolk to investigate a murder of someone presumed long dead. He is in charge of making sure that the case is investigated to its fullest.
The majority of the book is focused on the rebels, with Shardlake and Nicholas getting caught up on events. Nicholas's viewpoints are shaken as he views the cruelty the poor face at the hands of royalty.
There are new and old characters in the book. Shardlake is forced to make new friends in the rebel camp. He is a fantastic character and I loved his grudging respect for the Kettle rule and the new laws and regulations.
The book is very visual- from market scenes, to the journeys and castles. I really felt as if I was there inside the book at the various locations. Mixing historical fiction and mystery/crime is an interesting combination but I really enjoyed it.
Despite being 800 or so pages the book never felt like it dragged. Each part of the book was important and helped to bring the entire story together. I didn't want the story to end. C.J Sansom does a fantastic job at bringing together a tale of mystery and crime set with the Tudor period. Tombland was a fantastic read and I cannot wait to read more.
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