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This, the fourth novel concerning Matthew Shardlake, is superb. The characters are more developed (and the longer the series go on, the bigger and more developed the supporting cast becomes). The plot is cleverer and different - here we see Shardlake dealing with a serial killer, and although the politicians are involved this is a different kettle of fish to the rebellions and political plots that our favourite hunch-backed Tudor lawyer has found himself involved in before.

And in my opinion it's for the better - C J Sansom's writing has always been addictive (but not in an obtrusive way) and has always had totally convincing historical contexts (at least to a moderately informed one such as I). But in the past the plots have been slightly predictable - more so the classic whodunit, with a list of suspects and a ticking-clock before some disaster happens or the heroes are knocked off. In a way, that is all still true of this book (in fact, maybe it's impossible to write a whodunit without that!) but its better concealed amidst an excellent premise.

The pages and chapters fly by, and this opens an exciting future for Shardlake. I hope it won't be too long till we hear from him again!

Most enjoyable and, despite it's hefty size, totally gripping all the way through. The characters are developing and their varied religious responses, in a age normally thought of as simply Catholic or Protestant, bring great humanity to this story which is comparatively gory.

Although I wouldn't say it is my favourite of the series it is certainly a masterpiece, taking Matthew to another level and engaging to the degree it actually frightened me in places. As with Sovereign I felt that if I hadn't established an understanding of the characters from the previosu books (esp. Guy and Matthew) it would have lost some of its magic :)

What would the Tudors have made of the serial killer? Or perhaps more specifically, what would they make of the current literary creation of what a serial killer is, for here the killer is more than simply a psycopath, but a mad man with a monsterous plan in the mould of the killer in 'Se7en' or 'The Dante Club'; we should be grateful that Sansom has delivered a story much better than those it appears to imitate.

Shardlake battles to find the killer who murders people in various grisly ways, with the backdrop of closed monastries, increasing numbers of men reduced to begging and the King's courting of Lady Catherine Parr. Anyone who has read the previous Sharlake books won't be suprised to learn that this captures the feeling of the age brilliantly. The plot moves with a definite pace that 'Soveriegn' lacked and its different threads are bound taughtly together. It benefits from the return to the London used to such good effect in 'Dark Fire'. There is then, much to enjoy here. If one has a complaint, it is, as another reviewer noted, that some of the book now feels more familiar than it did in the first few books.

This is yet another gripping and authentic contribution from CS Sansom and like many others who discovered the Shardlake books recently, I was thrilled to find a new one on the shelves (I've read all four this year). But - and it's a BIG but, I can't understand what the editor at Macmillan, credited as Maria Rejt,is doing to earn her money! How many times do we read that a characer "reddened" when angry, upset or embarrassed? Can't Maria up with another word (blushed? flushed?). And how many times are we informed that a character "spoke seriously"? It's usually a wasted adverb - surely the context let's us know he wasn't joking.
These are minor points I know but personally I find them a real barrier to "suspending my disbelief". Just as you're getting thoroughly immersed in the Tudor world, along comes another person reddening as he spoke seriously.
I don't blame Sansom who is capable of some really good writing. But given the speed with which he's turning out these novels, he needs an editor who can spot these stylistic glitches. Either that or the author should slow down. I'm sure his fans would be prepared to wait a bit longer for a more finished product.
This is written more in sorrow than anger because I have had a lot of pleasure from these books. And I'm looking forward to what Matthew Shardlake makes of Mary Tudor. Seriously (he said, reddening)....