Heartstone

SUMMARY: This is the new Shardlake mystery from the No 1 bestselling author of "REVELATION". 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. As the English fleet gathers at Portsmouth, the country raises the largest militia army it has ever seen. The King has debased the currency to pay for the war, and England is in the grip of soaring inflation and economic crisis. 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 a young ward of the court, which have already involved one mysterious death, Shardlake and his assistant Barak journey to Portsmouth. Once arrived, Shardlake and Barak find themselves in a city preparing to become a war zone; and Shardlake takes the opportunity to also investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettipace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam. The emerging mysteries around the young ward, 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. Events will converge on board one of the King's great warships, primed for battle in Portsmouth harbour: the Mary Rose... Review “Engrossing.” — The Spectator (UK) _ _“Atmospheric and erudite . . . . Not since Umberto Eco penned The Name of the Rose has a historical crime novelist captured so perfectly a people and their place, and harnessed them with such intelligence and credibility to shadowy tales of politics, misdeeds, murder and mystery.” — _Lancashire Evening Post _ “An enthralling historical crime novel packed with details of life in Tudor England. Highly recommended.” — _Irish Independent _“Compulsively readable and highly satisfying. . . . An entirely engrossing novel with an intriguing twist.” — _Daily Express _ Praise for C. J. Sansom: "Sansom's absorbing, substantial novels transcend the limitations of crime fiction while conforming to its conventions." — _Daily Telegraph _"A brilliant and evocative exploration of the fragmented and frightening world of the era of Henry VIII of England.... Sansom's command of the period detail is flawless, and we have intriguing characters with the depth to carry a complex story that is based on a solid foundation of religion and medicine." _— The Globe and Mail _"Head and shoulders above most historical crime novels." — The Spectator Product Description This is the new Shardlake mystery from the No 1 bestselling author of "REVELATION". 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. As the English fleet gathers at Portsmouth, the country raises the largest militia army it has ever seen. The King has debased the currency to pay for the war, and England is in the grip of soaring inflation and economic crisis. 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 a young ward of the court, which have already involved one mysterious death, Shardlake and his assistant Barak journey to Portsmouth. Once arrived, Shardlake and Barak find themselves in a city preparing to become a war zone; and Shardlake takes the opportunity to also investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettipace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam. The emerging mysteries around the young ward, 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. Events will converge on board one of the King's great warships, primed for battle in Portsmouth harbour: the Mary Rose... Heartsone is C. J. Sansom's fifth spellbinding mystery in C. J. Sansom's number one bestselling Shardlake series, for fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory . 'When it comes to intriguing Tudor-based narratives, Hilary Mantel has a serious rival' - Sunday Times 'Sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. Like Hilary Mantel, he produces densely textured historical novels that absorb their readers in another time' - Andrew Taylor, Spectator England, 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. As the English fleet gathers at Portsmouth, the country raises the largest militia army it has ever seen. The King has debased the currency to pay for the war, and England is in the grip of soaring inflation and economic crisis. 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 a young ward of the court, which have already involved one mysterious death, Shardlake and his assistant Barak journey to Portsmouth. Once arrived, Shardlake and Barak find themselves in a city preparing to become a war zone; and Shardlake takes the opportunity to also investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettiplace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam. The emerging mysteries around the young ward, 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. Events will converge on board one of the King's great warships, primed for battle in Portsmouth harbour . . . A bestselling phenomenon, the Shardlake series is perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light. Continue the gripping historical series with Lamentation and Tombland . Heartsone Is C. J. Sansom's Fifith Spellbinding Mystery In C. J. Sansom's Number One Bestselling Shardlake Series, For Fans Of Hilary Mantel And Philippa Gregory. 'when It Comes To Intriguing Tudor-based Narratives, Hilary Mantel Has A Serious Rival' - Sunday Times ‘sansom Has The Trick Of Writing An Enthralling Narrative. Like Hilary Mantel, He Produces Densely Textured Historical Novels That Absorb Their Readers In Another Time’ - Andrew Taylor, Spectator England, 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. As The English Fleet Gathers At Portsmouth, The Country Raises The Largest Militia Army It Has Ever Seen. The King Has Debased The Currency To Pay For The War, And England Is In The Grip Of Soaring Inflation And Economic Crisis. 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 A Young Ward Of The Court, Which Have Already Involved One Mysterious Death, Shardlake And His Assistant Barak Journey To Portsmouth. Once Arrived, Shardlake And Barak Find Themselves In A City Preparing To Become A War Zone; And Shardlake Takes The Opportunity To Also Investigate The Mysterious Past Of Ellen Fettiplace, A Young Woman Incarcerated In The Bedlam. The Emerging Mysteries Around The Young Ward, 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. Events Will Converge On Board One Of The King's Great Warships, Primed For Battle In Portsmouth Harbour . . . A Bestselling Phenomenon, The Shardlake Series Is Perfect For Fans Of Hilary Mantel's The Mirror And The Light. Continue The Gripping Historical Series With Lamentation And Tombland.