Heartstone

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Few contemporary authors are as adept as Sansom at blending a whodunit with a sweeping historical epic, as shown by his fifth mystery featuring English attorney Matthew Shardlake (after 2009's Revelation). In 1545, as a French fleet threatens invasion, the English queen, Catherine Parr, asks Shardlake to look into a matter for an old servant, whose son committed suicide shortly after filing a protest about the wardship of a boy the son had tutored. Soon after accepting this assignment, Shardlake is assaulted by a gang of thugs, who warn him to drop the matter. On his own, he also probes the past of a Bedlam inmate, Ellen Fettiplace, who was institutionalized 20 years earlier after being raped. Both cases turn out to be extremely complex, and Shardlake, who puts justice above his personal interests, ends up with several murders to solve as well. Strong prose makes Tudor England instantly accessible, and the clockwork plotting sustains deep interest throughout. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. From Booklist Starred Review In 1545, times are perilous for London counsel Matthew Shardlake and for his country. While the English, heavily taxed and with their coinage debased by Henry VIII, prepare for a naval attack from the French at Portsmouth, Shardlake takes on a case at the request of Catherine Parr on behalf of her former servant, whose son committed suicide after discovering “monstrous wrongs” against a teenage ward he once tutored. As the 43-year-old, hunchbacked Shardlake seeks to uncover secrets in the wardвЂTMs household, he also investigates the past of a presumably sane woman kept for years in Bedlam. Even with the queenвЂTMs patronage, the dogged Shardlake is threatened bodily while pursuing answers to both cases, which ultimately pit him against his old court nemesis, Sir Richard Rich. The heft of this fifth in the Shardlake series may be intimidating, but SansomвЂTMs supple and action-packed prose should keep readers engaged. The novel vividly captures the Tudor scene, from its corrupt politics to the stench of its streets and the horror of battle. Historical mystery at its finest. --Michele Leber 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.