I am an avid murder mystery fan, I like historical settings, and I tried and tried, but I simply could not finish this book. It's hard to put a finger on its faults, but I'll hazard a couple of guesses. While setting his story in the 16th century, Sansom tries to shoehorn in a 20th-century serial-killer plotline. And his characters are flat: Matthew Shardlake, for example, is quite dull; he's a bit of a goody-two-shoes.

I feel bad, actually, for not liking this one more. It's obviously the product of serious research and it's not badly written, but it just refused to take off as I read it. ( )

REVELATION by C. J. Sansom
First published 2008 by Macmillan
Paperback Edition, 2009, Pan Books
ISBN 13: 978-0-330-44710-2

REVELATION is the fourth of C. J. Sansom's masterful stories about Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked barrister of Lincoln's Inn, London, during the time of Henry VIII's reign, specifically the boisterous decade of Henry's break with the Church of Rome. It is during these years of religious upheaval, driven by political intrigue, that Shardlake, once a radical reformer in the service of Thomas Cromwell, finds himself engaged in investigations, commissioned first by Cromwell, then, after his execution, by Archbishop Cranmer, that seem always to have political overtones that endanger Shardlake himself. After three volumes of this in DISSOLUTION, DARK FIRE, and SOVEREIGN, Shardlake wants nothing more than to eschew the treacherous playground of politics and quietly resume his practice of law at Lincoln's Inn.

It is not to be, however; an old friend and fellow barrister, Roger Elliard is found horrifically murdered. When Shardlake makes the promise to his widow that he will not rest until the killer is found, he is assuming the duty of a friend, but when he is summoned to Archbishop Cranmer's palace, he soon realizes that Roger's murder was more than personal. Baffled by the King's Assistant Coroner's handling of the inquest, Shardlake is summoned to the Archbishop's palace, where he learns that his friend's murder may have a connection to others, and may, indeed, have some connection to Lady Catherine Parr, on whom England's amorous king has set his sights. That all this is being hidden by Cranmer and his ally, Edward Seymour, from the King once again places Matthew in a precarious position. In searching for the killer he will have to deal with evils he has not before seen, rumors of demonic possession, and ponder the cryptic plagues recounted in the apocalyptic Book of Revelation.

This book takes the modern serial-killer motif and adapts it to a time when madness was most often assumed to be possession by evil spirits, and does so with a remarkable lack of anachronism. Shardlake, Barak, the former monk and physician, Guy, all these are portrayed as men of the times, yet men willing to look beyond the contemporary belief to see truth. I was, as always, greatly impressed with Sansom's portrayal of Tudor England, and more than happy with the page-turning plot. Perhaps the best book of the series, so far, was SOVEREIGN, the book immediately preceding this; but REVELATION is by no means a disappointment. You will be well-rewarded in reading it. ( )

C.J.Sansom fourth Tudor novel brings us forward to Spring 1543. King Henry VIII has now recovered from his embarrassment of fifth wife Catherine Howard's adultery; who subsequently lost her head twice; once too Thomas Culpeper and the second was a fatal blow of an axe. Henry's obesity was now way out of control; and these days needed help getting back in the saddle; a new hunt had been planned. His latest quest the wooing of Lady Latimer (Catherine Parr) who was known for her reformist sympathies. Henry had taken a fancy for the Lady a couple of years earlier, the fact she was married had stopped him. But Lady Latimer's husband had been dead a full week; there was little doubt Henry would now make his move; he was looking for a sixth wife.

Meanwhile crookback London Lawyer Matthew Shardlake had sworn off getting himself involved in anymore affairs of state after his York and Sovereign experience a few years back. Remaining at home in Chancery Lane and around Lincoln's Inn this time; he had started working on a case of a teenage boy; who had been placed in the Bedlam insane asylum. The boys had been sprouting mocking passages in god's name; many thought him possessed. An Interesting case for Shardlake; one he needs to resolve soon, the religious mania could lead the boy to be burned as a heretic if not careful.

Shardlake new case was about to be pushed aside after he finds his old friend and fellow lawyer Roger Elliard with his throat cut in Lincoln's Inn fountain. Shardlake pays his condolences to friend Dorothy Elliard the widow she informs Shardlake of some strange happenings before her husband's death; he promises Dorothy he will find the killer. But darker forces are at work; Shardlake approaches the King's coroner for a detailed report of his dead friend, but there seems to be a cover up. Archbishop Cranmer has also taken interest in this case; Cranmer confines a secret to Shardlake one to be kept from the king or they could both lose their heads. Once again Cranmer and Shardlake have no choice but to remain in league with one another.

Shardlake regroups his friends Jack Barak and Guy Malton for this unholy investigation, bodies start mounting in gruesome but somehow symbolic positions. They are now in pursuit of a serial killer who in turn teases his pursuers. Before long they realize the killings are based on a holy art form; dark prophecies from the Book of Revelation. Any ounce of religious convictions in Shardlake lay in shatters.

Once again Sansom's structures each chapter and plot of this book extremely well; using very descriptive lines to twist some betrayal, dishonesty with religious and political chaos. Fantastic writing as the story takes from The Book of Revelation; which was made open knowledge to the common people in those times through the King's reforms. Sansom's spins a dark, imaginative story from turbulent religious times; even pulling off the psychology of the tudor with belief in demons and witchcraft.

Wonderfully visuals on 16th century London; noted sights that can still be seen today; names of certain Lanes; the Inns of Chancery, attached Inns, South Bank, ancient City walls. Your imagination locks in and runs away with it (well mine did) as if you feel yourself wading through those horrendous mucky streets with the complete stench and bustling brutality of life.

The cast of characters; an array of real names in history and fictitious mixes, the perfect balance. Guy Malton from the first two books is back for this one; on hand to help matters out. Jack Barak now married; but already problems have arisen for him. Shardlake the logical voice for all around; trying to sort out one mess after another; but what he really wants is to settle down. Shardlake with humanity always in his heart, even though we all think he deserves happiness, sexual tension or just a kiss, getting cosy will have too wait, us readers need him more for the next installment.

Another great read in this series; Wonderful History Recommended.

Andrea Bowhill. ( )

http://wartaalman.blogspot.com/2009/0... ( )

A great whodunnit - I had my suspicions as to who might be the killer, but I was wrong (and quite glad to be so). I'm not convinced that the background to the killings is realistic or that such a horrific series of murders could really be kept secret. But this is richly textured as ever and full of colour and life, even minor incidental characters are described in a way that makes you believe they really could have lived and are not just paper creations. The book gives a real feel for the politico-religious atmosphere of late Henrician England and you feel like you know the place and the people as well as your own. I hope there are more in this series. ( )