Lamentation (Matthew Shardlake, #6) by C.J. Sansom

Lamentation (Matthew Shardlake, #6) Reviews

• 
  Susan

  Without doubt, the Shardlake series is my favourite historical mystery series ever. Having re-read the earlier books, I started the latest with anticipation. C J Sansom has created a word so realistic that, as soon as you begin reading, you are back in that era – it is all waiting for you, from the Inns of Court, to Shardlake’s house – with his continuing problems of finding a steward he is comfortable with – to the malevolent presence of a King, so unpredictable and feared that most people tend to practice their faith as Henry demands, regardless of his whims and changes, and simply keep their heads down. We are made aware of what not doing what Henry demands can lead to at the very beginning of this book, when Shardlake is ordered to attend the burning of Mistress Anne Askew and three men on a summers day in July, 1546…
  
  Shardlake’s life has changed since we last met him. He has a new steward, Martin Brocket and his wife Agnes, to help Josephine and Timothy in the house, while Simon has gone to be apprenticed. In his office, along with Skelly and the ever faithful Jack Barak, now a content husband and father, there is a new member – Nicholas Overton, who begins the book as slightly immature and unsure young gentleman. Meanwhile, Guy also has a new assistant, and there is a distinct coldness from Shardlake’s old friend towards him, which causes the lawyer a deep sadness. However, much will change in this novel to all our favourite characters, and new ones that we meet.
  
  As always in a Shardlake novel, there is the main plot and one involving a legal case that he is involved with. The side story this time involves a case that Shardlake is involved with concerning a feud between a brother and sister – Mistress Isabel Slanning and her brother, Edward Cotterstone. This will cause Shardlake problems by the end of the book, but the main storyline involves a far larger problem. Despite Matthew Shardlake’s vow that he wants a quiet life, he receives a summons to the palace, where Queen Catherine needs his help again. She has written a religious book – the ‘Lamentations’ of the title – which has been stolen from her private chamber. Now she lives in fear that the book will be printed and made public by radicals. The Court, as always, is a place of intrigue and fear – and this is certainly echoed on the streets of the city. Everyone is fearful, speaking in whispers and afraid of voicing political, or religious, opinions. ‘Lamentations’ could bring down the Queen and – if she falls – so could Shardlake.
  
  This novel has everything fans of the series will love. Shardlake is again embroiled in conspiracy; pitted against his old enemy Richard Rich in a search which will take him from the London docks to the Tower of London. Henry is dying and, even weakened, his charisma is still a powerful tool in this novel. Catherine herself seems to fear him, while Shardlake is still aware of the last time he drew the wrath of the king. Shardlake himself, like many of the characters in this book, seem older and more mature. Aware that he has no wife, Shardlake is continually belittled and laughed at for his ‘crookback’ and he is, as always, a slightly melancholy figure. However, along with the old, we also meet new characters who will become extremely important in (we hope) further books. These include the tantalising prospect of a young William Cecil, helping Lord Parr, the Queen’s uncle, and the introduction of a young Princess Elizabeth. Power, intrigue, heresy and fear make a heady mix and, as always, Shardlake finds himself involved in the highest powers of the land. Along the way, you will be surprised, shocked and saddened, but I hope that we see more books involving our favourite characters. This is truly a masterpiece – fiction at its finest – for which I can only thank the author for creating a cast of characters I care about as though they were real; which, for me, they are.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Annet

  What a book, a great history read, great story and a great writer. The best in the Shardlake series for me. Kept me on the edge of my chair from beginning to end. Great suspense and interesting imaginable insights into court life of King Henry VIII, the politics and the religious turmoil, his wife Queen Catherine Parr and the continued strenuous adventures of Matthew Shardlake, hunchback lawyer. Now I'm sorry I have to wait a long time for the next book in the series.... Matthew and Elizabeth... no doubt. I really enjoyed this one.
  
  Ah, the festive times and the days of quiet reading are over for now... Tomorrow it's back to work!
• 
  Bettie

  
  Bettie's Books
• 
  Matt

  C.J. Sansom is at the top of his genre with this set of Tudor era historical mysteries. By mixing legal conundrums with controversies of the time, the reader is easily transported back in time and enveloped in stories that resonate throughout the centuries. England is at war again, though it is no sovereign state that has declared its opposition. Rather, there is a religious clash that continues at a time when Henry VIII seeks to reunite with past foes. While the Catholic/Church of England clash remains controversial, the emergence of new and troubling Protestant organizations has English folk questioning their neighbours. At the heart of things is Queen Catherine Parr herself, who has penned a manuscript about her own struggles, The Lamentations of a Sinner. In it, Queen Catherine reveals many of her thoughts on religion, which could not only anger her husband, but pave the way for her execution. The queen calls on Matthew Shardlake to attend her at Court, where he is tasked with covertly trying to discover what’s happened to it, as it has gone missing. More troubling, a local printer is found murdered with one of the manuscript’s handwritten pages in his hand. Shardlake realises that he must not only find a murderer, but the written document, doing so under veil of secrecy. With a young man having joined the office to better understand the law, Shardlake may use him for investigative purposes while training him in the law. As Shardlake and his assistant, Jack Barak, seek to find this manuscript, they soon discover more bodies and eventually make the connection to a controversial religious group whose views prove to be at the heart of the religious clash. Adding intrigue to the entire situation, Henry VIII is getting sicker by the day, meaning that both religious camps have the chance to make a play for the coming heir, Prince Edward. Which side will prove victorious and can the highly scandalous writing keep Queen Catherine from losing the respect of her dying husband? In a piece that explores some of the lesser-known aspects of Tudor England, Sansom proves to be a rose amongst patches of clover. Recommended to those who have come to love all things Sansom and readers who enjoy Tudor history.
  
  There are so many pieces to the machinery of a Matthew Shardlake novel that the reader will have to pick and choose which suits them best. C.J. Sansom offers much on which the reader can feast and develops storylines throughout this well-paced series. Keeping history and mystery competing throughout, the reader can find what works best for them as they learn more about the era and the series protagonist. Matthew Shardlake is a wonderful central character whose development has not waned over the series. While there is little mention of flashbacks, Shardlake has enough in his present to keep the reader enthralled. A wonderful legal mind, many refuse to see this side of Shardlake, choosing to focus on his hunchback and writing him off as permanently impeded. Struggling with memories of a horrible naval disaster that still haunts him and trying to define the relationship he has with Queen Catherine so as not to find himself jailed, Shardlake forges ahead with a preliminary case that usually finds itself taking a a backseat to the more controversial events evolving throughout the narrative. The reader is able to see many returning characters whose lives continue to develop, while also seeing new faces enrich the story as they shape the plot’s direction. The story was strong and kept my attention throughout, instilling wonder as England tries to define itself for a second time under Henry VIII. Politics, religion, and regional power are intertwined in this piece, allowing C.J. Sansom to effectively educate and entertain simultaneously. While the series continues to develop, its key elements are in question and there is a sense of sectional finality by the epilogue. A recently published seventh novel will surely help explore some of the questions left unresolved in true Tudor form.
  
  Kudos, Mr. Sansom, for keeping Tudor history alive in this piece of historical fiction. I hope new fans, like me, will discover this and lose themselves in the mastery you have of the genre.
  
  Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
  
  http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
  
  A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge:
  https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
• 
  Carolyn

  Another excellent book by C.J. Sansom in the Matthew Shardlake series. This is one of my favourite historical series. Not just because Sansom writes about the period so well with the type of historical detail that makes you visualise the streets of London, the palaces and Inns of Court, but also because he writes such absorbing plots and interesting characters. Even though this is a big book, there is never a moment when the pace drops off or the interest wanes.
  
  Henry VIII is near the end of his reign and is slowly dying when Shardlake is summoned by the Queen, Catherine Parr. She has written a secret radical religious book called 'Lamentations of a Sinner' that has been stolen and could see her put to death if discovered by the King. Shardlake starts to secretly investigate the theft of the book and where it has gone but soon finds himself embroiled in other political plots and up against his old enemy, Richard Rich. He will need every ounce of diplomacy and caution to escape with his own life. Against this backdrop of high intrigue, Shardlake is dealing with a particularly difficult dispute between a brother and sister in his law practice and his home and social life continues to provide some problems.
  
  With Henry's death towards the end of the book, Sansom leaves us with a strong hint of the direction which the next Shardlake episode will take, so I'm looking forward to that with a high degree of anticipation!
• 
  Phrynne

  Another remarkable book in this brilliant series. This is number six and I very much hope that
  C.J. Sansom is busy right now writing number seven! This one may even be the best in the series so far despite the fact that everything that can go wrong does go wrong for our hero Matthew Shardlake.
  Matthew is an unusual hero at the best of times, a hunch back lawyer with very little going for him physically. However he is a very honorable man at a time when there was not much honour around which frequently leads him and his associates into deep trouble.
  Lamentation takes place close to the end of the reign of Henry V111 while he is married to Catherine Parr and the court is a hot bed of underhand plots and schemes.Everyone who is anyone is trying to become a part of the group who will rule after Henry's demise and Matthew unfortunately becomes tangled in the webs of deceit.
  I enjoy every part of these books from the excellent characters to the wonderful descriptions of old London and all the historical detail. I sincerely hope there will be more books to come!
• 
  PattyMacDotComma

  4.5★
  “She held up her richly embroidered sleeve. ‘This was once worn with a dress of Anne Boleyn’s. I have constant reminders of past events. I live in fear now, Matthew, great fear.’ ”
  
  Queen Catherine Parr. How long will she remain in King Henry VIII’s good books? For that matter, how long will King Henry VIII remain – period? He is on his last legs, literally.
  
  “Two of the sturdy, black-robed Gentlemen Pensioners were helping an immense figure, clad in a billowing yellow silk caftan with a collar of light fur, to walk along, supporting him under the arms. I saw with a shock that it was the King.
  
  . . . the man I saw now was the very wreck of a human being. His huge legs, made larger still by swathes of bandages, were splayed out like a gigantic child’s as he took each slow and painful step. Every movement sent his immense body wobbling and juddering beneath the caftan.”
  
  So far, he still loves Catherine and vice-versa. He calls for her to come sing to him in the evenings to help relieve his pain, which she does gladly.
  
  So much for the domestic scene. Matthew Shardlake is the wonderful hunchbacked lawyer who was well-paid by Cromwell to close down the monasteries and acquire all of the land and goods for the King.
  
  Religion in England is swinging back and forth. Under Cromwell, it was swinging to reformists, making the King of England the head of the church. Cromwell fell out of favour and off the face of the earth.
  
  The King has held with the Catholic Church that transubstantiation (the literal changing of the bread and wine to the body and blood of Jesus Christ) is true and that those Protestants who say it is only symbolic are heretics. Strong words! As the author says in his Historical Note:
  
  “It was over this point that, in 1539, Henry VIII drew a firm line. Under the ‘Act of Six Articles’ of that year, denial of transubstantiation, or ‘sacra-mentarianism’, was defined as heresy. One recantation was allowed; a refusal to recant, or a second offence, was punishable by burning alive.”
  
  This is where we find ourselves, with the threat of being reported as a heretic making people nervously careful about how they speak. That includes the Queen. She calls upon her old friend Matthew to help her with some missing writings that would displease the King - or worse.
  
  But first, the book opens:
  
  “I did not want to attend the burning. I have never liked even such things as the bearbaiting, and this was to be the burning alive at the stake of four living people, one a woman, for denying that the body and blood of Christ were present in the Host at Mass. Such was the pitch we had come to in England during the great heresy hunt of 1546.
  
  He had no choice. He has been assigned to represent Lincoln’s Inn, one of the Inns of Court, the one where he works. He had, after all, agreed to become more involved in the activities of the Inn, but this was certainly not what he had in mind.
  
  Sitting astride his faithful old horse, Genesis, he finds he has a better view than he would wish. He can’t be seen to hide his eyes or turn away, and this is going to be an awful affair.
  
  “Near to me a soldier passed, carefully carrying a basket. ‘Make way, make way! ’Tis the gunpowder!’
  
  I was glad to hear the words. At least there would be some mercy. The sentence for heresy was burning to death, but sometimes the authorities allowed a packet of gunpowder to be placed around each victim’s neck so that when the flames reached it, the packet would explode, bringing instantaneous death.
  
  ‘Should let them burn to the end,’ someone protested.
  
  ‘Ay,’ another agreed. ‘The kiss of fire, so light and agonizing.’ ”
  
  Shardlake must tread carefully. The King has never liked him, although he has been a trusted friend of the Queen since before her marriage, when she was Lady Latimer.
  
  There is so much political and royal intrigue in this that I hesitate to delve into it. It’s enough to say that it is a fascinating look at the times for someone like me who enjoys history, historical fiction, and a good story. The cast of characters is enormous, of course, but the author does a good job of reminding the reader of where they fit, and there is even a list.
  
  “PRINCIPAL DRAMATIS PERSONAE
  ‘and their places on the political–religious spectrum’”
  
  Swordfights, murder, what else? Oh yes – the King may be on his last legs, but nobody is allowed to mention what might happen when (not if), his body finally gives out. His young, sickly son Edward is going to need a Regent to take charge. Questions, questions! (Shhh.)
  
  I love this series. There may be some anachronisms but there was nothing that marred my enjoyment. It’s a bit long – but – having said that, it is a complex time and anything shorter would have omitted some of the necessary action.
  
  This is the fifth in the Shardlake series. My previous reviews are below:
  
  Dissolution
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
  
  
  Dark Fire
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
  
  
  Sovereign
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
  
  
  Revelation
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
  
  
  Heartstone
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• 
  Andy

  Have been saving this one up for a while now as its the latest in the series & will leave me upto date & waiting (hopefully) for a continuation in the series.
  
  Such a smooth narrator, as we get straight back into the saddle & quickly we become reacquainted with the world of Master Serjeant Shardlake (a lawyer) in Tudor England in the era of the Great reformation. You can smell the streets with the authenticity of the writing & before you know it you are like 200 pages into the book as it’s web draws you ever forward through its layers of plots & intrigue. Masterful stuff & a great series of endings which did very much surprise me.
  
  As its a mystery based series I’ll say very little more as the likelihood of posting potential spoilers but suffice to say this is up there with my favourite series if not No.1 itself!
  
  Not quite the full five but weighs in at 4.5 stars for me
  
• 
  Labijose

  Aunque “Heartstone” me dejó con un sabor agridulce, con “Lamentation” el autor vuelve por sus fueros y nos ofrece una novela histórica de primerísimo nivel, consagrándose como uno de los mejores escritores de este tipo de novelas.
  
  De nuevo te sumerges de lleno en la época de Enrique VIII. Sansom logra unas ambientaciones de las cuales es imposible abstraerse. Si a eso añadimos una trama envolvente (la desaparición de un manuscrito de la propia reina, que, de acabar en manos del rey, podría suponerle una seria condena por herejía, por lo que decide acudir a su buen amigo Shardlake), unos personajes ya tan familiares para los que somos seguidores de la serie, y una sabia elección de por dónde conducir al lector, el resultado es una novela, que, a pesar de su extensión, se lee en un suspiro. Asistiremos a la decadencia plena de Enrique VIII y a los tejemanejes de los grandes del reino, que, sintiendo ya cercana la muerte del monarca, decantan posiciones para no perder comba ante los futuros acontecimientos, de los cuales el camino que tomará la religión impuesta por el rey será un eje central.
  
  Y todo escrito con una prosa exquisita, que espero que continúe en este nivel en las próximas andanzas de nuestro abogado, ahora bajo la tutela de un nuevo monarca. El rey ha muerto, ¡Viva el Rey!
  
  Nota aclaratoria: “Lamentation”, el manuscrito de la reina Catherine Parr existe, lo que no ocurrió fue la desaparición de dicho documento, acción imaginaria del autor para la confección de esta grandísima novela.
• 
  Caroline

  It wasn't until I was almost half way through this book that I began to enjoy it. The first part of the book felt like scene setting - before the plot finally kicked off and we went for a run-away ride that was utterly gripping. Issues included....
  
  *political machinations and intrigue in high places
  *frightening tales of religious persecution
  *a wonderfully eccentric legal case that Shardlake's law firm was dealing with
  *the gossipy and sweet charms of Shardlake's home life
  
  There is also a marvellous immersion in Tudor culture. (This was not as strong for me in this book as it has been in his previous novels, but is still an attractive feature of the book.)
  
  Sampsom's descriptions are powerful....
  
  * the fat, sick and angry mountain of a man that is Henry VIII
  * the treatment and then death by fire of three people who refused to support the idea of the Eucharist as the body of Christ.
  * the poisonous anger and prejudice of Shardlake's client Isabel Slanning
  * the rare beauty and wealth of Whitehall Palace
  * the fear generated by The Tower of London
  *the politics of the Inns of Court where Shardlake works, and more intimately, the lives of the people in his law firm. His treatment and caring towards them is one of his finest features.
  
  This and numerous other cameos weave together to create a masterful picture of sixteenth century London and its people. Ultimately the emphasis is on people - Sansom has a marvellous ability to bring his characters to life, and they all have great integrity - even characters like Isabel Slanning who hover on the edge of madness. His characters are palpable and fascinating, and for me - hugely pleasurable.
  
  The first part of the book was a slog (one star), the second part was a huge un-put-downable pleasure (five stars). I think it is well worth sitting out the slog for the joys of the rest of the book.
• 
  Laura

  Page 12:
  "So this was Anne Askew, who had left her husband in Lincolnshire to come and preach in London, and said the consecrated wafer was no more than a piece of bread, which would go mouldy like any other if left in a box."
  
  
  Internet Shakespeare Editions: Anne Askew's Examinations defies the constraints of gender and hierarchy, and attempts to expose patriarchal insecurity surrounding female involvement in traditionally male religious subjects.
  
  
  Anne Askew burned at the stake. The image is provided by permission of the British Library.
  
  Page 40:
  ""I come from Whitehall Palace, from her majesty the Queen. She begs you to see her." "Begs?' I answered in surprise. Queens do not beg."
  
  Page 48:
  Detail from The Family of Henry VIII, c. 1545. Unknown artist, after Holbein. Hampton Court Palace. © The Royal Collection.
  
  Page 69:
  
  Copy of Katherine's text, Lamentations of a Sinner, published in 1547 with her signature.
  
  More details are provided by
  Internet Shakespeare Editions.
  
  In Lamentation of a Sinner, Parr follows a pattern of confession and repentance, all the while stressing the importance of Christian Scripture, an emphasis which marks her work as a Reformation text:
  
  When I consider (in the bethinking of mine evil and wretched and former life) mine obstinate, stony, and untractible heart to have so much exceeded in evilness that it hath not only neglected -- yea condemned and despised -- God's holy precepts and commandments, but also embraced, received, and esteemed vain, foolish, and feigned trifles, I am (partly by the hate I owe to sin, whom I am content to edify even with the example of my own shame) forced and constrained with my heart and words to confess and declare to my creator, and how beneficial, merciful, and gentle he hath been always to me his creature, being such a miserable, wretched sinner.
  
  page 179:
  "McKendrick, the Scottish soldier. Curdy, the candlemaker. Vandersteyn, the Dutch trader. Religious radicals, meeting for potentially dangerous discussions. Possibly
  sacramentarians , or even
  Anabaptists. And somehow, the Lamentation had come into Greening's hands."
  
  Even if the main plot is centered on the search of Catherine Parr's stolen manuscript, the death of
  Anne Askew is also investigated by Matthew Shardlake since she was the only woman recorded to have been tortured in the Tower of London. As
  Queen Catherine, she also wrote a "dangerous" manuscript - The Examinations.
  
  As the previous books of this series, the author intertwines into the narrative very accurate historical facts thus given more realistic aspects even if we are dealing with a fiction book. The historical characters are quite well-known to the readers but they come to life in the hands of CJ Sansom.
  
  Matthew Shardlake series:
  4* Dissolution
  5* Revelation
  4* Sovereign
  4* Dark Fire
  5* Lamentation
  TBR Heartstone
  
  5* Winter in Madrid
  TBR Dominion
  
• 
  C.W.

  Richly rendered with his trademark eye for detail in his Tudor-based world, C.J. Samson's Shardlake series are always a delightful eye-opening read.
  
  In Lamentation, the sixth entry in the series, lawyer Matthew Shardlake is older and grumpier, the losses he experienced in the previous volume haunting him, compounded by domestic imbroglios at home and inevitable troubles at work. His current case involves a litigious, viciously antagonistic brother and sister, showing us how even in Tudor times, people sued each other over the silliest of reasons - in this case, a mural painted on a childhood home wall, which has the siblings at each other's throats, the sister in particular prone to strident accusations of heretical leanings and malevolent hints of a dark secret in her brother's past. Shardlake finds the entire case wearying, as well he should, but his life is about to get a lot more complicated when he's summoned to court by Queen Catherine Parr's brother to serve the queen once more.
  
  Shardlake's previous efforts on behalf of King Henry VIII's sixth wife, for whom the lawyer nurses a sweet but futile crush, have not gone so well. His trepidation is justified when informed that he must help hunt down a missing manuscript written by the queen that, should it fall into the wrong hands, might end up getting her arrested and possibly executed for heresy and treason. The manuscript is real, one Catherine Parr actually penned; its fictionalized theft becomes the locus around which Mr Samson spins a sinister, and at moments, convoluted plot involving religious dissidents in King Henry's treacherous realm, where matters of faith can be lethal, and survival among the scheming councilors surrounding the ailing, paranoid king never precludes taking down potential rivals and a queen or three, if necessary.
  
  Knowing something of King Henry's final years isn't essential to enjoy Shardlake's latest adventure, though the large cast of characters can prove daunting to a lay reader. A list of those included in the book helps alleviate the confusion to some extent, but in the end it hardly matters. Samson is so adept with his main character's foibles and keen intelligence, a misfit always at odds with his brutal world, as well as with the decaying ambiance of Henry's reign as the king nears his end, that a reader's failure to grasp the nuances of who is who at court is but a minor quibble. What fascinates are the parallels to our own 21st century world: the debate over how one should worship and dissidents seen as dangerous forces out to wreck the natural order mirroring our own terror-ridden culture. Here, it's Protestant against Protestant; plug in any other religion and you'll get the same result. And Samson's depiction of Henry himself - morbidly obese, with the blood of two wives and countless others staining his bejeweled fingers - is chilling. A scene in which Shardlake witnesses the burning of condemned heretics, including Anne Askew, reminds us of how fanaticism in any age can be deadly and how Henry's bewildering see-saw between his Catholic predilections and his destructive Reformation kept all of his realm on edge.
  
  The finale is marvelously done, hopefully promising future adventures for Shardlake, who could really use a break, this time in a world where Henry VIII mercifully no longer exists.
• 
  Phee

  That was most definitely the best book in this series. It was a beast, 700 pages of historical fiction. But Sansom’s writing and Crossley’s narration made it a joy to read, just like the others in the series.
  
  Now that I have read this book I am up to date with this series. I’m not sure if there are going to be anymore. I’ve not heard or seen anything to suggest either that this is the last one or if another will be written and published eventually. If one does come out then I will certainly read it. I will say though that the epilogue of this book seems to end the series quite well. It was rather bittersweet and brought so much change for Shardlake and those he loves. I am definitely satisfied if that epilogue is the last of we see of Shardlake and his life.
  
  I’m not going to go into plot details or anything like that. If you didn’t know by now then all I will say is this series follows the life life of a hunchback lawyer called Matthew Shardlake. It follows his life, cases and the political landscape of the time, Tudor England under the reign of Henry VIII. This book was the most political of the lot. Shardlake is in the thick of the court intrigue this time, not just on the outskirts. Meaning that the stakes are the highest they have ever been. The motives of everyone are to questioned and we find out much more about characters that have previously been enemies.
  
  It’s a wonderful series, I am so glad I continued on with it. I have nothing negative to say about it, which is amazing considering that it is a 6 book series with some very chunky books towards the end. The elements it brings to the table satisfy me beyond words. Tudor England, court politics, law, religion and a good old mystery. If your a fan of any of this then I have no doubts you will enjoy this series too.
• 
  Samantha

  It is no secret that I adore CJ Sansom's Matthew Shardlake series. You all know it. My kids know it. I should probably start a fan club. This book is one more reason to get your hands on some Team Matthew paraphernalia.
  
  This installment in Matthew's story brings him in contact, once again, with the lovely Catherine Parr. Though he claims to desire a quiet life and toys with the idea of moving to the country, the adventures that Matthew gets himself involved in make one wonder if he does not truly thrive on it the same way that Barak does.
  
  With twists and turns that at times left me wondering where on earth the plot was leading, this novel is centered on the fictional theft of Queen Catherine's manuscript of Lamentation of a Sinner before it was published. This brings Shardlake into a rather uncomfortable relationship with his nemesis Richard Rich (nobody who is really going to move quietly to the country has a nemesis).
  
  Tudor England is spectacularly brought to life, as it is in each Shardlake novel, this time including the stomach turning burning of Anne Askew. While Matthew still is struggling to cope with the loss of his friends on the Mary Rose, he is forced to face challenges and mysteries unlike anything he has so far. The result leaves him on course for big changes in his life, whether he is willing or not.
  
  I was shocked and a little saddened by some of the developments that were set up for the next book, but Matthew, like all of us, is helpless to hold on to time or the people in his life indefinitely. I am excited to see where Sansom takes him next.
• 
  Kerri

  'I had long known she looked on Henry with a loving, indulgent eye, though to me he was a monster of cruelty. Nonetheless, it was also known the King placed great store by traditional, chivalric values; such a mind could be shocked by a gentlewoman's torture, while seeing nothing amiss in burning her alive.'
  
  I think I've mentioned this in previous reviews for this series, but with each book I dislike King Henry VIII more. By this point he is dying slowly, painfully. I think the theory about him having type two diabetes fits, it has always made sense to me. C.J. Sansom notes that he was, 'at the outside edge of gross, morbid obesity.' Frankly, I think it's surprising he lived as long as he did. I had some sympathy for him in this book, so ill, unable to walk, suffering a great deal. But a cynical part of me felt like it was fitting, that this man who was responsible for so much death, should ultimately have to suffer too. It felt ironic that under his rule so many people lived in near-starvation, while he ended up feeling the devastating physical effects of excess.
  In terms of Catherine Parr - I couldn't help wishing her story could have a happy ending, but alas, history shows she did not. It seems a great shame she married Thomas Seymour. She deserved better.
  
  In this book, Matthew Shardlake is called upon once more by Queen Catherine, to try and locate her stolen manuscript, 'Lamentation of a Sinner' -- this manuscript did exist, but the stealing of it is fictional.
  I think I have enjoyed each book in this series more than the last, as each one adds to the characters I already love so much. This is the book where Shardlake's actions start to have major consequences for those around him, causing an anger from Guy that was unexpected, but ultimately fair. The situation with Barak was awful, seemingly all the more graphic due to him being such a favourite over five books now. I was relieved that he survived, and am intrigued to see if he features in the next book. Tamasin's reaction, like Guy's, felt harsh, since it was directed at my beloved Shardlake, but again, it felt (mostly) fair. Poor Matthew. Each book puts him through so much, and what I really appreciate is that he never manages to shake it off. Every death or serious injury weighs on him.
  
  Matthew feels freer after the King's death, and I as a reader felt the same. It was something of relief, even though it was so long ago, that this man was finally dead.
  
  'I looked at the effigy as it passed and thought, what did he really achieve, what did his extraordinary reign really bring? I remembered all that I had seen these last ten years; ancient monasteries destroyed, monks pensioned off and servants put out on the road; persecutions and burnings - I shuddered at the memory of Anne Askew's head exploding; a great war that had achieved nothing and impoverished the country - and if that impoverishment continued to deepen, there would be trouble: the common people could only stand so much. And always, always under Henry, the shadow of the axe. I thought of those who had perished by it, and in particular of one I had long ago known well, and still remembered: Thomas Cromwell.
  Beside me Philip said softly, 'And so it ends.' '
  
  Henry's time is over, and Shardlake is sent forward by Catherine, now Queen Dowager, to serve the young Lady Elizabeth.
  I would have loved to go right into the next book, but unfortunately I don't have a copy with me, so I'll have to wait a little while!
• 
  happy

  With his latest Shardlake mystery, C.J. Sansom once again paints a vivid portrait of Henry VIII’s England. This novel is set in the last year of Henry’s life during one of the many fluctuations of what is the proper way to worship God. Henry is drifting towards the conventional understanding the Eucharist and as a result there is a hunt on for heretics.
  
  In the opening sequence of the novel, Shardlake is required by his superiors at Lincoln Inn to attend the burning of 4 people convicted of heresy, including the real life Anne Askew. This scene is vividly written and somewhat stomach turning. After this scene Matthew is summoned to court to help Queen Catherine recover a manuscript she has written that might lead her to being accused of heresy. The theft is fictional, but the manuscript is not – it was published as “Lamentation of a Sinner” after Henry’s death.
  
  As Shardlake searches for the manuscript, he comes into contact with one of his least favorite of the men surrounding Henry – Richard Rich. I thought the interplay between Rich and Shardlake was well told. In his dealing with the people at court, Matthew has the opportunity to see the rapidly declining Henry. I thought these scenes were extremely well done and paints a vivid picture of a man who is almost immobile and in constant pain.
  
  The author’s portrayal of London during this time is excellent. With the heresy hunts, people are shown to be afraid to voice opinions, religious or political. Sansom also brings the Anabaptists into the story and the fear there beliefs gave the powers that be, whether they were conservative, ie Catholic, or radical, ie Lutheran or Calvinist.
  
  As far as the mysteries go, and there are two in the novel, I felt they were almost secondary to the progress of the novel. The main mystery is what has happened to the Queens manuscript. The secondary mystery involve an inheritance case between a brother and a sister who hate each other. The sister, Shardlake’s client, inherits a mural in her mother’s house while her brother inherits the actual house. Neither sibling is willing to budge on their position and Shardlake is unsuccessful in attempting to mediate a solution with the son’s attorney. In searching of a solution to the problem, Shardlake searches for and finds the source of the animosity between the two siblings.
  
  
  The main fault I had with the story is the way Mr. Sansom ties the two mysteries together. I thought it was a little too pat. That said, he paints a portrait of Tudor England that is a delight to read and the book is much more than the mysteries. I rate it 4.25 stars – the way the mysteries are tied together drops it a half star for me.
  
• 
  Richard

  7/10
  
  It was exciting to learn that a new Shardlake was coming out (admittedly in 2014 but it’s taken me a while to get around to reading this one!) and I was looking forward to getting back into the Tudor world and living through the eyes of the lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Everything is there that was in the previous novel, the excellent descriptions going into how London looked, felt, smelled during this time period all leap off the page and the characters are outlined so well that it feels like you know them personally. However, the previous novel lacked a coherent exciting plot and the same can be said here.
  
  The plot of Shardlake being hired by the Queen and her troupe to find a “radical” book she wrote which has been stolen didn’t excite quite like some of the other novels and their plots. The novel portrays the time period well and how nobody was able to openly state their religious feelings for fear of death (it sounds like some of the countries in the world today, just swap religious with political) and this comes across with the Queen’s fear of Henry VIII finding the book and sending her to be burnt.
  
  There is murder taking place such as in the other novels but the uncovering of the culprits is second to the recovery of the book and avoidance of any religious backlash to the Queen. It wasn’t all that exciting for me though, the page count was quite high and could have been trimmed (similar to the last novel) and the excellent characters of Barak and Guy were fringe players. Also knowing the old rhyme about Henry VIII’s wives meant I knew that Catherine Parr wasn’t going to be ousted and sent to roast.
  
  This is not to say this isn’t a good book, it is clearly well written and will suit a number of people better than it suited me. Looking at the ratings on Goodreads shows I’m in the minority on my opinion. Perhaps it’s a case of wrong book at the wrong time. I feel that the series does still have legs and can transition neatly into a new time period quite well and it felt Sansom was gearing up for this, specifically in the epilogue. I would definitely look at these books and still maintain this series is very strong and worth picking up for anyone interested in the time period or anyone looking for a good mystery.
  
  If you like this try: “Roman Blood” by Steven Saylor
• 
  Hanneke

  The sixth Master Shardlake thriller was again a breathtaking adventure and immensely enjoyable. Master Shardlake is such a likeable character that you greatly fear for his well being and bite your nails in fear that he will be put on the rack in the Tower and left behind to rot. Luckily he has friends in mighty high places, but his luck is running very thin at times. I think Shardlake invokes such sympathy because he is always forced into all these dangerous adventures by the high and mighty of the land and never because of his own chosing. He cannot refuse and he is a very worried hero most of the time. His loyalties to certain people are a danger to himself and those close to him. It was great to have been shown the streets of Tudor London once again, get many close views of the filth and poverty in the streets and the extreme wealth and opulence at the court and see the intrigues of the court vipers unfold. Great descriptions of how the different religious fractions fight for dominance and how the balance sometimes tills towards more radicalism or back again to more conservatism, leaving random victims in its swaying. You can burn at the stake for an idea that is adopted as doctrine again three months later. Luckily, our good Master survived another deadly onslaught, worst for wear himself but especially his helpers. The book is big (my copy over 700 pages) and unputdownable. Cannot wait to see another installment. Hopefully it is in the making!
  
• 
  Susan

  Lamentation is the sixth book in the wonderful Matthew Shardlake series written by the excellent author C.J. Sansom. Shardlake is a hunchbacked lawyer in the time of Henry VIII. This book involves a mystery with the King's last wife, Catherine Parr.
  
  Parr writes a small book called Lamentation of a Sinner about her personal faith. The book, kept under lock and key, disappears which is quite troubling. Henry is in a period of regret about leaving the Church and the search for heretics is going strong again. Parr is afraid that her book could be considered heretical. Shardlake is brought in to find the book secretly and possibly save the Queen's life.
  
  The book opens with the horrific burning of Anne Askew and two other suspected heretics. Shardlake has to attend in his role as a lawyer. Askew is an unique woman. She has left her husband and two children to come to London and preach on the new faith. There she comes to attention to of authorities and is arrested. She is given a somewhat mock trial and sent to the Tower of London. There she is racked and cannot feed herself or walk. She also tells a sympathizer who writes her story down and smuggles it out of the castle.
  
  Sansom is such a master of historical information that he describes the burning in great detail. Askew is so injured that she is brought to a pyre in a chair to be burned. All the victims have a bag of gunpowder wrapped around their necks. It is so horrific.
  
  Now the search is on to find the copy of her treatment and the two investigations. As Shardlake hunts them down, he moves through London and Sansom has brought that time so alive I felt like I could reach out and touch the walls. I could feel the people's deathly fear of saying the wrong thing. He is a master at historical fiction.
  
  I learned several things reading this book. Henry VIII probably didn't have syphilis. Scholars now think he had type 2 diabetes. The diabetes probably led to impotence and could explain why he had no more children after Edward.
  
  I, also, learned just how important women were in the development of Protestantism. Henry was married to two different wives of strong Protestant women, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr. They were able to influence Henry as much as it was possible. He wasn't that great at listening to people. Also, Anne Askew with her martyrdom was a figure to admire. I am sure there are many more stories of the contributions of women that we just haven't heard.
  
  I think this is one of the very best series out there if you like historical mysteries. I am not sure how much is mystery and how much is political intrigue but that's OK. I can not recommend this more highly and I have numerous times.
• 
  Clemens Schoonderwoert

  Read this book in 2014, and its the 6th volume of the wonderful "Matthew Shardlake" series.
  
  This tale is set in the year AD 1546, and King Henry VIII is dying, and while his last days are painful in the background the Catholic and Protestant forces are at work for supremacy and power.
  
  Heretics are hunted throughout London and Anne Askew is burned at the stake, the Catholic party focuses their attack on the King's sixth wife, Catherine Parr.
  
  After the horrible events of last year in Portsmouth, Shardlake is now working on the Cotterstoke Will case, when he's summoned to Whitehall Palace, and asked for his help by his old patron, the now beleaguered and desperate Queen Catherine Parr.
  
  This Queen Catherine Parr has a secret, for she's the author of the confessional book called; Lamentation of a Sinner, a Protestant book that could bring her and her sympathizers down hard and that book has now vanished.
  
  Only one page is found clutched in the hand of a murdered printer, but where the book has gone nobody knows, but when Shardlake and Barak begin their investigations they will soon discover that several events are connected, and that thsi book can bring a lot of damage to a lot of people.
  
  What is to follow is an excellent historical mystery, in which Shardlake and Barak are involved in intrigue and treason within Whitehall Palace, and after some twists and turns, followed by a fabulous executed plot, they will be able to save Queen Catherine Parr from prosecution and themselves from death by various enemy forces within the English court, and all this is brought to us in a marvellous fashion by the author.
  
  Highly recommended, for this is another amazing addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Lamentation"!
• 
  Paul

  The sixth wife of King Henry VIII, Queen Catherine Parr, has made what could be a fatal error. She has written a book, The Lamentation of a Sinner, which contains confessional and radical contents. She has also kept this book a secret from her husband, and if he was to find out this almost certainly bring her and sympathizers disgrace and ruination. The book has been stolen from a chest in her private quarters and a page was found in the hands of a dead printer in the backstreets of Tudor London. She is desperate to regain possession of it before the King learns of its existence.
  
  Shardlake had hoped to never hear from royalty again, but Parr calls on him to help locate the missing book and he cannot refuse. Beginning in the print shops of London, he realizes that he is facing a ruthless enemy, but this is only part of the threat, the swirl of politics in the palaces can be equally deadly especially as the king is dying and there is the beginnings of a power struggle in the royal courts. On top of that, he faces his old adversary Sir Richard Rich once again and is dealing with a case between two siblings that threatens to spiral out of control.
  
  Once again, Sansom has written a compelling Tudor murder mystery full of twists and turns. The stakes are much higher too, with the threat to Shardlake and his companions being much greater than in previous books. However, I did have a couple of issues with it. The first is that the series seems to be running out of steam a little. The second issue is that the other characters from previous books, Barak and Guy in particular, that have made the series so appealing in the past, played a smaller role in this story and he seemed to be at odds with them a lot of the time as well. It is still a good book and worth reading if you have read the others in the series. Tthe main character Shardlake seems to have had much more than his fair share of bad luck and mishap as well as being the pawn in the larger political game between the various factions at the court. Will there be a seventh book in the series? You’ll have to read this and decide.
• 
  Tanja Berg

  So I went back to Henry the VIII land and the lawyer Matthew Shardlake's escapades. The King's health is deteriorating, but he is still as viscious and upredictable as ever - to a degree, even more so, due to pain. When Queen Catherine Parr notices that the little book she has written, "the Lamentation of a Sinner" has disappeared, she is frightened for her life and enlists Matthew's help.
  
  I'm not sure what to think. The historical detail is superb and rings true. The King is terrifying and I had to quickly google the fate of Catherine. The story is overly long and convoluted though, I even considered giving it just two stars. The reason I did not is that this book dwells a great deal on Shardlake's personal relationships, with his staff and friends, which I did want to know about. If there's more books in the series, I'll undoubtedly return.
• 
  Sarah

  Henry the Eighth is rapidly becoming a defeated man in both body and spirit. Shardlake's loyalty and discretion is called upon, once more, to assist in uncovering intrigue at the royal court.
  
  Sansom's Tudor mysteries have been a delight. I have shadowed lawyer Shardlake's life and career, his thoughts and vulnerabilities, through the unforgiving streets of old London. Attention to Tudor detail, mixed with stories that add plot-driven pace make these novels such wonderful, atmospheric reads. They offer an escape into a world rich with vivid sights and smells, lavish costume detail and enigmatic characters.
  
  Times are treacherous. Religious persecution and court manoeuvring is rife as a failing King Henry struggles with personal battles. Shardlake is thrust into jeopardy in a world that is full of suspicion, mistrust, fear and chaos.
• 
  Andrea

  And so it ends...
  
  Henry VIII is dying. His courtiers are all watching their steps lest they offend his wavering views on religion, Anne Askew is burned as a heretic, and all England is afraid of what will come next. In the midst of this all, Queen Katherine Parr has written a manuscript entitled "Lamentations of a Sinner" which could seal her fate and see her arrested as a heretic if it should fall into the wrong hands- and one day, it is stolen. Turning to the one man she can trust, she once again turns to quests Matthew Shardlake for help.
  
  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: C.J. Sansom is a genius at creating historical atmosphere. He really brings the era to life, and the way he captured the widespread fear of offending a monarch who has hardly been constant on his views on religion was just brilliant. I also loved this idea of Catherine Parr losing her manuscript! It has been wonderful to see Henry and the court through Matthew's eyes over the course of this series, to see him going from a virile, powerful ruler, to an old, fat man whom everyone is still trying to bend to their will.
  
  But, as always, the actual mystery just fell a little short for me. These books are truly wonderful if you want to emerse yourself in Tudor London, but for me, the mysteries don't always measure up to that. That was also true in this case: Matthew investigates not only the theft at the palace (once more letting himself be manipulated by the Queen and endangering everyone around him), but has to deal with a sibling feud (which was interesting, don't get me wrong. But this book is over 700 pages long, and I for one could've lived without it), and a bunch of other stuff just piles on.
  
• 
  Christine

  Review to come. This was a long whopper of a book. All of the books in this series are hefty, but this one somehow took me longer to get through. Sudden and surprising events at the very end, concerning favorite characters, have left some cliffhangers for the next book. Glad I already have it on order!
• 
  Lejla

  Od Sansoma sam naučila samo na vrhunsko pisanje, i to sam i u ovoj knjizi dobila. Radnja napeta, opisi Londona u 16. stoljeću odlični.
  
  Također mi se sviđa što je na kraju knjige naveo historijske detalje, kako je zaista bilo i šta se desilo, a šta je on promijenio da bismo mi dobili jedan majstorski odrađen roman. :)
• 
  Grumpus

  I don’t know why, but this Matthew Shardlake series reminds me of the old NBC Mystery Movie series of rotating detective shows that aired in the 1970s. Yeah, I’m dating myself.
  
  Matthew Shardlake, the star of this series, is a hunchback lawyer during the reign of Henry VIII. I don’t suppose there were many with his condition in that occupation back in those days. It’s that out-of-placeness that reminds me of the Columbo, MacMillian & Wife, and McCloud detectives of the Mystery Movies. McCloud for example, was a Deputy Marshal from New Mexico on loan to the NY City Police Department as a Special Investigator.
  
  Sansom deftly combines historical fiction and real life characters with an interesting case for Shardlake to solve while he cautiously avoids doing anything that could get him labeled as a heretic and a date at the stake or rack.
  
  All of the cases in this series are so interesting and the characters so well developed that I have to place this series (and especially Matthew Shardlake) up with my favorite Odd Thomas. The narration only increases the impact of these books. Steven Crossley is Shardlake and I cannot imagine any other narrating these books. I cannot recommend this book or any in the series highly enough.
• 
  Tony Riches

  C. J. Sansom is one of my favourite authors, and I've enjoyed reading his 'Shardlake' series, so I opened this massive 615 page brick of a book with high expectations. I was not dissapointed - how about this for an opening sentence: 'I did not want to attend the burning.'
  
  Set in the final days of King Henry VIII, the tension of his court is palpable and the dying king's dark, brooding presence is a sinister as anything I've read by Stephen King (another of my favourite authors.)
  
  Our hero, Matthew Sharlake, has a soft spot for Henry's last wife, Queen Catherine Parr, and is soon drawn in to the dangerous world of religious reform. Spies lurk around every corner, heretics will risk anything for their cause and even the law offers no sanctuary.
  
  I found the author's historical notes at the back of the book particularly useful, and like any great historical fiction this book has made me want to learn more about the period - and the life of Queen Catherine Parr.
  
  Tony Riches
• 
  Mark Harrison

  Brilliant mystery as hunchback lawyer Shardlake attempts to retrieve an ill conceived booklet written by Catherine Parr which, if discovered, could lead to her execution. A high body count follows as Matthew and sidekick Barak battle many levels of Court intrigue, religious zealots, assassins and the most power hungry men in the kingdom to protect the Queen. Wonderful narrative style, complicated but clever plot lines and a most interesting period of English history - breathtaking read.