However, that is really a fairly minor quibble and some may even appreciate the stretching out of the narrative. By insisting God intended her to be married to the King until death, she brought about the very revolution to religion she hated and feared.

The legend himself, King Henry VIII, who is glittery and magnanimous to his people, but if you cross him, his true colors come out in full force. And part of Shardlake’s assignment is to look after and transport a prisoner to London where he will be tortured in the tower.We hereby give notice that we do not practice law, nothing in this book should be taken as advice, do your own due diligence, everything written is our opinion and we’re exercising our right to free speech. We see the story through Shardlake which keeps that tension going, although there are a few moments where he makes discoveries and choses not to share, keeping the reader waiting for a few pages. Still, Shardlake faces adversity in this new land—York—where many challenge his veracity and capability, as though his back is indicative of feeble mindedness. You feel like you are friends with the protagonist and his pals and you despise the nefarious villains that try to thwart the efforts of the heroes.

The characters are totally convincing, the plot is exciting and will have you sat on the edge of your seat towards the end and there's a depth and subtlety to the plot which isn't often encountered in historical fiction. To those who have read other historical books of the period (Wolf Hall among them) the names will be familiar: the Howards; the Seymours; the Parrs; the Dudleys; and, of course, Richard Rich. It is 1541 and, after the fall of Cromwell, Shardlake has gone back to his law practice and has taken Barak on to work with him.

I think it would expand the world for the readers and give them a taste of other royal dynasties and what else was going on in the world during the time of the Tudor dynasty in England. As the long German war against Russia rages on in the east, the British people find themselves under dark authoritarian rule: the press, radio and television are controlled; the streets patrolled by violent auxiliary police an. They are not the only ones to remember Thomas Cromwell though – it is rumoured that the King himself regrets losing such a loyal and competent servant. Then there is the sequel, which I think would have Nicholas Overton as the protagonists and the children that we have seen grow up during this series.