Lamentation (Matthew Shardlake, #6) in Reading the Detectives

Oct 22, 2014 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 world 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 ten 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 world 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 a 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. ...more

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Jan 14, 2015 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reread, my-library, favorites, detectives-buddy-read24, audiobook

9/2024 reread: I very much enjoyed this reread; this series is one of my favorite historical mystery series, and this one evoked an even darker tone for me. Not that the previous books have been light-hearted, by any means! Kind of impossible, dealing with the political and religious conflicts under Henry VIII. The author died last year after a long battle with cancer, I believe, and when I read his obituary I couldn’t help but wonder if the somber tone of this book reflected his declining healt 9/2024 reread: I very much enjoyed this reread; this series is one of my favorite historical mystery series, and this one evoked an even darker tone for me. Not that the previous books have been light-hearted, by any means! Kind of impossible, dealing with the political and religious conflicts under Henry VIII. The author died last year after a long battle with cancer, I believe, and when I read his obituary I couldn’t help but wonder if the somber tone of this book reflected his declining health.

4.5 stars - as always, Sansom transports me to another world, the opulent, corrupt, treacherous and vicious viper's nest of Henry VIII's court. This outing plunges readers right back into that world, opening with the horrifying burning at the stake of Anne Askew, a religious radical, and three men also convicted of heresy; our hero, lawyer Matthew Shardlake, has been forced to attend as representative of his Inn. The graphic opening scene haunts Shardlake, and the reader, and sets the desperate, anxious, almost claustrophobic tone for this gripping mystery.

Soon after the burning, Shardlake is ordered to call upon his old mentor, Queen Catherine Parr, after more than a year since he last did legal work for her. She has secretly written a confessional book, "Lamention of a Sinner", and amidst the constantly changing religious factions and loyalties at court, it has been stolen. The terrified queen, though still beloved by the ailing, vicious and ever-changeable King Henry, is a reformer (Protestant sympathizer) and the king has renewed the heresy hunt, this time siding with the Catholic (traditionalist) faction. Henry treasures loyalty above all else and although the book is not outright heresy, the queen has composed it in secret and thus would be in great danger if the book came to light.

I was so glad to see author Sansom return to this outstanding series, and hope there will be more to come - but I became increasingly frustrated with our long-suffering hero throughout the last third or so of the book. No spoilers, but Shardlake repeatedly endangered those closest to him in his quest to protect and serve Queen Catherine Parr; granted, he knew what he was doing and constantly bemoaned his childlike romantic infatuation with the Queen and berated himself for it and the danger he was dragging his loyal friends into, but it led to horrific consequences in one case and made me want to smack him!

You get to the point where you want him to leave well enough alone and walk away while he can, but Shardlake is a morose, stubborn yet honorable man and he can never give up once he's on a case. It makes him very human and admirable in a way but also frustrating, and strains his friendships with beloved characters - all in service to the highest and mightiest in the land, who treat him as a mere pawn.

Nevertheless, I have enjoyed each entry in this stellar series and am thrilled Shardlake is back, and hope we will have more adventures to look forward to under the next Tudor reign. Highly recommended to fans of historical mysteries and historical fiction. ...more

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Jul 04, 2018 Jill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-reading-challenge, c-j-sansom

Had this book since it came out but put off reading it in case there would not be another. As always Sansom brings the 16th century back to life with all the intrigues and and politics surrounding Henry VIII . Also showing us what life was like for the common people of the time. The characters and descriptions of London are are so well done that it makes the reader truly believe they are there. The personal troubles of Shardlake are many-fold in this book , leaving the feeling that nothing more ...more

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Oct 16, 2024 Frances rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-series

This is a great series with tons of fascinating historical details from the time of Henry VIII and all the political and religious machinations of the time. This one involves another job for Shardlake in the service of Catherine Parr, Henry's 6th Queen. Do read the series in order for maximum enjoyment. ...more

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Oct 25, 2024 Sandy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, rread-2024, mystery-historical

Another 5-star entry in the series. The portrayal of life under the dying Henry VIII is vivid and frightening. Shardlake is drawn once again into court politics and makes, in my opinion, some very rash decisions regarding how far he should go to apprehend the villains. The side plots of another court case involving a brother and sister, the wealth and will of a despicable dead lawyer, and the suspicious servant are interesting in their own and woven neatly into the story. Excellent book; excelle ...more

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