Revelation by C.J. Sansom (Shardlake #4) (Jan/Feb 24)

[Susan]

Welcome to our Jan/Feb 24 buddy read of Revelation The fourth book in the Shardlake series was first published in 2008 and sees us, already, halfway through the series.

It is spring, 1543 and King Henry VIII is wooing Lady Catherine Parr, whom he wants for his sixth wife — but this time the object of his affections is resisting. Archbishop Cranmer and the embattled Protestant faction at court are watching keenly, for Lady Catherine is known to have reformist sympathies.

Matthew Shardlake, meanwhile, is working on the case of a teenage boy, a religious maniac who has been placed by the King's council in the Bedlam hospital for the insane. Should he be released as his parents want, when his terrifying actions could lead to him being burned as a heretic?

Then, when an old friend is horrifically murdered, Shardlake promises his widow — for whom he has long had complicated feelings — to bring the killer to justice. His search leads him to connections not only with the boy in Bedlam, but with Archbishop Cranmer and Catherine Parr, and with the dark prophecies of the Book of Revelation.

As London's Bishop Bonner prepares a purge of Protestants, Shardlake, together with his assistant Jack Barak and his friend Guy Malton, follow the trail of a series of horrific murders that shake them to the core. Murders which are already bringing about frenzied talk of witchcraft and a demonic possession, for what else would the Tudor mind make of a serial killer?

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

[Susan]

Book four in the series already?! We are really getting along with this series, aren't we?

[Susan_MG]

I am reading the Sebastian St. Cyr series at the moment but I plan to carry on with C. s. Harris after I finish, or if I get burned out and need a change.

[Judy]

Many thanks for setting all our buddy threads up and opening them for the weekend, Susan. Our first buddy reads of 2024!

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Judy]

I've started reading but am not very far in as yet - it's interesting to see in the early pages that there have been some changes in the main characters' lives since the previous book. I love the way Shardlake's character is deepening more in each book.

[Susan in NC]

I am so glad to be rereading this series! I was addicted when the series first came out, read them all quickly as they were published. I can’t believe how much I have forgotten - these books are definitely worth revisiting.

[Sandy]

I will be starting very soon - love the series.

[Frances]

I'm still reading the third in the series so won't be joining you here for a while-you may seem some comments from me in the previous book thread though!

[Judy]

I'll look out for those, Frances, will be interested to hear what you think!

[Judy]

I'm struggling with this a bit so far (about 100 pages in) - the writing and characterisation are as good as ever, but it all seems very bleak and dark so far. I'm sure that's true to the period, but am hoping for a bit of light among the darkness along the way.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I'm struggling with this a bit so far (about 100 pages in) - the writing and characterisation are as good as ever, but it all seems very bleak and dark so far. I'm sure that's true to the period, b..."

Agreed, this one was dark - the creepy, gruesome, almost supernatural Revelations angle, being acted out by what we would call a serial killer, on top of the usual vicious, back-biting shenanigans at court (as Henry pursued yet another wife), was a lot to read about. Can’t imagine living through it! And having to be weary of what you say, being overheard and accused of heresy or disloyalty to Henry…

[Keith]

I have been working through the Miss Silver mysteries by Patricia Wentworth but really got bogged down in 'The Allington Inheritance', just too unbelievable for me so I have changed to a completer re-reading of Brother Cadffael which I first read in paperback years ago. When I first got a Kindle PW1 somebody gave me a Calibre file with some 5500 books in it, including (among many others, Agatha Christie, Amelia Peabody, Sharpe, Aubrey/Maturin) all the Cadfael series. I have a list in order so I'm following that. Right now, well into St Peters Fair, and enjoying it.

Today we have a Met Service 'very hot weather' warning for Taupo, forecast 27C, so I'll not be going anywhere and drinking plenty of water and hydrolites. Our 'official' temperatures are taken at the airport well south of the town and higher, it will be much hotter here in town , 30C plus.
There's cricket on TV during the afternoon and evening, as well as District games (similar to English County Cricket), our national team, the Blackcaps is playing Pakistan in a series in our main centres so I'll survive!

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "I have been working through the Miss Silver mysteries by Patricia Wentworth but really got bogged down in 'The Allington Inheritance', just too unbelievable for me so I have changed to a completer ..."

I should hope so, please take care and heed the heat warnings. Sounds like a perfect day and evening to relax indoors with a cool drink and watch cricket.

And if you need a break from that, sounds like you’ve got plenty of books to be getting on with - lazy long days of reading are one of the loveliest delights of the season!

[Keith]

Just finished 'The Leper of St Giles'. Although I have read all the Cadfael stories several years ago, they were not in proper order which is what I'm doing now.
I do have a criticism although I don't know who would be responsible for it. Ellis Peters was English. She lived and died in Shropshire so she knew the county, including Shrewsbury intimately. She also knew the detailed history of the 12th century Anarchy well and her tales are set extremely accurately in the period. As she was English, she wrote in English - ENGLISH English, not American English and it affronts me to find that some ignorant 'editor' has changed the spelling of English words such as 'honour', 'labour' etc to American spelling. This , to me, is an unforgiveable insult to Ellis Peters (or, if you prefer, Edith Pargeter). Not that I can do anythng about it now!
I have Lorac's 'Murderer's Mistake' so will take a break from Cadfael for a few hours to read that in your company.
Yesterday was a scorcher, just over 29C in my lounge ad the same forecast for today. However central and western Australia is forecast up to 50C today. I wonder how they will cope?

[Frances]

I'm now about 1/4 of the way in and quite enjoying it so far, particularly as I'm reading it straight on from finishing Sovereign.As a GP myself I'm always fascinated by the medical angle of these stories which is featuring a bit more prominently-makes me hope that Guy can find something tangible to explain (and hopefully treat) Kite's madness-like eating food tainted with an hallucinogen for example.

I also find the sexual politics depressing-poor Catherine Parr being primed to be married off to Henry when she is possibly in love with another, and even if not he would be such a physically repelling and politically terrifying husband!

[Susan in NC]

Frances wrote: "I'm now about 1/4 of the way in and quite enjoying it so far, particularly as I'm reading it straight on from finishing Sovereign.As a GP myself I'm always fascinated by the medical a..."

I know, that was really palpable to me in the last two books- who wants to be Henry’s queen at this point! Ugh, no thanks…and Catherine had barely buried her husband, of whom she seemed fond! But her feelings don’t matter, a mere woman, when Henry needs a nurse (not a brood mare, since it seems clear he, at least, is past the baby-making stage, and she may be as well, I wasn’t sure of her age, just that her husband had been older).

[Judy]

I'm getting there, slowly, but must say I'm still struggling and finding this a bleak read, although it is brilliantly written. I preferred the previous book in the series.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I'm getting there, slowly, but must say I'm still struggling and finding this a bleak read, although it is brilliantly written. I preferred the previous book in the series."

Yes, bleak!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I'm getting there, slowly, but must say I'm still struggling and finding this a bleak read, although it is brilliantly written. I preferred the previous book in the series."

Agreed, this one really felt almost claustrophobic, with the stalking serial killer angle, and the noose tightening against any perceived religious differences? Preferences? Not sure what to call it, but the risk of persecution and the level of paranoia definitely ratcheted up in this book, compared to previous outings.