The novel begins with Anne Boleyn's execution, and Cromwell uses his political schemes to improve not only his own family's fortune but also the king's. He continued to seize abbeys and Catholic properties and distribute the wealth among the nobility. Henry marries Jane Seymour, from a noble English family, which brings marital bliss but does little to secure England's increasingly tumultuous position against France and Spain. When Seymour dies after childbirth, Henry seeks another wife, this time to consolidate an alliance with Germany. He chooses Anne of Cleves, a decision that Cromwell is cautious about, and this disastrous union leads to his downfall.

This historical fiction novel humanizes Thomas Cromwell, a figure known for his meteoric rise from poverty to become King Henry's most trusted confidant and advisor, the Lord Privy Seal. Mantel writes sharp and witty dialogue that highlights her characters' strengths and weaknesses. According to her portrayal, Cromwell is haunted by his past in his dreams and waking moments, seeing the ghosts of friends, family, and even Bishop Wolsey, whom he once served. He is a cunning manipulator, an ambitious strategist, and a skilled interpreter of the king's desires and moods. However, his favor with Henry comes to an abrupt end.

I suggest reading the first two books in the trilogy before diving into this one. It requires some effort to remember the names of all the courtiers, politicians, clergy, and principal players in the Cromwell story, but Mantel provides a helpful guide. Nonetheless, this is an exceptional conclusion to the trilogy.