Revelation by C.J. Sansom
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 3:42 PM
"Revelation" by C.J. Sansom is the fourth book in the Matthew Shardlake mystery series, set in Tudor England. These historical mysteries are excellent; they are based on accurate historical incidents from which Sansom has created compelling stories of political and religious intrigue, as well as murder.
The protagonist in Sansom's novel is a hunchbacked lawyer named Shardlake. Despite his reluctance, Shardlake becomes embroiled in political intrigues due to his intelligence and his neutral stance in the ongoing power struggles. He is rightfully afraid of being caught in these battles, where being on the losing side often leads to death or imprisonment. However, with the help of his sharp mind and a few trusted friends, Shardlake manages to stay alive and solve several mysteries.
In "Revelation," a serial killer is on the loose, an obsessed and violent maniac fixated on the explicit and violent prophecies from the Book of Revelation.
Henry VIII is currently pursuing his final wife, Catherine Parr. She is a religious reformist who opposes the rituals of Rome. Reformers hope that she will steer Henry away from the traditional tendencies he has been leaning towards, after previously rejecting them so strongly under Cromwell.
Sansom's books are filled with intricate details and plots, rich characters, and vivid landscapes. Shardlake, the main character, is very relatable; we empathize with his pain and sorrow and feel a sense of relief whenever he narrowly escapes torture or death.
