Brian Gresham Gresham itibaren Heurteauville, Fransa
This was a really good read. I couldn't wait to get back to it each day, and I found the tale captivating despite the main character being frustrating and annoying. For an investigator, he's basically blind to the obvious...very slow on the uptake. Even so, I highly recommend it. If there's a Matthew Shardlake #2 I may read it eventually, once our man Matthew has time to digest and mature after this adventure. The time and space of the setting - Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries and the attempted extinction of the Catholic faith in medieval England - is well researched and masterfully depicted.
I don't know that I'd give it 5 FULL stars... But I'd give it like... 4.6 stars, which rounds up. I think this is the best book in the series so far for a couple of reasons, which are both kinda spoilers. I'll tell you part of one though.... Betsy is on her own for most of the book, which I believe MaryJanice mentions in one of her notes to the reader, so it's not really a secret. I really liked that Betsy had to figure out what's going on on her own. Usually she relies heavily on Tina and Sinclair and Laura and Jessica and Mark, etc., but she really has to take care of things herself this time. Plus, the wedding, of course! :)
as good as the first!! there's nothing more to add!!
This started out a little slow, interesting but nothing to push me to continue in the first two chapters, and then it took hold of me. I read the rest of the book in one morning. Couldn't put it down. Gripping and fascinating. The whole time I was entranced and couldn't wait to see what came next.