Being a fan of CJ Sansom and Matthew Shardalke adventures in particular, I have found with pleasure the reign of Henry VIII, quite on his end here, our hunchback lawyer, Barack and his sidekick Jack discovered a new character: the young and fiery Nicolas, a law student, apprenticed to Matthew Shardlake. As is often the case, we are faced with a delicate case of common law, by fierce dispute between a brother and sister about their heritage, and political intrigue, at a time when politics meant religion. Indeed, it has just burned a bright woman, only because she refused to believe in the "transubstantiation", ie the real presence of the body of Christ in communion! For if throughout his reign King fluctuated between his taste for pomp and splendor which did err on the side of the traditionalists (Anglicans who want to keep the Catholic ceremony without the authority of the Pope) and the desire to keep full power over the Church of England who tipped side of the reformers, followers of a more or less radical Protestantism, now he leans on the side of defenders of the Mass and its miracle, the transubstantiation. One wrong word, which does not match the king's state of mind and you are arrested, tortured and hanged or burned alive. And it is in this context that Queen Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry, flying a manuscript she wrote entitled "Lamentations of a sinner" a kind of intimate confession in which it clearly displays its reformist convictions. If it is found and tells the king, who then tipped in favor of the traditionalists, it may switch to turn on the block. To find it, it appeals to Matthew that she knows the qualities of investigator and having an unreasonable affection for it, can not refuse. It will therefore lead Nicolas, first, then Jack Barack then in an extremely dangerous and complicated adventure but unfortunately for too long player. Reading is nice, but less exciting than in previous novels. Is it because the character of Barack rather back this time? That's probably also because the investigation failed. Shardlake discovers all sorts of exciting things such as the existence of Anabaptist groups, Communists before the hour, but he did not find this sacred manuscript. And also because it misunderstands his determination to lead the young Barack and Nicolas in adventures that can be their fatal when he realizes that he should not do it. These contradictions make us the character of Matthew Shardlake slightly less convincing than in previous novels. The complicated history of the late reign as the king dies, however, is lit here by the adventures of our lawyer. We understand better the challenges of the post Henry VIII. Who will exercise the regency? The family of the queen or the crown prince, the young Edward, son of Jane Seymour? The end of "Lamentation" lets us predict a new installment in the series. I hope more rhythmic than this one, yet very interesting.
