Heartstone, the fifth in Sansom’s Shardlake series, continues the adventures of hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake. In this novel Shardlake travels to Portsmouth to investigate claims of abuse of a wardship trust, and to look into events that put a friend of his into Bedlam nineteen years previously.
Once again,
Sansom really shines in his vivid descriptions of Tudor life – not only do you
get the sights and sounds of the time, but the smells, physical sensations, and
everyday inconveniences. Even descriptions of naval skirmishes with the French
are gripping, and really put you into the heart of the action, and I normally
get rather bored during battle descriptions. The bustling military encampments,
overcrowded cities and (on the surface) serene, secluded country estates all
leap off the page and into the mind’s eye. Maps of Shardlake’s journey and of
the areas he visits really add to the immersive quality of the story and allow
the reader to trace, in physical terms, the location of the action.
I did find
this novel slightly less enjoyable to read than its predecessors, in part
perhaps because so few of the characters the reader spends most of the time with are likeable.
There is a sense of frustration during parts of the narrative where
investigations seem to be going round in circles, which certainly mirrors that
felt by the protagonist, but makes for more difficult reading. That said, the
dénouement turns assumptions on their head and puts a new perspective on
events.
Historical
cameos featuring Henry VII, Catherine Parr and the Mary Rose, among others, are done deftly and without ostentation, blending
seamlessly into the landscape of the novel without any sense of being unnecessary
or out of place.
In short,
another wonderfully vivid and compelling instalment in the Shardlake series.
Wikipedia tells me to expect book six, Lamentation,
sometime this year, and I’m definitely looking forward to it.
Next up: The Island of Dr Moreau, by H G Wells
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