Customer Reviews

Heartstone

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the summer of 1545 England is at war with France. A massive French fleet is preparing to sail across the channel as a consequence of Henry VIII's unsuccessful invasion of France. The English fleet is gathering at Portsmouth, and the country is raising a militia army. The currency has been debased to pay for the war, and the country is gripped by soaring inflation and economic crisis. Against this backdrop of turmoil and uncertainty, Matthew Shardlake's legal services are requested by Queen Catherine Parr to investigate the death of Michael Calfhill, the son of one of her former ladies-in-waiting. Michael, a former tutor to Hugh Curteys, believed that `monstrous wrongs' were being committed against Hugh. Hugh, and his now deceased sister Emma, became wards of Sir Nicholas Hobbey when their own parents died of plague. Michael is found dead in an apparent suicide before the matter is dealt with. While Shardlake is not a lawyer of the Court of Wards, which governs the affairs of orphaned children, he agrees to take the case.

Investigation of the case involves travel through southern England where Shardlake also hopes to investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettiplace (an inmate of the Bedlam whom we first met in `Revelation'). Shardlake's investigations lead him into danger as he seeks to make sense of what he uncovers. Neither his investigation of Hugh Curteys's wardship nor of Ellen Fettiplace's past progress smoothly and while he receives assistance from an old friend; he also crosses his old foe, Sir Richard Rich. Ultimately, Matthew Shardlake becomes caught up in the events at Portsmouth, where the fleet is massing, and ends up aboard the Mary Rose.

Matthew Shardlake is a wonderful character, and through his intelligent and principled investigations we are treated to a splendid view of Tudor life, law, history and politics. While it would be possible to read and enjoy this novel on a standalone basis, it really is best to read the novels in order to fully appreciate the characters and the setting.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

C. J. Sansom is a wonderful writer, as many of you know and have said in the Amazon reviews. Being a bit over-eager to sink my teeth into his newest effort, "Heartstone", I ordered it from Amazon UK. When the book arrived, I dove into it and would like to announce to all that this, like his other Shardlake efforts, is a real winner.

It's a lenghty tome filled with another great story and character development (bravo!) and it does not disappoint. Sansom has retained his easy style, with its smooth, delicious crafting of words. The story (no spoilers here) is superbly wrought and moves evenly along. It is, simply, a magnificent reading experience. Reading it was a delight; it was so compelling that I could have read through the 450 pages in a single sitting. Forcing myself to take it easy and enjoy it in reasonable bits, I couldn't wait to continue, but dreaded finishing the book, so engrossing was it.

I gather the "Heartstone" US release is embroiled in some uncertainty and there's no firm word on when it will appear here. For the Sansom addicts out there, you may find the extra expense of ordering it from Amazon UK worth it. I certainly did.

My only question now is, Mr. Sansom, where's the next one?

Antoher Great book of the Matthew Shardlake series. I could not put it down and read the entire thing over the weekend. Truly the best writer of our age and takes you back in time to another time with great characters, superb plots and always exciting to the last page. You will not be able to put this book down. I hope all the Harry Potter readers who have now matured will start to read the Shardlake books. It is the best read imaginable. LOVE EVERY BOOK of this series. I'll have a hard time finding something this good to read now. I may just have to read them all again from the start. Also there is a buzz that the BBC will make these into a series, I hope its true

First Sentence: The churchyard was peaceful in the summer afternoon.

Lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been summoned to Queen Catherine Parr, last wife on Henry VIII. A former servant of hers has asked for help investigating claims by her son that his former student, Hugh Curtey, has been mistreated by Hugh's guardian, Sir Nicholas Hobbey. Traveling to Portsmouth with his assistant, Barak, allows Matthew to also investigate the past of Ellen Fettiplace, a young woman committed to Bedlam, but by whom?

Sansome has gifted his readers with yet another wonderful book filled with historical details. The themes of politics, greed, poverty, conscription, injustice to the less powerful and the cost of war caused by those in power on those who have no choice but must live with the consequences have been repeated through time but here are set in the middle 1500s.

One of my pleasures in reading historical mysteries is to learn. The Council of Wards was something with which I was not familiar. Most particularly, however, was learning that, but for the stubborn conviction of one woman, England might never have split from Rome.

I also wish to applaud the UK publisher, Mantle, for a physically beautiful book, from the dust cover and embossed Tudor rose on the hard cover, to the inclusion of color maps, a sewn-in bookmark and, as always, the author notes at the end. In this day of ebooks, such details are greatly appreciated.

I very much enjoy Sansom's, and thus his character's, voice. It has a very conversational tone which immediately drew me into the story, along with the lack of prologue. His characters are somewhat atypical in that Matthew is by no means heroic. He is an interesting, appealing character who can be stubborn, intrusive and somewhat naïve in his trust of others. Yet he is also caring and determined in his pursuit of justice. In other words, he is human and fallible. As balance, you have his assistant, Barak, how married and about to be a father. It is nice to see how both characters, individually and in relationship to one another, have grown and developed through the series.

The plot is interesting and well done, but does get bogged down at times. There is so much history; the story itself becomes a bit lost, although certainly never to a point where I was tempted to stop reading. I was torn between feeling it would have been a much tighter, more compelling story had it been trimmed down, yet knowing I'd have learned and understood much less about the world in which the characters lived.

Sansom has taken several story lines and woven them together into a fascinating, very good whole. As ever, I am eagerly looking forward to his next book.

HEARTSTONE (Hist Mys-Matthew Shardlake-England-1545) - VG
Sansom, C.J. - 5th in series
Mantle, ©2010, UK Hardcover - ISBN: 9781405092739

Another strong entry in a stellar historical mystery series - Sansom keeps getting better. Matthew Shardlake and his clerk Jack Barak are back in a sadder, darker story about long-hidden secrets surfacing in two different cases tied together by a vicious, powerful old enemy. Once again the climax occurs against the backdrop of a grand historical event, the attempted French naval invasion of July 1545 and the sinking of the Mary Rose. In an interesting character twist, Barak, the formerly impulsive tough guy awaiting the birth of his second child with his wife Tamasin (their first baby was born dead), is the one urging caution and restraint as Shardlake digs deeper into the secrets that have destroyed one family and damaged another. Toward the end the two argue about Shardlake's inability to "let go" of lost causes until he finds answers, no matter what the cost; Barak points out that Shardlake is using friends to get access and information he wants and there are "only so many favors" you can call in from any man. It was a gratifying character development and long overdue - Barak is growing up and wants to be around for his family, and Shardlake is realizing the dearth of family in his own life and the way it drives him to take care of others and solve their problems, often at a high personal cost.

Sansom again masterfully explores and illustrates the timeless, ongoing main theme of this series as it touches so many characters - the unbearably high cost, in lives, treasure and good will, of Henry VIII's disastrous wars, religious conflicts, and the subsequent social upheaval. As Shardlake wonders as he watches the much-aged king's progress into Portsmouth to review the troops, "In that grotesque face I thought I read pain and weariness, and something more. Fear? I wondered whether even that man of titanic self-belief might think, as the French invasion force approached, what will happen now? Even, perhaps: What have I done?"

I only wish Mr. Sansom could write faster and more. I'm already in withdrawal after finishing this one and waiting for the next. He's an excellent writer who can really make the reader understand the time period and what's going on. The characters are wonderful; the sights and smells are so realistic; and all the while we are learning a bit of history from a slightly different viewpoint than we ever have before. I have loved all of his books for this reason. I felt I knew a reasonable amount about Tudor England before, but I had never focussed down on these particular issues. He's a very gifted writer, and I can't wait for the next one.

If you enjoyed Sanson's first book - Dissolution you will love this book. It contains the style and pacing of the first, the cast of characters from previous books are all back. There are illusions to previous stories that maybe off putting to new readers --but they are minor and if you've read the previous books quite welcome. Some of the previous major characters become minor characters in this book but then again it adds to the authenticity.

Unlike Darkfire this book is set in the country with two simultaneous mysteries running thru it. Some people maybe able to make guesses that hit the mark but I think the mystery is done very well and keeps you guessing. There is the war but it is part not all of the story. I wouldn't be looking for any great sword fights in this one...its more mystery than action adventure.

The book has great historical background and a nice feel to all the characters. The country life, village life, the dependency on nobility, the royal court intrigue are all here.

I would recommend read Dissolution and others first if you haven't ....but a great read none the less!

Last night I stayed up till nearly 4 in the morning... Sansom's mystery series from the time of Henry VIII is magnificent. I've learned a great deal of history from reading Sansom's books. What concerns me most in a historical mystery is the plot and the feeling of 'seeing' the time period; and in this series both objects are achieved very satisfactory. In addition the character Shardlake is constantly being developed. I now really wonder what will happen next.
If you like historical mysteries, do yourself a favor and try out the series - preferably read in order. (Start with Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake Mysteries))

Are you interested in English history?
Do you want to know more about the Tudor dynasty?
Do you want to know about law, especially old British law from which American bar also originated from?
Do you like superb stories?
Do you enjoy reading books with well developed characters in all shades of colors and debth?

If you answered yes to any of these (yes to all for me) then pick up all these books, starting with dissolution. If you've read shard lake books before, then so not hesitate, pick up those one as well, it is another awesome, superb, deftly written tome of adventure to add to our favorite lawyer's fame. Excellent read, 100/100 no doubt.

Despite a highly improbable revelation two thirds through, and 532 pp. of text that should have been trimmed at least 25%, Heartstone is very enjoyable. Once again Sansom does an excellent job with historical detail but then combines the backdrop with characters who are very 21st century in their attitude and behavior. Barak is the over-anxious expectant dad; Shardlake, devastated by events in war, breaks down in tears to be comforted by his assistant with a man-hug, and one character is determined to literally strike a blow for feminism. It's all very modern and if you believe Sansom, medieval England wasn't all that medieval.

What keeps all of these annoyances at bay is a really intricate, well-executed story. Multiple plots nicely hang together without devolving into coincidence, that old standby of mediocre mysteries. Two denouements in particular are well done. A battle scene on the war ship Mary Rose and Shardlake"s final visit to bedlam are superb. As I said, there is one moment that I found implausible, but history does, the author is quick to remind us, have such examples. Let it go and try not to notice all the pages that could have been cut. Heartstone may not be great, but it is rewarding.