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Revelation (Matthew Shardlake 4)

Author: C.j. Sansom
Publisher: Macmillan
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

18 reviews
Sales Rank: 57

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 452
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.8
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.1 x 2.1

ISBN: 1405092726
EAN: 9781405092722
ASIN: 1405092726

Publication Date: April 4, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New & In Stock - Immediate Despatch!

Also Available In:

•	Paperback - Revelation

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Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

hstorical fantasy August 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

An interesting story that bring some sense of the Tudor times with Sansom's descriptions. Unfortunately the book is not really about those times but a modern view of them.
We have all the modern paraphernalia of obsessions, compulsions, modern medicine, hypnosis and serial killer that do not belong.
The identity of the killer may be a surprise but there is no way he could commit those crimes unless he was Superman.
It also needs some careful editing, for example for no reason Samuel Elliard's name was changed to Stephen.
Take the book with you on your holidays and enjoy it as you sip your glass of wine.
I would like to see Mr. Sansom take more time with the next book and really get inside the Tudor mind. (See Hiliary Mantel's book coming out next year).Revelation

5 out of 5 stars

The Standard Maintained July 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

If you are a fan of the Shardlake series and are wondering if C.J Sansom has been able to maintain the standard of the previous volumes, fear not. If anything the plot is even more gripping than some of the earlier ones and after a slow start, a cracking pace is maintained each page full of incident. Rest assured you are in for a treat and a few late nights.
If you are new to this series then do not hesitate to give this book a try. Sansom has no equal in evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of the period. One of the author's greatest strengths is to marry a fictional plot to real historical characters and political issues so that the story seems to follow historical imperatives and the credibility of events is greatly enhanced as a consequence.
On this occasion the story opens in 1543 where Henry VIII's courtship of his sixth wife is played out against a backdrop of religious rivalry between Catholic and Protestant elements. Into this already explosive atmosphere a serial killer begins a killing spree apparently taking The Book of Revelation as his inspiration. To read Sansom is to learn a lot of history in a uniquely entertaining way, but if you enjoy a thrilling story, cunningly plotted full of twists and turns expertly written you will be well satisfied. I know no other modern writer who gives you that delicious sense of anticipation when you return to his books after a spell away.

5 out of 5 stars

I'm fairly addicted to Shardlake. CJ Sansom is on a real winner. June 19, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This, the fourth novel concerning Matthew Shardlake, is superb. The characters are more developed (and the longer the series go on, the bigger and more developed the supporting cast becomes). The plot is cleverer and different - here we see Shardlake dealing with a serial killer, and although the politicians are involved this is a different kettle of fish to the rebellions and political plots that our favourite hunch-backed Tudor lawyer has found himself involved in before.

And in my opinion it's for the better - C J Sansom's writing has always been addictive (but not in an obtrusive way) and has always had totally convincing historical contexts (at least to a moderately informed one such as I). But in the past the plots have been slightly predictable - more so the classic whodunit, with a list of suspects and a ticking-clock before some disaster happens or the heroes are knocked off. In a way, that is all still true of this book (in fact, maybe it's impossible to write a whodunit without that!) but its better concealed amidst an excellent premise.

The pages and chapters fly by, and this opens an exciting future for Shardlake. I hope it won't be too long till we hear from him again!

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Tudor Thriller June 9, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Most enjoyable and, despite it's hefty size, totally gripping all the way through. The characters are developing and their varied religious responses, in a age normally thought of as simply Catholic or Protestant, bring great humanity to this story which is comparatively gory.

5 out of 5 stars

Different but no less brilliant! June 4, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

Although I wouldn't say it is my favourite of the series it is certainly a masterpiece, taking Matthew to another level and engaging to the degree it actually frightened me in places. As with Sovereign I felt that if I hadn't established an understanding of the characters from the previosu books (esp. Guy and Matthew) it would have lost some of its magic :)