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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

17 reviews
Sales Rank: 62

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!

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 17

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WITH REGRET... June 2, 2008
14 out of 19 found this review helpful

This is yet another gripping and authentic contribution from CS Sansom and like many others who discovered the Shardlake books recently, I was thrilled to find a new one on the shelves (I've read all four this year). But - and it's a BIG but, I can't understand what the editor at Macmillan, credited as Maria Rejt,is doing to earn her money! How many times do we read that a characer "reddened" when angry, upset or embarrassed? Can't Maria up with another word (blushed? flushed?). And how many times are we informed that a character "spoke seriously"? It's usually a wasted adverb - surely the context let's us know he wasn't joking.
These are minor points I know but personally I find them a real barrier to "suspending my disbelief". Just as you're getting thoroughly immersed in the Tudor world, along comes another person reddening as he spoke seriously.
I don't blame Sansom who is capable of some really good writing. But given the speed with which he's turning out these novels, he needs an editor who can spot these stylistic glitches. Either that or the author should slow down. I'm sure his fans would be prepared to wait a bit longer for a more finished product.
This is written more in sorrow than anger because I have had a lot of pleasure from these books. And I'm looking forward to what Matthew Shardlake makes of Mary Tudor. Seriously (he said, reddening)....

5 out of 5 stars

Cracking good read May 23, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

Shardlake the reluctant detective. Many threads but you never get lost. Well, not for long. Sansom brings to history to life in all its gory glory. Fantastic book. I look forward to the next one already.

5 out of 5 stars

SUPERB.................................. May 7, 2008
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

An excellent contribution to the Matthew Shardlake Saga. The bodies drop in rapid succession, the murderer inspired by the Book of Revelations.
A lengthy book, it is sometimes repetitive and there is the odd printing error, however, it is a cracking good yarn. The characters are interesting and well developed, and frankly, I found it difficult to put down.
The book ends at the time of Henry VIII's sixth marriage, and I am hoping that Mr Sansom will continue with this marvellous series.
Readers would be advised to start with "Dissolution" the first of the saga, and read on from there, but each book stands quite well on its own.
This is a super book and I would certainly read it again.

5 out of 5 stars

NOT A SPOILER!!!! Fantastic return from Mr Sansom! May 3, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

fantastic return to form. this book continues the story of our hero Shardlake on his fourth adventure. it doesnt take long for the action to begin and this time the killings are more gruesome than ever!!! the plot and characters leave you guessing who did it until they're revealed but that could just be me. fantastic read and a nice gruesome depiction of england at it's most turbulent time!!!(less importantly of course)but very nice looking book as well!

4 out of 5 stars

A gripping read - but annoyingly error-strewn April 24, 2008
10 out of 17 found this review helpful

I think this is a big improvement over 'Sovereign', which I found very laboured.
There's no doubt this is a gripping read, even though it's a rather improbable Tudor serial killer story. Once again, it was also pretty easy to work out mid-way through whodunnit - think Mr Sansom needs to get a bit better at keeping us guessing, but this doesn't detract from the read overall. You certainly want to get to the end, and the characters are generally well drawn and involving.
What's really annoying is that the anachronisms and silly errors persist from the earlier books in the series.
At one point, Shardlake (the hero) describes the killer as 'a sadist'. How can a Tudor person 250 years before de Sade, possibly use the term 'a sadist'? It just spoils the otherwise generally authentic flavour.
Someone else (Sir Thomas Seymour, a rather pantomimic figure) describes the type of young man he favours in his household as 'sporty'. This is just so comically Blackadderish ('well, young Bob, you're a sporty young feller and no mistake') that it screams inauthenticity.
These occasional gaffes take the shine off what should otherwise be a well written novel.
Worse still are major plot bungles: at one point, the killer is nearly apprehended and has to abandon something - a very large item - I won't spoil it by saying what - in the street. And yet several chapters later, when the killer's lair is eventually found, said large item is found there. How?
Seems the author forgot the killer had already legged it and abandoned the item concerned in the street several chapters earlier.
There were similar boo-boos in the previous books. Are these down to the author, or to lazy, over-hasty editing?
Or are these books, clearly commercially successful, just getting churned out a little too fast?
It's a shame, because these could be great books. As it is, they're are undeniably enjoyable, but spoiled by odd little mistakes and a lack of attention to detail. A good read nonetheless, but I wish Mr Sansom's editor would raise his or her game a bit.