Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our Oct/Nov 24 buddy read of Lamentation The sixth book in the Shardlake series first published in 2014. There is only one Shardlake novel left after this this title, so we are nearly at the end of this series.

England, 1546. King Henry VIII is dying. Meanwhile, his Protestant and Catholic councillors are engaged in a final and decisive power struggle to control the government of Henry’s successor, eight–year–old Prince Edward. As heretics are hunted across London, the Catholic party focus their attack on Henry’s sixth wife, Matthew Shardlake’s old mentor, Queen Catherine Parr, and Shardlake is unexpectedly summoned to Whitehall Palace.

For the Queen has a secret. She has written a confessional book, Lamentation of a Sinner, so radically Protestant that if it came to the King’s attention it could bring both her and her sympathizers crashing down.

When the book inexplicably vanishes, and a single page is found clutched in the hand of a murdered printer, Shardlake must help the desperate Queen. His loyalty will drive him into a swirl of intrigue inside the palace, where Catholic enemies and Protestant friends can be equally dangerous, and the political opportunists, who will follow the wind wherever it blows, more dangerous than either . . .

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

Thank you for opening up our latest buddy reads, Susan. I'm under way with this one and enjoying getting back to Shardlake again.

I'm also getting interested in the Tudor age in general, and currently listening to The Six Wives of Henry VIII, although it will be a long time until I get up to Catherine Parr!

Who else is reading Lamentation? The spoiler thread is linked below:
The Six Wives of Henry VIII

I enjoyed this reread very much - so glad to be rereading Shardlake! The first time I read this series was as the books came out, I had so much going at that time (son still in school, helping my husband with his business, caregiver to my aging mother as needed). I devoured the books as quickly as I could! Now, life (and I) have slowed down a bit, I can savor and take my time.

Judy wrote: "Thank you for opening up our latest buddy reads, Susan. I'm under way with this one and enjoying getting back to Shardlake again.

I'm also getting interested in the Tudor age in general, and curre..."

Thanks for the reminder, yet another tbr on my list forever - probably since I read this series the first time - 10+ years ago!

I'm reading this-about 1/2 way through and again really enjoying it including the palace intrigue and some insight into Henry VIII final months.

Frances wrote: "I'm reading this-about 1/2 way through and again really enjoying it including the palace intrigue and some insight in Henry VIII final months."

Yes, I thought that was fascinating as well; I couldn’t help thinking, as we learn how far gone and ill Henry was, how relieved will all these characters be when he is finally gone? And how ridiculous was it that one man could hold such sway over so many lives? Chilling!

Yes, the glimpse of Henry staggering around is horrific, especially coming just after Shardlake has seen the portrait of him looking so robust and majestic.

I am listening to this so proceeding slowly. I am almost as interested in Shardlake's other case - the fight between siblings over a mural - as in the major plot. What is going in between the 'kids' and what was Mom thinking?

Very happy to see Barak and Tomasin happy.

I'm reading a paperback but also getting on quite slowly because it is too big to carry around with me. I'm really enjoying it though. I agree, Sandy, the other case about the mural is also fascinating.