It's easy to assume that because of Henry's split from Rome he had moved away from Catholic ideology, but this couldn't be further from the truth. And then, one night, the manuscript was stolen - and the queen called Shardlake in to retrieve it. Instead she kept it in an oak chest in her bedroom and she had the only key which she kept on a chain around her neck. A very senior churchman advised her to destroy the book, but Catherine was reluctant to do this.

That might sound quite reasonable, even worthy, but these are delicate times and she's laid herself open to charges of heresy and at the very least could be accused of keeping secrets from the king. She had written a book - Lamentations of a Sinner about her own personal journey to faith. It seems that the queen has a problem which could put her life in danger - along with the lives of all those who are seen as her supporters. Ultimately though he doesn't feel that he has much choice when he's summoned to Whitehall Palace. Matthew Shardlake is still drawn to the queen - Catherine Parr as was - but he'd prefer to avoid court politics particularly when there's someone as suggestible and changeable as Henry on the throne. It's heresy to speculate on the death of the king, but obvious to anyone who sees the bloated man who can barely walk that he cannot have much longer. The reign of Henry VIII is drawing to a close. Summary: The sixth book is the Shardlake series is an engrossing read and worth the four year wait since th last book.

Lamentation cj sansom summary