Henry VIII has proclaimed himself Supreme Head of the Church and the country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers ever seen. Under the order of Thomas Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent through the country to investigate the monasteries. There can only be one outcome: the monasteries are to be dissolved.

But on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Cromwell's Commissioner Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body. His horrific murder is accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege - a black cockerel sacrificed on the alter, and the disappearance of Scarnsea's Great Relic. Dr Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell into this atmosphere of treachery and death. But Shardlake's investigation soon forces him to question everything he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes ...

Actually purchased this book new, and the second in the series, mainly because of all the good reviews and recommendations from bookcrossing friends. Looking forward to it immensely!

I have to admit that many years ago I read this author's 'Winter in Madrid' and pretty much hated it. The Bookcrossing review I wrote is scathing about the style of writing, the characterisation and the number of times characters bite their lips!!! So coming to the Shardlake series, despite all the recommendations and great reviews and the whole appeal of the subject, I was a bit wary. But I did really enjoy this. It's not great literary writing but it's not bad either. C J seems much more at home with this period and the historical murder mystery format and has created interesting and memorable characters especially Matthew Shardlake himself. It's a real page turner, gripping and atmospheric and keeps you guessing until the very end. I loved being immersed in the world of the enclosed and complacent monastery that had become a place of mistrust, fear and and tension due to both internal and external threats and the sites and sounds and smells of Tudor life inside and out of the world of the monks. I enjoyed all the historic detail. Just one small quibble, Thomas Cromwell's wife is mentioned, but I know for sure that she was dead by this time. (Yes I've read Wolf Hall and also checked the facts!)

I'm definitely going to read the next book in the series.

As for all the lip biting, I was anticipating this with concern!!! It didn't turn up until about a third of the way through the story. Then here were about half a dozen lip bites throughout and I can just about cope with that!!!