Yaddith Times

Sovereign by C.J. Sansom

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The third in C.J. Sansom's Tudor mystery series featuring lawyer (& reluctant sleuth) Matthew Shardlake is a deep, twisty dive into Henry VIII's Progress to the North in autumn 1541 -- & his brief, doomed marriage to queen #5, Catherine Howard -- & at least one conspiracy based on documents threatening Henry's right to rule. Shardlake is officially on the Progress to process petitions to the King, but has a private assignment from Archbishop Cranmer to look after the welfare of an imprisoned consirator until he can be taken to London for interrogation.

When the first of several murders occurs & a box of papers goes missing, Shardlake finds himself entangled in increasingly desperate political snares . . . & even the threat of the Tower.

I listened to this one, & very much enjoyed it -- but at 583 pp. for the hardback print version, this one felt a little longer than it strictly needed to be. Sansom never lets the pace falter for long, however, & there are some disturbing moments in store for both Matthew & the reader. I will definitely be listening to the next in this series, because the continuing characters are at least as compelling as the complexities of plot.

Recommended for historical mystery fans fascinated by Tudor England, & not afraid of detail.



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Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another meaty, detail-rich Tudor mystery for Sansom's somewhat unusual detective: a hunchbacked lawyer more comfortable with property cases than murder most foul. This time around, it's a double investigation set during the waning days of Thomas Cromwell's career in service to Henry VIII. Reluctantly assisting Cromwell, Matthew Shardlake must investigate the disappearance of a formula for Greek Fire -- while also attempting to save the life of a young woman accused of murdering her cousin. What could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, nearly everything. Sansom was a master at combining deep historical information with nonstop anxiety and frequent action scenes, & Dark Fire does not disappoint. Those particularly interested in or informed about this period in Tudor England will probably be even more anxious than the average reader. A brief (5 minutes' listening time) but comprehensive historical endnote helps separate fact from fiction, which I also found useful.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys English historical mysteries, & isn't afraid of extensive detail.



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The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


[Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.]

The lives of three young women -- two residing in 1950s film-mad Los Angeles, one inhabiting a Biblical past -- intertwine in this noir thriller with distinct feminist undertones. When Mexican newcomer Vera Larios is chosen to portray Salome in a major studio's sword & sandals epic, she runs afoul of Nancy Hartley, an experienced bit player with a racist streak and a nasty temper. Nancy had expected the role for herself, and her ego is far larger than Vera's. Through no fault of her own, Vera also collects a second enemy when she refuses to submit to her leading man's entitled advances.

Interspersed with the stories of both actresses are glimpses of the court life of Salome herself. The tone of these is more than a bit Technicolor. Salome has two aspiring suitors, a lecherous uncle, and a passion for the doomed prophet Jokanaan, but her interior life still manages to mirror Vera's and Nancy's. As all three young women hurtle toward fates hinted at (but never disclosed) from the beginning of the novel, the reader is left wondering who, if anyone, will be left standing.

And most likely guessing wrong.

A note about culture: although racism and sexism are not the plot's main emphasis, Moreno-Garcia's view of 1955 L.A. is in no way sanitized. Nancy's vicious comments about her rival receive far less criticism than they might today, and both Nancy and Vera must cope with men unable to see past their measurements. In true Salome style, Nancy at least manages to weaponize her situation.

This novel is painstakingly researched, with author's comments at the end for those of us who geek out on such things, yet Moreno-Garcia's research never gets in the way of illusion. Above all, The Seventh Veil of Salome is pure dark entertainment. I was expecting to miss the author's usual speculative / supernatural touches, but I never did. I was too busy clicking pages, breath held for the finale.





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