Cast, Crew and Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood by Veronica Cline Barton(My Goodreds Review)

Cast, Crew and Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood Manor by Veronica Cline Barton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the first story, Cherrywood Hall wins the rights for the new and exciting TV saga serious called Castlewood Manor. This is done with the help of a distant American cousin who helps the aristocratic family in the contest. The American lady is 27 years old Gemma Lancaster Phillips.

In this second story, Gemma is organising various promotional events for the up and coming show. They have a wide range of publicity agents and helpers among the British upper classes who want to help. There are models for the period costume designs. TV interviews etc. All manner of things is happening. Gemma Lancaster Phillips is in the thick of it and in love with her distant Lancaster family cousin, Kyle. Everything is going swimmingly well. Until diabolical scheming and then murder rears an ugly head.

Gemma finds herself the target of attention from the fiendish and anonymous attentions of un-well-wishers. A splendid who is doing this read. Lots of great characters too. If you like Murder Mystery and suspense with upper-class glamour, champagne and paparazzi, I’m certain you will like the Cherrywood Hall sagas.

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Sovereign by C.J. Sansom (My Goodreads Review)

Sovereign by C.J. Sansom

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another splendid adventure for Matthew Shardlake. This time it is 1541 and he is on a mission for Thomas Cramer, the Arch Bishop of Canterbury. Sharlake the lawyer from London's Lincoln's Inn must travel to York with his trusted accomplice and minder Jack Barak. Their recent employer Thomas Cromwell is dead. Beheaded by King Henry VIII because of his mistake concerning the marriage match to Anne of Cleeves.

The North of England is more Catholic in its leaning and does not take easily to Protestant Reformation. There has been an uprising and this was viciously put down by King Henry VIII.

It is into this festering atmosphere of hate and resentment, that Shardlake must go. He is to oversee the safety of a conspirator. An enemy of the King and Reformation. This Catholic prisoner must be transported back to London and the Tower were the more skilled interrogators (Torturers) can work upon extracting information.

The King is also making a stately visit to York with his new wife, Katherine Howard. Before long Matthew Shardlake is in over his head where high society murder, intrigue and corruption is concerned. Plus a person intent on murder is stalking him.

I'm fast becoming hooked on these Shardlake novels by C.J. Sansom. Each one has the ability to take the reader to old-world England during the reign of the tyrant King Henry VIII. Splendid stuff, all the way.

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Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom (My Goodreads Review))

Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent historical read. Set in King Henry VIII's England of 1540. Matthew Shardlake must help Thomas Cromwell. The king's main man is in serious trouble concerning the Anne of Cleeves marriage. In an attempt to win back favour with the king, Cromwell enlists the help of the hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake to find the secret of Greek Fire. In this day and age, Greek fire is akin to an atomic weapon and would allow Henry VIII's navy to have tremendous power. The problems start for Matthew as he comes across a collection of dead bodies along his investigative way. Soon his own life is in peril too.

This is a gritty fast-paced historical thriller set against the backdrop of protestant reformist England etc. It has a splendid feel and is the second Shardlake story I have read. It was very compelling and I'll certainly be reading the third instalment after this exciting historical thriller brought 1540's London to life.

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