1540, England. The most terrifying weapon at this point in history is Greek fire—possession of it may decide the outcome of any military campaign. The art of producing it is kept in deep secrecy, and powerful rival factions at King Henry VIII’s court will stop at nothing to obtain this secret. A string of crimes follows one after another, and Matthew Shardlake, the hunchback of Lord Cromwell, together with his assistant Barak, constantly risk their lives—unintentionally becoming an obstacle in the way of those in power.
In the world of literary heroes and in the mind of today’s reader, Matthew Shardlake’s image holds a place of honor among such famous characters as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe, and Commissioner Maigret.