During the dissolution of the monasteries in the Tudor era, Matthew Shardlake is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the death of a commissioner in…
Matthew Shardlake is sent by Thomas Cromwell to a remote monastery to investigate a brutal murder; to his irritation, he is accompanied by Cromwell's handsome and arrogant man, Jack Barak.
Shardlake's investigation intensifies and suspicion arises amongst the monks; Barak is frustrated by Shardlake following the trail of the monastery's accounts, where he believes there may be a cover-up.
When Goodhap is discovered missing, something does not add up; Barak is agitated by the slow pace of the investigation and moves to hurry it along, but Shardlake refuses to compromise the truth.
Cromwell is furious at Shardlake's lack of results and gives him a terrifying ultimatum; shocked after uncovering the history behind the murder weapon and the true owner of the sword, Shardlake faces a stark choice.
