Set in the 16th century during the reign of
King Henry VIII, the events of the novel take place in the summer of 1545. Shardlake and his assistant Barak travel to
Portsmouth on a legal case given to them by an old servant of Queen
Catherine Parr. The book also concerns preparations for the
Battle of the Solent and the King's warship, the
Mary Rose. The book introduces the young
Princess Elizabeth in a minor role. ==Audiobook==