This novels centres around a series of mysterious deaths that occur in a religious house during the time of the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. Although it is primarily of novel of detection it also explores in a very impressive way, many of the themes that surround the time including the corruption in the monsteries and some of the hardship surrounding the dissolution. I know that this is an excellent novel because I did not want it to end. The author evokes the time and place in which the story is set beautifully and draws some very interesting, complex and ultimately likeable characters indeed. I liked the fact that the author was balanced in his attitude to the period - neither the reformers nor the monk supporters are perfect. I much preferred the story to The Name of the Rose to which it can be compared. I found it more credible and more atmospheric. Not bad for a first novel. The investigator is a hunchback who works under the auspices of Thomas Cromwell but who finds himself questioning some of the methods the reformers use to carry out their tasks. He also has a young assistant who gets friendly with a young woman who works at the monastery - much to the hunchback's dissaproval and jealousy. All this adds to the story. I wholeheartedly recommend this to any lover of historical novels or mystery novels. It ranks very highly in both these categories. I am delighted to know that the author is going to write a sequel!