Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Shirley: Ms. Mantel is an excellent historical fiction writer. She has turned her masterpiece, Wolf Hall, into a three-book series about the life of Henry VIII. This book is written from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, a close advisor to King Henry. It falls on Thomas to find a way out for Henry from a marriage that he no longer wants. Anne's short reign as Queen comes to a sudden and bloody end by the time this book draws to a close. But the thing about the story is it illustrates so clearly all the steps taken by Cromwell to get Anne to the scaffold. We see all the political machinations and all the plots. Is Anne guilty as she was charged? Did she committ adultry at all, or was it just mild flirtations? As far as King Henry was concerned it didn't matter. He wanted Anne gone from his life so that he could pursue Jane Seymour and knowing Henry's end game, Cromwell sets all in motion. Seeing the infamous plot of the fall of Anne Boleyn through Cromwell's eyes is a revelation. It was a complicated and heinous plan that Thomas Cromwell implemented. Henry Tudor was a fascinating monarch, and this book gives us a good idea of what kind of man he was underneath all the royalty and statesmanship. Ms. Mantel's writing style is intimate, intricate and believable. Will it be two or three more years until the final installment?