I know I’m violating Patti Abbott’s “one author, one book” rule, but C. J. Sansom’s Sovereign was so good, I couldn’t resist reading the newest Matthew Shardlake mystery, Revelation. It takes place in 1543, after the surprising events of Sovereign. One of Shardlake’s friends is brutally murdered and dumped into a fountain. Shardlake investigates and learns that this murder is the third in a series of murders based on the murderer’s interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Once again, C. J. Sansom delivers a moving portrait of London on the verge of chaos with political conspiracies and religious violence. This is a historical mystery novel of the first rank. GRADE: A.