SANSOM sets out his stall as an impressive new voice in historical crime writing with this tale set in the harsh times of Henry VIII.

With the hush-hush aim of doing away with the powerful monasteries, Lord Cromwell sends an unsavoury commissioner to a South Coast institution where he comes to a grisly end.

Reformist lawyer Matthew Shardake and his loyal sidekick Mark are sent to investigate the decapitation at Scarnsea monastery and find themselves cut off by snow as further sinister happenings threaten to occur.

A decent historical crime thriller debut.

Ed Perkins