HEARTSTONE

In the summer of 1545, England is preparing to defend the homeland against an anticipated naval attack from the French. Narrator Steven Crossley draws listeners into these perilous times with vivid word pictures of everyday life—from the corrupt politics to the stench of the street and the horror of battle. HEARTSTONE blends this turbulent backdrop with a murder mystery and wartime intrigue. Queen Catherine Parr asks London attorney Matthew Shardlake to investigate claims of “monstrous wrongs” committed against a ward of the court. Shardlake’s inquiries take him to Portsmouth, where the English fleet is gathering. Crossley's masterful ability to combine speech patterns and dialects with a striking range of emotion ignites the listening experience. T.J.M. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2011]