England, 1546. The last year of the life of King Henry VIII. The most difficult during his entire reign. Heretical rebellion, brutal attacks on the Queen, fundamental changes in foreign policy, a forced attempt at reconciliation with the Pope, and in the end - a blow below the belt: the transfer of the Privy Council to the control of reformers... Against this alarming background, detective-lawyer Matthew Shardlake investigates a strange crime that happened in the chambers of Catherine Parr, Henry's wife, theft of a precious ring. In fact (Shardlake soon becomes convinced of this) the ring is just a deception. The queen's manuscript entitled "The Lament of the Sinner" has been stolen, and its publication may cost Catherine her life... In the world of literary heroes and in the minds of today's readers, the image of Matthew Shardlake takes pride of place among such famous characters as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe and the Commissioner Maigret. Previously, the book was published under the title “Lamentation.”