England, 1546. The last year of the life of King Henry VIII. The most difficult during his entire reign. A heretical revolt, crude attacks on the Queen, radical changes in foreign policy, a forced attempt at reconciliation with the pope, and in the end - a blow below the belt: the transition of the Privy Council under the control of reformers… Against this disturbing background, detective-lawyer Matthew Shardlake investigates a strange crime that happened in the chambers of Catherine Parr, Henry's wife - the theft of a precious ring. In fact — Shardlake soon becomes convinced of this - the ring is a deception, the queen's manuscript entitled "The Wailing of a 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 occupies an honorable place among such famous characters as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe and Commissar Maigret.