The sequel to Wolf Hall, covering the fall of Anne Boleyn. Mantel won the Booker again in 2012, becoming the first woman and first British writer to win it twice. The novel is tighter and more lethal than its predecessor. Cromwell's maneuvering to bring down Anne reads like a thriller written by someone who has actually watched power operate at close range.

The case for it, the case against, and the rest of the canon open with Pro.