A brilliant take on the time period between Katherine of Aragon's death and Anne Boleyn's trial and eventual beheading, all told from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell, the King's chief minister. Because of Cromwell's position, you are able to see all the different takes on the court, the King and Queen and the eventual trial of treason and adultery against Anne Boleyn. 
 The book reads as if you are watching a play or a movie. The voices of each character are so singular and unique to them, it is as if they contributed their own dialogue to the story. Mantel does a superb job of taking you so close to the action that you feel the intrigue, suspense and fear associated with the actions of each of the characters. 
 I have not yet read "Wolf Hall", the precursor to "Bring Up the Bodies", but am truely looking forward to it.