Ken Follett is a longtime favorite of mine. I cut my teeth on his spy novels like "Eye of the Needle". When he turned his attention and his pen to the Middle Ages, I wasn't sure if I'd like it or if it would capture my interest like his previous works. Turns out, it has proven to be some of his best work. "A Column of Fire" is the third book about the fictional city of Kingsbridge in merry old England, which was often anything but merry. It was cold and dank and violent. There was constant subterfuge surrounding the royal family and the church. The story primarily follows the life of Ned Willard as he goes from a heartbroken young man in Kingsbridge to a much relied upon advisor to the queen, hobnobbing with European aristocracy trying to protect his country, his queen and his ideals. There's just the right amount of history here; it never slows down the action, but you get a real feel for the time period. Don't let the size of this tome hold you back (just over 900 pages); you'll be sorry when you're done.