Tombland

Matthew Shardlake #7

by C.J. Sansom

Spring, 1549. Two years after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos... The nominal king, Edward VI, is eleven years old. His uncle Edward Seymour, Lord Hertford, rules as Protector. The extirpation of the old religion by radical Protestants is stirring discontent among the populace while the Protector's prolonged war with Scotland is proving a disastrous failure and threatens to involve France. Worst of all, the economy is in collapse, inflation rages and rebellion is stirring among the peasantry.

Since the old King's death, Matthew Shardlake has been working as a lawyer in the service of Henry's younger daughter, the Lady Elizabeth. The gruesome murder of Edith Boleyn, the wife of John Boleyn - a distant Norfolk relation of Elizabeth's mother - which could have political implications for Elizabeth, brings Shardlake and his assistant Nicholas Overton to the summer assizes at Norwich. There they are reunited with Shardlake's former assistant Jack Barak. The three find layers of mystery and danger surrounding Edith's death, as a second murder is committed.

And then East Anglia explodes, as peasant rebellion breaks out across the country. The yeoman Robert Kett leads a force of thousands in overthrowing the landlords and establishing a vast camp outside Norwich. Soon the rebels have taken over the city, England's second largest. Barak throws in his lot with the rebels; Nicholas, opposed to them, becomes a prisoner in Norwich Castle; while Shardlake has to decide where his ultimate loyalties lie, as government forces in London prepare to march north and destroy the rebels. Meanwhile he discovers that the murder of Edith Boleyn may have connections reaching into both the heart of the rebel camp and of the Norfolk gentry...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Audiobook, Historical Mystery

866 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2018

About the author

Christopher John "C.J." Sansom was an English writer of crime novels.

Sansom was educated at the University of Birmingham, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he decided to retrain as a solicitor. He practised for a while in Sussex as a lawyer for the disadvantaged, before quitting in order to work full-time as a writer.

He came to prominence with his series set in the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century, whose main character is the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Shardlake works on commission, initially from Thomas Cromwell in Dissolution and Dark Fire and then Thomas Cranmer in Sovereign and Revelation.

He has also written Winter in Madrid, a thriller set in Spain in 1940 in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War.

Dark Fire won the 2005 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA). Sansom himself was "Very Highly Commended" in the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library award, for the Shardlake series.

The television series "Shardlake" was adapted from the books and released by Disney+ on 1st May 2024, just 4 days after Samson's death.

(from Wikipedia®)

Reviews

[Annet · Rating 5 out of 5]

My life will change utterly
Since my sinful eyes saw
this noble land so much admired...

Shardlake is back! So good..... Loved this book, took it slow... Big five stars, loved it! Great history and crime fiction, of the highest quality and entertaining value. Sansom is without doubt a very talented writer and has created a really great series starring the integer hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake. And Jack Barak... What can I say... loved it!
But man.... 866 pages... is a big book!! Quite difficult to read a few pages in bed before going to bed.... More than once I lost control and the book went to the floor.... But... well worth it, well worth it. Although, if I were to have some comment, it would be that maybe a thorough edit would have made the story a bit more sharp and fast paced. But then, I rather liked the pace and the attention to detail. Will return with more as usual.
Highly recommended for all you history fiction fans out there! Wish I could continue immediately with the next adventure of Shardlake, in the service maybe of Elizabeth.
Important, I would like to wish Mr. Sansom all the best...

Great short NYTimes review by Marilyn Stasio: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/bo...

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essential problem with this book is that it didn't know whether it wanted to be an extended account of the Kett Rebellion told via the characters we all know and love, or a murder mystery. It certainly failed in its aim to be both.

The apparent driver of the plot is the surprising discovery of a woman long thought dead. When Edith is found murdered in sickening circumstances, her last port of call at the home of young Elizabeth is cause for concern. Shardlake is dispatched with conflicting instructions: find out who did it but don't make too much noise. How anyone at this point could imagine he could investigate anything without making enough racket to wake the dead is beyond me, but that's the premise. Essentially though, this gets sidelined by his being swept up in the political and social turmoil of the day, a violent response to land enclosures forming one of many complaints against the nobility and rich landowners, inciting widespread uprisings across England.

Now this is a thrilling period of incredible change and importance, but the author loses sight of the main story in his enjoyment of the background. It's not until around 76 per cent that the reader discovers where Edith might have been stashed and the clues to this are dropped so heavily early on that the revelation provokes nothing more than a sigh of relief. The middle was all meetings and scenes of justification for the rebels. And don't even get me started on the the way the brutal ending was contrived to create a perfect set of circumstances for Shardlake to live happily ever after.

Each time one part of the story took the focus, the other fell so far from the stage that it practically disappeared, meaning that neither had the appeal it should. I slogged through it and felt the effort of every page. By the end, I couldn't have cared less about either aspect.

This is far from his best, but nevertheless works as a way into the ideas and people behind the revolts of the mid 1500s.


ARC via Netgalley

[Beata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This long-awaited 7th novel in the Matthew Shardlake series is based around 1549 Kett's Rebellion and a mystery murder which Matthew is asked by the Lady Elizabeth to investigate. As the Author himself admits, the Rebellion is not as famous as the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. We are presented with the reasons behind the rebellion, we meet some historic figures and we get to know how the rebellion progressed. Incredibly interesting! I discovered CJ Sansom many years ago and read all his books as they were published, so I've followed Shardlake for 15 years now ..... it might seem that the same pattern applied in the series would prove boring at some point, which is often the case, but far from that! I thoroughly enjoy learning about history and solving mysteries with Matthew. And I hope there will be more! CJ Sansom gives us historical fiction which is both entertaining and educational.

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another totally brilliant book in this wonderful series by C.J. Sansom. I have missed Matthew Shardlake while we have been waiting for this next adventure to be published but I guess it takes a while to write 850 perfect pages! Takes a while to read them too:) No skimming allowed or even needed when the author writes this well.

This is historical fiction at its best. One reviewer I read likened this book to Wolf Hall and I agree. The time period here is just after Henry V111's death and the country is in limbo with a boy king and his uncle acting as protector. Matthew is working for Lady Elizabeth, Henry's 15 year old daughter. The book revolves around Kett's Peasant rebellion and events take place mostly at Norwich which was at that time the second largest city in England.

It was like meeting old friends to get together again with Matthew, Barak and Nicholas. They endure some real hardships along the way and witness terrible scenes. The author brings to life what it must have been like to be part of the uprising and its eventual downfall. There is an interesting ending too with a couple of new characters and a hint of a possible change in Matthew's way of life.

Brilliant.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all his books this is direct follow on from his others this starts in January 1549 when Elizabeth I is only 15.
Edward VI who is king in name only as he is only 11 so Seymour ,Duke of Somerset is the real "king" lord Protector .
Here once again Lord Richard Rich Lord Chancellor is out to get Shardlake .
This set around Peasant uprisings & Sansom points out that last part of the book is all true.
In this once again Religious freedom come one of central Points & the pig in the middle is The Host .Things are changing no longer are people been executed for not believing in the Truth of the wine & the bread'.
This also about Mary who was Queen before Elizabeth & hated her. This about common land, cattle, sheep & farmers but The biggest problem with this is you need to be in the mood to read it. You need to really, really understand that period in History you need to be able to think & feel like The poor bastards of this time. You need to remember that there was beer for breakfast, greasy fatty foods, no health care no clean water.
I don't want to sound snobbish but But For some people this crime book is way over their heads I say it is NOT for the casual reader because you spend weeks Googling things. It is for the Shakespeare buff the lover of both pull your hair out crime & The Wolf Hall lovers
Lot of mind puzzles, to make you think which what is so good about C J 's books.
.I prefer the books as an epileptic & having bad vertigo Specsaves advised me not to use Kindle I found it gave me blinding headache & too much gave me dizziness & very good chance of a fit. So I not be getting one.
This very complex but Its full of action, We now coming to the meat of this book the uprising of the Peasants over farming lands this all based on truth .To make the story more than just book about the rebellions he has created a crime mystery & not other way round.
The biggest problem with this is that the print is bit small. He has gone to much about Captain Kett & Mouehold Heath that there is little action., it is interesting but Also is bit boring too. He could have cut it down. I find that Nicholas Is like old man Steptoe very Torie yet you would expect him to be for the farmers
This has lot of the feel of Barnaby Rudge even down to the mental retarded boy. Rudge was about the corn laws this about open fields both difficult for person today to wonder why anybody would fight over boxing a field in.This too much it is a murder lost in forrest of history , its just too much taking me far too long because it is waffling on. He did not need at least 200ps too much.
Not saying it isn't good its so fuck long
The end of this book as we were told at the start is all based on true facts and is utterly horrible. A early look at the great division between upper class & lower class. That again blow up in the English Civil war.
Unlucky for me I guessed who the murder was lot earlier than was revealed.
I also love that he has left the hint of a way he may move on to Elizabethan ages too.
But You have read the book to find out I not into spoilers Sweety.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.J. Sansom continues to impress with this set of Tudor era historical mysteries. Combing legal conundrums with historical controversies, the reader is taken back to relive some of the most tumultuous times during Tudor reign. Much has changed since the death of King Henry VIII, though England is still trying to get its legs under Edward VI and his council of advisors. Matthew Shardlake has remained scarce, but is under the employ of the Lady Elizabeth, who comes to him with an interesting legal matter. One of her distant relatives is about to go on trial for murder and Shardlake is needed to advise the local barristers and provide any investigative service he can. Armed with this mission—as well as a request for pardon from Lady Elizabeth, if it be necessary—Shardlake heads out to Norfolk with his legal assistant. Missing his former companion, Barak, Shardlake thinks back on all the trouble caused this friend during some of their adventures. Along the way, Shardlake encounters much resistance to his presence, particularly when it becomes known that he is from London, as there is a strong rebellion brewing in the area. While Shardlake seeks to help a distant Boleyn relative, he must tread lightly, for there are foes on both sides, including a handful connected to the family itself. During a brief trial, Shardlake sees just how loose justice seems to be in this domain, but will not rest until the real murderer is fingered and punished. With all this going on, a rebel uprising to protest the treatment of the locals by rich landlords is gaining steam, pitting two groups with whom Matthew Shardlake has connections against one another. Pulled into the middle of something that has no easy solution, Shardlake and his crew are soon vilified and taken as prisoners, with room for them at the gallows. England is yet again on the verge of something epic, though Shardlake would be just as happy to solve this murder and return to the safety of his own home. Detailed and full of historical research, C.J. Sansom has penned a stellar novel that will pull series fans into an adventure they will not soon forget. Highly recommended to those who love the Shardlake series, as well as readers who love English history with a twist.

The Matthew Shardlake novels are not ones that the casual reader will necessarily enjoy, as they are so full of history and nuanced characters, both of which tend to favour those who have the time to absorb the details. C.J. Sansom offers much the reader can enjoy, while developing storylines throughout this series. As history and mystery compete throughout, the reader learns much about both, alongside the series protagonist. Matthew Shardlake is a refreshing character whose development has not waned over the series. While not alluring in a physical sense, Shardlake has much to offer with his mind and actions to keep the reader enthralled. Shardlake has moved throughout the Tudor period, affixed to many key characters, but is always able to separate himself from the fray and focus on his legal work, even if it takes him on tangential adventures. Throughout the piece, the reader will see an evolution in the Shardlake character, adding personal nuances that help to enrich the series in new ways. There are many returning characters whose presence offers a means of propelling the narrative forward while also adding to Shardlake’s larger impact on the series. These characters, and those who make their debut in this novel, permit C.J. Sansom to effectively educate and entertain the cautious reader. As the series continues to develop, its key elements change and leave the reader wondering what is to come. Sansom admits in the epilogue and some of the accompanying documentation that the rebellions cited here have only more recently been documented effectively on the rebel side, leaving a more balanced approach to the historical record. Sansom can always be counted upon to offer an interesting spin on events known or presumed, forcing the reader outside of their comfort zone as they watch a powerful protagonist assert his own form of control.

Kudos, Mr. Sansom, for helping to mix Tudor history with a strong mystery. I hope that there are more novels to come, as you have a dedicated fan in me, after I stumbled to begin.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

How I envy those who will read this in October, rather than April, as is the doom of those of us Sansom fans in the United States.

ETA: Just ordered from Book Depository! Thanks very much, Hunter.

ETA2: And they just refunded me, as were "unable to deliver your order." Back to the drawing board.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Was there ever such a year as this?’
There was a lot of speculation about whether this book would be completed and I was so hopeful and impatient for it to be. And then, here it was. An enormous tome. It was wonderful and for the first time in this series, about a period and time I knew almost nothing about. Shardlake et al get swept up into the politics and upheaval of Kent’s rebellion, while investigating a case in Norwich. This is a book to savour- the details are so evocative and detailed, so well written, that even when a part of me was huffing and puffing at the actual case seemingly pushed to the side by the rebellion, the descriptions and character portraits of the incidental characters kept me thoroughly absorbed.
Let’s hope there’s more to come.

[Hanneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel 7 of the Shardlake series. The year is 1549, two years after the death of Henry VIII. The nominal king, Edward VI, is only 11 years old and his uncle, Edward Seymour, rules the country as Protector. Peasants revolts are flaring up in increasing numbers in parts of rural England against the unjust enclosures of common land by the gentry who put in ever larger flocks of sheep, thus depriving villagers of common pasture land. Interesting to read that you could already find civil disobedience on such a large scale at that time. Big rebel camps were established to house the rebels and defend the populace against actions by the Protector and the nobility.

As is his usual misfortune, Shardlake finds himself once again at the wrong place at the wrong time, being sent to Norfolk on an unrelated business by order of the Lady Elisabeth to investigate the murder charge of a distant Boleyn relative. He is caught up in the middle of the turmoil and placed in the largest rebel camp at the time in Norfolk, while the army sent by the Protector will inevitably be on its way. Interesting to follow the developments of this early rebellious class war which naturally ends badly for the rebels. Shardlake and his assistents end up alive, but badly shaken, worst for wear and devastated by the horrors they have witnessed.

Mr. Sansom ends his story with a really interesting historical essay on the conflict plus a bibliography. Captivating story, although it could have been told in a bit more compact way.

[Tracey Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written as ever, but SO long. The first 400 pages are concerned with the murder mystery, then it segues into being more a historical novel covering a rebellion for the next 350 pages or so, so it takes nearly 800 pages to solve a fairly simple murder mystery. The historical story itself is compelling, and the murder fairly so, but it falls badly between two stools, and could have done with being significantly shorter.

[Mike Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent novel. Managed to acquire 2 books by the author and remarkably for this one to be the follow up to ‘Lamentation.’

This story has Matthew Shardlake the hunchback barrister sent to Norwich to investigate a murder. Fantastic intrigue segued into the peasant uprisings of 1549.

All the characters and multiple plot lines are rich in depth. The battle scenes and aftermath of the risings are brutally recalled:

‘Blood oozed across the ground everywhere, I could smell its sharp salty tang from where I lay, mixed with the smell of shit as men’s bowels were torn out. I crawled slowly back down. Who’s winning?’ one of the gentlemen asked.

‘No one,’ I answered grimly.

Damn I have to hunt out more Shardlake’s👍

[Barbara K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I devoured all the previous books in this series, the length of this one made me postpone reading it for a couple of years. So often of late it seems that successful authors become self-indulgent, extending and expanding their stories in ways that really don't make them any better, just longer. Perhaps their editors are cowed by the authors' previous successes and disinclined to suggest that shorter can be better?

Would that be the case with Tombland? Any series reader should go into this volume with a baseline anticipation of the rich details of religion, life and politics in the 16th century that underlie all the Shardlake books. But although each previous book was longer than the one before, none came close to 880 pages!

As it happens, in this book Sansom's goal is not only to write an intriguing mystery in a distinctive setting, but to share with readers his interpretation of the Robert Kett Rebellion of 1549. Not as well known as Wat Tyler's rebellion of 1381, in recent decades the events and causes of this uprising have been explored in new detail, much of which Sansom works into his story. In his typical fashion (fans of the series might be put in mind of the royal progress to York in Sovereign) he imagines what daily life in the camp of thousands of impoverished and indignant rebels outside of Norwich might have been like. All this is rooted in meticulous research, which he recounts for us in an extended essay that follows the end of the book.

I'm happy to report that although I continuously assessed, as I read, whether the book could have been as good had this-or-that section been deleted, the answer was always "no". The interplay of characters and events was so complete that eliminating any would have diminished the texture or the plot - or both. Sansom also does a masterful job of integrating characters who remained in London with the events in Norwich; little detail, but occasional communications that, whether or not they were successful, kept the connections intact. Most importantly, the story continually moved forward, paralleling the real life events of that summer.

The story also resonated with me as a comparison with the contemporary American culture and economy. There are still so many reasons for those at the bottom of the ladder to cry foul. True, the parallels aren't exact. The yeoman class, situated between the landless laborers and the gentry, was actually growing during Tudor times, where our middle class is now stagnant. But the most affluent among us increase in wealth, often with the government's assistance, and the numbers of the poor have become even greater during the pandemic.

Oh, by the way, despite the fact that the murder mystery takes a back seat to the rebellion in Tombland, it's still a worthy tale, replete with suspects and motivations. As always, Steven Crossley provides excellent narration.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been saving this for a few months now, kinda working up some steam/stamina to read it as it’s a solid looking brick.... and I can’t shake the feeling that this is gonna be overtly long.....?

With that feeling entrenched I have to say it took me around two sittings, about 70 pages, to get into a rhythm with the book which was helped with the re-emergence of some of the old characters from the prior book, Guy & then Tamasin followed soon after by Barak. There has been much change in Shardlake’s life since the prior book & the style of writing even seemed diffo early on. Then the familiarity returns, I’m warming to his new employees & the location of Norwich being the setting for the “investigation” but at jus over 200 pages I couldn’t help wondering how the near 700 left was going to play out & keep me fully engaged! Especially when the trial revolving around the murder mystery had started with still 600+ to go!

It’s all about the long game......

Stories within stories, threads being weaved around Shardlake as he resolutely goes about his business as a lawyer, always fully engrossed in his task, sometimes much to his own jeopardy, as his doggedness to solve a crime & seek justice whilst keeping his integrity intact is put above all else. Not everyone has his high moral compass & sense of justice, which is one of the many things I love about his character in this series. And in this story there are many who are opposed to him, the political machinations run deep....... I was fully immersed.......

However, I have to mention that the main story then goes on sabbatical whilst the Kett rebellion/uprising takes place and for quite a while we're in a state of limbo as Shardlake is held against his will within the camp.... was it really pertinent to the story or jus an event used to string the book out....? It actually takes jus over 100 pages afore we are confronted with something relevant to the case..... so I err with the later especially as even reading onwards events surrounding the case are very few & far between, it feels like we’re treading water I must say.... and Im starting to drift.... I’m even forgetting what the original story was about..... which was now about 250 pages ago.... which is the length of read before we are back with the main thrust of the story, albeit it doesn’t really form the main story until much later...... Actually I would ask at this point is the murder mystery the main part of the story anymore? Or is it the rebellion? Who knows... I certainly don’t!

This book reminds me of “Sovereign” where we had the long march of the “progress” which for me dragged rather than added to the story, this feels the same wrt to the adding of the rebellion element which took around 250 pages of an 800 page book to establish in the story, call it a third if you will.... eventually the rebellion overwhelming the original mystery story as you plough onwards.... we eventually get to the crux of the matter with the mystery and I have to say that finding out the murderer was like a massive anti climax, I felt like oh right, there yer go, thank feck that's all done with..... only no! There's still a ways to go yet..... another 100+ pages...... and despite the book being 800+ pages, the ending seemed even rushed with it’s multi-parts & wrapping up around the characters leaving me feeling quite unsatisfied come journey’s end & time invested in this book.

If this was my first Shardlake i’m not sure I’d be back due to the structure of the story & it’s unwieldy length which made it a bit of a slog to read. As to the score, as I’ve grown to love the character I still find myself giving it 3.25 stars (rounded down to 3), can’t really slate it but nor will I get overly enthused about it & jus high score the great parts giving it a five, this being an overall score.

I’ll finish up by saying it was at times probably my least favourite of the whole Shardlake series.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this has been quite a journey. For Shardlake literally and for me in reading this vast work. Of course it can't be less than 5 stars. I'm very impressed with all the research and as always Mr. Sansom makes me feel as if I'm living in his book. Yet the middle part dragged somewhat so it took me long to get through it. But chapeau to the author, especially under the circumstances.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So that's that then. 😔

Just like book 3 (Sovereign), and book 5 (Heartstone), Tombland is mix of historical thriller set during a specific moment in Tudor History. In this case the Kett uprising in Norfolk when the farmers and land workers rose up against the landlords and gentlemen of the county who were constantly raising taxes, stealing land and being generally unpleasant. Shardlake is sent to Norfolk to investigate the murder of a distant relative of the future Queen of England, Lady Elizabeth. Once in Norfolk, Shardlake gets embroiled in the uprising. Forced to pick sides he finds himself working for the leader of the rebels and he soon realises he can trust no one, friends become enemies and it seems no one can be trusted.

A magnificent end to a magnificent series. Feel a little sad that CJ Samson was unable to give the Shardlake series a true ending, maybe a final showdown with the evil Richard Rich, but still it was hugely satisfying.

** Side note : The scenes with Lady Elizabeth, I could not get Miranda Richardson's portrayal of her in Blackadder out of my mind when she appeared in this story. Particularly when she's shouting and throwing stuff about.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think I would ever get the chance to review a Matthew Shardlake book, I thought the series had finished so to get another one was very exciting

I've never been one to shy away from a big book, in fact often the opposite I love nothing more than a big book I can sink my teeth into. But it has to be engaging and that is where this book fell short. The murder often felt totally sidelined by the events of Ketts rebellion, which is something I knew nothing about before reading this book. Although the events of the rebellion are interesting they are not what I came to this book looking for, and for long passages the narrative simply dragged. The events surrounding the murder just felt like they where crammed in at the very end, like the author had remembered about the murder and had to tie up events very quickly

I enjoyed meeting familiar faces again, especially Matthew the protagonist but in this one it felt like he was less of himself. Content a lot of the way to allow things to happen to him rather than striving to enact the changes he wanted to see in the books before. While I understand this based on where he found himself it still grated to watch him just allow others to make all his decisions for him rather than stand up for himself

Overall disappointing. I hope if we get another book it doesn't take as long, and is better than this one

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tremendous book is the 7th volume of the amazing "Matthew Shardlake" series from the author C.J. Sansom.
Let me first tell you that the historical details concerning this story are superbly implemented by the author, and explained in a very wonderful fashion.
Secondly on the inside cover of the book you'll notice a beautiful drawn map in colour of Norwich and Mousehold Heath in AD 1549, because this place and its surroundings, including the battle site, are playing the mayor role of Kett's Rebellion in East Anglia, England, of AD 1549, in this wonderfully written book, while at the beginning you'll find also a well documented Author's Note, as well as the speaking words of, Ralph Claxton, a Norfolk Parish clerk, who was executed for those words in AD 1550.
While at the end of the book you'll find a very extensive and delightful Historical Essay (Endnotes) concerning this great historical mystery story.
Story-telling from this author is of a top-notch quality, for if an author can keep the reader spellbound from start to finish with a book of well over 800 pages then he's a true storyteller to me, because also all the characters involved, whether they are real historical or wonderful fictional ones, come vividly to life with real lifelike interaction in this story, while also the battle scenes are superbly pictured and described in this astounding book about Kett's Rebellion in Norfolk of AD 1549.
The book starts off with an intriguing prologue set in January, in the year AD 1549, and where our main fictional character Matthew Shardlake is shortly interrogated by the Lord Chancellor of England, Richard Rich, with in attendance the rising figure of William Cecil, about treasonous acts by Lord Thomas Seymour, the Protector's brother, and widower/late husband of the now late Lady, and former Queen, Catherine Parr.
The first part is mainly set in London, June AD 1549, but an important visit to the Lady Elizabeth and her Comptroller, Master Thomas Parry at Hatfield Palace will set events in motion, due because of the death of the long lost Edith Boleyn, who had come to Elizabeth for help, and her husband John Boleyn who's a distant relative of Elizabeth, who's has been accused of Edith's murder, and there Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Nicholas Overton are summoned by both the Lady Elizabeth and Master Thomas Parry to follow the proceedings of the Norwich Assizes, and for Matthew Shardlake to do whatever he can to help John Boleyn in this case.
The second part is mainly set in and around Norwich, and there Matthew Shardlake is investigating the murder of Edith Boleyn, and its there that he will meet his former assistant, Jack Barak, again, and together with Nicholas Overton and Toby Lockswood, they will to try to find the real murderer(s), while at the same time unrest in brewing more and more amongst the peasantry, because of their unfair treatment by the rich and powerful establishment within the county and country.
What will follow is an astonishing tale about the civil unrest, what will eventually become a revolt and battles will follow between the followers of the brothers Kett, Robert and William, and the King/Protector's forces, with the inevitable end result, and intertwined within these horrible and bloody troubling circumstances Matthew Shardlake will come to the conclusion of his investigations and find the murderer(s), in this world of political intrigue, power struggle, heroism and backstabbing, as well as loyalty and betrayal.
Very much recommended, for this is a tremendous crafted mystery set in Norfolk, intertwined with a story about England in turmoil, written in an astounding fashion, and that's why I call it: "A Truly Magnificent Masterpiece"!

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5~4★
" 'I said the Lady Elizabeth was a realist, and she is cautious, but where anything to do with her mother is concerned, her heart begins to rule her head. She is still only fifteen, remember. Help me bury this business, Matthew. For her sake.'"

'This business' is the matter of John Boleyn's being arrested for the murder of his wife, a woman who had disappeared without a trace many years earlier.

He is said to be a relative of Elizabeth's mother, Queen Anne Boleyn, who was executed when Elizabeth was only two-and-a-half. Still, Elizabeth feels a very strong kinship with her mother and not with her father, King Henry VIII, who pretty much banished her after the execution.

Master Parry, who manages Elizabeth's finances, is commissioning lawyer Matthew Shardlake to travel to the region and discreetly investigate the details around the accusation. Shardlake takes his young assistant, Master Nicholas Overton, to Norfolk with him.

Overton is young and fit, well-born but not wealthy. He is not a seasoned campaigner like Shardlake and can be alarmingly outspoken. He isn't aware of the subtleties and nuances of dealing with people of different classes.

He asks Shardlake if their assignment might be connected with some recent political gossip. Matthew is quick to remind him of confidentiality.

" 'I am sorry to have snapped just then, only so many have fished for gossip, knowing I work with Parry.' I shook my head. 'Better sometimes, Nicholas, to know as little as possible. There, a free piece of advice from an old lawyer.'"

Nicholas needs a lot of free advice from Shardlake during their adventures when they make their way to Norfolk for the assizes – the periodic trials held in various regions. Matthew is instructed to keep his head down and his eyes open, be discreet asking questions about the murder.

Shardlake can be as discreet as he likes, but he is always noticed and remembered because of his hunched back. Hunchbacks are often considered unlucky, so some people tend to avoid him while others mock. Worse for him is the discomfort from long days of riding and walking. Readers are reminded of it frequently.

"'As it is a criminal trial, Boleyn cannot have representation by counsel because, the burden of proof being guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the law considers the facts should be so plain that counsel is not needed. Nonsense, of course, but there it is.'

'Complete nonsense,' Nicholas agreed. 'I was shocked when I began studying law and learned that.'"

I am just as shocked! There goes a huge chunk of today's legal profession, if that were still true.

Boleyn's wife, Edith, was a strange woman with an influential father. She disappeared many years ago, leaving John with twin sons, a pair of terrible troublemakers as children and absolute terrors now that they're well into their teens. Their mother was considered dead, so he married again, this time to a popular barmaid, with whom he'd begun an affair before his wife disappeared.

Now, suddenly, Edith's body has been discovered, newly dead and displayed lewdly for all to see - murdered by whom and why?

Boleyn's story serves a pretext to take Shardlake and Overton to Norfolk at the time of the famous peasants' revolt known as Kett's Rebellion, in 1549.

They encounter old friends Jack Barak, attending the assizes, and Josephine, Matthew's former servant, now married and living there. Jack and his wife Tamasin were very close to Matthew, but she holds Matthew responsible for the loss of Jack's hand and has never forgiven him.

This rebellion is caused by wealthy landowners fencing off the commons from the public and adding them to their own lands. The purpose of the commons has always been for tenant farmers and others to graze their beasts together on common land. Now, they're being left with no pastures.

Feelings are running high, and the uprising is in danger of getting out of control. Robert Kett, who becomes the captain, is anxious that the target remain the evil-doing landowners, not the boy king, Edward, or Lord Protector Somerset, who is managing the young king's affairs.

Matthew, Nicolas and Jack get caught up in the uprising, so Matthew treads an awfully fine line between being a 'gentleman' and a London lawyer (a natural enemy of the peasants) and being a sympathetic legal expert whom Kett asks to help ensure that Kett's trials of gentlemen are conducted with proper procedure under the Oak of Reformation, where he is setting up a court.

"'Our soldiers are for the Commonwealth,' Kett said stoutly. 'They are men of ideals.' He leaned back and crossed his arms. 'But you are a gentleman, perhaps you fear common people?'

His words struck home. For all my own ideals, my status meant that my whole life I had seen the poor, especially in numbers, as a potential threat, an enemy. As individuals I could advise them, but in the mass, yes, I feared them. I said, 'I am a man of my background, as are we all. Will you let me consider this?' I knew if I refused I would end up their prisoner."

The various stories intertwine as Shardlake hunts for the truth about Boleyn's wife's murder while trying to keep himself and Nicholas, both "gentlemen" safe among the peasants who are clamouring for blood.

This is a violent story that won't suit many historical fiction readers. Boleyn's twin sons are appalling, and the battles between peasants (16,000 all up) and the armies are bloody. I did enjoy seeing the characters again.

This is the seventh and last of the late C. J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake series, and it is a fitting ending. It does leave room for the imagination (or another author?) to pick up the threads and continue.

I've enjoyed all the books . Here are my previous reviews:

My review of #1 Dissolution

My review of #2 Dark Fire

My review of #3 Sovereign

My review of #4 Revelation

My review of #5 Heartstone

My review of #6 Lamentation

Wikipedia article about Kett's Rebellion

[Qedrák · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ha valaki a Tudor-korba szeretne visszajutni, akkor Sansommal nem nagyon tud hibázni.

Azon gondolkodtam legelőször, hogy a sorozaton belül vajon hova helyezném ezt a kötetet, és a csillagozásommal is megpróbáltam ezt képviselni. Én az _Apokalipszist_ emelném ki a történetfolyamból, de a _Sötét tűz_ is erősebb számomra, talán a _Bosszú nyilaihoz_ tudnám hasonlítani, több okból. Egyrészt nagyon hosszú, úgyhogy a Tömegközlekedésen Olvasók Anonim Közössége nevében igazán hálásak lehetünk a kiadónak, hogy ketté bontva jelentették meg. Másrészt a bűntény mintha aprócska ponttá válna a történelmi eseménysor hatalmas képén. Talán az egész mű nem is azt a célt szolgálta, hogy emléket állítson a Robert Kett-féle lázadásnak és egy kissé tovább faragja a Seymour család tevékenységének amúgy sem magas ázsióját.

Sansomnak egyébként továbbra is nagy erőssége, hogy úgy mutat be tankönyvekből ismert társadalmi folyamatokat (itt például a bekerítéseket), hogy mindeközben a nézőpontját egyszerre jellemzi egyfajta történészi elemzéssel elegyes távolságtartás, és egy mélységes humanizmus. Ez utóbbi nyilván köszönhető az elbeszélőül választott Shardlake-nek, aki testi hibája és ügyvédi foglalkozása révén nem örvend túl nagy népszerűségnek, de állhatatossága, az igazsághoz való következetes ragaszkodása és a radikális múltja hitelessé teszi az elbeszélői hangját. Ilyenkor óhatatlanul is arra gondolok, hogy egy hasonló szereplő mennyire hiányzik a magyar történelmi regények örvendetesen felfutó világából.

A hús-vér figurák egyébként csak erősítik az elbeszélő látásmódját. Bár olybá' tűnik, hogy a szerző szimpatizál a lázadással (naná, a kötet végére egy tisztességes amatőr történeti tanulmányt illesztett oda, magyar nyelven szerintem ennél jobb összefoglaló nem is jelent meg erről az egy szem történeti eseményről), szóval minden szimpatikussága ellenére akadnak közöttük is kötélre való gazemberek. És a nemesek között is előfordulnak tisztességesek, tisztességtelenek és a sorsuk nem feltétlenül korrelál az erkölcsi magatartásukkal. John Boleynt például nehéz megkedvelni a kálváriája ellenére is. Egy-két pozitív figuránál éreztem azt, hogy túlzásba esik az író, például Robert Kett közéjük tartozik, de mintha Isabella esetén is túl sokszor hangsúlyozta volna, hogy milyen bátor, kitartó és nem mellesleg csinos nő.

Azért nem hibátlan a történet. Egyrészt szerintem túl hosszú és hosszúságában kiegyensúlyozatlan. A lázadás első felét egészen a július 31-én lezajlott ütközetig nagyon részletesen, már-már kínosan lassan mutatja be, míg a bukás talán harmadannyi játékidőt sem kap. (Nagyjából a második kötet második feléről beszélünk). Az igazi bűnös is egy kicsit banális módon lepleződik le, kb. "bocs elszóltam magam, te pedig rájöttél, hogy én vagyok a bűnös" stílusban. És persze olyasvalaki, aki amúgy talán egyetlen pillanatra sem tűnt gyanúsnak. Szóval krimiként szerintem egy kicsit gyengébb, de hát számomra Sansom elsősorban történelmi regényíró, az, hogy mellesleg krimibe foglalja mindezt, az nagyjából olyan számomra csak egy mellékes körülmény.

Bevallom, régebben valamiért azt hittem, hogy a magyar kiadás csak jócskán lemaradva kullog az eredeti művek mögött, de erről szó sincs, ez konkrétan egy tavalyi megjelenés, amit néhány hónappal később már magyarul is a kezében tarthattak a hazai olvasók. A fordítóváltást meg sem érezte a sorozat, pedig biztos nem lehetett könnyű a történetben is hangsúlyt kapó tájszólást magyar nyelvre átültetni. Az egyetlen apróbb problémát azok az egy-egy elgépelések és befejezetlen mondatok jelenti, amelyek talán a sietség okán maradtak a szövegben. Egy térkép azért jó lett volna szerintem, bár nem tudom, hogy a jogdíj ilyenkor mennyire nehezíti meg a kiadást. Pl. egy hasonló:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kett%27...

És akit érdekel, akad egy színhely bejáró kis videó is itt, a szerző honlapjáról puskáztam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOqj1...

[Richard Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the first six of the Shardlake series were very very good, this is outstanding. It's a towering achievement of a book. Consciously or unconsciously, this is an indictment of the English class system of tgen and now, an indictment of austerity, of politicians, and of Brexit. It also portrays the dilemma of many - support of radical reform mixed with fear of change and loss. Where the previous 6 books were firmly historical fiction anchored in the time described, Tombland is one of those rare historical novels which draws a dirct line from what was then to what is now.

Matthew Shardlake is one of the great protagonists of modern historical fiction.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint - staggeringly good historical fiction, part of a series that finds something new to say about the Tudors. This time it's the rebellions of 1549 during the reign of Edward VI, most particularly in Norwich and Norfolk. Sansom achieves something remarkable - a novel that is so full of historical detail and colour, its descriptions so vivid, that it pays to take your time and visualise what you're reading. It feels like events are taking place all around you. Brilliant. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Sansom's Matthew Shardlake novels, and this is no exception. As a history nerd, I'd heard of Kett's Rebellion of 1549, around which this novel is based, but not known much about it. Thus, I especially enjoyed this fictional exploration into that time, and I DEEPLY appreciated the detailed essay at the end of the book. Sansom has provided background essays at the conclusions of other books, but this one went even further than previous ones have done. If you haven't read the Shardlake series yet, I highly recommend it!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read as an audiobook Apr 2024 - The narration is just as great as the book. Totally absorbing!

An England ripe for rebellion...

It’s the summer of 1549, and young King Edward VI is on the throne following the death of Henry VIII two years earlier. Since Edward is still a child, the guardians appointed by Henry have in turn appointed a Protector to rule in his stead, his uncle Edward Seymour. There is great poverty in the towns and cities while, in the farming lands of the north and west, landlords are enclosing common land for their own sheep, fermenting unrest amongst the smallholders and tenant farmers who relied on that land to eke out their own precarious living. Throw in the usual religious turmoil – the new Book of Common Prayer has just been foisted on a population tired of constant change and with newly developed religious opinions of their own – and an unpopular and unwinnable war against those pesky Scots, and the time is ripe for rebellion. It’s at this moment that Shardlake is summoned by his new patron, Princess Elizabeth, to investigate a murder of which one of her distant Boleyn relatives stands accused. And so he must head for Norwich, a city that will soon be at the heart of the East Anglian rebellion, led by the charismatic Robert Kett...

Generally speaking, when I see that a book has 800 pages I groan and run in the opposite direction. But with Sansom, I sigh and wish it was a few hundred pages longer. His ability to create an entirely immersive and believable Tudor world is second to none, partly because his own background as a historian means that the history is accurate. Sure, he manipulates it a little for literary purposes and he uses his imagination to fill in historical blanks, but he never strays far from actual events; and his characters are equally well and credibly depicted, whether they are real or fictional. Matthew Shardlake, as fans know, is a decent man with real empathy for the poor and disadvantaged, so it’s no surprise that this is a sympathetic portrayal of Kett’s Rebellion, showing him and his followers in a light that may be a little more idealistic than was really likely. But I bow to Sansom’s greater knowledge – maybe they did behave as well as he suggests – and I bow even more deeply to his skill in story-telling, because I was happy to buy into the idea of Kett as a principled leader and his followers as mostly disciplined and fair-minded men and women.

The bulk of the book is spent with the rebels, as Shardlake and his young assistant Nicholas get caught up in events. Nicholas is a son of a landowner, so has a different opinion from Shardlake initially, although his viewpoint is shaken as he is forced to witness some of the cruelties the poor are forced to suffer at the hands of the ruling class. Sansom uses him, though, to give the other side – to make the case for the landowners. Jack Barak is back, too, coping well after the events of the previous book. Being from lower stock himself, he is naturally drawn to the rebels, so with all three of the companions standing at different heights on the social ladder, it’s unclear whether their friendship will be enough to hold them together when the fighting begins.

The murder plot is how the book begins and ends, and it rumbles on as a background to the rebellion plot in the lengthy mid-section, but Sansom never allows it to be lost sight of entirely. John Boleyn, a landowner and distant cousin of Anne Boleyn, stands accused of murdering his first wife, Edith. Edith had left him and disappeared some years earlier, and he had eventually had her declared dead and married again. But now Edith’s newly murdered body has been found, displayed in a sordid fashion near John’s estate. Shardlake must find out where she’s been for the last nine years, and who, other than John and his second wife, might have wanted her dead.

The personal lives of the recurring characters are brought up to date, too. Jack’s relationship with his wife Tamasin is rocky, partly because she’s never forgiven Shardlake for the events in the last book (avoiding spoilers, apologies for vagueness). Young Nicholas is of an age to consider marrying and Matthew is concerned that he seems to have set his heart on a woman Matthew thinks is shallow and unworthy of him. Guy is old now and ill, and Matthew fears he may soon lose the man he considers his closest friend. And Matthew himself is feeling rather lonely. The old Queen, Catherine Parr, is dead and Matthew misses her more than a commoner should miss a queen. But he also misses his old servants, many of whom he had taken in as waifs and strays, and who have now grown up and left for lives of their own. So one of the things he wants to do in Norwich is look up his old maidservant Josephine, now married and living in the city. The last time she wrote to him, she was expecting her first child and he’s worried that it’s been some months and he’s heard no more.

This is another completely satisfying addition to the series, confirming again my belief that Sansom is the best historical fiction writer certainly today and perhaps ever. He tells his story in a straightforward linear way, without stylistic quirks or “creative” writing, relying instead on creating a great historical setting founded on in-depth research, a strong plot, and a group of brilliantly depicted characters who have all the complexity of real, flawed humanity. Shardlake himself continues to be one of the most appealing characters in fiction – irascible, often lonely, occasionally a little self-pitying, but intelligent, determined, dedicated, charitable and wholeheartedly loyal to those he takes into his generous heart. If I ever stand accused of murder, I hope I have a Shardlake to depend on. A great book in a brilliant series – my highest recommendation!

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Mantle, an imprint of Pan MacMillan.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com

[Aleshanee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich hab mich mega gefreut auf diese Fortsetzung, denn schon in den ersten Bänden war ich mit dem buckligen Anwalt Matthew Shardlake gerne auf Mörderjagd! Die Bücher werden zwar immer dicker, jetzt mit so gut wie 1000 Seiten ein richtiger Schinken, aber wenn man sich drauf einstellt, dass C. J. Sansom hier viel ins Detail geht und die Handlung langsam aufbaut, kann das großen Spaß machen!

Es dauert nämlich, bis der Mordfall in Fahrt kommt, dennoch bin ich schnell vorangekommen. Ich mag das historische Setting in London und Umgebung sehr und der Autor geht dieses Mal noch mehr auf die Umstände ein, die die Bürger zu dieser Zeit beschäftigen:
Die hohen Abgaben zur Finanzierung des Schottland Krieges, die Missernten und die Inflation haben die Spannungen geschürt, weshalb sich die "Gemeinen" zu einer Rebellion zusammenschlossen.
Ich denke, der Autor hat hier sehr gut recherchiert und die realen Personen/Ereignisse als guten Hintergrund gefunden, in den Matthew Shardlake immer tiefer verstrickt wird.
Er gehört ja als Anwalt zur gehobenen Klasse, hat aber schon immer ein Herz für die Armen und muss diesen Spagat zur Wahrung seines Ansehens gegenüber beiden Seiten meistern, was ihn einiges an Geschick abverlangt.

Die Ermittlungen, die den Verdächtigen John Boleyn entlasten sollen, gestalten sich als äußerst schwierig. Matthew und sein Gehilfe finden zwar einige Hinweise, die auch andere Täter infrage kommen lassen, aber die Klärung scheint kaum möglich zu sein.
Der Fall ist definitiv verstrickt, wobei die Lösung dann fast schon etwas untergegangen ist. Warum? Weil ab der Hälfte das zentrale Thema der Aufstand der Gemeinen ist, der sich in Norwich sammelt. In ganz England schließen sich die niederen Klassen zusammen, um für mehr Gerechtigkeit zu sorgen und wie Shardlake hier mit einbezogen wird nimmt sehr viel Raum ein, der mir dann doch zu detailliert und ausufernd wurde.
Interessant war es allemal, aber es wirkte dann doch zu langatmig, weil vieles im Kleinen beschrieben wurde.

Matthew Shardlake selbst ist mir ja äußerst sympathisch, schon von Anfang an. Aber auch andere Charaktere und auch Nebenfiguren sind mir ans Herz gewachsen und einige machen eine ungewollte Entwicklung durch - grade auch wegen der Rahmenhandlung.
Leider ja immer noch aktuell, das Thema zum System und den "Klassen", irgendwie. Denn obwohl es so weit weg scheint gibt es diese Unterschiede in der Wahrnehmung ja leider noch bei vielen, dass manche Menschen weniger wert seien als andere.

Vom Stil her hat der Autor wieder eine perfekte Atmosphäre der damaligen Zeit geschaffen; ohne übertreiben zu müssen hat er die Dialoge und die Erzählweise perfekt an das historische England angepasst und mit anschaulichen Szenen und Authenzität zum Leben erweckt!

Eine großartige Fortsetzung, die zeigt, wie sehr der Autor sich an den historischen Überlieferungen orientiert hat, teilweise aber eben etwas ausschweifend, wodurch bei der Aufklärung des Mordes am Ende etwas Pfiff gefehlt hat.

[Susan in NC · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 2025: rereading with the Reading the Detectives group; I’ve been so glad to revisit this excellent series, but sad to reread this last book, knowing it is the final book. The author died last year, I’m sorry to say, so there won’t be anymore Shardlake mysteries- I’ve just finished the prologue and first chapter, in which the ever-melancholic Shardlake reflects on those he’s lost in the last couple years, and acknowledges with a shock that he is lonely. Touching and sad…

2019: I really enjoyed this latest mystery in one of my favorite historical mystery series. As has been the case in every book in this excellent series, Sansom immerses his hero, London lawyer Matthew Shardlake, in historical events as he attempts to solve a mystery. Here, the event is Kett’s Rebellion in Norfolk in 1549; following the death of Henry VIII, Shardlake has been working for his younger daughter Lady Elizabeth, third in line to the throne.

When Henry died, his son Edward became king, but he is only 11 years old, so his uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, rules as regent and Protector. Religious conflict still abounds, the endless war with Scotland is emptying coffers, the economy is about to collapse, and peasants are ready to revolt. Shardlake works mostly on acquiring land for Elizabeth, but is summoned to her and asked to investigate the gruesome murder of the wife of a distant relative. The woman had visited Elizabeth to seek help, and was viciously murdered shortly afterward; while Elizabeth and those around her are anxious to avoid scandal, she wants to ensure justice is done, and Shardlake and his assistant head to Norwich to investigate.

While there, Shardlake encounters some of the most memorable villains Sansom has created - and that’s saying something! He also gets sucked into the brewing rebellion, which took place on the outskirts of Norwich in the summer of 1549.

I was so glad to see Sansom return with his character Matthew Shardlake. I have read every book in the series, and always find them engrossing, excellently researched, and very well written. This book raises Sansom’s exceedingly high bar for historical mysteries even higher, as I learned after reading the historical essay at the back of the book. Historical records are limited as to life inside the rebel encampment, so Sansom used his extensive research and imagination to recreate how the rebels built and ran the camp for several weeks before being brutally put down by the Earl of Warwick and his army.

As ever, Shardlake is a conscientious and tireless investigator and advocate; even as the tension builds relentlessly to a bloody and inevitable climax, even as he is forced to work alongside the rebels in the encampment, he still attempts to carry on the investigation of the murder! When it is finally solved, amid the brutality of the final battle, Sansom delivers a tidy solution, but as with past books, realistically leaves the door open to possible future conflict with cunning adversaries. Also, the end of this book hints at possible changes to Shardlake’s solitary life; I can’t wait to see where future books might take this wonderful character!

I loved this huge, epic adventure, and the opportunity to once again immerse myself in the complex, vivid, yet vicious life of Tudor England with these wonderful characters who have become like old friends. I hope Sansom will give us another excellent mystery soon - I can see so much scope for future mysteries and intrigues as Elizabeth takes the throne, and hopefully brings Shardlake and company (at least Nicholas and Barak) along for the ride!

[Morana Mazor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bojala sam se da će ovo možda biti preopširno, s obzirom na cca.800str - prevarila sam se. I opet izvrstan Sansom!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing the things you learn from TV. I was watching Craig Ferguson's late night show one night and he started talking about an amazing author and a great series of books. The author was CJ Sansom and the series was Matthew Shardlake. I followed up his recommendation and I am so glad I did. I love this series and this latest entry is outstanding.

Tombland is set in 1549 and Shardlake is given an assignment by Princess Elizabeth. A distant relative of hers is arrested for the murder of his wife and she wants him to investigate it and, if necessary, give the Protector a request for a pardon for him. Shardlake and his associate, Nicholas, set off for Norwich. The murder is particularly messy. The dead woman has been missing and presumed dead for 9 years. The husband has remarried and now that marriage is invalid.

As Shardlake tries to sort out the mess, there is a peasant uprising and he and Nicholas are caught in the middle of it. Also his former associate, Barak, is swept up too. The Kettle uprising is quite famous but I had never heard of it. The Protector of Edward VI has made overtures to the poor that the peasants think he actually means. They decide to get ready for the sweeping changes they think the Protector will actually make (hint-never believe a politician). Shardlake is forced to act as legal adviser for the trials the rebels are holding.

There are lots of old and new characters. His former maid, Josephine, and her husband have a role. Shardlake makes lots of new of new friends in the rebel camp. He gains a grudging respect for the Kettle rule and the laws and regulations they have established. They are so much better than what the establishment has to offer. He also makes plenty of unpleasant enemies.

This is thoroughly captivating read of an important time in English history. It really makes you examine what could have happened if capable men had been allowed to lead. I found it quite relevant to what is happening now. I was impressed at just how clueless the leaders really were. Princess Mary was so blinded by her own concerns that she thought it was about the English prayer book. Not even close. The Protector was clueless about how angry the peasants were and what his relentless campaign against the Scots was doing to the country. Stupid, stupid people.

If you are looking for a nuanced, comprehensive look at history with an interesting mystery then you will love this book.

[John Wiltshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not so much reading this as living through it. Five stars would never be enough to rate this remarkable, superb experience. I've loved every single one of the Shardlake novels. Each one is a masterclass in how to write good historical novels. This one is no exception. The basic story is always a mystery, a crime, which Matthew is called upon to solve. But the solution always gets him mixed up with the wider political events of the day. It's the mix of the normal, everyday people and the great political movements that make these books so incredibly fascinating. And never once do we get author exposition--the author proving how much research he's done by stuffing it all in. Reading Shardlake is like being there--things are just how they are, natural and quite unaffectedly introduced. These people are just like us: they have the same desires, the same mix of good and bad in them. Sure, they are fighting about whether the transmutation is real or metaphor; they are obsessed with enclosures and the rights of the serfs, but our current issues of multiculturalism and the like will seem just as distant to future readers. Sansom has the ability to make us care, which is the hallmark of a great author.
There is a real mystery at the heart of this novel--who killed Edith Boleyn. Edith was a distant relative by marriage of the Lady Elizabeth, Matthew's new employer. Edith had been missing, presumed dead, for nine years before her murder. Where was she during these missing years? Who had motive to kill her on her unexpected return? Her husband, John Boleyn, now remarried, seems the obvious suspect. Elizabeth, however, cannot afford the whiff of scandal his execution would send her way.
On arriving in Norwich to begin his enquiries however, Matthew soon realises he's got bigger worries than poor Edith's murder: he's caught up in the middle of a peasants' revolt against the landowners.
I'm 60% into this one and wishing it would never end, but as always, I'll update when it inevitably does...
Finished.
You could not wish for a better reading experience.
Do not miss these wonderful, wonderful novels.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visit the settings of Tombland


I'm not going to lie. This was a monster of a book even for me. A tomb of a read ironically at over 840 pages. But do you know what? It's CJ Sansom and the time passed quickly as I was sucked into a medieval world of intrigue and murder.

There’s a lot to enjoy here, and not just with the plot. Around you as you read, there are battles, conspiracies and talk of royal intrigue. Shardlake has a murder to solve and then another body turns up...

The rebellions of 1549 during the reign of Edward VI are what drives the novel and the events of Tombland in historical Norwich. I had no idea this was a real place but I’ve worn out Google Maps finding out as much as I can about it. I know it so well now - well the 1549 version. How exciting it will be to see the modern day version and Sansom’s version at the same time.

There’s a keen sense of chaos in the novel but when you have a king who is only eleven years old...the country is in turmoil and there is religious turmoil as well. No one seems safe. Even everyday life is getting harder as the financial state of the country is in free fall. You get a keen sense of all of this in the novel and it’s like wandering down the streets yourself, the sights, sounds and godforsaken smells all the more real as you walk on.

Shardlake works as a lawyer for Henry’s VIII’s daughter Elizabeth and the Boleyn name comes back into play when  a distant relative from Norfolk is found murdered. Of course, Shardlake is the man for the job, but this is unlike anything he has been asked to do before.

It’s a very visual novel - from the chaotic market scenes to the cumbersome journeys the characters have to undertake to get to Tombland, the inns they stop at on the way and the cells of Norwich castle....it’s a world of medieval wonder and mixes historical fact, peasant revolt and the true meaning of loyalty.

And within all of this, a strong plot worthy of the Shardlake name. Read it slowly, take it in and allow yourself to be submerged into a historically fascinating world.