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Matthew Shardlake #1
Горбун лорда Кромвеля
1537 год, Англия. Полным ходом идет планомерное уничтожение монастырей, объявленных рассадниками порока и измены. Однако события в монастыре маленького городка Скарнси развиваются отнюдь не по сценарию, написанному главным правителем Томасом Кромвелем. Его эмиссар зверски убит, обезглавленное тело найдено в луже крови неподалеку от оскверненного алтаря. Кто это сделал? Колдуны, приверженцы черной магии? Или контрабандисты? Или сами монахи? Расследовать злодеяние поручено Мэтью Шардлейку, горбуну, чей ум способен распутывать самые сложные преступления. Приехав в монастырь, он обнаруживает, что это убийство — не первое, совершенное в стенах обители...
В мире литературных героев и в сознании сегодняшнего читателя образ Мэтью Шардлейка занимает почетное место в ряду с такими известными персонажами, как Шерлок Холмс, Эркюль Пуаро, Ниро Вульф и комиссар Мегрэ.
В мире литературных героев и в сознании сегодняшнего читателя образ Мэтью Шардлейка занимает почетное место в ряду с такими известными персонажами, как Шерлок Холмс, Эркюль Пуаро, Ниро Вульф и комиссар Мегрэ.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2003
3106 people are currently reading
42348 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Sansom
63 books3,947 followersChristopher 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®)
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®)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,204 reviews
November 8, 2018
”’This is not Thomas More’s Utopia, a nation of innocent savages waiting only for God’s word to complete their happiness. This is a violent realm, stewed in the corruption of a decadent church.’
‘I know.’
‘The papists will use every means to present us from building the christian commonwealth, and so God’s blood I will use every means to overcome them.’
‘I am sorry if my judgement erred.’
‘Some say you are soft, Matthew, ‘ he said quietly. ‘Lacking in fire and godly zeal, even perhaps in loyalty.’
Lord Cromwell had the trick of staring fixedly at you, unblinking, until you felt compelled to drop your gaze. You would look up again to find those hard brown eyes still boring into you. I felt my heart pound. I had tried to keep my doubts, my weariness, to myself; surely I had told nobody.”
A view eastwards along the chancel of the church at the Cistercian monastery of Rievaulx Abbey in the Yorkshire Wolds. The monastery was founded in the 12th century and abandoned during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
I had just been introduced to Matthew Shardlake when he is summoned to the office of Lord Thomas Cromwell. Shardlake has become disillusioned about working for Cromwell. It is arduous work, requiring travel hither and yon, and mentally draining to see the look of fear and barely suppressed loathing that people feel for a representative of Cromwell. To make matters worse the infirmity he was born with, a hunchback, continues to give him more and more trouble with each passing day. Already weary in soul and feeling the physical toil of the past few years the last thing Shardlake wants to do is to be dispatched to the St. Donatus monastery at Scarnsea.
But there has been a murder and not just any murder, but the murder of a Cromwell representative while he was investigating the monastery for improprieties. The killer was sending a very clear message to Cromwell by beheading his agent. Cromwell’s own head is lucky to still be setting squarely on his shoulders after he became such an ardent ally of the recently beheaded Anne Boleyn.
To prove his loyalty to Henry the 8th Cromwell is fervently enforcing the recent First Act of Succession (1536) dissolving as many monasteries as possible, within the confines of the new law. He is confiscating their lands and gold baubles to help bolster the King’s treasury. St. Donatus is one of the larger monasteries all of whom hope to survive the purge. Although anybody in the know realizes that Henry will not be happy with just a few when he can pass a law, Second Act of Succession (1539), that will bring them all down. Right now it is 1537 and Shardlake can offer some assurances to the abbot that the monastery can still be saved.
Haughmond Abbey. The extensive remains of an Augustinian abbey, including its abbots' quarters, refectory and cloister.
This was a time of uneasy alliances with Catholics swearing allegiance to the new church not because they necessary believed, but because they wished to keep their property and to keep their heads attached to the rest of their bodies. People used the new laws to settle old grievances, turning their enemies in for Catholic devotion that reminds me of neighbors turning on neighbors in Germany under the Third Reich.
Protestants killing Catholics. Catholics killing Protestants. Good lord, all so a king can bed a particularly crafty young lady who would settle for nothing less than the crown on her head before she ministered to the Kingly “crown”.
Anne Boleyn was a true Eve, nearly bringing a kingdom down with her feminine wiles and her “progressive” religious ideas. Think of the lives that would have been saved if Henry the 8th in one of his many mishaps had crushed his balls or better yet sliced his dinger off. Are we to believe that his main objective in having so many wives was to procreate an heir? Maybe so, but truly in the course of doing so it is hard not to see him as bordering on sexual conquesting lunacy.
I know he was worried about starting a war with Spain and France, but wouldn’t this all have been easier and saved a lot of hanging, beheading, burnings etc. if only Catherine of Aragon had say had an accident in the bath or had a bit of loose stone masonry fall on her head? Not that I wish ill on Catherine. She seems to be the one purity in this whole sordid mess, but would thousands of lives been spared?
Shardlake with his rather comely (male) assistant in tow arrives at the monastery to discover that there are more problems than just one murdered man. Needless to say everyone is on edge knowing that the King’s representative needs very little cause to close the monastery and confiscate their lands. Shardlake finds a nest of barely repentant monks still clinging to their idols and traditions. It is too much to expect that people can just flip a switch and do away with beliefs that have sustained them their whole lives.
The ruins of Glastonbury Abbey dissolved in 1539, following the execution of the Abbot on charges of treason.
A monk is poisoned...what did he know or what did he see? An old murder comes to light of a young girl who once worked at the monastery. Before long Shardlake wonders if he is chasing one murderer or three? He soon discovers that the monastery keeps two sets of books and the missing blue book may be the very thing he needs to find to unmask at least one of the killers. To make things even more irritating for him he finds himself competing with his young assistant for the affections of a young lass who works in the infirmary of the monastery.
Shardlake is very dismissive of Catholicism, a true believer in the Reformation, but at the same time he is sickened by the lives that are being ruined needlessly. He certainly feels the pressure to not only uncover the true murderers, but also to reach solutions that will put him back in the good graces of Cromwell. It is a time when people must deny their true nature whether they are homosexual, Anabaptist, or harboring affection for the Pope of Rome. It is always tragic when people who have much more in common than they have in disagreement are killing each other over the whims of Kings. I will definitely be reading more in this series. I’ve heard that the books just keep getting better and better.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
‘I know.’
‘The papists will use every means to present us from building the christian commonwealth, and so God’s blood I will use every means to overcome them.’
‘I am sorry if my judgement erred.’
‘Some say you are soft, Matthew, ‘ he said quietly. ‘Lacking in fire and godly zeal, even perhaps in loyalty.’
Lord Cromwell had the trick of staring fixedly at you, unblinking, until you felt compelled to drop your gaze. You would look up again to find those hard brown eyes still boring into you. I felt my heart pound. I had tried to keep my doubts, my weariness, to myself; surely I had told nobody.”
A view eastwards along the chancel of the church at the Cistercian monastery of Rievaulx Abbey in the Yorkshire Wolds. The monastery was founded in the 12th century and abandoned during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
I had just been introduced to Matthew Shardlake when he is summoned to the office of Lord Thomas Cromwell. Shardlake has become disillusioned about working for Cromwell. It is arduous work, requiring travel hither and yon, and mentally draining to see the look of fear and barely suppressed loathing that people feel for a representative of Cromwell. To make matters worse the infirmity he was born with, a hunchback, continues to give him more and more trouble with each passing day. Already weary in soul and feeling the physical toil of the past few years the last thing Shardlake wants to do is to be dispatched to the St. Donatus monastery at Scarnsea.
But there has been a murder and not just any murder, but the murder of a Cromwell representative while he was investigating the monastery for improprieties. The killer was sending a very clear message to Cromwell by beheading his agent. Cromwell’s own head is lucky to still be setting squarely on his shoulders after he became such an ardent ally of the recently beheaded Anne Boleyn.
To prove his loyalty to Henry the 8th Cromwell is fervently enforcing the recent First Act of Succession (1536) dissolving as many monasteries as possible, within the confines of the new law. He is confiscating their lands and gold baubles to help bolster the King’s treasury. St. Donatus is one of the larger monasteries all of whom hope to survive the purge. Although anybody in the know realizes that Henry will not be happy with just a few when he can pass a law, Second Act of Succession (1539), that will bring them all down. Right now it is 1537 and Shardlake can offer some assurances to the abbot that the monastery can still be saved.
Haughmond Abbey. The extensive remains of an Augustinian abbey, including its abbots' quarters, refectory and cloister.
This was a time of uneasy alliances with Catholics swearing allegiance to the new church not because they necessary believed, but because they wished to keep their property and to keep their heads attached to the rest of their bodies. People used the new laws to settle old grievances, turning their enemies in for Catholic devotion that reminds me of neighbors turning on neighbors in Germany under the Third Reich.
Protestants killing Catholics. Catholics killing Protestants. Good lord, all so a king can bed a particularly crafty young lady who would settle for nothing less than the crown on her head before she ministered to the Kingly “crown”.
Anne Boleyn was a true Eve, nearly bringing a kingdom down with her feminine wiles and her “progressive” religious ideas. Think of the lives that would have been saved if Henry the 8th in one of his many mishaps had crushed his balls or better yet sliced his dinger off. Are we to believe that his main objective in having so many wives was to procreate an heir? Maybe so, but truly in the course of doing so it is hard not to see him as bordering on sexual conquesting lunacy.
I know he was worried about starting a war with Spain and France, but wouldn’t this all have been easier and saved a lot of hanging, beheading, burnings etc. if only Catherine of Aragon had say had an accident in the bath or had a bit of loose stone masonry fall on her head? Not that I wish ill on Catherine. She seems to be the one purity in this whole sordid mess, but would thousands of lives been spared?
Shardlake with his rather comely (male) assistant in tow arrives at the monastery to discover that there are more problems than just one murdered man. Needless to say everyone is on edge knowing that the King’s representative needs very little cause to close the monastery and confiscate their lands. Shardlake finds a nest of barely repentant monks still clinging to their idols and traditions. It is too much to expect that people can just flip a switch and do away with beliefs that have sustained them their whole lives.
The ruins of Glastonbury Abbey dissolved in 1539, following the execution of the Abbot on charges of treason.
A monk is poisoned...what did he know or what did he see? An old murder comes to light of a young girl who once worked at the monastery. Before long Shardlake wonders if he is chasing one murderer or three? He soon discovers that the monastery keeps two sets of books and the missing blue book may be the very thing he needs to find to unmask at least one of the killers. To make things even more irritating for him he finds himself competing with his young assistant for the affections of a young lass who works in the infirmary of the monastery.
Shardlake is very dismissive of Catholicism, a true believer in the Reformation, but at the same time he is sickened by the lives that are being ruined needlessly. He certainly feels the pressure to not only uncover the true murderers, but also to reach solutions that will put him back in the good graces of Cromwell. It is a time when people must deny their true nature whether they are homosexual, Anabaptist, or harboring affection for the Pope of Rome. It is always tragic when people who have much more in common than they have in disagreement are killing each other over the whims of Kings. I will definitely be reading more in this series. I’ve heard that the books just keep getting better and better.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
February 22, 2016
I very rarely bother with crime novels. The genre feels overdone and, well, a little bit boring. To me it all looks like the same regurgitated story. I blame the terrible police dramas on television; they make me yawn when I see how stupid they are. I did a two year course in forensic science, and it never ceases to amaze me how the writers of these television shows think that wearing gloves will therefore mean that the crime scene is not contaminated by the otherwise exposed investigators. Never mind the fact that they are trampling over evidence, leaving their own hairs and jumping to ridiculous conclusions based upon preliminary testing. These things are horribly inaccurate to the professional field; they are always forensically inaccurate. So, regardless of how this is handled in modern crime books, I always avoid them to avoid similar annoyance. This, however, isn’t a modern crime book.
This is a murder mystery set in the political upheaval of Tudor England. The churches are undergoing dissolution, hence the title of the book. This, to me, sounded utterly fantastic. I mean, at last, a crime book that I want to read. I have a real interest in the Tudor period of history. It was a reign that changed the face of England. I mean, imagine how different the country would be today if King Henry VIII never broke with Rome, and with the Pope. Arguments between branches of Christianity may never have become so heated. King Charles I may never have been executed for his Catholic sympathies, amongst other things. The Dissolution with the Catholic Church changed the face of England forever along with its sequential history.
Murder in the monastery
This book combines a classic whodunit scenario with the intrigue of the sixteenth century; it is brilliantly handled. At the heart of this book is a very human character: Matthew Shardlake. Shardlake is a commissioner sent, by Thomas Cromwell, to investigate his predecessor’s murder at a monastery. Shardlake has a twisted back so is consequently spurned by the religious zealots of the time. This immediately drew upon my sympathy. He is obviously no different to his peers, but for all their supposed enlightenment, toward the religious reforms, they still shallowly judge someone for their appearance. It’s a cruel world. This along with Shardlake’s unsuccessfulness with the ladies, results in a very damaged yet resolute commissioner.
"This is not Thomas More’s Utopia, a nation of innocent savages waiting only for God’s word to complete their happiness. This is a violent realm, stewed in the corruption of a decadent church."
Thus, his investigation is no easy affair. He is met with disgust, scorn and damn right revulsion at every turn. But, he overcomes it. He is used to it, and has risen far above it. He gets on with his job and sets out to find what caused the death of a supposedly innocent man. Shardlake is clever, compassionate and determined. He has the nose of a bloodhound. He analyses the facts in a pragmatic way; he doesn’t jump to conclusion and only delivers a realistic approach to the crime. He questions everything, which left me in a continuous state of suspense until he found his answers.
The historical setting of the churches, the towns and the people are brought to life. The turmoil the age is captured along with the skulduggery of its inhabitants. Thomas Cromwell is portrayed as a mean old brute which is quite interesting after reading Hilary Mantel’s version of him in which he is sympathised with, greatly. The scenario in this book kept me questioning everything. At one point there were at least seven suspects. Each had a strong motive. As the focus of the suspicion changed, so did the plausibility of each motive. I am proud to say, that my initial guess was half right. I’ll say no more on that regard, other than this had a really intense ending. It's a great read.
Shardlake series
1. Dissolution- A suspense filled four stars.
2. Dark Fire- A dark 3.5 stars
This is a murder mystery set in the political upheaval of Tudor England. The churches are undergoing dissolution, hence the title of the book. This, to me, sounded utterly fantastic. I mean, at last, a crime book that I want to read. I have a real interest in the Tudor period of history. It was a reign that changed the face of England. I mean, imagine how different the country would be today if King Henry VIII never broke with Rome, and with the Pope. Arguments between branches of Christianity may never have become so heated. King Charles I may never have been executed for his Catholic sympathies, amongst other things. The Dissolution with the Catholic Church changed the face of England forever along with its sequential history.
Murder in the monastery
This book combines a classic whodunit scenario with the intrigue of the sixteenth century; it is brilliantly handled. At the heart of this book is a very human character: Matthew Shardlake. Shardlake is a commissioner sent, by Thomas Cromwell, to investigate his predecessor’s murder at a monastery. Shardlake has a twisted back so is consequently spurned by the religious zealots of the time. This immediately drew upon my sympathy. He is obviously no different to his peers, but for all their supposed enlightenment, toward the religious reforms, they still shallowly judge someone for their appearance. It’s a cruel world. This along with Shardlake’s unsuccessfulness with the ladies, results in a very damaged yet resolute commissioner.
"This is not Thomas More’s Utopia, a nation of innocent savages waiting only for God’s word to complete their happiness. This is a violent realm, stewed in the corruption of a decadent church."
Thus, his investigation is no easy affair. He is met with disgust, scorn and damn right revulsion at every turn. But, he overcomes it. He is used to it, and has risen far above it. He gets on with his job and sets out to find what caused the death of a supposedly innocent man. Shardlake is clever, compassionate and determined. He has the nose of a bloodhound. He analyses the facts in a pragmatic way; he doesn’t jump to conclusion and only delivers a realistic approach to the crime. He questions everything, which left me in a continuous state of suspense until he found his answers.
The historical setting of the churches, the towns and the people are brought to life. The turmoil the age is captured along with the skulduggery of its inhabitants. Thomas Cromwell is portrayed as a mean old brute which is quite interesting after reading Hilary Mantel’s version of him in which he is sympathised with, greatly. The scenario in this book kept me questioning everything. At one point there were at least seven suspects. Each had a strong motive. As the focus of the suspicion changed, so did the plausibility of each motive. I am proud to say, that my initial guess was half right. I’ll say no more on that regard, other than this had a really intense ending. It's a great read.
Shardlake series
1. Dissolution- A suspense filled four stars.
2. Dark Fire- A dark 3.5 stars
June 26, 2017
I have a special affinity for historical mysteries and Dissolution is one of the good examples of this genre, at least for me.
The novel is the first installment in Matthew Shardlake series. The action is set in the time of (in)famous king Henry VIII and it has as main character a hunchback lawyer under the service of the equally famous and controversial figure, Thomas Cromwell. The titles hints on the subject of the novel, at least it does to readers familiar with British history. I knew vaguely of the Catholic Church Dissolution and reading this has been a perfect opportunity to improve my knowledge. Samson, with a PHD in history, presents the historical events without transforming the book in a history lesson, which I appreciated.
About the mystery part… one of Cromwell’s Commissioners, that is, the person sent to negotiate the surrender of Scarnsea monastery is found brutally murdered on its premises and Mr. Shardlake is sent to investigate together with his young protégé. The lawyer arrives in a hostile environment where each monk seems to hold a secret and could be the potential murderer. Under overwhelming time and secrecy pressure imposed by Cromwell, Shardlake begins a long set of interviews and immerses himself in the life of the monastery. I learned interesting details about the monastic life, most of them not showing the Catholic Church in the best of lights.
I felt that the portrayal of the Catholic Church and of the reformist was balanced and that the conclusion rings true event Todays: Whenever people with power fight the only true losers are the common people.
“It seems a universal rule in this world that people will always look for victims and scapegoats, does it not? Especially at times of difficulty and tension.”
I had 2 small problems with this novel. Firstly, some of the characters were not drawn enough, felt flat and one dimensional. Secondly, the way the killer was discovered felt a bit more like a stroke of luck more than the result of a careful investigation.
All in all, a highly enjoyable read which will make me continue with the series, no doubt about it.
The novel is the first installment in Matthew Shardlake series. The action is set in the time of (in)famous king Henry VIII and it has as main character a hunchback lawyer under the service of the equally famous and controversial figure, Thomas Cromwell. The titles hints on the subject of the novel, at least it does to readers familiar with British history. I knew vaguely of the Catholic Church Dissolution and reading this has been a perfect opportunity to improve my knowledge. Samson, with a PHD in history, presents the historical events without transforming the book in a history lesson, which I appreciated.
About the mystery part… one of Cromwell’s Commissioners, that is, the person sent to negotiate the surrender of Scarnsea monastery is found brutally murdered on its premises and Mr. Shardlake is sent to investigate together with his young protégé. The lawyer arrives in a hostile environment where each monk seems to hold a secret and could be the potential murderer. Under overwhelming time and secrecy pressure imposed by Cromwell, Shardlake begins a long set of interviews and immerses himself in the life of the monastery. I learned interesting details about the monastic life, most of them not showing the Catholic Church in the best of lights.
I felt that the portrayal of the Catholic Church and of the reformist was balanced and that the conclusion rings true event Todays: Whenever people with power fight the only true losers are the common people.
“It seems a universal rule in this world that people will always look for victims and scapegoats, does it not? Especially at times of difficulty and tension.”
I had 2 small problems with this novel. Firstly, some of the characters were not drawn enough, felt flat and one dimensional. Secondly, the way the killer was discovered felt a bit more like a stroke of luck more than the result of a careful investigation.
All in all, a highly enjoyable read which will make me continue with the series, no doubt about it.
May 25, 2021
Dissolution
Dissolution is the first book from CJ Sansom in the Matthew Shardlake series, set during the reign of King Henry VIII and his Chief Minister, Thomas Cromwell. The Catholic Church in 1536 is being eradicated in Britain and the Dissolution of the monasteries has begun – by 1540 no monasteries would be left. The tensions in the country are high between those loyal to King Henry and those to the Catholic Church. Cromwell, himself is under scrutiny since his alliance with the now beheaded Ann Boleyn.
Shardlake is summoned to Thomas Cromwell’s office and assigned to investigate the death of one of Cromwell’s agents in St Donatus monastery at Scarnsea. The agent is beheaded, which in itself, seems to be a message of some significance. Shardlake is an intelligent astute lawyer, that suffers physical deformity as a hunchback, which creates a perception that somehow he is incapable, and wouldn't that be a mistake. Shardlake sets off for Scarnsea with his assistant Mark Poer.
The historical nature and tone of the story are fabulously written and the attention to detail in dialogue and descriptions provides a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy this historical whodunit. Shardlake is a brilliant central character providing that astonishing logic that makes this novel intriguing and captivating as he delicately investigates the murder at the monastery. He knows only success will placate Cromwell and the dynamics of the political and religious tensions are palpable.
I would highly recommend this book as a murder mystery, and Sansom understands the Tudor period so well that you feel the foreign and basic life of the period surround you. Sansom has created a character that will run for quite a while.
Dissolution is the first book from CJ Sansom in the Matthew Shardlake series, set during the reign of King Henry VIII and his Chief Minister, Thomas Cromwell. The Catholic Church in 1536 is being eradicated in Britain and the Dissolution of the monasteries has begun – by 1540 no monasteries would be left. The tensions in the country are high between those loyal to King Henry and those to the Catholic Church. Cromwell, himself is under scrutiny since his alliance with the now beheaded Ann Boleyn.
Shardlake is summoned to Thomas Cromwell’s office and assigned to investigate the death of one of Cromwell’s agents in St Donatus monastery at Scarnsea. The agent is beheaded, which in itself, seems to be a message of some significance. Shardlake is an intelligent astute lawyer, that suffers physical deformity as a hunchback, which creates a perception that somehow he is incapable, and wouldn't that be a mistake. Shardlake sets off for Scarnsea with his assistant Mark Poer.
The historical nature and tone of the story are fabulously written and the attention to detail in dialogue and descriptions provides a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy this historical whodunit. Shardlake is a brilliant central character providing that astonishing logic that makes this novel intriguing and captivating as he delicately investigates the murder at the monastery. He knows only success will placate Cromwell and the dynamics of the political and religious tensions are palpable.
I would highly recommend this book as a murder mystery, and Sansom understands the Tudor period so well that you feel the foreign and basic life of the period surround you. Sansom has created a character that will run for quite a while.
July 1, 2018
This is a reread for me, the first in this historical series set in Tudor England that introduces and establishes the lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, afflicted by a deformity he was born with, leaving him in constant pain. Henry VIII has ordered the dissolution of the monasteries, intending to profit greatly from them. This has created a febrile atmosphere of religious unrest with Catholics being hunted down and plentiful executions. It is 1537, a tired and unhappy Shardlake has been summoned by the much feared Lord Thomas Cromwell, a man who had ill advisedly allied himself with the now beheaded Anne Boleyn, leaving him with much to prove.
One of Cromwell's agents has been murdered, beheaded no less, whilst investigating St. Donatus monastary at Scarnsea. The beheading is sending a personal message to Cromwell as he insists that Shardlake goes there and find out what is going on. Shardlake and his assistant, Mark Poer, travel to the monastery, finding the monks unsurprisingly scarcely repenting of their faith, as they are politically demanded to do, despite the terrible repercussions if they do not. Shardlake has little sympathy with the Catholic faith, being a strong supporter of the reformation. With more murder and a host of suspects, Shardlake has his work cut out to get close to the truth.
Sansom does a terrific job in evoking the turmoil and atmosphere of this historical period. Shardlake makes for a compelling central character that carries this great series with aplomb. I found this just as good a read as the first time round, entertaining and informative. Many thanks to Panmacmillan for an ARC.
One of Cromwell's agents has been murdered, beheaded no less, whilst investigating St. Donatus monastary at Scarnsea. The beheading is sending a personal message to Cromwell as he insists that Shardlake goes there and find out what is going on. Shardlake and his assistant, Mark Poer, travel to the monastery, finding the monks unsurprisingly scarcely repenting of their faith, as they are politically demanded to do, despite the terrible repercussions if they do not. Shardlake has little sympathy with the Catholic faith, being a strong supporter of the reformation. With more murder and a host of suspects, Shardlake has his work cut out to get close to the truth.
Sansom does a terrific job in evoking the turmoil and atmosphere of this historical period. Shardlake makes for a compelling central character that carries this great series with aplomb. I found this just as good a read as the first time round, entertaining and informative. Many thanks to Panmacmillan for an ARC.
February 15, 2022
The first one of a very, very good series. Read several years ago. Highly recommended.
Esta serie es de lo mejorcito que se ha escrito en novela histórica de la época de Enrique VIII.
Una gozada.
Esta serie es de lo mejorcito que se ha escrito en novela histórica de la época de Enrique VIII.
Una gozada.
July 1, 2018
I enjoyed reading this historical fiction book, recommended by GR friend Ingrid. The book is set in 1537 England. Henry VIII has left the Catholic church and the country is divided between those faithful to the new Church of England, with Henry VIII as its head, and the Catholic church. A royal commissioner is murdered in the monastery of Scarnsea on the southeast coast of England.
Thomas Cromwell, Henry's vicar general, calls a lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, to his office and tells him to go to the monastery, find the murderer and persuade the monastery to surrender its property to the king.
Shardlake and his assistant Mark Poer go the monastery and investigate. More murders happen and the ending was a surprise to me. I thought that the author wrote a very evocative novel, painting a vivid picture of Tudor England, with all its cruelties and maneuverings by various players jockeying for power and money.
Two quotes-- Catholic Church holy relics: "They say that there are two headed dragons in the Indies. Well here we have two headed saints" {Cromwell showing Shardlake two different skulls of the same saint}
Shardlake, dealing with an informer: "I was shaking like an aspen leaf from head to foot."
I give this library book a solid 4 out 5 stars. I recommend it to historical fiction fans.
Thomas Cromwell, Henry's vicar general, calls a lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, to his office and tells him to go to the monastery, find the murderer and persuade the monastery to surrender its property to the king.
Shardlake and his assistant Mark Poer go the monastery and investigate. More murders happen and the ending was a surprise to me. I thought that the author wrote a very evocative novel, painting a vivid picture of Tudor England, with all its cruelties and maneuverings by various players jockeying for power and money.
Two quotes-- Catholic Church holy relics: "They say that there are two headed dragons in the Indies. Well here we have two headed saints" {Cromwell showing Shardlake two different skulls of the same saint}
Shardlake, dealing with an informer: "I was shaking like an aspen leaf from head to foot."
I give this library book a solid 4 out 5 stars. I recommend it to historical fiction fans.
October 23, 2025
5★
“He [Thomas Cromwell] was holding up a casket [small box] and studying the contents with a contemptuous frown, his wide, narrow-lipped mouth down-turned above his lantern chin. His jaw held thus made me think of a great trap that at any moment might open and swallow one whole with a casual gulp.”
And with a brutal gulp, Cromwell dissolved and swallowed the monasteries across England, beginning with smaller ones in 1536 and completing the dissolution of even the largest old ones by 1540, pensioning off a few monks but turning everyone else loose into the poor neighbouring townships.
The monasteries were infamous for hoarding wealth, and Cromwell was determined to collect it to augment the royal coffers via the Court of Augmentations. There, they assess and divvy up the proceeds to buy up more land for the Crown (and cronies, no pun intended, and no - it’s from the Greek). So nobody is looking after the poor.
Briefly, the Pope wasn’t happy about Henry VIII’s annul/remarry plans, so Henry started his own church, the Church of England with himself as the head. Today’s C of E is also known as the Anglican Church, and Queen Elizabeth II is the Supreme Governor.
(There is some historic religious connection to past centuries, and influence from the Protestant Reformation, but I’d rather get back to the mystery!)
Matthew Shardlake tells the story. He is a lawyer in his late 30s who is hampered by his deformed hunched back. But he’s intelligent and quick-witted, and Cromwell has been happy with Shardlake’s work. In the opening scene, quoted above, Cromwell commissions Shardlake to investigate the Monastery of Scarnsea after showing him a letter he has just received:
“My master Singleton is foully murdered in the heart of the monastery, in a most terrible manner. He was found this morning in the kitchen, in a lake of blood, his head cut clean off. Some great enemy of Your Lordship must have done this, but all here deny it. The church has been desecrated and the Great Relic of the Penitent Thief with its bloody nails is vanished away.
. . . Please send help my lord and tell me what I should do.”
So Shardlake and his talented, loyal off-sider Mark, a handsome young ladies’ man, set off in the wet, blustery cold of an English winter to replace the murdered commissioner. Cromwell was arguably the most feared man in England then, and his commissioners struck terror into the hearts of even the most powerful abbots.
Hunchbacks were considered unlucky then, so people tend to give Shardlake a wide berth, which makes it easy to find privacy in the pubs and inns along their way.
The wintry weather, the wind, the bitter cold sent me to the firesides with them. The monastery is just as miserable, but the situation is hot with plenty of suspects. In the winter, Scarnsea is a hard place to break into, but the monks and monastery staff would like to think the murderer came from outside.
Needless to say, Shardlake does have to flash his credentials a few times when insisting he can demand access to everything. Every single thing. Every desk drawer, every cupboard, every cell. He’s as nervous about failing Cromwell as he is about being murdered. (Oh, yes, there are a couple more deaths! Did I forget to mention that?)
It’s a wonderful whodunit with a colourful cast of very different characters, well identified in welcome, subtle ways by Sansom as they appear and reappear in the story.
It’s so easy to get lost, especially in historical fiction, that it’s refreshing to find an author who’s not afraid to admit a reader might not have committed every name and scene to memory. The list of Obedentiaries (Monastery officials) in the front is there if you need it, too.
The cast includes civilians in the kitchen and on the grounds, and our intrepid fellows both fall for the same bright, pretty girl in the kitchen, which causes some anguish and awkwardness, but she is kind to our hunchbacked hero in spite of obviously favouring handsome, younger Mark.
The townsfolk are desperately poor and starving (and cold!) while the brothers eat well. These are real people, not just theatre props, and I loved it all.
There’s a lot about religion, with monks and everyone trying hard to remember not to use Catholic phrases in this new world. One slip, and you could end up being stretched on the rack, tearing joints apart. One seemingly mad monk has survived this, only just. But they do bend the rules. When questioning the time of a murder, Shardlake asks:
“‘This was at five o’clock?’
‘‘The clock had struck a little before.’
‘Had Matins begun?’
‘No, Matins is sung late here. Usually towards six.’
‘St Benedict’s rule prescribes midnight.’
He smiled gently. ‘St Benedict wrote his rule for Italians, sir, not people who have to live through English winters. The office is sung and God hears it.
My kind of thinking!
There are interesting sidelights, such as when they tour the premises.
“‘Beer,’ I noted.
‘Empty barrels?’ Mark asked.
‘No, full ones. The monastery brewhouse has a monopoly in supplying the town’s beer. They can set the price. It’s in the founding charter.’”
Talk about a licence to print money! No wonder Cromwell wants a piece of the action!
The language is appropriate to the era without being overly archaic or arcane.
I did question the phrase “runcible peas”, (as in Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat poem which mentioned a “runcible spoon” many years later. (I also discovered that a runcible spoon sounds similar to my favourite piece of multi-purpose cutlery, the splade or spork, depending on your preference. But I digress.)
The story seems accurate and informative as well as entertaining, I enjoyed the investigative process, and I didn’t guess the perpetrator. In those times and in those dreadful conditions, even I would have been tempted to murder. Now, though, I’m really looking forward to the next in the series!
“He [Thomas Cromwell] was holding up a casket [small box] and studying the contents with a contemptuous frown, his wide, narrow-lipped mouth down-turned above his lantern chin. His jaw held thus made me think of a great trap that at any moment might open and swallow one whole with a casual gulp.”
And with a brutal gulp, Cromwell dissolved and swallowed the monasteries across England, beginning with smaller ones in 1536 and completing the dissolution of even the largest old ones by 1540, pensioning off a few monks but turning everyone else loose into the poor neighbouring townships.
The monasteries were infamous for hoarding wealth, and Cromwell was determined to collect it to augment the royal coffers via the Court of Augmentations. There, they assess and divvy up the proceeds to buy up more land for the Crown (and cronies, no pun intended, and no - it’s from the Greek). So nobody is looking after the poor.
Briefly, the Pope wasn’t happy about Henry VIII’s annul/remarry plans, so Henry started his own church, the Church of England with himself as the head. Today’s C of E is also known as the Anglican Church, and Queen Elizabeth II is the Supreme Governor.
(There is some historic religious connection to past centuries, and influence from the Protestant Reformation, but I’d rather get back to the mystery!)
Matthew Shardlake tells the story. He is a lawyer in his late 30s who is hampered by his deformed hunched back. But he’s intelligent and quick-witted, and Cromwell has been happy with Shardlake’s work. In the opening scene, quoted above, Cromwell commissions Shardlake to investigate the Monastery of Scarnsea after showing him a letter he has just received:
“My master Singleton is foully murdered in the heart of the monastery, in a most terrible manner. He was found this morning in the kitchen, in a lake of blood, his head cut clean off. Some great enemy of Your Lordship must have done this, but all here deny it. The church has been desecrated and the Great Relic of the Penitent Thief with its bloody nails is vanished away.
. . . Please send help my lord and tell me what I should do.”
So Shardlake and his talented, loyal off-sider Mark, a handsome young ladies’ man, set off in the wet, blustery cold of an English winter to replace the murdered commissioner. Cromwell was arguably the most feared man in England then, and his commissioners struck terror into the hearts of even the most powerful abbots.
Hunchbacks were considered unlucky then, so people tend to give Shardlake a wide berth, which makes it easy to find privacy in the pubs and inns along their way.
The wintry weather, the wind, the bitter cold sent me to the firesides with them. The monastery is just as miserable, but the situation is hot with plenty of suspects. In the winter, Scarnsea is a hard place to break into, but the monks and monastery staff would like to think the murderer came from outside.
Needless to say, Shardlake does have to flash his credentials a few times when insisting he can demand access to everything. Every single thing. Every desk drawer, every cupboard, every cell. He’s as nervous about failing Cromwell as he is about being murdered. (Oh, yes, there are a couple more deaths! Did I forget to mention that?)
It’s a wonderful whodunit with a colourful cast of very different characters, well identified in welcome, subtle ways by Sansom as they appear and reappear in the story.
It’s so easy to get lost, especially in historical fiction, that it’s refreshing to find an author who’s not afraid to admit a reader might not have committed every name and scene to memory. The list of Obedentiaries (Monastery officials) in the front is there if you need it, too.
The cast includes civilians in the kitchen and on the grounds, and our intrepid fellows both fall for the same bright, pretty girl in the kitchen, which causes some anguish and awkwardness, but she is kind to our hunchbacked hero in spite of obviously favouring handsome, younger Mark.
The townsfolk are desperately poor and starving (and cold!) while the brothers eat well. These are real people, not just theatre props, and I loved it all.
There’s a lot about religion, with monks and everyone trying hard to remember not to use Catholic phrases in this new world. One slip, and you could end up being stretched on the rack, tearing joints apart. One seemingly mad monk has survived this, only just. But they do bend the rules. When questioning the time of a murder, Shardlake asks:
“‘This was at five o’clock?’
‘‘The clock had struck a little before.’
‘Had Matins begun?’
‘No, Matins is sung late here. Usually towards six.’
‘St Benedict’s rule prescribes midnight.’
He smiled gently. ‘St Benedict wrote his rule for Italians, sir, not people who have to live through English winters. The office is sung and God hears it.
My kind of thinking!
There are interesting sidelights, such as when they tour the premises.
“‘Beer,’ I noted.
‘Empty barrels?’ Mark asked.
‘No, full ones. The monastery brewhouse has a monopoly in supplying the town’s beer. They can set the price. It’s in the founding charter.’”
Talk about a licence to print money! No wonder Cromwell wants a piece of the action!
The language is appropriate to the era without being overly archaic or arcane.
I did question the phrase “runcible peas”, (as in Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat poem which mentioned a “runcible spoon” many years later. (I also discovered that a runcible spoon sounds similar to my favourite piece of multi-purpose cutlery, the splade or spork, depending on your preference. But I digress.)
The story seems accurate and informative as well as entertaining, I enjoyed the investigative process, and I didn’t guess the perpetrator. In those times and in those dreadful conditions, even I would have been tempted to murder. Now, though, I’m really looking forward to the next in the series!
April 17, 2015
Even though I read a lot of history, I've never been a fan of historical fiction and so when one of the book clubs to which I belong picked this novel as a monthly read, I approached it with some trepidation. For the most part, though, I was pleasantly surprised and I enjoyed the book more than I expected to.
Dissolution is set in England and the action takes place over a couple of extremely cold and snowy weeks in 1537. This is shortly after King Henry VIII has broken with the Catholic church and created the Church of England, with himself as the head of the church. At this point, of course, religious freedom is only a dim, distant dream, and all English people are required by law to follow Henry into the new Anglican church, whether they like it or not.
Many of them don't like it. They remain true to the Catholic church and continue to give their religious allegiance to the Pope. Many of these people will be persecuted for their beliefs and not a few will be executed. In many respects, these are not the sunniest of times.
Once establishing himself as head of the English church, Henry conveniently grants himself a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, so that he can marry Ann Boleyn. The Pope had refused to grant Henry an annulment of his marriage to Catherine and this precipitated the break between Henry and the Pope.
Henry also moves expeditiously to confiscate property in England that had belonged to the Catholic church. Most important, there were many Catholic monasteries in England that controlled vast amounts of valuable land. Henry began the process of dissolving the monasteries (the Dissolution) and appropriating their wealth. His principal ally in this effort was his vicar general, Thomas Cromwell, who was much feared by Henry's opponents.
Cromwell sends a commissioner to begin the process of dissolving the monastery of Scarnsea on the southern coast of England, but shortly after arriving at Scarnsea the commissioner is murdered. Cromwell now sends one of his protégés, a lawyer named Matthew Shardlake to investigate the murder and to conclude the dissolution of the monastery.
Shardlake is a brilliant lawyer and is devoted to the reform of the church. He is also a hunchback who has always been self-conscious and socially ostracized to some extent because of his handicap. Shardlake is accompanied by a handsome young assistant named Mark Poer, and the two make their way through the snow to Scarnsea to find a tangled web of murder and intrigue along with financial and sexual irregularities. More murders will follow their arrival and it's clear that Shardlake and his young assistant are also in grave danger every moment that they remain in the monastery. The burning question is whether or not Matthew Shardlake can accomplish his mission before both he and Mark become victims themselves of the evil that seems to infuse Scarnsea.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the atmosphere that Sansom creates. He vividly recreates the turmoil of the period along with the sights, sounds and smells of the era. The reader feels the chill in his or her own bones as the characters struggle to stay warm in the middle of the freezing cold weather. This historical detail is engrossing and the story is a compelling one.
If I have a complaint about the book, it's that about halfway through the book, the story started to drag a bit. Shardlake spends an awful lot of time wandering through the snow from one part of the monastery to another in order to interview people and it starts to get a bit repetitious. I found myself encouraging Shadlake to pick up the pace a bit. This is a book that runs 385 pages which, in my estimation, would have been much better at about 325 pages. But that is a relatively small complaint, and this is a book that should appeal to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries. 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to four.
Dissolution is set in England and the action takes place over a couple of extremely cold and snowy weeks in 1537. This is shortly after King Henry VIII has broken with the Catholic church and created the Church of England, with himself as the head of the church. At this point, of course, religious freedom is only a dim, distant dream, and all English people are required by law to follow Henry into the new Anglican church, whether they like it or not.
Many of them don't like it. They remain true to the Catholic church and continue to give their religious allegiance to the Pope. Many of these people will be persecuted for their beliefs and not a few will be executed. In many respects, these are not the sunniest of times.
Once establishing himself as head of the English church, Henry conveniently grants himself a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, so that he can marry Ann Boleyn. The Pope had refused to grant Henry an annulment of his marriage to Catherine and this precipitated the break between Henry and the Pope.
Henry also moves expeditiously to confiscate property in England that had belonged to the Catholic church. Most important, there were many Catholic monasteries in England that controlled vast amounts of valuable land. Henry began the process of dissolving the monasteries (the Dissolution) and appropriating their wealth. His principal ally in this effort was his vicar general, Thomas Cromwell, who was much feared by Henry's opponents.
Cromwell sends a commissioner to begin the process of dissolving the monastery of Scarnsea on the southern coast of England, but shortly after arriving at Scarnsea the commissioner is murdered. Cromwell now sends one of his protégés, a lawyer named Matthew Shardlake to investigate the murder and to conclude the dissolution of the monastery.
Shardlake is a brilliant lawyer and is devoted to the reform of the church. He is also a hunchback who has always been self-conscious and socially ostracized to some extent because of his handicap. Shardlake is accompanied by a handsome young assistant named Mark Poer, and the two make their way through the snow to Scarnsea to find a tangled web of murder and intrigue along with financial and sexual irregularities. More murders will follow their arrival and it's clear that Shardlake and his young assistant are also in grave danger every moment that they remain in the monastery. The burning question is whether or not Matthew Shardlake can accomplish his mission before both he and Mark become victims themselves of the evil that seems to infuse Scarnsea.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the atmosphere that Sansom creates. He vividly recreates the turmoil of the period along with the sights, sounds and smells of the era. The reader feels the chill in his or her own bones as the characters struggle to stay warm in the middle of the freezing cold weather. This historical detail is engrossing and the story is a compelling one.
If I have a complaint about the book, it's that about halfway through the book, the story started to drag a bit. Shardlake spends an awful lot of time wandering through the snow from one part of the monastery to another in order to interview people and it starts to get a bit repetitious. I found myself encouraging Shadlake to pick up the pace a bit. This is a book that runs 385 pages which, in my estimation, would have been much better at about 325 pages. But that is a relatively small complaint, and this is a book that should appeal to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries. 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to four.
April 11, 2019
In the debut novel of this Tudor-era series, C.J. Sansom lays the groundwork for what could be a great set of historical mysteries. After King Henry VIII enacted the dissolution of all monasteries across England, Thomas Cromwell sent commissioners out to ensure the rules were followed in short order. After one such man, Robin Singleton, was reported slain at the monastery in Scarnsea, Cromwell calls for an investigation. Turning to Matthew Shardlake, Cromwell entrusts him with returning after having located the killer and finishing the work that Singleton could not. Shardlake makes his way to Scarnsea, in hopes that this will be a quick legal matter, but soon discovers that there is more to the monastery than meets the eye. While a killer is on the loose, there are other matters that require his attention, including struggles with the transition to the Church of England and with the personal lives of those who work inside the monastery’s walls. Shardlake must also come to terms with the means by which Singleton was killed, decapitation by sword, and stifle the memories of seeing young Anne Boleyn executed not long before in that manner. As Shardlake inches closer to finding the killer, more bodies turn up, leaving him to wonder if this is a single killer or a group who have been targeting individuals for a variety of reasons. Pressured to return to London, Shardlake realises how life outside the big city differs greatly from monastic life, though murder knows no different. Sansom does well with this first in the series, keeping readers curious about what is to come. Recommended for those with a love of all things Tudor and readers who enjoy a well-balanced mystery.
I admit that I struggled trying to read this book years ago, such a shock to many that ripples appeared across those who follow my reviews. I decided to return to see if Sansom might have grown on me, which I must admit must have happened. The story kept my attention and I was curious to see where Matthew Shardlake would go to find a killer out in the country. Shardlake is an interesting protagonist, even for Tudor times. A solicitor by trade, Shardlake is known less for his legal mind that the significant hunchback he possesses. This feature has led many to comment on his abilities, as though posture denotes the ability to compute information. Shardlake may have been sent by the Crown to investigate, but he shows that he is able to explore matters at his own pace and with an attentiveness that gets things done. He is sly and astute without being offensive, particularly towards those who are already on edge. There is surely much more to learn about him, which will come in the next few novels. Others prove wonderful additions to the story, including monks, monastic assistants, and even members of Court who seek Shardlake’s quick responses to get to the bottom of events. Sansom weaves them all together wonderfully and pushes to develop key relationships throughout that will help propel the story forward. The premise of the novel is strong, set against the events in English history that brought Henry VIII much power of the monasteries in his attempt to weed out those who would speak against the Church of England. With the execution of Anne Boleyn and the most recent queen dead in childbirth, there is much going on, even behind the scenes. Sansom captures this while offering a stellar mystery to keep the reader enthralled. Full of information and small details that grow as the narrative develops, Sansom thrusts his protagonist into the middle of it all, while also offering up base reactions to the dissolution of the monastic life, important at the time, though rarely reported. I am eager to see where the series goes and am pleased I took the time to return to the piece. I will try things by audio, as it may have been my trying to trudge through the book alone that left me soured the first time I tried to digest the plot.
Kudos, Mr. Sansom, for a wonderful beginning to a series set during one of my favourite times in history. Let’s see what other mysteries await and how Tudor life will shape it.
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/...
I admit that I struggled trying to read this book years ago, such a shock to many that ripples appeared across those who follow my reviews. I decided to return to see if Sansom might have grown on me, which I must admit must have happened. The story kept my attention and I was curious to see where Matthew Shardlake would go to find a killer out in the country. Shardlake is an interesting protagonist, even for Tudor times. A solicitor by trade, Shardlake is known less for his legal mind that the significant hunchback he possesses. This feature has led many to comment on his abilities, as though posture denotes the ability to compute information. Shardlake may have been sent by the Crown to investigate, but he shows that he is able to explore matters at his own pace and with an attentiveness that gets things done. He is sly and astute without being offensive, particularly towards those who are already on edge. There is surely much more to learn about him, which will come in the next few novels. Others prove wonderful additions to the story, including monks, monastic assistants, and even members of Court who seek Shardlake’s quick responses to get to the bottom of events. Sansom weaves them all together wonderfully and pushes to develop key relationships throughout that will help propel the story forward. The premise of the novel is strong, set against the events in English history that brought Henry VIII much power of the monasteries in his attempt to weed out those who would speak against the Church of England. With the execution of Anne Boleyn and the most recent queen dead in childbirth, there is much going on, even behind the scenes. Sansom captures this while offering a stellar mystery to keep the reader enthralled. Full of information and small details that grow as the narrative develops, Sansom thrusts his protagonist into the middle of it all, while also offering up base reactions to the dissolution of the monastic life, important at the time, though rarely reported. I am eager to see where the series goes and am pleased I took the time to return to the piece. I will try things by audio, as it may have been my trying to trudge through the book alone that left me soured the first time I tried to digest the plot.
Kudos, Mr. Sansom, for a wonderful beginning to a series set during one of my favourite times in history. Let’s see what other mysteries await and how Tudor life will shape it.
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/...
April 11, 2020
“A realistic view of fallen mankind.” (3.5 stars)
I don’t recall how this series got on my radar, but when a good friend starting reading, and loving, the series I had to bump it up on my “to read” pile.
I will admit that “Dissolution” took me a while to get into, despite the fact that its setting and subject matter are right up my alley. The reason is because initially it reminded me (in terms of plot points) of “The Name of the Rose”, a novel I detest! As a result I was leery of it for the first 100 pages, or so. But then I got over it, realized it was not going to follow the path of that hated book, and I got into it. I really enjoyed it from that point on.
The plot of “Dissolution” is a great set up. A king’s commissioner has been murdered in a monastery, just as the dissolution of the monasteries is coming into full swing during the reign of Henry VIII. The plot also links to the execution of Anne Boleyn in a clever, and believable, manner.
Author C.J. Sansom has created in Matthew Shardlake an interesting character. A hunchback lawyer, who is a bit of an anti-hero. A good guy who can be petty and jealous (especially in affairs of the heart). A man guided by logic who is occasionally duped by emotion. It is a well-rounded characterization.
As one character says, “Uncovering complicated truths is never easy.”, and in “Dissolution” Mr. Sansom makes such uncovering an enjoyable experience. I will continue on with reading the series.
Side note; reading this during the pandemic of 2020 I had to snap my head back a little when I read this line about the plague-“The whole world was stricken then, as it fell a further step towards its close.”
I don’t recall how this series got on my radar, but when a good friend starting reading, and loving, the series I had to bump it up on my “to read” pile.
I will admit that “Dissolution” took me a while to get into, despite the fact that its setting and subject matter are right up my alley. The reason is because initially it reminded me (in terms of plot points) of “The Name of the Rose”, a novel I detest! As a result I was leery of it for the first 100 pages, or so. But then I got over it, realized it was not going to follow the path of that hated book, and I got into it. I really enjoyed it from that point on.
The plot of “Dissolution” is a great set up. A king’s commissioner has been murdered in a monastery, just as the dissolution of the monasteries is coming into full swing during the reign of Henry VIII. The plot also links to the execution of Anne Boleyn in a clever, and believable, manner.
Author C.J. Sansom has created in Matthew Shardlake an interesting character. A hunchback lawyer, who is a bit of an anti-hero. A good guy who can be petty and jealous (especially in affairs of the heart). A man guided by logic who is occasionally duped by emotion. It is a well-rounded characterization.
As one character says, “Uncovering complicated truths is never easy.”, and in “Dissolution” Mr. Sansom makes such uncovering an enjoyable experience. I will continue on with reading the series.
Side note; reading this during the pandemic of 2020 I had to snap my head back a little when I read this line about the plague-“The whole world was stricken then, as it fell a further step towards its close.”
April 4, 2023
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
“It seems a universal rule in this world that people will always look for victims and scapegoats, does it not? Especially at times of difficulty and tension.”
The introductory instalment to the highly respected historical fiction series, Matthew Shardlake. Set during the Tudor period, with Henry VIII reigning England, Dissolution has a combination of mystery, crime, investigation and political intrigue. It is very, very immersive and tense, with C. J. Sansom really crafting that sense of tension that was so present at this time, with a dramatically changing world and conflicting ideologies that was splitting the country of England into different groups and camps, especially in the field of religion.
“If I knocked and waited at every door, who knows what I might miss?”
This was something I went into quite blind, and rather different from what I usually read, but it was so enjoyable, and so fresh. The beginning was fantastic, establishing the characters, power dynamics and setting, and the initial introduction to our mystery. This continued to a small period in the middle of the book, where it plateaued slightly, but then it returned to being engaging swiftly after, supplying a brilliant, shocking and satisfying conclusion.
We have a wide cast of quirky characters who really help drive this mystery. The slow teasing out of their drives and motivations was executed brilliantly, and this book really showed itself to be one of the best at handling mystery that I have had the pleasure to read. We meet the famous figure Thomas Cromwell very briefly, but in that page time he becomes an intimidating character with an aura that oozes from the page.
“If a ruler who wants to act honourably is surrounded by unscrupulous men, his downfall is inevitable.”
I really cannot wait to carry on with this series. The crime and mystery wraps up brilliantly in this story. But one of the strengths is the way the different plot lines interweave in and out of each other. We have the political intrigue and dramatically changing society as Henry VIII continues his heavily controversial and scandalous reign, so with that happening as well, there are a number of plot lines that I can see being picked up in sequels.
4.25/5 STARS
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
“It seems a universal rule in this world that people will always look for victims and scapegoats, does it not? Especially at times of difficulty and tension.”
The introductory instalment to the highly respected historical fiction series, Matthew Shardlake. Set during the Tudor period, with Henry VIII reigning England, Dissolution has a combination of mystery, crime, investigation and political intrigue. It is very, very immersive and tense, with C. J. Sansom really crafting that sense of tension that was so present at this time, with a dramatically changing world and conflicting ideologies that was splitting the country of England into different groups and camps, especially in the field of religion.
“If I knocked and waited at every door, who knows what I might miss?”
This was something I went into quite blind, and rather different from what I usually read, but it was so enjoyable, and so fresh. The beginning was fantastic, establishing the characters, power dynamics and setting, and the initial introduction to our mystery. This continued to a small period in the middle of the book, where it plateaued slightly, but then it returned to being engaging swiftly after, supplying a brilliant, shocking and satisfying conclusion.
We have a wide cast of quirky characters who really help drive this mystery. The slow teasing out of their drives and motivations was executed brilliantly, and this book really showed itself to be one of the best at handling mystery that I have had the pleasure to read. We meet the famous figure Thomas Cromwell very briefly, but in that page time he becomes an intimidating character with an aura that oozes from the page.
“If a ruler who wants to act honourably is surrounded by unscrupulous men, his downfall is inevitable.”
I really cannot wait to carry on with this series. The crime and mystery wraps up brilliantly in this story. But one of the strengths is the way the different plot lines interweave in and out of each other. We have the political intrigue and dramatically changing society as Henry VIII continues his heavily controversial and scandalous reign, so with that happening as well, there are a number of plot lines that I can see being picked up in sequels.
4.25/5 STARS
July 31, 2021
When I started reading the book it felt as if I walked into a film. The sounds, the smells were all very well described. Also a piece of English history that I didn't know much about and that I won't easily forget now. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
Again 5 stars.
I listened to it the second time and loved it just as much!
Again 5 stars.
I listened to it the second time and loved it just as much!
April 30, 2024
Fantastic historical fiction that I adored reading. England in 1537 is certainly a fascinating setting and Matthew Shardlake is a character I highly enjoyed. I will be eagerly continuing with this series.
Updated:
I was sad to read last night that C. J. Sansom has died. I've so enjoyed reading his books, and have one final "Shardlake" book to read before I reach the end of the series. They really are so well done, and although it starts strong, the books and characters continue to get even more compelling. An absolute favourite series and writer. 💖
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024...
Updated:
I was sad to read last night that C. J. Sansom has died. I've so enjoyed reading his books, and have one final "Shardlake" book to read before I reach the end of the series. They really are so well done, and although it starts strong, the books and characters continue to get even more compelling. An absolute favourite series and writer. 💖
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024...
December 14, 2021
“And in my wilful blindness I had refused to see what was before my eyes. How men fear the chaos of the world, I thought, and the yawning eternity hereafter. So we build patterns to explain its terrible mysteries and reassure ourselves we are safe in this world and beyond.”
Dissolution is a book that perfectly captures the atmosphere and instability of England during the time Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, creating not just religious uncertainty but also Political instability, but at the centre of this book is a murder mystery with all the intrigue and thrill from a great crime/ thriller.
The Plot
To furnish the royal coffers depleted during the reign of Henry VIII and as a symbolic gesture to end Catholicism in England, Henry orders the dissolution of the religious monasteries. The story starts when Matthew Shardlake is ordered to investigate the death of one of the Cromwell’s men who was sent to negotiate the surrender of the St Donatus monastery at Scarnsea, who are ostensibly holding out against the decrees from Parliament and now seemingly responsible for the beheading of one of Cromwell’s agents.
Matthew Shardlake, a disfigured detective finds himself embroiled in an investigation that uncovers many enemies, motives, and suspects, as the inquiry takes him right back to the beheading of Ann Boleyn. Was the murder committed in defence of the monastery? or a convenient place to stage a revolt and send a message to Cromwell from one of his many and growing enemies.
Matthew’s own position was always precarious, because a high-profile person on a charge from Cromwell or the King would not be short of enemies and if any of the accusations levied against them were to stick. “One might find their head separated from their body.”
My Review Comments
I am picking up the C.J Sansom's Shardlake books quite late but this is a timeless collection. It is refreshing to read a series that captures the essence and atmosphere of England during the reign of Henry III, which had a wealth of colourful characters, like Henry, that writers never need to spice up. This book brilliantly weaves the true account of events with fiction whilst introducing us to new characters, such as Matthew Shardlake.
Sansom captured this era, mood, and volatility perfectly and from the narrative you could get a real sense of how fragile the position was if anyone raised their head too far above the parapet, but there was always an undercurrent of revolt and unrest as Monasteries were torn down and people were forced to defend a different faith.
The historical elements were largely accurate and always fascinating. The characterisation is stunning, the plot was excellent, and the book expertly written. A great read and highly recommended if like me you love crime / thrillers set in an historical context.
Dissolution is a book that perfectly captures the atmosphere and instability of England during the time Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, creating not just religious uncertainty but also Political instability, but at the centre of this book is a murder mystery with all the intrigue and thrill from a great crime/ thriller.
The Plot
To furnish the royal coffers depleted during the reign of Henry VIII and as a symbolic gesture to end Catholicism in England, Henry orders the dissolution of the religious monasteries. The story starts when Matthew Shardlake is ordered to investigate the death of one of the Cromwell’s men who was sent to negotiate the surrender of the St Donatus monastery at Scarnsea, who are ostensibly holding out against the decrees from Parliament and now seemingly responsible for the beheading of one of Cromwell’s agents.
Matthew Shardlake, a disfigured detective finds himself embroiled in an investigation that uncovers many enemies, motives, and suspects, as the inquiry takes him right back to the beheading of Ann Boleyn. Was the murder committed in defence of the monastery? or a convenient place to stage a revolt and send a message to Cromwell from one of his many and growing enemies.
Matthew’s own position was always precarious, because a high-profile person on a charge from Cromwell or the King would not be short of enemies and if any of the accusations levied against them were to stick. “One might find their head separated from their body.”
My Review Comments
I am picking up the C.J Sansom's Shardlake books quite late but this is a timeless collection. It is refreshing to read a series that captures the essence and atmosphere of England during the reign of Henry III, which had a wealth of colourful characters, like Henry, that writers never need to spice up. This book brilliantly weaves the true account of events with fiction whilst introducing us to new characters, such as Matthew Shardlake.
Sansom captured this era, mood, and volatility perfectly and from the narrative you could get a real sense of how fragile the position was if anyone raised their head too far above the parapet, but there was always an undercurrent of revolt and unrest as Monasteries were torn down and people were forced to defend a different faith.
The historical elements were largely accurate and always fascinating. The characterisation is stunning, the plot was excellent, and the book expertly written. A great read and highly recommended if like me you love crime / thrillers set in an historical context.
July 9, 2018
First in a long running series, book 7 Tombland is out in October, Dissolution introduces lawyer and reformist, Dr. Matthew Shardlake. Currently in favour with Thomas Cromwell, Chief Minister to King Henry VIII and a vehement Reformer, Shardlake receives a commission to investigate a death in the monastery of Scarnsea. Even before the previous Commissioner, Robin Singleton, had his head removed by some unfriendly sort during his stay there, a monastery in this period was far from safe. It was a time of terrific uncertainty due to an extensive refashioning of society, most especially in the religious sphere, with papists facing severe penalties. In 1534, Cromwell began investigating the monasteries and now in 1537, the larger ones face the threat of dissolution, being potentially rich sources of revenue for the Crown. The murder draws Shardlake into the depths of contemporary religious and political scheming, opening his eyes to its deadly consequences.
Set mainly within the walls of Scarnsea, but with some memorable scenes in London, the book seethes with sinners. For a book about religion, there's a remarkable lack of decent, honest, god-fearing folk. Nevertheless, their lack of moral character stops nobody from arguing the validity of their viewpoint and its evident justification. As someone with no religious affiliation or belief, it's sometimes hard to imagine how important the specifics of worship can be to an individual or group; what doesn't surprise is the ways in which the machinery of power or domineering individuals can make such strong convictions useful. This was a time when every word had to be considered before spoken and informers abound, offering testimony of guilt in exchange for reward, regardless of any 'truth'. The wrong thought, turned into speech or deed, could land you at Tyburn- hung, wracked, beheaded, drawn and quartered, or burned at the stake. A wondrous selection of terrifying options for a painful death. A Crown agent beheaded in a monastery is a big deal, it could be the spark that sets off the tinderbox, a whole country up in flames.
Interestingly, the author has chosen to give Shardlake a physical disability in the form of bent spine and hunched back, causing him discomfort of both the physical and mental kind. He is well aware of his difference, always seeing reactions to that aspect of himself in others, and there is no doubt he receives mockery in the book. He has a quick mind, and a quicker temper, but makes a compelling narrator, working through the clues with a sharp attention to detail, through not always an open mind. His master, Cromwell, is a sinister figure, mercurial and rather frightening, prepared to do whatever is necessary to see the King's (and his own) will done. That Shardlake cannot see this part of his personality was a stretch- even with a certain amount of denial, a man of his intelligence should have been more aware. Yet the book is about the maturation of his understanding and he is disabused of many naive notions by the end. It's a dangerous world, but not without humour. The language is lively, filled with fun and useful insults- I fully plan to wish a pox on anyone who annoys me today.
When I worked at Waterstones, this series was one that consistently sold well, and now I know why. I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of Shardlake's adventures soon...
ARC via Netgalley
Set mainly within the walls of Scarnsea, but with some memorable scenes in London, the book seethes with sinners. For a book about religion, there's a remarkable lack of decent, honest, god-fearing folk. Nevertheless, their lack of moral character stops nobody from arguing the validity of their viewpoint and its evident justification. As someone with no religious affiliation or belief, it's sometimes hard to imagine how important the specifics of worship can be to an individual or group; what doesn't surprise is the ways in which the machinery of power or domineering individuals can make such strong convictions useful. This was a time when every word had to be considered before spoken and informers abound, offering testimony of guilt in exchange for reward, regardless of any 'truth'. The wrong thought, turned into speech or deed, could land you at Tyburn- hung, wracked, beheaded, drawn and quartered, or burned at the stake. A wondrous selection of terrifying options for a painful death. A Crown agent beheaded in a monastery is a big deal, it could be the spark that sets off the tinderbox, a whole country up in flames.
Interestingly, the author has chosen to give Shardlake a physical disability in the form of bent spine and hunched back, causing him discomfort of both the physical and mental kind. He is well aware of his difference, always seeing reactions to that aspect of himself in others, and there is no doubt he receives mockery in the book. He has a quick mind, and a quicker temper, but makes a compelling narrator, working through the clues with a sharp attention to detail, through not always an open mind. His master, Cromwell, is a sinister figure, mercurial and rather frightening, prepared to do whatever is necessary to see the King's (and his own) will done. That Shardlake cannot see this part of his personality was a stretch- even with a certain amount of denial, a man of his intelligence should have been more aware. Yet the book is about the maturation of his understanding and he is disabused of many naive notions by the end. It's a dangerous world, but not without humour. The language is lively, filled with fun and useful insults- I fully plan to wish a pox on anyone who annoys me today.
When I worked at Waterstones, this series was one that consistently sold well, and now I know why. I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of Shardlake's adventures soon...
ARC via Netgalley
June 23, 2021
4/5 estrellas.
Éramos pocos y parió la abuela. Otra serie más que tengo que meter a la saca.
Buen thriller histórico.
Ambientado en 1537, en la convulsa segunda mitad del reinado de Enrique VIII. en plena ruptura con Roma, el Rey y el todopoderoso vicario general, Thomas Cromwell, intentan implantar a toda costa el anglicanismo y llevar a cabo la reforma de la iglesia. En este marco todo lo que huela a papismo o parafernalia eclesiástica está en el punto de mira de la reforma. Si a eso le añades el poder y la riqueza en propiedades y obras de arte que había acaparado la iglesia en las islas británicas durante mil años, puede entenderse la saña con que fueron disueltos, desamortizados y demolidos todos los monasterios de las islas en los territorios bajo poder de Enrique (todas las islas salvo Escocia), en el corto periodo de 6 años.
En este ambiente de miedo y corrupción desatada, uno de los enviados de Cromwell, es asesinado en uno de los monasterios benedictinos a los que ha sido enviado para convencer, forzar o hacer lo que hiciera falta, para conseguir la cesión del monasterio a la corona.
El nuevo comisionado enviado a resolver este entuerto, es muestro protagonista, el abogado Shardlake.
Marcado por una discapacidad física ( es jorobado), bien intencionado y convencido de que la reforma de la iglesia es una necesidad para garantizar el futuro del reino, tendrá que enfrentarse a una sucesión imparable de asesinatos, que le pondrán al límite de su resistencia física y mental.
Inmejorable ambientación, rigor histórico, personajes notables. Lo más flojo me ha parecido la trama. No acaba de arrancar y al final es bastante previsible. Aún así notable alto y a por el segundo.
Éramos pocos y parió la abuela. Otra serie más que tengo que meter a la saca.
Buen thriller histórico.
Ambientado en 1537, en la convulsa segunda mitad del reinado de Enrique VIII. en plena ruptura con Roma, el Rey y el todopoderoso vicario general, Thomas Cromwell, intentan implantar a toda costa el anglicanismo y llevar a cabo la reforma de la iglesia. En este marco todo lo que huela a papismo o parafernalia eclesiástica está en el punto de mira de la reforma. Si a eso le añades el poder y la riqueza en propiedades y obras de arte que había acaparado la iglesia en las islas británicas durante mil años, puede entenderse la saña con que fueron disueltos, desamortizados y demolidos todos los monasterios de las islas en los territorios bajo poder de Enrique (todas las islas salvo Escocia), en el corto periodo de 6 años.
En este ambiente de miedo y corrupción desatada, uno de los enviados de Cromwell, es asesinado en uno de los monasterios benedictinos a los que ha sido enviado para convencer, forzar o hacer lo que hiciera falta, para conseguir la cesión del monasterio a la corona.
El nuevo comisionado enviado a resolver este entuerto, es muestro protagonista, el abogado Shardlake.
Marcado por una discapacidad física ( es jorobado), bien intencionado y convencido de que la reforma de la iglesia es una necesidad para garantizar el futuro del reino, tendrá que enfrentarse a una sucesión imparable de asesinatos, que le pondrán al límite de su resistencia física y mental.
Inmejorable ambientación, rigor histórico, personajes notables. Lo más flojo me ha parecido la trama. No acaba de arrancar y al final es bastante previsible. Aún así notable alto y a por el segundo.
February 18, 2022
El gallo negro (2003), de C. J. Sansom (1952-) es una novela de intriga histórica al estilo de El nombre de la Rosa, aunque ambientado dos siglos después, en la Inglaterra del reformista (entre muchas otras "habilidades") Enrique VIII. Una época especialmente interesante, llena de conspiraciones, persecuciones, luchas de poder, asesinatos y, por encima de todo eso, el grave conflicto entre católicos y protestantes, con un Cromwell convertido en el ángel exterminador de católicos y especialmente de los “depravados” monjes. Se trata de un El nombre de la Rosa despojado de la erudición de Eco, de sus explicaciones filosófico-religiosas (lo que puede ser un aliciente para algunos), pero también de la exquisita prosa y del mundo interior de los personajes del escritor italiano.
Si intento dejar las comparación aparte, El gallo negro me ha parecido una novela simplemente correcta. Se agradece que entre directamente al misterio, sin demasiada puesta en escena inicial, aunque luego tarda en ir descartando culpables dando la sensación de dar vueltas sobre lo mismo, hasta desembocar en una resolución algo precipitada, que no me ha encajado del todo. En cualquier caso, la pareja de investigadores están bastante logrados. Se trata, como suele ser habitual, de personajes opuestos. En este caso: hombre maduro y contrahecho, inteligente, tímido y práctico, y joven atractivo, pasional e impulsivo. La ambientación, la época histórica, está bien conseguida y los datos históricos no entorpecen la fluidez de la lectura, sin embargo, creo que no tiene suficiente amplitud y que se centra demasiado en un personaje y en un lugar. Por lo demás, El Gallo negro presenta una prosa y un estilo sencillo y natural, que consigue que se lea con facilidad.
Quizá esté siendo demasiado crítico, porque espera más de esta novela. La verdad es que no me ha deslumbrado. En realidad, lo que intento decir es que El gallo negro tiene una calidad suficiente tanto en argumento, personajes, ambientación histórica y prosa para pasar un buen rato, pero no tiene la fuerza necesaria para sobresalir entre otras obras del género.
Se trata de esas obras que me cuesta puntuar y que solo recomendaría para aquellos lectores de este género. Esperaré a leer algunas opiniones sobre las siguientes entregas para continuar o no con la saga.
Si intento dejar las comparación aparte, El gallo negro me ha parecido una novela simplemente correcta. Se agradece que entre directamente al misterio, sin demasiada puesta en escena inicial, aunque luego tarda en ir descartando culpables dando la sensación de dar vueltas sobre lo mismo, hasta desembocar en una resolución algo precipitada, que no me ha encajado del todo. En cualquier caso, la pareja de investigadores están bastante logrados. Se trata, como suele ser habitual, de personajes opuestos. En este caso: hombre maduro y contrahecho, inteligente, tímido y práctico, y joven atractivo, pasional e impulsivo. La ambientación, la época histórica, está bien conseguida y los datos históricos no entorpecen la fluidez de la lectura, sin embargo, creo que no tiene suficiente amplitud y que se centra demasiado en un personaje y en un lugar. Por lo demás, El Gallo negro presenta una prosa y un estilo sencillo y natural, que consigue que se lea con facilidad.
Quizá esté siendo demasiado crítico, porque espera más de esta novela. La verdad es que no me ha deslumbrado. En realidad, lo que intento decir es que El gallo negro tiene una calidad suficiente tanto en argumento, personajes, ambientación histórica y prosa para pasar un buen rato, pero no tiene la fuerza necesaria para sobresalir entre otras obras del género.
Se trata de esas obras que me cuesta puntuar y que solo recomendaría para aquellos lectores de este género. Esperaré a leer algunas opiniones sobre las siguientes entregas para continuar o no con la saga.
June 3, 2018
A murder in a Monastery, and Matthew Shardlake, a London lawyer, was sent to investigate it. Matthew, who was working for Thomas Cromwell, wanted to impress his boss and was adamant to solve the case as soon as possible but alas mystery turned murkier and another murder was committed.
Since it was 1500, so no modern sciences to help us in way of finger prints, autopsy, lie detector test etc. Matthew had to talk to monks and see all of them as suspects, and that’s what I like about historical mysteries. I have not read many but the few I have read, I liked how the detectives has to depend on their instincts and hunches and someone was always on their heels to murder them.
I loved the writing style of Samson and how he depicted the strife in the English population. Also, he gave every character a very interesting back story which was believable and atmosphere that he created in this book was apt for the mystery.
Since it was 1500, so no modern sciences to help us in way of finger prints, autopsy, lie detector test etc. Matthew had to talk to monks and see all of them as suspects, and that’s what I like about historical mysteries. I have not read many but the few I have read, I liked how the detectives has to depend on their instincts and hunches and someone was always on their heels to murder them.
I loved the writing style of Samson and how he depicted the strife in the English population. Also, he gave every character a very interesting back story which was believable and atmosphere that he created in this book was apt for the mystery.
November 28, 2022
It’s a historical mystery set at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry the eighth that introduces Matthew Shardlake, the hunchback lawyer, who is sent to investigate a murder at a Benedictine monastery. It’s an interesting enough mystery and it has a lot of accurate historical detail of the period. I should, however, stay away from historical fiction set centuries back in time as aspects of the period coming into contact with modern sensibilities grate on me big time. I know it is accepted in historical fiction, and if the conflict doesn’t irritate, this is a good read.
June 6, 2010
5.0 stars. This story grabbed me from the very first page and kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I do not read as much historical/crime fiction as I do science fiction/fantasy but this book might cause that to change given how much I enjoyed this. I am a bit if a history buff and I was drawn to this story because it is set during the English Reformation, a period I was interested to learn more about.
The main character, Matthew Shardlake, is a hunchback, English lawyer working for Thomas Cromwell (the architect of the English Reformation). Shardlake is sent to a Benedictine monastery to investigate the brutal murder of one of Cromwell's men. However, Shardlake's true mission is to arrange for the voluntary surrender of the monastery to the English crown.The book was very well written, with a complex, well structured plot and very memorable characters. This is a great story filled with intrigue, political machinations and realpolitik being conducted under the guise of religion. Highly Recommended!!!!
The main character, Matthew Shardlake, is a hunchback, English lawyer working for Thomas Cromwell (the architect of the English Reformation). Shardlake is sent to a Benedictine monastery to investigate the brutal murder of one of Cromwell's men. However, Shardlake's true mission is to arrange for the voluntary surrender of the monastery to the English crown.The book was very well written, with a complex, well structured plot and very memorable characters. This is a great story filled with intrigue, political machinations and realpolitik being conducted under the guise of religion. Highly Recommended!!!!
January 3, 2015
Now that is how historical fiction should be written, plenty of fact, some great fictional characters and a really good story. The fact that this is also a mystery and a page turner made the deal for me. This was a really good read and I will be seeking out the rest of the series very soon.
July 27, 2022
Clásica novela histórica de misterio que transcurre en la Inglaterra de Enrique VIII, con un protagonista que actúa como comisionado a las órdenes del vicario general del reino, Sir Thomas Cromwell, que persigue la disolución de los monasterios durante la escisión de la Iglesia Anglicana de la Iglesia Católica.
El abogado Matthew Shardlake es enviado a investigar un crimen que puede entorpecer el ritmo de las expropiaciones.
Una ambientación muy conseguida con una atmósfera decadente y unos personajes estereotipados pero consecuentes.
Muy entretenida, con buen ritmo narrativo y gran rigor histórico.
El abogado Matthew Shardlake es enviado a investigar un crimen que puede entorpecer el ritmo de las expropiaciones.
Una ambientación muy conseguida con una atmósfera decadente y unos personajes estereotipados pero consecuentes.
Muy entretenida, con buen ritmo narrativo y gran rigor histórico.
May 31, 2021
Having had my Tudor education expanded by Hilary Mantel’s books, I thought it might be an interesting diversion to read a mystery set in the same period of Henry VIII’s reign.
Right off, I was impressed with the atmosphere that Sansom creates. Whether it was the dangerous and crowded streets of London, the dank and ominous bureaucracy of Cromwell or the infested monastery where the primary action takes place, there was a palpable grittiness to the descriptions.
This serves well as counterpoint to the somewhat out-of-his-depth character of Matthew Shardlake, the newly appointed King’s commissioner investigating the murder of the previous commissioner at the Monastery of St. Donatus the Ascendant. Shardlake is a moderately successful lawyer under the patronage of Lord Thomas Cromwell, now vicar general and responsible for the new Church of England. Not only is the king the head of the church, but he has been waging battles against those not to happy to be split from the Church of Rome. Sansom takes enough time to impress upon us the general perception that monasteries and other religious houses were seen both as sources of land and revenue for the king and his nobles and also an evil where the abbots, monks, novices, etc. were living a life of ease compared to the citizens.
We are also treated to a fulsome use of 15th century vernacular, which adds to the atmosphere without often requiring us to consult the dictionary. Shardlake has to deal with children, servants, beggars, nobles and abbots and Sansom gives us a nuanced differentiation in sentence structure and vocabulary.
The plot involves Shardlake’s dependence on Cromwell for his future and the seeming equal zeal the two men have for reforming the new Church of England. As the story progresses, Shardlake loses some of his innocent fervor for reform as he sees the full spectrum of consequences of the confiscations of church land and property. Sansom gives Shardlake a disfigurement (hunchback, present since his youth) and a profound sense of social inferiority and unease. The lawyer has to battle through these barriers, both real and self-created to see justice done. And, Matthew Shardlake seeks justice before anything else.
According to this story, Shardlake, is luckier in detection than he is in love. I winced at his awkwardness more than once. And as a detective, he was easily distracted at several junctures. Having said that, the book, though overly long and the plot overly complicated held my interest. The period of Tudor rapacity and distress was accurately portrayed. And, the solution to the mystery was satisfactory. 3.5*
Right off, I was impressed with the atmosphere that Sansom creates. Whether it was the dangerous and crowded streets of London, the dank and ominous bureaucracy of Cromwell or the infested monastery where the primary action takes place, there was a palpable grittiness to the descriptions.
This serves well as counterpoint to the somewhat out-of-his-depth character of Matthew Shardlake, the newly appointed King’s commissioner investigating the murder of the previous commissioner at the Monastery of St. Donatus the Ascendant. Shardlake is a moderately successful lawyer under the patronage of Lord Thomas Cromwell, now vicar general and responsible for the new Church of England. Not only is the king the head of the church, but he has been waging battles against those not to happy to be split from the Church of Rome. Sansom takes enough time to impress upon us the general perception that monasteries and other religious houses were seen both as sources of land and revenue for the king and his nobles and also an evil where the abbots, monks, novices, etc. were living a life of ease compared to the citizens.
We are also treated to a fulsome use of 15th century vernacular, which adds to the atmosphere without often requiring us to consult the dictionary. Shardlake has to deal with children, servants, beggars, nobles and abbots and Sansom gives us a nuanced differentiation in sentence structure and vocabulary.
The plot involves Shardlake’s dependence on Cromwell for his future and the seeming equal zeal the two men have for reforming the new Church of England. As the story progresses, Shardlake loses some of his innocent fervor for reform as he sees the full spectrum of consequences of the confiscations of church land and property. Sansom gives Shardlake a disfigurement (hunchback, present since his youth) and a profound sense of social inferiority and unease. The lawyer has to battle through these barriers, both real and self-created to see justice done. And, Matthew Shardlake seeks justice before anything else.
According to this story, Shardlake, is luckier in detection than he is in love. I winced at his awkwardness more than once. And as a detective, he was easily distracted at several junctures. Having said that, the book, though overly long and the plot overly complicated held my interest. The period of Tudor rapacity and distress was accurately portrayed. And, the solution to the mystery was satisfactory. 3.5*
May 14, 2017
This is a good old-fashioned who-dun-it, with bodies dropping every few chapters. Set in 1537 and told in the first person, Matthew Shardlake (a King’s Commissioner) must investigate the brutal killing of the previous King's Commissioner, Robin Singleton at Scarnsea monastery. What is a good and reasonable Reformer to do amongst a bunch of deluded crazy Papist monks? With the fate of the Monastery at risk, everyone has something to cover up and nobody is to be believed!
The historical background is phenomenal in this book (the author really knows his stuff) and the murder mystery ain’t bad. The character of Mathew Sharldlake is charming but will probably need to be developed a little more (I assume this will happen in later books?).
Altogether recommended for those who like a slightly different murder mystery and for fans of historical fiction set in the Tudor period.
The historical background is phenomenal in this book (the author really knows his stuff) and the murder mystery ain’t bad. The character of Mathew Sharldlake is charming but will probably need to be developed a little more (I assume this will happen in later books?).
Altogether recommended for those who like a slightly different murder mystery and for fans of historical fiction set in the Tudor period.
June 2, 2023
A well-researched lightweight mystery set in Cromwell's Reformation England!
It's 1537, the height of the English Reformation, and Thomas Cromwell, vicar general for the court of Henry VIII, is absolutely bent on the systematic ruthless dismantling of England's feudal monastery system, "re-patriating" the monastic lands and the church's accumulated wealth and destroying the evidence of papist Roman Catholicism inherent in such things as church buildings and relics. Robin Singleton, a commissioner charged with securing the peaceable surrender of the Monastery of St Donatus in Scarnsea, has been brutally murdered and Cromwell realizes that his agenda will be jeopardized if the evidence of this opposition is allowed to see the light of day. Dr Matthew Shardlake, a reformer and one of the sharpest lawyers in England, is dispatched to solve the murder at all costs and complete the dissolution of the monastery as planned. Cromwell, with very thinly veiled threats has made it quite clear that Shardlake's failure to complete the mission will be seen as evidence of questionable loyalty to the Reformation program.
I confess I saw the details of the murder investigation and the ultimate solution to the murder as entertaining but relatively pedestrian as mysteries go. Like so many authors, Sansom relies heavily on the age old literary device of the bad boys of the piece never knowing when to shut up. Left to his own devices as a sleuth, I suspect that Shardlake might have found one "nave", but not the "knave" that Cromwell was insisting upon. That's the bad news!
The good news is that the mystery is more than entertaining enough to keep the pages turning and to allow Sansom a setting in which he can embellish his story line with a wealth of historic details, atmosphere and character development that I personally found much more entertaining than the story itself. Three distinct ways of life in Reformation England are explored - the commoner, the religious life within the cloistered confines of a monastery, and the upper middle class that aspire to property and wealth without actually being part of the nobility. Of particular interest is Sansom's development of Shardlake's character as his disenchantment with Cromwell's political agenda grows into worry and self-doubt coupled with fear over Cromwell's brutality.
In summary, DISSOLUTION is a lightweight easy-reading mystery that achieves much greater heights on the strength of the historical background and compelling re-creation of a particularly frightening political agenda.
Paul Weiss
It's 1537, the height of the English Reformation, and Thomas Cromwell, vicar general for the court of Henry VIII, is absolutely bent on the systematic ruthless dismantling of England's feudal monastery system, "re-patriating" the monastic lands and the church's accumulated wealth and destroying the evidence of papist Roman Catholicism inherent in such things as church buildings and relics. Robin Singleton, a commissioner charged with securing the peaceable surrender of the Monastery of St Donatus in Scarnsea, has been brutally murdered and Cromwell realizes that his agenda will be jeopardized if the evidence of this opposition is allowed to see the light of day. Dr Matthew Shardlake, a reformer and one of the sharpest lawyers in England, is dispatched to solve the murder at all costs and complete the dissolution of the monastery as planned. Cromwell, with very thinly veiled threats has made it quite clear that Shardlake's failure to complete the mission will be seen as evidence of questionable loyalty to the Reformation program.
I confess I saw the details of the murder investigation and the ultimate solution to the murder as entertaining but relatively pedestrian as mysteries go. Like so many authors, Sansom relies heavily on the age old literary device of the bad boys of the piece never knowing when to shut up. Left to his own devices as a sleuth, I suspect that Shardlake might have found one "nave", but not the "knave" that Cromwell was insisting upon. That's the bad news!
The good news is that the mystery is more than entertaining enough to keep the pages turning and to allow Sansom a setting in which he can embellish his story line with a wealth of historic details, atmosphere and character development that I personally found much more entertaining than the story itself. Three distinct ways of life in Reformation England are explored - the commoner, the religious life within the cloistered confines of a monastery, and the upper middle class that aspire to property and wealth without actually being part of the nobility. Of particular interest is Sansom's development of Shardlake's character as his disenchantment with Cromwell's political agenda grows into worry and self-doubt coupled with fear over Cromwell's brutality.
In summary, DISSOLUTION is a lightweight easy-reading mystery that achieves much greater heights on the strength of the historical background and compelling re-creation of a particularly frightening political agenda.
Paul Weiss
May 8, 2021
Read in 2018 but for some reason not edited by me from Currently Reading to Read.
Scarnsea is sanctuary but the monastery in the Sussex of Tudor England is seething with darkness and an oppressing atmosphere linked to death, taxes and treachery. In Henry VIII's reign old institutions and religious practices are threatened and as Matthew Shardlake enters Scarnsea it becomes clear he may be too.
Enjoyable murder-mystery with good characterisation, period detail and plot.
Scarnsea is sanctuary but the monastery in the Sussex of Tudor England is seething with darkness and an oppressing atmosphere linked to death, taxes and treachery. In Henry VIII's reign old institutions and religious practices are threatened and as Matthew Shardlake enters Scarnsea it becomes clear he may be too.
Enjoyable murder-mystery with good characterisation, period detail and plot.
February 27, 2019
This is the first book* in the excellent Matthew Shardlake series by Sansom, which I am reading slightly out of order, having started with book 2 (which I really enjoyed). In this, we are first introduced to Shardlake, a confidant of Cromwell, who is given a commission by the latter to investigate a murder committed at a monastery in Scarnsea. It is 1537, Henry VIII has declared himself head of the church of England and the process of dissolving all the monasteries in the country, now the larger and wealthier ones (after some smaller ones earlier on) is on, and Cromwell has appointed commissioners to see to it that this is accomplished. When Cromwell’s commissioner to Scarnsea Robert Singleton is brutally murdered, Shardlake charged with finding the murderer heads there with his assistant Mark Poer, only to find that things are very very murky in the monastery though on the surface, everything seems fine. The matter is further complicated when other deaths occur. Not only that, the people he encounters and the stories he hears begin to make him question all he that has believed so far.
Shardlake’s first outing was not perhaps as complicated in terms of the mystery threads in the story as the later ones, which is not to say by any means that it was an easy case—there were many threads to this as well, and the answers when they are revealed are not quite what one expected (incidentally, I did successfully guess one part of it, so the surprise element was definitely there). The atmosphere of the country at that point in time, the uncertainty, the turmoil, with the shape of religion changing alongside the changing scope of power, is something that the author I felt has captured really well, as he does the details of everyday life in Tudor England. Shardlake himself, I felt from the beginning came across as too idealistic and naïve compared to the later books, and while Mark Poer was an interesting enough character, “seeing” things much more clearly in some ways than Shardlake, having become used to Jack Barrack from the later titles, somehow, one doesn’t get the same kind of feeling about him. I enjoyed seeing how Shardlake meets Gut of Molton, though. This was a well written and very enjoyable entry in the series, though I probably think I would have enjoyed it far more had I read it before the later ones.
* The seventh book in the series will be out in about a month, and I am very much looking forward to reading that.
Shardlake’s first outing was not perhaps as complicated in terms of the mystery threads in the story as the later ones, which is not to say by any means that it was an easy case—there were many threads to this as well, and the answers when they are revealed are not quite what one expected (incidentally, I did successfully guess one part of it, so the surprise element was definitely there). The atmosphere of the country at that point in time, the uncertainty, the turmoil, with the shape of religion changing alongside the changing scope of power, is something that the author I felt has captured really well, as he does the details of everyday life in Tudor England. Shardlake himself, I felt from the beginning came across as too idealistic and naïve compared to the later books, and while Mark Poer was an interesting enough character, “seeing” things much more clearly in some ways than Shardlake, having become used to Jack Barrack from the later titles, somehow, one doesn’t get the same kind of feeling about him. I enjoyed seeing how Shardlake meets Gut of Molton, though. This was a well written and very enjoyable entry in the series, though I probably think I would have enjoyed it far more had I read it before the later ones.
* The seventh book in the series will be out in about a month, and I am very much looking forward to reading that.
June 11, 2022
Set during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, this novel brings this episode in history to life through the character Matthew Shardlake. He is developed throughout the story, creating a multi-faceted, compelling protagonist. Passers by only see Shardlake as a cripple, but the reader sees his pride, insecurities, longing for companionship, and devotion to a cause that he believes is sincere.
Through the example of the Monastery of St. Donatus at Scarnsea, we are shown first hand what it was like for the monks at this time to be at the mercy of the king. First they were ordered to change centuries old rituals to fit the reformist trend, only to eventually lose their entire way of life. Putting it on this personal level and seeing what happens to each of the characters Sansom creates, the reader can vividly imagine this period of history.
The author's depiction of Tudor times is second to none. Daily living and all its struggles are injected into this story without becoming info-dumps or narrations of boring detail. Cromwell makes a couple of brief appearances, and he is realistically written, if not as sympathetically as in Mantel's novels.
I appreciated the author's ability to give each of his characters an active faith that did not truly fit into any category that the government of the time was attempting to create. Shardlake proclaims himself an ardent reformer, until he is struck with the realization that the reforms are more about redistribution of wealth than true worship. Though the setting was a religious house and each person revealed their thoughts on God, the book never overdoes the Christian theme or becomes preachy.
And then there are the murders! I loved this book for the great character development and visualization of Tudor England, but it is also a great mystery. Shardlake is sent to Scarnsea to investigate the murder of his fellow commissioner and discovers a much more tangled web than he expected.
A must read for anyone interested in this period of history.
Through the example of the Monastery of St. Donatus at Scarnsea, we are shown first hand what it was like for the monks at this time to be at the mercy of the king. First they were ordered to change centuries old rituals to fit the reformist trend, only to eventually lose their entire way of life. Putting it on this personal level and seeing what happens to each of the characters Sansom creates, the reader can vividly imagine this period of history.
The author's depiction of Tudor times is second to none. Daily living and all its struggles are injected into this story without becoming info-dumps or narrations of boring detail. Cromwell makes a couple of brief appearances, and he is realistically written, if not as sympathetically as in Mantel's novels.
I appreciated the author's ability to give each of his characters an active faith that did not truly fit into any category that the government of the time was attempting to create. Shardlake proclaims himself an ardent reformer, until he is struck with the realization that the reforms are more about redistribution of wealth than true worship. Though the setting was a religious house and each person revealed their thoughts on God, the book never overdoes the Christian theme or becomes preachy.
And then there are the murders! I loved this book for the great character development and visualization of Tudor England, but it is also a great mystery. Shardlake is sent to Scarnsea to investigate the murder of his fellow commissioner and discovers a much more tangled web than he expected.
A must read for anyone interested in this period of history.
May 17, 2023
I think the Devil works in the world through men’s evil, their greed and cruelty and ambition, rather than possessing them and driving them stark mad. (PG 157)
C.J. Sansom dug into history and made a novel out of it. We get a few murders and history of Tudor England in the 16c. Add in a Hunchback lawyer and we have ourselves a savory wicked novel.
This was a great read. Getting to know Matthew Shardlake was also a pleasure. The ambiance of the King versus the papists, Anne Boleyn’s beheading, opportunist Thomas Cromwell, the closing down of the monasteries for sodomy and greed… this novel has it all like a throwback Thursday-way back— Lol
I know in mysteries words and thoughts on a crime are often repeated but it was making the story extra long and it got a tad boring some parts.
So if you like history and mystery you’ll definitely enjoy some Sansom.
C.J. Sansom dug into history and made a novel out of it. We get a few murders and history of Tudor England in the 16c. Add in a Hunchback lawyer and we have ourselves a savory wicked novel.
This was a great read. Getting to know Matthew Shardlake was also a pleasure. The ambiance of the King versus the papists, Anne Boleyn’s beheading, opportunist Thomas Cromwell, the closing down of the monasteries for sodomy and greed… this novel has it all like a throwback Thursday-way back— Lol
I know in mysteries words and thoughts on a crime are often repeated but it was making the story extra long and it got a tad boring some parts.
So if you like history and mystery you’ll definitely enjoy some Sansom.
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