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Shardlake: Dissolution: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
A thrilling BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation based on CJ Sansom's bestselling Tudor crime novel.
Winter, 1537. Henry VIII has declared himself Supreme Head of the Church, and instructed his chief minister Thomas Cromwell to dissolve England's religious houses and seize their wealth. But Cromwell's plot to bring down the abbeys has hit a snag – one of the King's Commissioners has been found brutally murdered in Scarnsea monastery, on the south coast of Kent. If news of the killing were to get out, the consequences could be disastrous.
Desiring a quick, discreet result, he sends his trusted lawyer-detective, Matthew Shardlake, to investigate. However, as Shardlake interviews the prime suspects and delves deeper into the mysteries of Scarnsea, it soon becomes clear that the case will not be as simple to solve as he had hoped. Which of the terrified monks is the murderer? And can Shardlake catch him before he strikes again?
CJ Sansom's 'Shardlake' series has sold over two million copies, and this atmospheric dramatisation starring BAFTA-winning actor Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries) brings his début novel to electrifying life. Fast-paced and suspenseful, it is both an engrossing murder mystery and a brilliantly realised portrayal of Tudor England. Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx.
Winter, 1537. Henry VIII has declared himself Supreme Head of the Church, and instructed his chief minister Thomas Cromwell to dissolve England's religious houses and seize their wealth. But Cromwell's plot to bring down the abbeys has hit a snag – one of the King's Commissioners has been found brutally murdered in Scarnsea monastery, on the south coast of Kent. If news of the killing were to get out, the consequences could be disastrous.
Desiring a quick, discreet result, he sends his trusted lawyer-detective, Matthew Shardlake, to investigate. However, as Shardlake interviews the prime suspects and delves deeper into the mysteries of Scarnsea, it soon becomes clear that the case will not be as simple to solve as he had hoped. Which of the terrified monks is the murderer? And can Shardlake catch him before he strikes again?
CJ Sansom's 'Shardlake' series has sold over two million copies, and this atmospheric dramatisation starring BAFTA-winning actor Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries) brings his début novel to electrifying life. Fast-paced and suspenseful, it is both an engrossing murder mystery and a brilliantly realised portrayal of Tudor England. Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx.
2 pages, Audiobook
Published July 7, 2016
About the author
C.J. Sansom
33 books3,991 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 21, 2020
It’s kind of hard to condense a 400+ page book into two hours of radio drama, but I guess that’s a movie length, eh?
Shardlake is a lawyer on commission for Cromwell. Someone has beheaded the last investigator he sent to Scarnsea monastery, killed a black cockerel on the altar and stolen the famous relic.
The King and Cromwell are dismantling the wealth of the church and redistributing it, and pretty much everyone is uncertain of their future. No one wants Scarnsea to be selling it’s own lands off. And denying the King the money?! Treason!
Shardlake initially feels comfortable - he grew up in a monastery - but was told his hunched back prevented him from ‘talking’ to god. [uh huh] But he’s soon deep in horrible crimes and pretty much horrible people.
And his assistant Mark, keeps getting distracted by the only woman working inside the monastery walls.
3 stars
Shardlake is a lawyer on commission for Cromwell. Someone has beheaded the last investigator he sent to Scarnsea monastery, killed a black cockerel on the altar and stolen the famous relic.
The King and Cromwell are dismantling the wealth of the church and redistributing it, and pretty much everyone is uncertain of their future. No one wants Scarnsea to be selling it’s own lands off. And denying the King the money?! Treason!
Shardlake initially feels comfortable - he grew up in a monastery - but was told his hunched back prevented him from ‘talking’ to god. [uh huh] But he’s soon deep in horrible crimes and pretty much horrible people.
And his assistant Mark, keeps getting distracted by the only woman working inside the monastery walls.
3 stars
September 11, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"What a country England has become."
Having read the seven fairly hefty novels by Sansom over time some years before, I thought to revisit the Tudor world of hatchback lawyer Sharlake via the very much abridged drama productions broadcast by the BBC. In this, Dissolution, Shardlake is sent by Cromwell to one monetary where a murder is committed. This he needs to resolve without the attention of King Henry VIII
The story is very much condensed to fit a two hour fifteen minutes timeslot and much detail is lost. However the full cast is excellent and the whole very enjoyable if not as good as treading the unabridged original
"What a country England has become."
Having read the seven fairly hefty novels by Sansom over time some years before, I thought to revisit the Tudor world of hatchback lawyer Sharlake via the very much abridged drama productions broadcast by the BBC. In this, Dissolution, Shardlake is sent by Cromwell to one monetary where a murder is committed. This he needs to resolve without the attention of King Henry VIII
The story is very much condensed to fit a two hour fifteen minutes timeslot and much detail is lost. However the full cast is excellent and the whole very enjoyable if not as good as treading the unabridged original
July 30, 2025
I’ve been in the craziest reading slump since the end of March. It’s been hard to find something to hold my attention so I am immersing myself once again in the Shardlake series through their BBC dramatisation.
Sometimes what you read in the past is a comfort and it seems to be working so far. I’m not one for rereading but re-discovering this series through such an adaptation is lovely.
Sometimes what you read in the past is a comfort and it seems to be working so far. I’m not one for rereading but re-discovering this series through such an adaptation is lovely.
August 30, 2019
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
August 31, 2019
⭐️3.5⭐️
May 8, 2023
Fantastic recap of a series of excellent books
April 16, 2024
Sharldake series is my number 1 and always will be.
Listening to this dramatisation gives it a whole new life. While yes it's a lot crammed into a 2 hour audio. It is still extremely enjoyable.
Listening to this dramatisation gives it a whole new life. While yes it's a lot crammed into a 2 hour audio. It is still extremely enjoyable.
September 23, 2025
Not a bad audio drama in itself, but a poor imitation of the original book, which I much prefer.
September 29, 2023
I haven't read the tome of a book, so I don't know the extent to which this dramatisation does it justice. As a standalone tale, it's beautifully done, pulling you into Shardlake's world. The characters are well defined and the plot pacy. The dramatisation, especially the music and foley effects, are evocative - transporting you to the 16th century. Very enjoyable and worthy of repeat listening.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews