This is the fifth story in cj sansoms matthew shardlake series. Lamentation, like its predecessors, is a triumph both as detective fiction and as a novel. Matthew shardlake is a lawyerdetective in the court of henry viii. Writer of crime novels, scottish and british author c. 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. Sansom is a british author of historical fiction and mystery novels. The shardlake series is a series of historical mystery novels by c. I have written before in this newsletter about his superb mystery novels set in london in the time of king henry viii, though in this latest one it is henrys young son edward who is on the throne. Shardlake is a lawyer in tudor england during the reign of henry viii. Sansom began his matthew shardlake series in 2003 with the novel dissolution. Box books in order means catching up with 16 joe pickett novels, 2 cody hoyt series, 3 cassie dewell series, 2 standalone novels and 2 short stories as well. When it comes to intriguing tudorbased narratives, hilary mantel has a serious rival sunday times sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. This is the second in cj sansoms shardlake series set in tudor england and following the investigations of hunchbacked lawyer matthew shardlake. One of britains bestselling historical novelists, c.
Aug 21, 2018 lamentation by cj sansom august 21, 2018 august 21, 2018 when i heard the exciting news that there was a new shardlake novel tombland coming in october, i remembered that i still needed to read lamentation, the sixth book in the series, so i put it on my 20 books of summer list to ensure that i would read it sooner rather than later. There are no spoilers as such but knowledge, say, that a character is a friend in later books does mean that you dismiss them as suspects in a current book. Apr 28, 2003 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 nomination turned into an award this time with the dark fire. After working in a variety of jobs, he retrained as a solicitor and practised in sussex until becoming a fulltime writer. This novel too published by the macmillan publication house in the year 2004, went ahead to claim the cwa ellis peters historical dagger in the year 2005. After working in a variety of jobs, he retrained as a solicitor and practised in sussex, until becoming a fulltime writer. Sansoms acclaimed matthew shardlake mystery series c.
Sansom, a former solicitor who lives in sussex, is working on a fourth shardlake story and has been consulted on the tv series. Dominion, heartstone, sovereign, dark fire and winter in madrid. The matthew shardlake series collection c j sansom 5 books. Under the order of thomas cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent through.
Here you can find out about his latest publication, tombland, as well as his fantastic series of novels. Sansom, including dissolution, and dark fire, and more on. Historical novels are hot right now, and no wonder, with novels like c. Sansom, set in the reign of henry viii in the 16th century. Sansom was educated at birmingham university, where he took a ba and then a phd in history. C j sansoms matthew shardlake novels in chronological order. Sansoms number one bestselling shardlake series, tombland takes his lawyerdetective deep into the heart of a mystery that threatens the very foundations of the tudor dynasty. Sansom new releases, 2020 books book release dates. Matthew shardlake is the featured character in a series of historical mystery novels by british novelist c. In dissolution, shardlake, who supports religious reform, witnesses the viciousness. Although the shardlake novels read well as standalone books it is best to read them in chronolgical order. With a large number of academic achievements under his belt, hes also managed to gain a certain degree of expertise which greatly informs his work. Just be prepared to be slightly disappointed by sovereign.
The protagonist of the shardlake series that is reigning in the current decade, belongs to the genre of historical mystery novels. Andrew hasson c j sansom winces at the mention of the tudors, the bbcs recent dramatisation of the life. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. The plot and pacing make this the best shardlake yet. The novel sparked the bestselling shardlake series, following the sixteenthcentury lawyerdetective matthew shardlake and his assistant. Sansom worked first as a historian and then as a lawyer before combining both in his darkly fascinating novel of monastic murder and politics in his first novel dissolution. Order of matthew shardlake books matthew shardlake is the featured character in a series of historical mystery novels by british novelist c. 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. Sansoms number one bestselling shardlake series summer, 1549. Andrew hasson c j sansom winces at the mention of the tudors, the bbcs recent dramatisation of the life of henry viii, starring a pouting jonathan rhys meyers. The series protagonist is the hunchbacked lawyer matthew shardlake, who is assisted. Sansom is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed shardlake series, as well as winter in madrid and dominion. As usual, the intricate plot is tightly constructed and, for a long novel, comparatively fast moving, while the authors knowledge of the period creates a colourful and credible context within which the. The action in dark fire takes place a year or two after the events of the first book, dissolution, which i loved, but although i would recommend reading the books in order its not essential and.
Aug 21, 2018 this is the second in cj sansoms shardlake series set in tudor england and following the investigations of hunchbacked lawyer matthew shardlake. Cj sansoms shardlake series has sold over two million copies, and this atmospheric dramatisation starring baftawinning actor jason watkins the lost honour of christopher jeffries brings his debut novel to electrifying life. He has also written winter in madrid, a thriller set in spain in 1940 in the aftermath of the spanish civil war and dominion, an alternate history novel set in a britain following a fictional axis victory in world war ii. Box novels in order of publication and chronological order for all his series. Fans of cj sansom will love this new story which continues to play to his strengths of taking often overlooked historical events and bringing them to a wider audience. Synopsis perfect for fans of hilary mantels the mirror and the light, matthew shardlake is back in the sixth book in the shardlake series, from number one bestselling author c. Sansoms historical crime series takes the reader to the dark heart of tudor england with gripping realism, sensational. Sansom made his debut as a published author in 2003 with the novel. Fast paced and suspenseful, it is both an engrossing murder mystery and a brilliantly realised portrayal of tudor england. Having learned russian and been hired after university by reuters, she was catapulted out of the classicalmusic life of her family and straight into the adrenaline.
In this story shardlake is commissioned for his mission by the. Lamentation by cj sansom august 21, 2018 august 21, 2018 when i heard the exciting news that there was a new shardlake novel tombland coming in october, i remembered that i still needed to read lamentation, the sixth book in the series, so i put it on my 20 books of summer list to ensure that i would read it sooner rather than later. Shardlake is a hunchbacked lawyer who works on commission from thomas cromwell who. Sansom s acclaimed matthew shardlake mystery series c. Oct 28, 2018 tombland by cj sansom is published by mantle. If the series has an order, add a number or other descriptor in parenthesis after the series title eg. If the series has an order, add a number or other descriptor in parenthesis after the series title. Sansom 5 books set dominion, heartstone, sovereign, dark fire, winter in madrid jan 1, 2014 4. The second feather to the shardlake series was the dark fire. A bbc commission of an adaptation of the first sansom novel, dissolution, is expected to be followed by more of the shardlake books. Under the order of thomas cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent through the country to. Sansom 5 books, a series of historical mystery novels in the reign of henry viii in the 16th century. He was educated at ludgrove school 19791984, eton college 19851989 and the university of edinburgh 19901994, where he graduated with 1st class honours in english.
In some cases, as with chronicles of narnia, disagreements about order necessitate the creation of more than one series. I, gulp, actually got the most recent one, heartstone, in the signed british edition from the poisoned pen so i wouldnt have to wait a year for it to come out on this side of the ocean. Two years after the death of henry viii, england is sliding into chaos the nominal king, edward vi, is eleven years old. One such character who has etched his name as an undisputed leader in the space of murder mysteries is matthew shardlake series by c. He was born in 1952 and was educated at the university of birmingham, where he took a ba and then a phd in history. Sansom official august 22, 2019 very much recommended, for this is a tremendous crafted mystery set in norfolk, intertwined with a story about england in turmoil, written in an astounding fashion, and thats why i call it. Dubbed the tudor morse the shardlake novels beginning with dissolution trace the progress of lawyer matthew shardlake from 1537 as he is drawn into investigating a series of complex cases that bring him evercloser to the machinations of the tudor court.
Publication order of medieval murderers collections. Cj sansoms shardlake lives to fight another day news. Sansom s historical crime series takes the reader to the dark heart of tudor england with gripping realism, sensational. Sansom likes to vary his fictions forms, and the shardlake novels range from a closedcommunity whodunit in a snowbound monastery dissolution to the quest for a deadly weapon of war dark fire, a political thriller sovereign, 2006, a serialkiller story revelation, 2008 and a legal thriller heartstone, 2010. Sansom has said that he plans to write further shardlake novels taking the lawyer into the reign of elizabeth i. It is a time of turmoil both in political and religious circles where there are great conspiracies, blood and death. A series of british 16thcentury historical crimemystery novels set during the turbulent years of king henry viiis reign, featuring lawyer matthew shardlake. Here you will find exclusive insights and behindthescenes. Here at, we have the official list of new and upcoming c. Sansom also said that he plans to write further shardlake novels taking the lawyer into the reign of elizabeth i. Vanora bennett became a journalist almost by accident.
It is pleasing when a person is as you expect them to be and chris cj sansom is every bit the writer of historical crime novels. Sansom is a well established author within his particular field. Two years after the death of henry viii, england is sliding into chaos. C j sansom s matthew shardlake novels in chronological order. Cj sansom has produced another brilliant shardlake novel, this time involving a 16th century serial killer inspired by the book of revelations. Stiff and severe, he stands at the window watching me. He worked as a lawyer in sussex before deciding to move to writing fulltime. Sansom is also the author of the bestselling novels winter in madrid and. Henry viii has ordered the dissolution of the shelve dissolution. As with all the shardlake books there is an admirable dedication to historical accuracy in terms of known details though it is a fictional story so dont take anything too seriously. Sansom has garnered a wider audience and increased critical praise with.