During the political upheaval of Tudor-era England, the lawyer Matthew Shardlake must decide where his loyalties lie in “one of the best ongoing mystery series” for fans of Hilary Mantel (Christian Science Monitor). LONGLISTED FOR THE SIR WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION Spring, 1549. Two years after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos. The nominal king, Edward … after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos.
The nominal king, Edward VI, is eleven years old. His uncle, Edward Seymour, Lord Hertford, rules as Edward’s regent and Protector. In the kingdom, radical Protestants are driving the old religion into extinction, while the Protector’s prolonged war with Scotland has led to hyperinflation and economic collapse. Rebellion is stirring among the peasantry.
Matthew Shardlake has been working as a lawyer in the service of Henry’s younger daughter, the lady Elizabeth. The gruesome murder of one of Elizabeth’s distant relations, rumored to be politically murdered, draws Shardlake and his companion Nicholas to the lady’s summer estate, where a second murder is committed.
As the kingdom explodes into rebellion, Nicholas is imprisoned for his loyalty, and Shardlake must decide where his loyalties lie — with his kingdom, or with his lady?
If you’ve read all of CJ Sansom’s other books, then you know what you’re in for. Well crafted characters and a story that winds its way slowly through history, while you keep desperately trying to guess how it’s all going to end up. And you never do. And he always surprises you and it’s always wonderful. A big, big book and well worth the wait. I heartily recommend it to all of those readers who like to immerse themselves in a world so richly described that you can almost smell it. Can’t wait for the next one, though I know I’ll have to!
I love Shardlake and I had this book on pre-order for months. When the Amazon box arrived with my new novel I knew it was time to find some peace and quite and sit back and enjoy CJ Sansom’s world. Shardlake is a character you can identify with every step of the way, if you have followed his adventures in the other novels in the series you will feel like a part of his life when you open the pages of this latest volume. I’ve heard that author CJ Sansom is unwell, and I am extremely grateful to him for bringing us another novel in this series that I am sure will top the bookshelves for years to come.
History brought to life! Well-written, exciting, filled with joy and tragedy! I, who thought I knew lots of English history, learned so much about this Tudor period and the Norfolk area. The author is one of the best historical fiction writers. Enjoy!!
Another murder mystery for Shardlake to solve, but this murder takes second place to the soaring historic background of the Kett Rebellion during the short reign of King Henry VIII’s young son, Edward VI. Shardlake’s investigations take him to Norwich in time for him to be sucked into the unfolding tragedy in what was then England’s second city.
Wow wow wow!
This book was incredibly long and somehow every page kept me reading!
To write about a largely undocumented piece of history and to work a story around it is outstanding!
Fantastic 5*
I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DETAIL!
This is a long, detailed story, 92 chapters worth, but this is my kind of story. What fascinated me most came from the Historical Review and Bibliography, though those are at the book’s endmatter. Sansom steeped so many of the book’s events and story on facts, facts meticulously researched. I appreciated Sansom’s “fiction fillers,” where he has to invent the story because there is no record. Sansom’s understanding of people, especially those of the 16th century, made the fictionalizations seem as if this story was a biography, not fiction. The characterizations, while believable and authentic, become even more appreciated after learning who were actual people.
I enjoyed the multiple plots, sub-stories, and the explanations of what a class system meant to the 16th century. While this could be a stand-alone read, I would not recommend reading this installment out-of-order, because they are too many subtle and a few overt references to past events. A truly engaging story in an adventurous and fascinating series.
This is my favorite Matthew Shardlake book. I’ve read them all. A detailed telling of an uprising. Shardlake’s empathy turns him in an unexpected direction when he is captured by rebels. Elizabeth sets him on a discovery about a murder.
In the back is a full explanation of the enclosure/religious rebellion. Well researched and integrated into the story.
A total immersion into the Tudor period in England, along with a terrific mystery.
This latest instalment in the series about the sympathetic Tudor Lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, is a gripping account of turbulent times during the reign of Edward VI.
The latest, and I very much hope not the last, in the wonderful Shardlake series.
I’ve waited a long time for C.J. Sansom’s historical novel, ‘Tombland’, it’s the new Matthew Shardlake novel in his Tudor historical series. It’s thumping great book, a long and solid read backed by awe inspiring research into the Kett ‘rebellion’ in East Anglia, part of that year’s -1549 -overall peasant rebellions. No wonder it’s taken years to write. For those, like me, who like to know the facts behind an historical novel there’re 62 pages at the back of the book filling in the details of how and where C.J. Sansom researched and where and why he chose certain POVs. Reading those pages certainly help understand and enjoy the novel.
King Henry (VIII) has been dead for over two years and Shardlake has been working for Lady Elizabeth (not yet called a princess!) A distant relative has been murdered and so Lady Elizabeth packs him off to Norfolk, to Norwich, to found out who murdered this wife of a distant Bolyn relative. It’s a nasty case and whilst in Norwich the rebellion – really it’s a legitimate protest – begins and Shardlake and his colleagues are caught up in it. Issues back then are still being raised today – the recent protests in France – the rich or those with power abusing those without money or power.
The book is not just a history lesson. There’s a cracking good story to follow, characters we readers care about, and some things to think about. A good historical novel should make the reader think about what’s happening today as well as in the past. C.J. Sansom does it well.
A cracking good read, thank you, Mr Sansom.
Historical fiction at it’s best.