The Shardlake series by C.J. Sansom is one of the finest achievements in historical mystery fiction, combining meticulously researched Tudor history with gripping murder investigations. Across seven novels spanning 1537 to 1553, we follow Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer navigating the deadly political and religious upheavals of Henry VIII’s England and the turbulent reigns that followed.
C.J. Sansom created a unique protagonist in Shardlake: a thoughtful, compassionate lawyer caught between his conscience and survival in an age of religious fanaticism, political paranoia, and brutal violence. Each novel pairs a compelling murder mystery with real historical events, from the Dissolution of the Monasteries to the siege of Boulogne, creating stories that are simultaneously page-turning thrillers and deeply immersive historical experiences.
What sets the Shardlake series apart is Sansom’s dual expertise as both historian and novelist. With a PhD in history and extensive research into Tudor legal, political, and religious life, Sansom constructs mysteries that feel authentically rooted in their time period while exploring timeless themes of justice, conscience, and the corruption of power.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.Quick Series Facts
Author: C.J. Sansom
Number of Books: 7 novels (complete series)
First Book: Dissolution (2003)
Latest Book: Tombland (2018)
Setting: England, 1537-1553 (Henry VIII through Edward VI and Mary I)
Genre: Historical Mystery / Legal Thriller / Historical Fiction
Understanding the Shardlake Series
Unlike standalone historical mysteries, the Shardlake novels must be read in publication order. Character relationships develop across the series, Shardlake’s personal circumstances change significantly, and events from earlier books directly impact later investigations. Each novel builds on what came before, with recurring characters, evolving political situations, and Shardlake’s own physical and emotional journey forming a continuous narrative.
The series follows a pattern: each book centers on a murder or mysterious death that Shardlake is commissioned to investigate, usually by a powerful patron such as Thomas Cromwell or Archbishop Cranmer. These investigations always intersect with major historical events, forcing Shardlake to navigate deadly court politics while solving the crime. The mysteries are genuine puzzles with fair clues, but they’re enriched by the historical setting rather than being simple detective stories transplanted to Tudor England.
Shardlake himself is a remarkable protagonist. His physical disability (a hunched back) makes him an outsider in a world that values physical perfection and martial prowess, while his legal training and humanist education give him the tools to see through deception. His religious views evolve across the series from reformist enthusiasm to disillusionment as he witnesses atrocities committed by both Catholics and Protestants. This moral complexity makes him feel like a real person grappling with impossible choices rather than a modern sensibility imposed on the past.
Shardlake Books in Publication Order (Recommended)
Publication order is the only way to read the Shardlake series. The books form a continuous story with character development, recurring relationships, and references to past events that won’t make sense out of order.
1. Dissolution (2003)
Setting: 1537, Sussex monastery during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Historical Context: Thomas Cromwell’s campaign to close England’s monasteries and confiscate their wealth
Summary: Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer loyal to Thomas Cromwell and the religious reforms, is sent to investigate the murder of a royal commissioner at Scarnsea monastery. What begins as a straightforward investigation into one death becomes a complex web of secrets, corruption, and additional murders. Shardlake must navigate the closed world of monastic life while the monks desperately try to prevent their house’s dissolution. His assistant, Mark Poer, a young idealist, accompanies him into danger as they uncover scandals that threaten both the monastery and their own lives. The novel introduces Shardlake’s investigative methods, his relationship with Cromwell, and the moral ambiguity of the Reformation he serves.
2. Dark Fire (2004)
Setting: 1540, London, during the fall of Thomas Cromwell
Historical Context: Cromwell’s arrest and execution, Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine Howard
Summary: With Cromwell arrested and facing execution, Shardlake is blackmailed into investigating the formula for Greek Fire, a legendary Byzantine weapon that could change warfare forever. Simultaneously, he must defend a young girl accused of murdering her cousin in a case that seems impossible to win. The novel takes Shardlake into London’s underworld, from brothels to alchemists’ workshops to the city’s worst slums. As he races against time to save both his client and himself, Shardlake witnesses Cromwell’s fall and must find new patrons to survive. The introduction of Jack Barak, Cromwell’s former assistant, as Shardlake’s new permanent companion adds energy and street-smart cynicism to balance Shardlake’s scholarly approach.
3. Sovereign (2006)
Setting: 1541, Yorkshire during Henry VIII’s northern progress
Historical Context: The aftermath of the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, the royal visit to the North
Summary: Archbishop Cranmer recruits Shardlake to travel with Henry VIII’s court on a massive royal progress to York, ostensibly to investigate a conspiracy but actually to protect sensitive documents. The journey north brings Shardlake and Barak into the heart of a region still seething with Catholic resentment after the failed Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion. When murders occur within the traveling court, Shardlake must identify the killer while navigating court politics, religious tensions, and the king’s terrifying proximity. The novel showcases Tudor court life on the move, the dangerous aftermath of rebellion, and the paranoia that gripped Henry’s regime. A romantic subplot involving Barak adds personal stakes beyond the investigation.
4. Revelation (2008)
Setting: 1543, London, during preparations for war with France
Historical Context: Henry VIII’s preparations for the French campaign, religious tensions
Summary: A series of brutal murders mimicking the Book of Revelation’s seven seals terrorizes London. Archbishop Cranmer again recruits Shardlake to investigate before the killings create religious panic and undermine the fragile Protestant reforms. The investigation forces Shardlake to confront religious extremism on both sides while dealing with personal tragedy and the reappearance of people from his past. This darkest entry in the series explores fanaticism, mental illness, and how religious fervor can justify atrocity. Shardlake’s growing disillusionment with all religious factions becomes central to his character, while the serial killer plot provides genuine suspense alongside historical detail.
5. Heartstone (2010)
Setting: 1545, Portsmouth and Hampshire during the war with France
Historical Context: The Siege of Boulogne, the sinking of the Mary Rose, and English naval operations
Summary: Shardlake travels to Portsmouth to resolve a wardship case involving two orphaned children and disputed lands. What seems like a straightforward legal matter becomes entangled with murder, the preparations for naval war with France, and secrets dating back decades. The novel climaxes with Shardlake witnessing the catastrophic sinking of the Mary Rose in Portsmouth harbor, one of Tudor England’s greatest disasters. This installment balances a complex legal mystery with spectacular historical events, showing Sansom’s ability to weave personal stories into momentous public history. The introduction of characters who will matter in later books and Shardlake’s growing weariness with violence add depth.
6. Lamentation (2014)
Setting: 1546, London during the final year of Henry VIII’s reign
Historical Context: Conservative Catholic faction’s attempt to bring down Queen Catherine Parr
Summary: Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, secretly commissions Shardlake to recover a stolen manuscript, her personal religious writings that could be used to accuse her of heresy. With Henry VIII descending into paranoid rage and conservative bishops plotting against reformers, Shardlake must recover the dangerous document before it destroys the queen. The investigation leads through London’s underworld, into noble households, and dangerously close to the king himself. This penultimate novel showcases the terror of Henry’s final year when no one, not even queens, was safe from accusations. The resolution brings major changes to Shardlake’s personal life and relationships.
7. Tombland (2018)
Setting: 1549, Norfolk during Kett’s Rebellion
Historical Context: Edward VI’s reign, agrarian rebellion, and religious and social upheaval
Summary: In the longest and final Shardlake novel, the lawyer travels to Norfolk to handle a property dispute for the Boleyn family. He arrives to find the region in the midst of Kett’s Rebellion, a massive agrarian uprising against the enclosure of common lands. When his clients are murdered, Shardlake becomes trapped inside the rebel camp at Norwich as royal forces prepare to crush the rebellion. The novel is Sansom’s most ambitious, depicting a large-scale historical event from the inside while maintaining the murder mystery structure. Shardlake witnesses both the idealism and violence of popular rebellion, the brutal suppression that follows, and the beginning of a new era under the boy king Edward VI. The novel provides a fitting conclusion to Shardlake’s journey from reformist idealist to disillusioned humanist seeking small measures of justice in an unjust world.
About the Author: C.J. Sansom
C.J. Sansom (1952-2024) was a British writer who brought extraordinary historical knowledge to crime fiction. Born in Edinburgh, Sansom initially worked as a lawyer before earning his PhD in history, focusing on Tudor England. This unique combination of legal expertise and historical scholarship informs every aspect of the Shardlake series.
Sansom spent years researching Tudor society before writing Dissolution, his debut novel. He immersed himself in sixteenth-century legal documents, religious treatises, court records, and contemporary accounts to create an authentic portrait of the period. His attention to historical detail extends beyond major events to everyday life: food, clothing, smells, sounds, medical practices, legal procedures, and social hierarchies all feel grounded in documented reality.
What distinguished Sansom from other historical mystery writers was his refusal to soften the past or impose modern sensibilities on his characters. Tudor England in the Shardlake novels is genuinely alien: brutal, deeply religious in ways modern readers struggle to comprehend, and governed by assumptions about hierarchy, authority, and justice that differ fundamentally from our own. Yet within this world, Sansom created characters whose emotional lives and moral struggles feel universal.
The Shardlake series earned Sansom critical acclaim and commercial success. The novels regularly appeared on bestseller lists, won awards including the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award, and gained devoted international readership. Sansom also wrote Winter in Madrid (2006), a standalone thriller set during the Spanish Civil War, and Dominion (2012), an alternate history novel imagining Britain under Nazi occupation.
Sansom’s death in 2024 marked the loss of one of historical fiction’s finest practitioners. The Shardlake series stands as his masterwork: seven novels that combined scholarly rigor with compelling storytelling to create an unforgettable portrait of Tudor England at its most turbulent.
More by C.J. Sansom:
- Complete C.J. Sansom Bibliography
- Winter in Madrid (Spanish Civil War thriller)
- Dominion (alternate history)
Historical Context: Tudor England 1537-1553
The Shardlake series spans sixteen years of English history, encompassing religious revolution, political upheaval, and social transformation. This period began in the middle of Henry VIII’s reign and extended through the brief reigns of his three children, encompassing some of the most dramatic events in English history.
The Henrician Reformation (1537-1547) fundamentally changed England. Henry VIII’s break with Rome in the 1530s, initially motivated by his desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon, escalated into a wholesale transformation of English religious life. The Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-1541) destroyed institutions that had existed for centuries, redistributed enormous wealth, and eliminated the monastic hospitals, schools, and social services that had served communities for generations. Religious reforms swung between Protestant innovation and Catholic tradition depending on the king’s political needs and the balance of power at court.
Political Paranoia and Violence characterized Henry’s later years. Thomas Cromwell’s execution in 1540 showed that even the king’s most powerful ministers could fall suddenly. Catherine Howard’s execution in 1542 proved that queens remained disposable. The conservative plot against Catherine Parr in 1546 demonstrated that religious factionalism could threaten anyone. Accusations of treason or heresy could destroy families overnight. This atmosphere of fear pervades the Shardlake novels.
The Edwardian Reformation (1547-1553) under the boy king Edward VI pushed England firmly toward Protestantism. Radical reforms swept away Catholic practices, destroyed religious art, and imposed new liturgy. However, Edward’s reign also witnessed massive social upheaval. The enclosure of common lands by wealthy landowners sparked rebellions, most notably Kett’s Rebellion in 1549, which Sansom depicts in Tombland. The rapid changes and social tensions of Edward’s six-year reign compressed decades of transformation into a brief, unstable period.
Legal and Social Structures of Tudor England operated on assumptions very different from those of modern society. Torture was legal for investigating treason. Social hierarchy was considered divinely ordained. Religious nonconformity was a capital crime. Disability, like Shardlake’s hunchback, marked one as somehow morally deficient or cursed. Yet within these harsh structures, legal procedures, common law traditions, and humanist education provided some space for justice and reason. Shardlake operates in this space, using legal knowledge and logic to seek truth in a world often governed by power and violence.
Sansom’s achievement lies in making this world comprehensible without falsifying it. Readers experience Tudor England’s brutality, superstition, and injustice while also understanding the period’s own logic, values, and worldview.
Learn more: Best Medieval Historical Fiction
Where to Start with the Shardlake Series
Best First Book
Recommendation: Dissolution
You must start with the first book. The Shardlake series is not designed for random access. Dissolution introduces Matthew Shardlake, establishes his relationship with Thomas Cromwell, sets the religious and political context for the entire series, and lays the groundwork for character arcs that continue through all seven novels. Starting anywhere else will spoil earlier books and leave you confused about character relationships, historical context, and Shardlake’s personal journey.
What to Expect
Pacing: Sansom writes long, detailed novels (400-800 pages) that reward patient reading. The mysteries unfold gradually with careful clues rather than constant action. Expect substantial historical description and context.
Tone: Dark, morally complex, and often violent. These are not cozy mysteries. The Tudor setting means executions, torture, religious persecution, and brutal violence appear regularly.
Mystery Structure: Fair-play detective stories where readers can theoretically solve the crime from clues provided, combined with historical authenticity that adds layers of complexity.
Character Development: Shardlake changes significantly across the series. His physical condition, relationships, political views, and religious beliefs all evolve in response to events.
Historical Detail: Extensive and accurate. Sansom includes the author’s notes, which explain which elements are historical facts and which are inventions, demonstrating his commitment to accuracy.
Similar Series You’ll Love
If you’re enjoying the Shardlake series, these series offer comparable appeal:
1. Brother Cadfael Series by Ellis Peters
Why similar: Medieval monastery mysteries featuring a monk detective who uses logic and observation to solve crimes. Like Shardlake, Cadfael navigates religious institutions during periods of political upheaval (12th-century England). Peters pioneered the historical mystery format that Sansom perfected. Less dark than Shardlake but with similar attention to period detail and moral complexity.
2. Master of Shadows by Ariana Franklin
Why similar: Medieval mystery series featuring a female detective (Adelia Aguilar) during Henry II’s reign. Like Sansom, Franklin (a pseudonym for Diana Norman) brings historical expertise to mystery writing. Similar attention to authentic period detail, legal procedures, and the clash between reason and superstition. Darker tone comparable to Shardlake.
3. Giordano Bruno Mysteries by S.J. Parris
Why similar: Elizabethan mysteries featuring the real historical figure Giordano Bruno as detective. Set slightly later than Shardlake (1580s) but with similar attention to religious conflict, court politics, and the dangerous intersection of intellectual inquiry and political power. Parris, like Sansom, has historical expertise and creates an authentic period atmosphere. Similar pacing and complexity.
More details: S.J. Parris Author Page
4. Sir Robert Carey Mysteries by P.F. Chisholm
Why similar: Elizabethan England mysteries featuring a courtier-detective on the Scottish border. Like Shardlake, Carey must navigate dangerous politics while investigating crimes. A similar blend of real historical events and fictional mysteries. Slightly lighter tone than Shardlake but comparable attention to period authenticity.
5. Falco Series by Lindsey Davis
Why similar: Ancient Rome mysteries featuring Marcus Didius Falco, a private informer. While set in a different period, Davis creates similarly immersive historical worlds and uses a detective fiction structure to explore historical societies. Comparable attention to legal procedures, social hierarchies, and political intrigue. More humor than Shardlake but similar historical rigor.
More details: Lindsey Davis Author Page
6. Owen Archer Series by Candace Robb
Why similar: Medieval York mysteries featuring a one-eyed Welsh archer turned investigator. Set in 14th-century England during the Hundred Years’ War, Robb creates rich historical atmosphere and complex mysteries similar to Sansom’s approach. Like Shardlake, Archer has a physical disability that makes him an outsider, and both series explore how personal limitations can become investigative strengths.
More recommendations: Best Medieval Historical Fiction
Adaptations
Television Series (2024)
The Shardlake Series
- Network: Disney+ (international) / BBC Two (UK)
- Episodes: 4 episodes (adapting Dissolution)
- Lead Actors: Arthur Hughes as Matthew Shardlake, Anthony Boyle as Jack Barak, Sean Bean as Lord Cromwell
The adaptation of Dissolution premiered in 2024 to generally positive reviews. Arthur Hughes, who has a physical disability, brings authenticity to Shardlake’s character in ways that honor both the character and disabled actors. The production maintains the novel’s dark tone and historical detail while condensing the complex plot into four episodes.
Significant changes from the book include compressing the timeline, combining minor characters, and bringing Jack Barak into the first story (he doesn’t appear until Dark Fire). The adaptation emphasizes the murder mystery elements while somewhat simplifying the religious and political complexities of the Dissolution.
The series’s success could lead to adaptations of subsequent novels, though no further episodes have been confirmed as of 2024. Fans of the books generally appreciate the production values, period detail, and performances while noting inevitable compression and simplification of Sansom’s intricate plotting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books are in the Shardlake series?
There are seven complete novels in the Shardlake series: Dissolution (2003), Dark Fire (2004), Sovereign (2006), Revelation (2008), Heartstone (2010), Lamentation (2014), and Tombland (2018). C.J. Sansom passed away in 2024, and Tombland is the final book in the series. Sansom designed Tombland as a conclusion to Shardlake’s story, bringing the lawyer’s journey to a satisfying end with Kett’s Rebellion in 1549.
Do I need to read the Shardlake books in order?
Yes, absolutely. The Shardlake series must be read in publication order, starting with Dissolution. Unlike some historical mystery series where each book is standalone, the Shardlake novels form a continuous narrative. Character relationships develop across the series; events from earlier books are referenced and matter in later stories; Shardlake’s personal circumstances change significantly; and his political and religious views evolve in response to what he experiences. Starting with any book other than Dissolution will spoil earlier novels and leave you confused about character dynamics and historical context.
What is the Shardlake series about?
The Shardlake series follows Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer in Tudor England, as he investigates murders and mysteries during the religious and political upheavals of Henry VIII’s reign and beyond. Each novel pairs a compelling murder mystery with real historical events, from the Dissolution of the Monasteries to Kett’s Rebellion. The series explores themes of justice, conscience, religious fanaticism, and survival in an age of brutal violence and rapid change. Shardlake navigates deadly court politics while trying to maintain his integrity and seek truth in a world where power often trumps justice.
Is C.J. Sansom historically accurate?
C.J. Sansom is exceptionally historically accurate. With a PhD in Tudor history and extensive research for each novel, Sansom grounds his stories in documented historical events, accurate legal procedures, authentic period details, and real political situations. He includes the author’s notes explaining what historical facts versus fictional inventions are. While the murder mysteries themselves are fiction and some minor characters are invented, the historical framework, major events, political dynamics, and period atmosphere are meticulously researched and authentic. Historians and Tudor scholars praise Sansom’s accuracy and attention to detail.
How long does it take to read the Shardlake series?
The seven Shardlake novels total approximately 4,500-5,000 pages, depending on editions. Individual books range from 400 pages (Dissolution) to nearly 850 pages (Tombland). At average reading speed, each book takes 10-20 hours to rea,d depending on length. Reading the entire series would take approximately 90-120 hours total. Many readers pace themselves with one book every few weeks or months, as the novels are dense with historical detail and complex plotting that rewards careful reading rather than speed.
Are the Shardlake books appropriate for young adults?
The Shardlake series is written for adult audiences and contains mature content, including graphic violence, torture, executions, sexual assault, religious persecution, and disturbing crime scenes. The books don’t shy away from the brutality of Tudor England or the horror of the murders being investigated. While the writing is not gratuitously violent, the historical setting and mystery plots involve content that would be disturbing for younger readers. The series is appropriate for mature older teens interested in history and mystery, but parents should be aware of its intense, sometimes graphic, violent content throughout.
Will there be more Shardlake books?
No, the Shardlake series concluded with Tombland in 2018. C.J. Sansom passed away in April 2024, making Tombland the final book in the series. Sansom structured Tombland as a conclusion to Shardlake’s story, bringing the character’s journey from idealistic reformer to disillusioned humanist to a satisfying end amid the chaos of Kett’s Rebellion. While readers would have loved more Shardlake adventures, the seven novels form a complete arc spanning sixteen crucial years of Tudor history.
Can I read the Shardlake books on Kindle or audiobook?
Yes, all seven Shardlake novels are available in print, ebook (Kindle and other formats), and audiobook. The audiobooks are narrated by Stephen Crossley (later books) and are highly regarded for his performance, capturing Shardlake’s voice and the period atmosphere. Box sets are available in both print and ebook formats. The longer books like Sovereign, Heartstone, and Tombland benefit from the audiobook format for some readers, though the complex mysteries reward careful reading, where you can track clues.
Which Shardlake book is the best?
Reader opinions vary, but Dissolution, Sovereign, and Tombland are frequently cited as the strongest. Dissolution works as both an excellent introduction and a complete mystery in its own right. Sovereign showcases Sansom at peak form with complex plotting, court intrigue, and the terrifying royal progress north. Tombland, despite its length, provides an epic conclusion with Sansom’s most ambitious historical recreation. However, many readers consider Revelation the darkest and most disturbing, while Lamentation offers the most suspenseful court politics. All seven books maintain high quality.
How does C.J. Sansom compare to other historical mystery writers?
Sansom is generally considered among the finest historical mystery writers for his combination of rigorous historical accuracy, complex plotting, and literary quality. Compared to Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael), Sansom is darker and more historically detailed. Compared to Lindsey Davis (Falco series), Sansom is more serious and less humorous. Compared to S.J. Parris (Bruno mysteries), Sansom writes longer, more intricate novels with greater historical scope. What distinguishes Sansom is his refusal to soften the past or compromise historical authenticity for modern comfort, while still creating compelling characters and mysteries.
What time period do the Shardlake books cover?
The Shardlake series spans 1537 to 1549, covering twelve years of Tudor history, from the final decade of Henry VIII’s reign (1537-1547) to the first two years of Edward VI’s reign (1547-1549). The series begins during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and ends with Kett’s Rebellion. This period witnessed the English Reformation, the fall of Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s later marriages, preparations for war with France, the sinking of the Mary Rose, Henry’s death, and the beginning of radical Protestant reforms under Edward VI.
Is Matthew Shardlake a real historical figure?
No, Matthew Shardlake is a fictional character created by C.J. Sansom. However, Sansom based him on real Tudor lawyers and humanist scholars of the period. The character’s legal training, education, religious views, and career trajectory reflect authentic possibilities for a man of his background and time. Many supporting characters are real historical figures (Thomas Cromwell, Archbishop Cranmer, Queen Catherine Parr, etc.), and the historical events are real, but Shardlake himself and his investigations are fictional creations set within an authentic historical framework.
Should I watch the TV adaptation before or after reading the books?
Most readers recommend reading Dissolution before watching the 2024 adaptation to fully appreciate Sansom’s characterization and the plot’s complexity. The TV series necessarily compresses events and simplifies the intricate historical and political background. However, the adaptation can also serve as an engaging introduction that inspires viewers to read the books for more depth. If you watch first, you’ll have visual references for characters and settings; if you read first, you can enjoy comparing your mental images to the adaptation’s interpretation. Either approach works, but reading provides much richer understanding of the period and characters.
Are the Shardlake books connected to other C.J. Sansom novels?
No, the Shardlake series stands alone. C.J. Sansom’s other novels, Winter in Madrid (set during the Spanish Civil War) and Dominion (an alternate history of Nazi Britain), are completely separate works with no connection to Shardlake or Tudor England. You can read Sansom’s other books in any order or skip them entirely if you’re only interested in the Shardlake series. However, readers who enjoy Sansom’s historical detail and literary style often appreciate his other works as well.
Conclusion: Your Shardlake Reading Journey
The Shardlake series represents historical mystery fiction at its finest: seven novels that combine scholarly expertise with compelling storytelling to create an unforgettable portrait of Tudor England during its most turbulent decades. C.J. Sansom’s achievement lies in making sixteenth-century England feel simultaneously alien and comprehensible, brutal yet governed by its own logic, and populated by characters whose emotional lives transcend their historical distance.
Matthew Shardlake’s journey from idealistic reformer to disillusioned humanist mirrors England’s own transformation during these sixteen years. Through his investigations, we witness the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the fall of great ministers, the terror of Henry VIII’s final years, and the chaos of Kett’s Rebellion. Yet the series never loses sight of individual human stories amid these grand historical events. Each mystery involves real people with authentic motives, fears, and desires shaped by their specific historical moment.
What makes these books essential reading for historical fiction lovers is Sansom’s refusal to compromise historical authenticity for modern comfort. Tudor England in the Shardlake novels is genuinely dangerous, deeply religious in ways we struggle to understand, and governed by assumptions about hierarchy and justice that differ fundamentally from our own. Yet Shardlake himself, with his legal training, humanist education, and compassionate nature, provides a bridge between that world and ours, using reason and law to seek small measures of justice in an often unjust world.
Ready to begin? Start with Dissolution and experience the Dissolution of the Monasteries through the eyes of a lawyer investigating murder in a doomed monastery. With seven novels of political intrigue, religious conflict, complex mysteries, and one of historical fiction’s most memorable protagonists, you’ll have months of exceptional reading ahead. The journey from 1537 to 1549 will immerse you in Tudor England as few other series can.