Status
Available
Series
Description
The year is 1541, and harsh autumn winds stir the English countryside. Following a violent uprising, King Henry VIII travels to York, where an important prisoner will be interrogated. Lawyer Matthew Shardlake is assigned to protect this conspirator, but he soon discovers a greater conspiracy threatening the crown.
User reviews
LibraryThing member brenzi
This may quite possibly be the best mystery I’ve read. Ever. But beyond that, C.J. Sansom is just so adroit at describing, in great historical detail, Henry VIIIs great Northern Progress to York in 1541. If you don’t know anything about Henry VIII or the Tudor period, don’t let that put you
Of course, in addition to the thousand or so soldiers, Queen Catherine Howard, members of the nobility and the serving class, our intrepid investigator, crookback lawyer Matthew Shardlake is also along for the excursion, as well as his young assistant Jack Barak. They’ve been charged with overseeing the safe return of a prisoner charged with treason. And it seems there is a certain group of conspirators who are questioning whether Henry is the rightful king, and they have documents to back up their claim. And something is going on between the young Queen and a courtier. So the mysteries that need solving pile up and keep Matthew very busy.
This is the third book in the Matthew Shardlake series and the best by far. Sansom has really hit his stride and his ability to initiate feelings of heart pounding suspense is really unparalleled in this book. So do yourself a favor and jump aboard the Shardlake express. I don’t see how you could go wrong.
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off. Sansom has a PhD in history and writes about the most mind-numbing historical drivel and somehow manages to make it all sound powerfully fascinating.Of course, in addition to the thousand or so soldiers, Queen Catherine Howard, members of the nobility and the serving class, our intrepid investigator, crookback lawyer Matthew Shardlake is also along for the excursion, as well as his young assistant Jack Barak. They’ve been charged with overseeing the safe return of a prisoner charged with treason. And it seems there is a certain group of conspirators who are questioning whether Henry is the rightful king, and they have documents to back up their claim. And something is going on between the young Queen and a courtier. So the mysteries that need solving pile up and keep Matthew very busy.
This is the third book in the Matthew Shardlake series and the best by far. Sansom has really hit his stride and his ability to initiate feelings of heart pounding suspense is really unparalleled in this book. So do yourself a favor and jump aboard the Shardlake express. I don’t see how you could go wrong.
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LibraryThing member ChrisSterry
The Sunday Times quote on the cover says ‘So compulsive that, until you reach its final page, you’ll have to be almost physically prised away from it”. I usually take these enthusiastic commendations with a pinch of salt. This one, however, was well justified. It began a trifle slowly, but
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once the action began it was hard to put down. The depiction of St Mary’s Abbey in the immediate aftermath of the Dissolution brought home the reality of its consequences. The descriptions of Tudor York were marvellous, and the detailed description of the Progress, and the administrative minutiae of its administration was most impressive. The pace of Reform stalls in this book, as indeed it did in history, and Shardlake begins to question his previous position, and, more dangerously, to see through that of the King. The scene in the Tower was excruciating, and had me, metaphorically, hiding behind the sofa. Since there are more books in the series we knew Matthew had to get out, but the tension of waiting for his deliverance was unbearable. I have recently read both ‘The King’s Gray Mare’ by Rosemary Jarman and ‘The White Queen’ by Philippa Gregory, so the overlap with the tangled story of Edward IV was fascinating. Once again, I did not know the identity of the adversary until the final dénoument! The historical appendices show the depth of Sansom’s scholarship, and inform the wealth of accurate historical detail. Show Less
LibraryThing member baswood
[Dark Fire] by C J Sansom
[Sovereign] by C J Sansom
Beach reading - well from the balcony overlooking the beach which was far more comfortable. Two books in the Mathew Shardlake crime series and both of them kept me up reading well into the night. Shardlake is a lawyer in 16th century England whose
The world building, scene setting, historical reconstruction or whatever you like to call it is the main reason I have got hooked on this series. Sansom is careful not to stray too far from the known facts of the period and his murder mysteries enable him to bring his own interpretations to the characters that were the power brokers in Henry VIII court. The struggle between the catholic traditionalist and the protestant reformers who made up the factions containing the great families of the realm provide a stunning background to the stories. Shardlake was seen to be a reformer when working for Cromwell but with the rise of the Howard family at court following the execution of Ann Boleyn he must tread a more wary path when the traditionalists were gaining the upper hand. Sansom superbly captures the deadly intrigue surrounding the King and his coutiers in a world that was all too easily, likely to spill over into violence. Shardlake the crookbacked lawyer spends most of the books in fear of his life.
Dark Fire is set in London and there are thrilling descriptions of Shardlake riding on horseback through the streets of Cheapside, Fleet street, Ludgate, St Pauls, and Newgate. There are horrific descriptions of Newgate goal and the poorer areas around Thames Street, but it is the bustle, the crowds, the sense of a city bursting at the seams that fires the imagination. Shardlake seems to be constantly battling through the hubbub, pursuing or being pursued by mysterious forces intent on stopping his investigations. Sovereign is set largely in York, perhaps the second city of Tudor England, but a much poorer place compared to London. The city seems to be going backwards despite its collection of marvellous buildings. Both London and York are suffering the effects of the dissolution of the monasteries and while London seems to be embracing the change York as a city is suffering. What is clear however in both cities is that there is money to be made from the sale of land belonging to the church and those is favour with the King will benefit. A feature of Sovereign is the descriptions of the Kings Progress. In Tudor times it was still customary for the government led by the king to tour the kingdom usually during the summer months. In the great progress to York in 1541 Henry was intent on displaying his power, his government and all its followers was literally on the road cutting a huge swathe across the country and the purpose of the York progress was for Henry to receive oaths of allegiance from the great Northern families. The stately progress hampered by an appalling English summer and fraught with tension is brilliantly conveyed as is Shardlake’s return to London where he is arrested thrown in the Tower and suffers at the hands of the torturers.
Mathew Shardlake’s character has been set from the first novel in the series. His crookbacked deformity is mocked by many of the people with whom he has to deal, leading him to hide behind a gruff exterior. He is hard working and as honest as his predicaments allow him to be. He is trustworthy and together with his attention to detail and painstaking following through in his investigations makes him a useful tool to his paymasters, however it is these very characteristics that constantly get him into trouble. I was reading these two novels in conjunction with a history of the battle of Flodden 1513 and I had difficulty in telling apart the history from the historical novel.
Looking over the balcony at the people on the Mediterranean beach, relaxing, perhaps escaping from the drama and intrigues of their daily lives, there could hardly have been a greater contrast than with Mathew Shardlake’s desperate attempts to save himself and his friends from death or worse in Tudor England - 4 stars.
[Sovereign] by C J Sansom
Beach reading - well from the balcony overlooking the beach which was far more comfortable. Two books in the Mathew Shardlake crime series and both of them kept me up reading well into the night. Shardlake is a lawyer in 16th century England whose
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services are used by the power makers in the Tudor Court. In Dark Fire he is Thomas Cromwell’s man who is tasked with solving the mystery of the re-discovery of Greek Fire: a combustable material that could burn on water and which had been lost for centuries. Shardlake is soon the target for assassination attempts and with his assistant the streetwise Barak he must solve the mystery to save Cromwell’s skin. Sovereign finds Shardlake after the fall of Cromwell when he is tasked by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer to ensure the safe passage of the man Broderick, who has important information as one of the leaders of the Revolt of the North - the so called Pilgrimage of Grace. Shardlake must meet King Henry VIII progress at York and escort the prisoner back to London. Shardlake and Barak again find themselves in far deeper waters that they anticipate as this time the fate of Catherine Howard: Henry’s Queen, is also involved.The world building, scene setting, historical reconstruction or whatever you like to call it is the main reason I have got hooked on this series. Sansom is careful not to stray too far from the known facts of the period and his murder mysteries enable him to bring his own interpretations to the characters that were the power brokers in Henry VIII court. The struggle between the catholic traditionalist and the protestant reformers who made up the factions containing the great families of the realm provide a stunning background to the stories. Shardlake was seen to be a reformer when working for Cromwell but with the rise of the Howard family at court following the execution of Ann Boleyn he must tread a more wary path when the traditionalists were gaining the upper hand. Sansom superbly captures the deadly intrigue surrounding the King and his coutiers in a world that was all too easily, likely to spill over into violence. Shardlake the crookbacked lawyer spends most of the books in fear of his life.
Dark Fire is set in London and there are thrilling descriptions of Shardlake riding on horseback through the streets of Cheapside, Fleet street, Ludgate, St Pauls, and Newgate. There are horrific descriptions of Newgate goal and the poorer areas around Thames Street, but it is the bustle, the crowds, the sense of a city bursting at the seams that fires the imagination. Shardlake seems to be constantly battling through the hubbub, pursuing or being pursued by mysterious forces intent on stopping his investigations. Sovereign is set largely in York, perhaps the second city of Tudor England, but a much poorer place compared to London. The city seems to be going backwards despite its collection of marvellous buildings. Both London and York are suffering the effects of the dissolution of the monasteries and while London seems to be embracing the change York as a city is suffering. What is clear however in both cities is that there is money to be made from the sale of land belonging to the church and those is favour with the King will benefit. A feature of Sovereign is the descriptions of the Kings Progress. In Tudor times it was still customary for the government led by the king to tour the kingdom usually during the summer months. In the great progress to York in 1541 Henry was intent on displaying his power, his government and all its followers was literally on the road cutting a huge swathe across the country and the purpose of the York progress was for Henry to receive oaths of allegiance from the great Northern families. The stately progress hampered by an appalling English summer and fraught with tension is brilliantly conveyed as is Shardlake’s return to London where he is arrested thrown in the Tower and suffers at the hands of the torturers.
Mathew Shardlake’s character has been set from the first novel in the series. His crookbacked deformity is mocked by many of the people with whom he has to deal, leading him to hide behind a gruff exterior. He is hard working and as honest as his predicaments allow him to be. He is trustworthy and together with his attention to detail and painstaking following through in his investigations makes him a useful tool to his paymasters, however it is these very characteristics that constantly get him into trouble. I was reading these two novels in conjunction with a history of the battle of Flodden 1513 and I had difficulty in telling apart the history from the historical novel.
Looking over the balcony at the people on the Mediterranean beach, relaxing, perhaps escaping from the drama and intrigues of their daily lives, there could hardly have been a greater contrast than with Mathew Shardlake’s desperate attempts to save himself and his friends from death or worse in Tudor England - 4 stars.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Spoilers starting paragraph 3.
Excellent illustration of the vulnerability of anyone who isn’t the King of England. I felt the axe-grinding a bit more in this one with the question of Henry VIII’s legitimacy and treatment of his northern subjects. Those not willing to go quietly along with the
Basically this is what Shardlake and Barak get caught up in. Commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, Matthew is attached to the King’s Progress to York. Ostensibly to pacify the rebellious northerners, but also to meet with the Scottish King and effect reconciliation, the Progress is really a big showcase of Henry’s right and might. Matthew’s first duty is to protect a political prisoner from an overzealous jailer who’s been known to “accidentally” kill prisoners awaiting torture in the Tower. This is easier said than done and of course shenanigans and poor-sportsmanship ensue.
There is more taunting of Matthew’s hunchbacked condition in this one and it pained me almost as much as it pained him. The biggest insult came directly from the King when he taunted Shardlake during a highly public ceremony. But to make up for it, Shardlake makes a great friend who becomes a surrogate father to him. Fellow lawyer Giles Wrenne is terminally ill and endears himself to Matthew and Barak so they will act as guide and nursemaid on a journey back to London to find his estranged nephew. All well and good, but as the relationship and story progress, hints and suspicion grow. Unfortunately only for me as a reader, not for Shardlake and Barak. Shardlake is too busy suspecting his old friend from the law college and Barak’s new girlfriend Tamesin.
But he gets there in the end and it’s his sad duty to defend himself against Giles in his own garden. This when he should be relaxing and recovering from his time in the Tower. Yes, Matthew gets framed, arrested and thrown into the most horrifying place of its day. Of course Sir Richard Rich is at the bottom of it and it takes the swift work of Barak and the intervention of Archbishop Cranmer to spring him. Having seen The Tower of London in person helped me to imagine the desolation, dread and physical torment of the place. The characterization of his jailers was well done; just doing our jobs, but we like our jobs kind of attitude. Chilling and effective.
I think I’ll hold off reading the next one for a while to give myself a break from the all-encompassing atmosphere of these books. It’s a good thing; rich and detailed, but it’s also a bit depressing. The ignorance, rampant corruption and villainy and the arbitrary nature of it all can be a bit overwhelming. It’s hard to see the good things that came out of this time. Henry and his reign of terror seem to hold sway and I wish that there were a way to transmit some information about the advances during that period, not just the retreats.
Excellent illustration of the vulnerability of anyone who isn’t the King of England. I felt the axe-grinding a bit more in this one with the question of Henry VIII’s legitimacy and treatment of his northern subjects. Those not willing to go quietly along with the
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new order are swept aside, imprisoned, tortured, executed and their lands and property seized. This makes for a mighty unquiet populace and a secret group of conspirators has been operating quietly, waiting for a chance to disprove Henry’s right to the throne and reestablish the legitimate line. Unfortunately, it looks as though they’ve missed their opportunity and their numbers are dwindling. This sets in motion a plot to find incriminating documents; to destroy or secure them is unclear, but of course many people have to die in the effort. Basically this is what Shardlake and Barak get caught up in. Commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, Matthew is attached to the King’s Progress to York. Ostensibly to pacify the rebellious northerners, but also to meet with the Scottish King and effect reconciliation, the Progress is really a big showcase of Henry’s right and might. Matthew’s first duty is to protect a political prisoner from an overzealous jailer who’s been known to “accidentally” kill prisoners awaiting torture in the Tower. This is easier said than done and of course shenanigans and poor-sportsmanship ensue.
There is more taunting of Matthew’s hunchbacked condition in this one and it pained me almost as much as it pained him. The biggest insult came directly from the King when he taunted Shardlake during a highly public ceremony. But to make up for it, Shardlake makes a great friend who becomes a surrogate father to him. Fellow lawyer Giles Wrenne is terminally ill and endears himself to Matthew and Barak so they will act as guide and nursemaid on a journey back to London to find his estranged nephew. All well and good, but as the relationship and story progress, hints and suspicion grow. Unfortunately only for me as a reader, not for Shardlake and Barak. Shardlake is too busy suspecting his old friend from the law college and Barak’s new girlfriend Tamesin.
But he gets there in the end and it’s his sad duty to defend himself against Giles in his own garden. This when he should be relaxing and recovering from his time in the Tower. Yes, Matthew gets framed, arrested and thrown into the most horrifying place of its day. Of course Sir Richard Rich is at the bottom of it and it takes the swift work of Barak and the intervention of Archbishop Cranmer to spring him. Having seen The Tower of London in person helped me to imagine the desolation, dread and physical torment of the place. The characterization of his jailers was well done; just doing our jobs, but we like our jobs kind of attitude. Chilling and effective.
I think I’ll hold off reading the next one for a while to give myself a break from the all-encompassing atmosphere of these books. It’s a good thing; rich and detailed, but it’s also a bit depressing. The ignorance, rampant corruption and villainy and the arbitrary nature of it all can be a bit overwhelming. It’s hard to see the good things that came out of this time. Henry and his reign of terror seem to hold sway and I wish that there were a way to transmit some information about the advances during that period, not just the retreats.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
Matthew Shardlake is a brilliant lawyer but doesn't get the respect he deserves due to his hunchback, an affliction that cannot be disguised and makes him a target for derision. He is given the task to pick up a prisoner accused of treason in the city of York and transport him back to London where
Shortly after Shardlake arrives in York, a glazier, who was removing stained glass windows from the cathedral, falls from his ladder and is impaled on the glass he had removed. Was this an accident? This event takes Shardlake on an adventure that could reveal the king is not actually of Tudor blood.
While this series continues to give the readers a historical account of 16th century England, it does little to brighten the somber and depressing life of the protagonist. He suffers physically from his deformity and even though he ignores the derogatory jabs from others, he is always aware of how he looks to others and how they judge him by his looks rather than his intellect. His only friend, Barak, is in his employ, and is worried that a beautiful young woman might strip him of this only companion.
Sansom researches his books well and makes them excellent historical fiction. Readers of murder mysteries might miss the support group many detectives have, of friends and family to whom our hero can retreat to for comfort, discussion, and encouragement. Our Shardlake is very much on his own.
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the masters of torture can work their magic to extract information. He is also charged with assisting with wading through the piles of petitions, settling what he can and leaving the larger issues to the Office of the Great Chamberlain who is arriving with Henry VIII and his Progression. Taking thousands of family, friends, and support personnel, Henry traveled to the city of York to meet with the king of Scotland.Shortly after Shardlake arrives in York, a glazier, who was removing stained glass windows from the cathedral, falls from his ladder and is impaled on the glass he had removed. Was this an accident? This event takes Shardlake on an adventure that could reveal the king is not actually of Tudor blood.
While this series continues to give the readers a historical account of 16th century England, it does little to brighten the somber and depressing life of the protagonist. He suffers physically from his deformity and even though he ignores the derogatory jabs from others, he is always aware of how he looks to others and how they judge him by his looks rather than his intellect. His only friend, Barak, is in his employ, and is worried that a beautiful young woman might strip him of this only companion.
Sansom researches his books well and makes them excellent historical fiction. Readers of murder mysteries might miss the support group many detectives have, of friends and family to whom our hero can retreat to for comfort, discussion, and encouragement. Our Shardlake is very much on his own.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
C.J. Sansom overlays Henry VIII's 1541 progress to the North with a conspiracy that endangers the life of lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Once again, Shardlake reluctantly accepts a commission on behalf of his country. Shardlake and his assistant, Jack Barak, are to meet the progress in York, where
I loved Dissolution, the first book in the series, but was a little disappointed with the second book, Dark Fire. Sovereign is every bit as good as the first book in the series. The plot is tighter and better paced than that of the second book. Sansom's descriptive storytelling pulls me completely into the world of Henry VIII. It's one of my favorite eras of English history, and one reason I like this series so much. I love the way Shardlake's character has developed across the series. In a way, he's like a sheep among wolves. He isn't naive about the evils of Tudor society. It's just that, because of his physical deformity, he clings to his integrity as his only source of dignity.
I highly recommend this series for all historical fiction fans.
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Shardlake will help to process petitions to the King from those with grievances against local officials. Shardlake is also charged with ensuring the safety of a prisoner in York, a suspected conspirator against the King. Shardlake must see that the prisoner survives the trip from York to London, where inquisitors at the Tower will press him for details of the conspiracy and the names of his co-conspirators. Shardlake soon learns secrets so dangerous that their knowledge may cost him his life.I loved Dissolution, the first book in the series, but was a little disappointed with the second book, Dark Fire. Sovereign is every bit as good as the first book in the series. The plot is tighter and better paced than that of the second book. Sansom's descriptive storytelling pulls me completely into the world of Henry VIII. It's one of my favorite eras of English history, and one reason I like this series so much. I love the way Shardlake's character has developed across the series. In a way, he's like a sheep among wolves. He isn't naive about the evils of Tudor society. It's just that, because of his physical deformity, he clings to his integrity as his only source of dignity.
I highly recommend this series for all historical fiction fans.
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LibraryThing member Ant.Harrison
Sovereign is book number 3 in CJ Sansom's series about his Tudor detective Shardlake. This time he's part of the entourage accompanying the increasingly paranoid Henry VIII on a royal progress to the north of England; sent on the trip as an agent of Archbishop Cranmer, ostensibly to ensure the safe
It's a big book - nearly 700 pages - and I have to admit that after 500 or so, I was starting to flag a bit. In the past I have admired the leisurely pace of these novels, but this one did start to feel like a bit of a chore; on the whole, the story wasn't robust enough to support this monumental word count. The author has created a great series character, but I wondered whether he had started to tire of his lawyer Shardlake. Added to this, some of the dialogue was a bit too contemporary for my liking, and which I found quite jarring on occasions - eg: they stop for 'lunch' regularly. But I did enjoy learning about how Henry had started to become a bit of despot, and how the people in the north of England were increasingly resentful of him and his reign; so much so that they were at best sullen and resentful of his presence in York, and at worst, downright disobedient.
Having said that, I'll stick with the series for a while longer yet, but simply felt that this one lacked the energy and pace of the first two books.
© Koplowitz 2012
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return to London of a top security prisoner. Needless to say, this is a far from straight forward assignment, with Shardlake and Barak getting caught up in a number of sub-plots. It's a big book - nearly 700 pages - and I have to admit that after 500 or so, I was starting to flag a bit. In the past I have admired the leisurely pace of these novels, but this one did start to feel like a bit of a chore; on the whole, the story wasn't robust enough to support this monumental word count. The author has created a great series character, but I wondered whether he had started to tire of his lawyer Shardlake. Added to this, some of the dialogue was a bit too contemporary for my liking, and which I found quite jarring on occasions - eg: they stop for 'lunch' regularly. But I did enjoy learning about how Henry had started to become a bit of despot, and how the people in the north of England were increasingly resentful of him and his reign; so much so that they were at best sullen and resentful of his presence in York, and at worst, downright disobedient.
Having said that, I'll stick with the series for a while longer yet, but simply felt that this one lacked the energy and pace of the first two books.
© Koplowitz 2012
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LibraryThing member readafew
Sovereign is the 3rd mystery in the Matthew Shardlake series. Once again a high ranking official in the King's inner circle asks Master Shardlake to undertake a task of some secrecy and importance. Against his better judgment and with promise of a large payment after services rendered, Shardlake
This is the largest book of the series so far and it has a lot going on. There seems to be several different conspiracies and Shardlake has accidentally stepped into all of them. He really is too smart and observant for his own good. This go around the axiom "No good deed goes unpunished" seems to be very true for our poor hero. Once again Sansom transports us back to 16th Century England during the time of Henry VIII and you really get the feeling of what is was like to be living there. Excellent book, great mystery, well worth a read. A bit heavy on the detail but I enjoy that part.
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accepts the commission, both to help arbitrate grievances and to watch over the health and safety of a political prisoner. Shardlake has to race up to York to help prepare for the coming of Henry VIII progress. Once there he soon becomes caught in a whirlwind of political intrigue, deception and murder. Shardlake soon wishes for nothing more than to be safe back home with his practice as his only concern. This is the largest book of the series so far and it has a lot going on. There seems to be several different conspiracies and Shardlake has accidentally stepped into all of them. He really is too smart and observant for his own good. This go around the axiom "No good deed goes unpunished" seems to be very true for our poor hero. Once again Sansom transports us back to 16th Century England during the time of Henry VIII and you really get the feeling of what is was like to be living there. Excellent book, great mystery, well worth a read. A bit heavy on the detail but I enjoy that part.
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LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
Matthew Shardlake, King’s lawyer, has gone to York to help with petitions from locals during the King's Progress. Charged also with ensuring the welfare of a prisoner being held as part of a conspiracy against the King, intended for questioning in the tower of London, the hunchbacked lawyer is
Of the first three books, this takes off at the fastest pace – by which anyone having read the other two will understand that Shardlake barely has time to eat or even blink between violent attacks on his person or bewildering snippets of rumour and information. It settles down at about the halfway point, into a familiar stew of uncertainty, looming danger, malapert young women (this series has given me a new favourite word), mockery and threats from high places.
This series is my latest favourite thing to read, so allowing that I felt Sovereign to be the weakest of the books so far means that I only loved it semi-completely. There were a few out-of-character gaffes made solely to advance the plot, which is sloppiness I don’t expect in a third-of-the-series book, and the story itself wasn’t as fascinating as the previous two. I did, however, love the atmosphere of unwelcoming York, strung with body parts and seething with resentment, as well as the unsettling closeness of the King’s court (the reader is made to feel Shardlake’s discomfort sharply) and the wealth of research that the author puts into these books once again remained in the background, shaping and enhancing everything without intruding on the story.
I’m glad I’ve still got Revelation to read, and that there’s another book due out over the summer – this is one series I don’t want to get through too quickly.
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soon embroiled in murder, royal intrigue, and various attacks on his person. Unsurprisingly, the theme ‘I want to go home’ is a recurring one between Shardlake and his assistant, the rough-edged Barak.Of the first three books, this takes off at the fastest pace – by which anyone having read the other two will understand that Shardlake barely has time to eat or even blink between violent attacks on his person or bewildering snippets of rumour and information. It settles down at about the halfway point, into a familiar stew of uncertainty, looming danger, malapert young women (this series has given me a new favourite word), mockery and threats from high places.
This series is my latest favourite thing to read, so allowing that I felt Sovereign to be the weakest of the books so far means that I only loved it semi-completely. There were a few out-of-character gaffes made solely to advance the plot, which is sloppiness I don’t expect in a third-of-the-series book, and the story itself wasn’t as fascinating as the previous two. I did, however, love the atmosphere of unwelcoming York, strung with body parts and seething with resentment, as well as the unsettling closeness of the King’s court (the reader is made to feel Shardlake’s discomfort sharply) and the wealth of research that the author puts into these books once again remained in the background, shaping and enhancing everything without intruding on the story.
I’m glad I’ve still got Revelation to read, and that there’s another book due out over the summer – this is one series I don’t want to get through too quickly.
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LibraryThing member AHS-Wolfy
With the death of Cromwell, London lawyer Matthew Shardlake has fallen out of favour. Many of his clients have taken their business elsewhere. So it's a bit of a surprise when he's offered a job by none other than Archbishop Cranmer. He's to go to York and meet the Royal Progress and help prepare
The death of a glazier and the attempted poisoning of the prisoner set off a chain of events that may lead to another rebellion that threatens to overthrow the Tudor reign. As well as being caught up in the middle of these events, Shardlake also has to deal with Sir Richard Rich who wants to get Shardlake to drop a case that they are on opposing ends of. How far is he willing to go to get Shardlake out of his hair?
This mystery is woven into a well researched historical account and the author spills the beans at the close of the book as to what he's embellished or where he's taken certain things from. It's a fairly thick book but as it reads very well you don't really notice the size. The series is improving with each book and as it started out good then this third instalment is very good indeed. Looking forward to continuing with the next at some point.
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the petitions that will be handed to the King. Needing the money to pay off his late father's debts, Shardlake has no option but to accept and is far from delighted when Cranmer adds another task to his duties, the welfare of a prisoner that will need to be returned to the Tower of London for questioning. So it's off to York for Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak. The death of a glazier and the attempted poisoning of the prisoner set off a chain of events that may lead to another rebellion that threatens to overthrow the Tudor reign. As well as being caught up in the middle of these events, Shardlake also has to deal with Sir Richard Rich who wants to get Shardlake to drop a case that they are on opposing ends of. How far is he willing to go to get Shardlake out of his hair?
This mystery is woven into a well researched historical account and the author spills the beans at the close of the book as to what he's embellished or where he's taken certain things from. It's a fairly thick book but as it reads very well you don't really notice the size. The series is improving with each book and as it started out good then this third instalment is very good indeed. Looking forward to continuing with the next at some point.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
It's 1541 and Henry VIII has set out on a royal progress, or show of force. Matthew Shardlake is already in York, sent by Archbishop Cranmer to ensure the welfare of a prisoner held there on conspiracy charges, due to be questioned and killed later in London. Shortly after he arrives he stumbles on
It's an interesting and in-depth book, but it could have done with some pruning. There's a terrific amount of detail there and the author has done his research (even providing a bibliography!) but it sometimes seems like he wants to show how much he's learnt rather than letting the story show.
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the death of a glazier who is working hard at getting rid of some of the saints in the cathedrals. The question as to why he dies haunts Shardlake, and then he starts having accidents. What kind of conspiracy has he tripped over and who can help him. There are many people out for their own agenda, but who can be trusted?It's an interesting and in-depth book, but it could have done with some pruning. There's a terrific amount of detail there and the author has done his research (even providing a bibliography!) but it sometimes seems like he wants to show how much he's learnt rather than letting the story show.
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LibraryThing member soliloquies
My favourite of the series, so far. Shardlake is developing into a well written character who manages to embroil himself in the murkiest depths of the Tudor Court. This book is primarily set in York, as Henry VIII makes his progress North. Shardlake is now working for Cramner, but this doesn't make
Great writing, although I guessed who was instrumental in the conspiracy early one.
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him any safer than when he was working with Cromwell.Great writing, although I guessed who was instrumental in the conspiracy early one.
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LibraryThing member vernefan
Long in Length but Lavish with 16th Century Life
This third historical mystery starring the 16th century hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake, who in the previous two books was solving crimes for Thomas Cromwell under the court of King Henry VIII, is back again with his assistant Barak journeying to
I enjoyed this third installment as much as the first two with only one criticism. It really was too long and drawn out. There could have been 100 pages taken out or more and it wouldn’t have mattered. So many times Sansom goes off on tangents and digresses with petty detail that only stretched out scenarios longer than they needed to be. However, I love the character of Matthew Shardlake and most readers would find him very endearing. He has charmed us all right from the start with Dissolution, book one in the series. C.J. Sansom has an incredible talent of bringing the reader directly into the atmosphere of 1500s England, allowing first hand experiences to the world, the culture, and the people, common and royal alike. The reader truly feels that they are strolling along side Matthew and Barak as they travel London and its countryside, smelling the stink, tasting the ale, envying the lavish silk and satin period costumes, careening their necks skyward as the Cathedrals are built, and they too will bow their heads in servitude along with the large cast of players as Henry the VIII parades before them in all his regal glory.
Not as fabulous as Dark Fire, book two, but certainly another wonderful episode of entertainment in this fascinating series. Book four, Revelation, is now out and I’m sure that I can anticipate another diabolical plot to get lost in soon.
This third historical mystery starring the 16th century hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake, who in the previous two books was solving crimes for Thomas Cromwell under the court of King Henry VIII, is back again with his assistant Barak journeying to
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the town of York to assist in some legal petitions over land rights to the commoners. While doing his duty and attending to barrister business, a local glazier who is helping to build York Minster Cathedral is killed, falling from a ladder only to crash and be speared through by large shards of glass. Caught up in the melee, Shardlake and Barak are hired on by the minions of King Henry to help solve the crime. They are also entrusted with guarding a prisoner that is being held. They are to escort him safely back to London where the Tower torturers want him healthy in order to ply their wares of pain hoping to gain a confession involving a political plot to overthrow the king. As they parade around town investigating the accident, mischief and murder abound as Matthew himself is attacked by what seems like another madman intent on killing him as well. The plot thickens as the prisoner in the tower gets poisoned, Barak falls in love with one of the Queen’s handmaids, shocking adulterous affairs hold scandalous secrets at court, Matthew is attacked again and again fearing for his life, and political and religious intrigues all entwine together to make this another very interesting story by C. J. Sansom. I enjoyed this third installment as much as the first two with only one criticism. It really was too long and drawn out. There could have been 100 pages taken out or more and it wouldn’t have mattered. So many times Sansom goes off on tangents and digresses with petty detail that only stretched out scenarios longer than they needed to be. However, I love the character of Matthew Shardlake and most readers would find him very endearing. He has charmed us all right from the start with Dissolution, book one in the series. C.J. Sansom has an incredible talent of bringing the reader directly into the atmosphere of 1500s England, allowing first hand experiences to the world, the culture, and the people, common and royal alike. The reader truly feels that they are strolling along side Matthew and Barak as they travel London and its countryside, smelling the stink, tasting the ale, envying the lavish silk and satin period costumes, careening their necks skyward as the Cathedrals are built, and they too will bow their heads in servitude along with the large cast of players as Henry the VIII parades before them in all his regal glory.
Not as fabulous as Dark Fire, book two, but certainly another wonderful episode of entertainment in this fascinating series. Book four, Revelation, is now out and I’m sure that I can anticipate another diabolical plot to get lost in soon.
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LibraryThing member hazelk
I made the mistake of reading this soon after two of the author's others in this Shardlake series. I felt it was overlong and with too much background 'colour'. I virtually skimmed the last 50 or so pages.
LibraryThing member Clurb
In this, the third book in the Shardlake series, Sansom delivers perhaps his most engaging and gripping crime writing as Shardlake joins Henry VIII's Progress through the North of England. Sansom's ability to evoke not only the political and religious turmoil and fear, but also the everyday sights,
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sounds and smells of Tudor England is truly unique and exceptionally entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member john257hopper
This third entry in the Shardlake series is as detailed and vivid as the previous two entries. The plot is rather convoluted and I found it a little implausible, though I was aware of the Blaybourne allegations from my reading of Yorkist history, and, of course, it must be admitted that Tudor
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history is replete with true occurrences that the most fanciful historical novelist would hardly dare invent (would a novelist ever invent the story of Henry VIII's six wives? no, it would probably be too implausible to make up!). I also thought this one was rather too long at 650 pages and I got just a tiny little bit tired of chapter after chapter ending with Shardlake bumping into one of his antagonists coming round the corner yet again. But this was all more than compensated for by the last 100 pages, full of such drama, horror and twists and turns that, in the words on the front cover of my edition, made me unable to prise myself from it. Show Less
LibraryThing member firebird013
The best of his first three; a really interesting evocation of a tyrant's visit to the northern part of England that had been brutally subdued. As always the who-dunnit bit keeps you going right to the end and is broadly satisfying.
LibraryThing member lewispike
Matthew Shardlake is back and involved in high power politics once again, despite the obvious risk to his health.
He is charged to ensure the basic well-being of a significant figure in a Northern conspiracy against the King so he can be brought back to London to be tortured by experts... Lovely
But, various people die around him, more is revealed and the shit, inevitably, hits the fan as he discovers more, dangerously more, about the Queen, the conspiracy and more.
There's supposed to be a twist at the end, but it's actually sufficiently well signposted that I was shouting at Shardlake (at least internally) to wake up.
The historical background is detailed, rich and uncomfortably (well at least sometimes) vivid - the dissolution, the life and times, the corruption and so on. There are odd bits though: I know the city of York well and many of the places described are still here, but there are various places where I ended up looking at it saying "There's no gate in the walls like that" or similar. I'd have probably liked it more if I wasn't always struggling with the names and places when they didn't actually fit - speaking of which, the most annoying were the extra uses of "the" as in "the Fossgate." It might have been how it was referred to in the 16th Century, but there's enough other modernised language referring to it in the current vernacular as just Fossgate would have made it a lot more comfortable to read.
He is charged to ensure the basic well-being of a significant figure in a Northern conspiracy against the King so he can be brought back to London to be tortured by experts... Lovely
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job.But, various people die around him, more is revealed and the shit, inevitably, hits the fan as he discovers more, dangerously more, about the Queen, the conspiracy and more.
There's supposed to be a twist at the end, but it's actually sufficiently well signposted that I was shouting at Shardlake (at least internally) to wake up.
The historical background is detailed, rich and uncomfortably (well at least sometimes) vivid - the dissolution, the life and times, the corruption and so on. There are odd bits though: I know the city of York well and many of the places described are still here, but there are various places where I ended up looking at it saying "There's no gate in the walls like that" or similar. I'd have probably liked it more if I wasn't always struggling with the names and places when they didn't actually fit - speaking of which, the most annoying were the extra uses of "the" as in "the Fossgate." It might have been how it was referred to in the 16th Century, but there's enough other modernised language referring to it in the current vernacular as just Fossgate would have made it a lot more comfortable to read.
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LibraryThing member mooknits
Once again an excellent Shardlake book. I worked out "whodunit" fairly early on as it were - but it really didn't matter at all. These books are just so well written they are totally absorbing. I love the period and the history is so accessible. I love these books.
LibraryThing member dianaleez
This was a very satisfying read: historically accurate enough to satisfy, unique characters, and well written.
Matthew Shardlake is such an interesting character, and although the main character, so far from perfect. What a treat!
But if you haven't read the other Sansom books, by all means start
Matthew Shardlake is such an interesting character, and although the main character, so far from perfect. What a treat!
But if you haven't read the other Sansom books, by all means start
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at the beginning and work your way here. Like a box of fine Belgian chocolates - you won't want to miss any! Show Less
LibraryThing member angelcake
Fantastic book and a great medieval who dun it,a must read
LibraryThing member Diana1952
This is a great book. I buy every medieval mystery I can find and this one is on the top of the list. Couldn't put it down. I look forward to more from this series. The characters have depth and the historical details are incredible. Sansom leaves no stone unturned in his descriptions of medieval
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life. Definitely one of the best. Show Less
LibraryThing member otterley
This is a broad and confident book, with a wealth of convincing period detail and deft characterisation for even the most minor of characters. Lawyer Matthew Shardlake follows the King's procession to the north (an early example of how not to 'win hearts and minds') and runs into a number of plots,
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mysteries and intrigues that layer into one another and reach a satisfying resolution. Sansom is good at portraying the uncertainty of the times; the vulnerability of those in power to those seeking influence and the rot and canker spreading from the king's leg to the kingdom (the body politic). Rewarding. Show Less
LibraryThing member cathymoore
In this, Tudor lawyer Matthew Shardlake's third outing, we visit York during Henry VIII's monumental Royal Progress. Shardlake has been sent to the north with his assistant Jack Barak to escort a prisoner back to London. Sansom's attention to detail in describing Tudor England really is second to
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none. Here he vividly portrays York and the Royal Progress. Shardlake is really up against it in this novel facing enemies on all sides and this culminates in Shardlake himself facing torture in the Tower of London. The plot twists and turns up until the final reveal and kept me guessing right up to the last few pages. A great story. Show Less
LibraryThing member brigidsmith
Another great soroty, but not for the feint-hearted. Beware if you don't like gory tales of torture.... I don't !!!
Awards
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2007)
Barry Award (Nominee — 2007)
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Shortlist — 2008)