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Available
Series
Description
Having worked to establish laws that protect the interests of the crown in 1537, Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's feared vicar-general, enlists fellow reformer and lawyer Matthew Shardlake to investigate a commissioner's murder, which may be tied to an impending rebellion.
User reviews
LibraryThing member baswood
Dissolution is a true amalgamation of two genres; the crime/mystery novel with the historical novel. Certainly not a new idea; crime/mystery novels have long been searching for a setting that will liven up or add interest to plot driven novels that are running out of new plots. Ellis Peters Cadfael
The year is 1537 in the reign of King Henry VIII and it is the year following the execution of Anne Boleyn. Thomas Cromwell is at the height of his power and is intent on carrying out a programme for the dissolution of the monasteries. One of his commissioners has been murdered at the Scarnsea monastery on the Sussex-Kent borders and he employs the lawyer Shardlake to get himself down to Scarnsea with full powers to arrest the guilty parties. Shardlake is ordered to take with him a young assistant Mark Poer to act as his strong arm and with letters from Cromwell he has full authority within the town and the monastery. As the mystery element unravels, Shardlake discovers that events at the monastery are linked with the fall of Anne Boleyn in which his boss Thomas Cromwell played a crucial role. The stakes could not be higher and Shardlake feels the pressure.
Sanson immediately places the reader in the 16th century with a graphic portrait of London Street life which leads to Shardlake's interview with Thomas Cromwell himself. The story is told in the first person by Shardlake and a vivid picture of Cromwell emerges. Shardlake is a reformist and a Cromwell supporter, but a ruthless, intelligent power player leaves a lasting impression on Shardlake, Cromwell while appearing wise and supportive knows how to frighten people. In many ways the portrait is not too dissimilar to the one presented by Hilary Mantel in [Bring up the Bodies], but Samson leaves the reader in no doubt that Cromwell engineered the fall of Ann Boleyn and the subsequent executions.
Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, paints a realist picture of life in the Tudor Court; C J Sansom takes that picture out into the world of the English towns, countryside and religious houses. Cromwell's policies have produced an England that is divided in it's beliefs; factions that existed in the Tudor Court have now transferred themselves out into the countryside as reformists battle with papists for their very existence. The reformists are in the ascendency and Shardlake uses his authority to ensure that Catholics bend their knee to the king. Shardlake takes up residence in the monastery while he carries out his investigation acting like a representative of a new order or even a conquering power. His human side is put to the test and Sanson does an excellent job in presenting us with a well rounded character sorely tried by his duties and his master and his physical infirmity.
C J Sanson works hard at presenting a realistic picture of monastic life, which gives some succour to the monks in a cruelly cold winter and while he largely succeeds, his writing does not have that immediacy or spark that would take it to another level; he is not Hilary Mantel. His mystery story works well enough to make the reader turn the pages and in the end is well worked through. It was the historical aspect that I found most impressive and the linking of historical facts to his own murder mystery is both ingenious and well handled. In many respects he gives as convincing a portrait as Hilary Mantel of the world of Thomas Cromwell, albeit from a different vantage point. I would not hesitate to recommend [Dissolution] especially if you wanted to read more after Bring up the Bodies and so a four star read.
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novels set in a 12th century monastery and Lindsey Davis's Falco novels set in the Roman Empire of Vespasian are two series that immediately spring to mind. A format seems to have developed where a character uses deduction methods of one kind or another to solve the crime/mystery in the chosen historical setting. C J Sansom has Master Shardlake a crook backed commissioner in the service of the Tudor court, but Sansom equipped with his Phd in history is as much interested in the historical events as he is in the murder mystery and therefore creates a milieu that is both realistic and fascinating by turns.The year is 1537 in the reign of King Henry VIII and it is the year following the execution of Anne Boleyn. Thomas Cromwell is at the height of his power and is intent on carrying out a programme for the dissolution of the monasteries. One of his commissioners has been murdered at the Scarnsea monastery on the Sussex-Kent borders and he employs the lawyer Shardlake to get himself down to Scarnsea with full powers to arrest the guilty parties. Shardlake is ordered to take with him a young assistant Mark Poer to act as his strong arm and with letters from Cromwell he has full authority within the town and the monastery. As the mystery element unravels, Shardlake discovers that events at the monastery are linked with the fall of Anne Boleyn in which his boss Thomas Cromwell played a crucial role. The stakes could not be higher and Shardlake feels the pressure.
Sanson immediately places the reader in the 16th century with a graphic portrait of London Street life which leads to Shardlake's interview with Thomas Cromwell himself. The story is told in the first person by Shardlake and a vivid picture of Cromwell emerges. Shardlake is a reformist and a Cromwell supporter, but a ruthless, intelligent power player leaves a lasting impression on Shardlake, Cromwell while appearing wise and supportive knows how to frighten people. In many ways the portrait is not too dissimilar to the one presented by Hilary Mantel in [Bring up the Bodies], but Samson leaves the reader in no doubt that Cromwell engineered the fall of Ann Boleyn and the subsequent executions.
Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, paints a realist picture of life in the Tudor Court; C J Sansom takes that picture out into the world of the English towns, countryside and religious houses. Cromwell's policies have produced an England that is divided in it's beliefs; factions that existed in the Tudor Court have now transferred themselves out into the countryside as reformists battle with papists for their very existence. The reformists are in the ascendency and Shardlake uses his authority to ensure that Catholics bend their knee to the king. Shardlake takes up residence in the monastery while he carries out his investigation acting like a representative of a new order or even a conquering power. His human side is put to the test and Sanson does an excellent job in presenting us with a well rounded character sorely tried by his duties and his master and his physical infirmity.
C J Sanson works hard at presenting a realistic picture of monastic life, which gives some succour to the monks in a cruelly cold winter and while he largely succeeds, his writing does not have that immediacy or spark that would take it to another level; he is not Hilary Mantel. His mystery story works well enough to make the reader turn the pages and in the end is well worked through. It was the historical aspect that I found most impressive and the linking of historical facts to his own murder mystery is both ingenious and well handled. In many respects he gives as convincing a portrait as Hilary Mantel of the world of Thomas Cromwell, albeit from a different vantage point. I would not hesitate to recommend [Dissolution] especially if you wanted to read more after Bring up the Bodies and so a four star read.
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LibraryThing member saltmanz
Of all the books I'll read and review this year, this will be the one I was least expecting to do. In fact, I had never even heard about this book (or its author, or the series) until it unexpectedly showed up in my mailbox one day, courtesy of my friend Amanda over at Floor to Ceiling Books. See,
Dissolution is the first in a series of mystery novels set in the 1500s that feature—and are narrated by—hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake. I know nothing about the subsequent books, but I do know I'll be checking them out at some point in the future, as I enjoyed this one so much.
Thomas Cromwell is in the process of dissolving the monasteries of England when his commisioner at the Scarnsea monastery in southern England is brutally murdered. Cromwell dispatches his emissary, lawyer and sometime-detective Matthew Shardlake, along with his aide Mark Poer, to investigate. But all is not as it seems at snow-covered Scarnsea; too many of the monks there have the motive, but not necessarily the means, and the bodycount will rise before the truth is finally revealed. But Shardlake and Poer must contend with more than a murderer, for the struggle between the Reformers and the Papists will sorely test the loyalties of both men.
Though I consider myself woefully under-read in the detective/mystery genre, I'm not entirely unfamiliar with it; and it seems to me that the actual mystery in a "whodunit" novel is perhaps less important than those things that make a good book work in any other genre—namely, the setting, characters, and narrative style. Dissolution has a fairly standard murder-mystery plot; Sansom includes a bizarre and grisly murder, lots of potential suspects, a slow but steady trickle of clues coupled with some red herrings, a couple of twists, and increasing amounts of danger as the investigation nears its conclusion. There's even a little romance thrown in for good measure. It's all very competently handled (save for one possible mistake that I'll mention later), but it's nothing groundbreaking.
What makes this book work is the setting. The claustrophia of the snowbound monastary is nicely done, but to be honest the "corrupt/lecherous monk as villain" seems to have become a bit of a cliché by now. Rather, it's being set against the backdrop of Cromwell's war against the monastaries that brings everything to life. You have the tension between the Papists and the Reformers simmering in the background the entire time, and Shardlake's investigation of the murder of a Reform commissioner—presumably at the hands of a monk—duplicates this clash of ideologies in the foreground. And yet, as Shardlake's investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that this struggle is not a black-and-white affair; many of the monks are, in spite of their own personal failings, just as devout in their Catholic faith as Shardlake is in his Protestantism, and it comes to light that Cromwell's own motivations and practices may not be as moral as Shardlake has believed. There are some good debates here, including a brief take on the age-old "works versus grace" argument, and though everything is colored by the first-person viewpoint of Shardlake, neither side is presented as being either right or wrong, even as our narrator holds firm to his own beliefs.
And kudos to C. J. Sansom for that. It would have been all too easy to have Shardlake begin to doubt his own beliefs, or lose faith entirely, or even start to get just a little wishy-washy. This is done all too often in fiction nowadays, it seems—especially speculative fiction. I guess a lot of authors think it's realistic to write a person of faith coming up against some knowledge or revelation or trial that ends up shattering their faith in God. As a Christian myself, I always find such developments rather insulting. Sansom instead writes Shardlake in a manner that I find more realistic; here's a man who has heard the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to him, who holds to his faith in God even as the men who profess to act in God's name commit despicable acts. He keeps an open mind, while still retaining complete confidence in his doctrine. Perhaps I've said too much about Shardlake's development, seeing as how part of the suspense (for me, at least) was seeing how his faith would survive the events of the novel, but it was this that impressed me the most about the book, and for which I must applaud Sansom. (The character of Mark Poer provides a nice counterpoint to Shardlake, but I will leave it that.)
I mentioned earlier catching what I thought might have been a mistake in the story, and I'll try to explain in as non-spoilery a fashion as I can manage: Along with the murder there was a desecration of the monastary church, and while investigating, Shardlake is told that it was Brother Andrew who first "saw" what had been done. But we met Brother Andrew earlier in the book, and he's completely blind, and presumably has been for some time. I thought maybe I had stumbled on the clue that would wind up busting the whole case wide open, and wondered how Sansom could have been so clumsy, but it turns out it's never addressed. My only thought is that perhaps there's more than one Brother Andrew? Not a big issue, but I have to say it distracted me for most of the book.
In summary, Dissolution is a good murder mystery in an intriguing setting, narrated by a great viewpoint character. If you're not the religious type, it's a very good period piece; if you are, there's some good stuff to chew on here. If you're a fan of mysteries, or of historical fiction, or religious fiction, or (like me) just a fan of good books in general, you should check this one out. [4 out of 5 stars]
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she had been sending out copies for World Book Night 2011, but I had gotten behind on my Internets, and didn't know anything about it—and honestly wouldn't have been expecting anything anyway. Suffice to say, I felt honored to have been a recipient, and planned for Dissolution to be my next read, once I had finished with The Wise Man's Fear.Dissolution is the first in a series of mystery novels set in the 1500s that feature—and are narrated by—hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake. I know nothing about the subsequent books, but I do know I'll be checking them out at some point in the future, as I enjoyed this one so much.
Thomas Cromwell is in the process of dissolving the monasteries of England when his commisioner at the Scarnsea monastery in southern England is brutally murdered. Cromwell dispatches his emissary, lawyer and sometime-detective Matthew Shardlake, along with his aide Mark Poer, to investigate. But all is not as it seems at snow-covered Scarnsea; too many of the monks there have the motive, but not necessarily the means, and the bodycount will rise before the truth is finally revealed. But Shardlake and Poer must contend with more than a murderer, for the struggle between the Reformers and the Papists will sorely test the loyalties of both men.
Though I consider myself woefully under-read in the detective/mystery genre, I'm not entirely unfamiliar with it; and it seems to me that the actual mystery in a "whodunit" novel is perhaps less important than those things that make a good book work in any other genre—namely, the setting, characters, and narrative style. Dissolution has a fairly standard murder-mystery plot; Sansom includes a bizarre and grisly murder, lots of potential suspects, a slow but steady trickle of clues coupled with some red herrings, a couple of twists, and increasing amounts of danger as the investigation nears its conclusion. There's even a little romance thrown in for good measure. It's all very competently handled (save for one possible mistake that I'll mention later), but it's nothing groundbreaking.
What makes this book work is the setting. The claustrophia of the snowbound monastary is nicely done, but to be honest the "corrupt/lecherous monk as villain" seems to have become a bit of a cliché by now. Rather, it's being set against the backdrop of Cromwell's war against the monastaries that brings everything to life. You have the tension between the Papists and the Reformers simmering in the background the entire time, and Shardlake's investigation of the murder of a Reform commissioner—presumably at the hands of a monk—duplicates this clash of ideologies in the foreground. And yet, as Shardlake's investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that this struggle is not a black-and-white affair; many of the monks are, in spite of their own personal failings, just as devout in their Catholic faith as Shardlake is in his Protestantism, and it comes to light that Cromwell's own motivations and practices may not be as moral as Shardlake has believed. There are some good debates here, including a brief take on the age-old "works versus grace" argument, and though everything is colored by the first-person viewpoint of Shardlake, neither side is presented as being either right or wrong, even as our narrator holds firm to his own beliefs.
And kudos to C. J. Sansom for that. It would have been all too easy to have Shardlake begin to doubt his own beliefs, or lose faith entirely, or even start to get just a little wishy-washy. This is done all too often in fiction nowadays, it seems—especially speculative fiction. I guess a lot of authors think it's realistic to write a person of faith coming up against some knowledge or revelation or trial that ends up shattering their faith in God. As a Christian myself, I always find such developments rather insulting. Sansom instead writes Shardlake in a manner that I find more realistic; here's a man who has heard the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to him, who holds to his faith in God even as the men who profess to act in God's name commit despicable acts. He keeps an open mind, while still retaining complete confidence in his doctrine. Perhaps I've said too much about Shardlake's development, seeing as how part of the suspense (for me, at least) was seeing how his faith would survive the events of the novel, but it was this that impressed me the most about the book, and for which I must applaud Sansom. (The character of Mark Poer provides a nice counterpoint to Shardlake, but I will leave it that.)
I mentioned earlier catching what I thought might have been a mistake in the story, and I'll try to explain in as non-spoilery a fashion as I can manage: Along with the murder there was a desecration of the monastary church, and while investigating, Shardlake is told that it was Brother Andrew who first "saw" what had been done. But we met Brother Andrew earlier in the book, and he's completely blind, and presumably has been for some time. I thought maybe I had stumbled on the clue that would wind up busting the whole case wide open, and wondered how Sansom could have been so clumsy, but it turns out it's never addressed. My only thought is that perhaps there's more than one Brother Andrew? Not a big issue, but I have to say it distracted me for most of the book.
In summary, Dissolution is a good murder mystery in an intriguing setting, narrated by a great viewpoint character. If you're not the religious type, it's a very good period piece; if you are, there's some good stuff to chew on here. If you're a fan of mysteries, or of historical fiction, or religious fiction, or (like me) just a fan of good books in general, you should check this one out. [4 out of 5 stars]
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LibraryThing member uncultured
This opening book in the Matthew Shardlake series (starring a hunchback lawyer trying to survive in the dangerous times of the English Reformation) may remind some of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. Both feature murders in wintry monasteries, monks with secrets, and a great deal of historical
That doesn't mean, though, that it's a simple number-the-bodies mystery. In fact, the murders frequently take a back seat to the dissolution of the monasteries, a cherished, centuries-old way of life destroyed at the whim of a fat, lustful king. And really, little good came of it, for most of the treasures in the monasteries were passed to the already-wealthy, or destroyed by overzealous Protestants.
Lecture aside, Sansom is an excellent writer, and the Scarnsea monastery, with its biting cold grounds set near the sea, is a grand place to hunt up a killer. The monks themselves are highly developed characters and Shardlake himself, an outsider in a time when being such could have grave consequences, is both sympathetic and clever.
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fact thrown in for good measure. Dissolution lacks Eco's constant allusions, and (perhaps because it was originally written in English rather than Italian) is much easier to read. That doesn't mean, though, that it's a simple number-the-bodies mystery. In fact, the murders frequently take a back seat to the dissolution of the monasteries, a cherished, centuries-old way of life destroyed at the whim of a fat, lustful king. And really, little good came of it, for most of the treasures in the monasteries were passed to the already-wealthy, or destroyed by overzealous Protestants.
Lecture aside, Sansom is an excellent writer, and the Scarnsea monastery, with its biting cold grounds set near the sea, is a grand place to hunt up a killer. The monks themselves are highly developed characters and Shardlake himself, an outsider in a time when being such could have grave consequences, is both sympathetic and clever.
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LibraryThing member brenzi
I didn’t really want to get involved in another series. I’ve already got the Penny series going, and the Julia Spencer-Fleming series going and I’ve already got a couple of other first books in other series but there was so much talk going on in the 75er group about this Matthew Shardlake who
It’s 1537 and Cromwell assigns Matthew the task of investigating the murder of another commissioner at one of the monasteries slated for dissolution. Who among these monks is capable of murder? Then things get even more complicated when not one but three more murders take place to throw things into a real turmoil. And Matthew’s assistant seems to be falling for one of the servant girls and that just will not serve him well as he strides to move up in the world of the courts.
Sansom does something that I haven’t encountered in other recent mysteries I’ve read. He lets Matthew make a mistake or two in identifying the killer, a virtual stab in the dark. Interesting. Left me kind of feeling like I wasn’t sure who was going to be the real killer. But have no fear, Matthew comes through in the end f this very well researched Tudor mystery. I can’t wit to get to Book 2. Highly recommended.
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was an investigator for Thomas Cromwell and, well, there might as well have been a huge neon sign blinking TUDOR! TUDOR! leaving me feeling as if I had no real choice in the matter. I’m feeling pretty good about that decision at this point.It’s 1537 and Cromwell assigns Matthew the task of investigating the murder of another commissioner at one of the monasteries slated for dissolution. Who among these monks is capable of murder? Then things get even more complicated when not one but three more murders take place to throw things into a real turmoil. And Matthew’s assistant seems to be falling for one of the servant girls and that just will not serve him well as he strides to move up in the world of the courts.
Sansom does something that I haven’t encountered in other recent mysteries I’ve read. He lets Matthew make a mistake or two in identifying the killer, a virtual stab in the dark. Interesting. Left me kind of feeling like I wasn’t sure who was going to be the real killer. But have no fear, Matthew comes through in the end f this very well researched Tudor mystery. I can’t wit to get to Book 2. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Smiler69
When Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer at the employ of Thomas Cromwell is ordered to investigate a murder in a Benedictine monastery, he finds he is quickly enmeshed in a mystery that just keeps getting more complex, more tangled up and more dangerous day by day. Cromwell, known as a harsh master and a
The royal commissioner recently sent to investigate Scarnsea has just met with a most violent murder on the premises, and Master Shardlake is expected to find the culprit and conclude the business his predecessor was sent there to take care of. Of course, he fully expects to be met as an unwelcome guest at the monastery; as the vicar general's man, he has unrestricted access and can question anyone he likes to enable him to find means to put all the monks and their servants, who have been living in the monastery in luxury and comfort for hundreds of years, out on the street. So he is all too aware that he and his assistant, the young Mark Poer, are putting their lives at risk in a place where a murderer has already dared to strike off the head of his predecessor, all the more so when other suspicious deaths take place and a long-dead corpse is discovered. Shardlake, as an ardent reformer, has his share of preconceived notions to contend with before he can see past his prejudices against the Catholic papist traditions of the monks and recognize when he is being told the truth and given clues he should attend to.
I'd seen many glowing reviews for this book and the Matthew Shardlake series in general, but am glad I followed my instincts and decided to put it off until I'd learned about the major players in King Henry's time and understood more about the political and religious situation of that particular period covered in the book. Reading Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall with the assistance of a tutor here on LT who is extremely knowledgeable about that period, followed-up with Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, which treats specifically on Henry Tudor's displeasure with Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell's efforts to eliminate her so the monarch could move on to Wife Number Three, proved to be just the kind of high quality literary background that helped me appreciate this historical crime novel all the more. I also found reading this as an eBook very practical, as it made googling particulars and looking up biographical details on wikipedia available at the touch of a button, but that being said, I don't think deep historical knowledge is necessary to enjoy this series, with its countless atmospheric details which plunge you right into the 1530s and a fast-paced, complex yet riveting plot that certainly kept this reader completely engrossed and barely able to put the book down. I've been told by fans of the series that the Matthew Shardlake books just keep getting better and have now moved on to book 2, Dark Fire, which is proving equally captivating. In fact, I think I'll go and read a few more chapters now, and am already hoping Sansom puts out more sequels to keep me going for a good long while!
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tough man to please, expects to get a quick resolution to avoid having to relate the incident to King Henry VIII, as the details of the crime are sure to displease the monarch. The year is 1537 and England is in the midst of Reformation; the Catholic religion, which had been practiced in England for countless generations is now out of favour, ever since King Henry decided to divorce himself from the Roman Pope and declared himself the head of the Church of England, to enable him to rid himself of his first wife and marry Anne Boleyn in accordance with his pious beliefs. At this time, Anne has been gotten rid of well over a year ago—a beheading which Matthew was ordered to attend much against his will—and Henry's third wife Jane Grey has just died in childbirth. King Henry's men, all ardent Reformers, with Thomas Cromwell at the helm as vicar general, and the newly formed Court of Augmentations (created expressly for the purpose), are busily closing down all the smaller monasteries to replenish the royal coffers and take over land which is to be given over to prominent landowners as royal favours. But Henry VIII and Cromwell's sights are now set on the large monasteries, from which there are countless riches to be gained, and the monastery of Scarnsea on the Southern coast of England is their next target. The political situation is fragile however, and the king's men are in no position to force the monks to abandon their holding as they've done with the smaller monasteries since a revolt in the North has forced them to reconsider their strong-arm tactics, and they must employ finer stratagems now to encourage the abbots to give up the monasteries willingly.The royal commissioner recently sent to investigate Scarnsea has just met with a most violent murder on the premises, and Master Shardlake is expected to find the culprit and conclude the business his predecessor was sent there to take care of. Of course, he fully expects to be met as an unwelcome guest at the monastery; as the vicar general's man, he has unrestricted access and can question anyone he likes to enable him to find means to put all the monks and their servants, who have been living in the monastery in luxury and comfort for hundreds of years, out on the street. So he is all too aware that he and his assistant, the young Mark Poer, are putting their lives at risk in a place where a murderer has already dared to strike off the head of his predecessor, all the more so when other suspicious deaths take place and a long-dead corpse is discovered. Shardlake, as an ardent reformer, has his share of preconceived notions to contend with before he can see past his prejudices against the Catholic papist traditions of the monks and recognize when he is being told the truth and given clues he should attend to.
I'd seen many glowing reviews for this book and the Matthew Shardlake series in general, but am glad I followed my instincts and decided to put it off until I'd learned about the major players in King Henry's time and understood more about the political and religious situation of that particular period covered in the book. Reading Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall with the assistance of a tutor here on LT who is extremely knowledgeable about that period, followed-up with Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, which treats specifically on Henry Tudor's displeasure with Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell's efforts to eliminate her so the monarch could move on to Wife Number Three, proved to be just the kind of high quality literary background that helped me appreciate this historical crime novel all the more. I also found reading this as an eBook very practical, as it made googling particulars and looking up biographical details on wikipedia available at the touch of a button, but that being said, I don't think deep historical knowledge is necessary to enjoy this series, with its countless atmospheric details which plunge you right into the 1530s and a fast-paced, complex yet riveting plot that certainly kept this reader completely engrossed and barely able to put the book down. I've been told by fans of the series that the Matthew Shardlake books just keep getting better and have now moved on to book 2, Dark Fire, which is proving equally captivating. In fact, I think I'll go and read a few more chapters now, and am already hoping Sansom puts out more sequels to keep me going for a good long while!
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
This is the first in the series featuring Matthew Shardlake, a hunchback attorney. The setting is during the short period of time in which the monateries of England were dissolved in the mid-16th century. Cromwell had sent a man to the Benedictine monastery at Scarsea, but the man was murdered. He
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now sends Shardlake to find the killer. It's a well-written and well-plotted mystery with plenty of atmosphere, well-constructed characters, and action to keep the attention of most mystery readers. One can't help but empathized at least somewhat with the monks because of the drastic measures being taken against them, but at the same time, one cannot help but be appalled by some of their behaviors. I will definitely be reading others in this series. This one had been sitting in my to-be-read pile for awhile, and I regret having put it off for so long. Show Less
LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
Dissolution marks the beginning of Sansom’s historical crime fiction series set during the reign of Henry VIII, focusing on Cromwell’s reformation of the Catholic monasteries in England. For something that I picked up as a guilty-pleasure fiction read, I certainly learned a great deal about
Cromwell’s lawyers have been investigating the monasteries, reduced to blackmailing them into surrender with talk of licentious practices or fraud, since heavier-handed means have sparked public response. One of Shardlake’s colleagues has been decapitated while negotiating with a remote village monastery, and when he is dispatched to investigate the murder, Shardlake discovers layers of deceit and mystery, the matter forcing him to confront his own firmly-held convictions.
There’s so much that I liked about this book – it’s not as fussy as some period crime fiction (but hey, I like the fussy sort, too), because the period in question was at best uneasy, and at worst savage. I think my approval largely stems, however, from the fact that the protagonist has a deformity and likes women who match his spirit, regardless of their looks. It’s been a long time since I’ve read fiction that didn’t couple two beautiful people (with obligatory quirky flaws) whose intelligence was both under-described and under-shown in comparison.
I’m already halfway through the second book, Dark Fire, and while I think I see improvements in pacing and am finding the storyline very slightly more interesting, I would hesitate to say that it is ‘better’. This first book in the series is a brilliant introduction to a compelling (if reluctant) investigator and a setting drawn in exquisitely brutal detail.
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this particular period of history but I also got my guilty-pleasure reading fix, because this was an enjoyable read; pure crime fiction with fabulously suspicious monks, a decapitated body, and a back-story rife with scandal and disappearances. The protagonist sleuth, Matthew Shardlake is a grumpy hunchbacked lawyer with a sharp eye and sharper mind, loyal to Cromwell’s cause in the beginning, yet becoming increasingly sympathetic to those who come up against the cruelty of the reformation.Cromwell’s lawyers have been investigating the monasteries, reduced to blackmailing them into surrender with talk of licentious practices or fraud, since heavier-handed means have sparked public response. One of Shardlake’s colleagues has been decapitated while negotiating with a remote village monastery, and when he is dispatched to investigate the murder, Shardlake discovers layers of deceit and mystery, the matter forcing him to confront his own firmly-held convictions.
There’s so much that I liked about this book – it’s not as fussy as some period crime fiction (but hey, I like the fussy sort, too), because the period in question was at best uneasy, and at worst savage. I think my approval largely stems, however, from the fact that the protagonist has a deformity and likes women who match his spirit, regardless of their looks. It’s been a long time since I’ve read fiction that didn’t couple two beautiful people (with obligatory quirky flaws) whose intelligence was both under-described and under-shown in comparison.
I’m already halfway through the second book, Dark Fire, and while I think I see improvements in pacing and am finding the storyline very slightly more interesting, I would hesitate to say that it is ‘better’. This first book in the series is a brilliant introduction to a compelling (if reluctant) investigator and a setting drawn in exquisitely brutal detail.
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LibraryThing member miyurose
Having never read C.J. Sansom, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. But a mystery set in Henry VIII’s England, with a middle-aged, hunchbacked lawyer at its center? Count me in!
The event that forms the background of the investigation is the systematic dissolution of Catholic
Shardlake is not your usual investigator. He is not detached, or systematic. In fact, his feelings get very involved in his investigation. Especially troublesome are his feelings of envy of his protege and ward, young and handsome Mark. The investigation goes in many directions, sometimes too many, but the end result was satisfying.
I thought an interesting touch was the weather and terrain keeping the monastery very isolated from the politics that overwhelm most Tudor-era novels. It’s still a part of the backdrop, but not a part of the day-to-day workings.
This is a series I’d like to continue!
The event that forms the background of the investigation is the systematic dissolution of Catholic
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monasteries throughout England. Shardlake is not only there to investigate his predecessor’s death, but to find a reason for Cromwell to dissolve the monastery and take its riches for the king.Shardlake is not your usual investigator. He is not detached, or systematic. In fact, his feelings get very involved in his investigation. Especially troublesome are his feelings of envy of his protege and ward, young and handsome Mark. The investigation goes in many directions, sometimes too many, but the end result was satisfying.
I thought an interesting touch was the weather and terrain keeping the monastery very isolated from the politics that overwhelm most Tudor-era novels. It’s still a part of the backdrop, but not a part of the day-to-day workings.
This is a series I’d like to continue!
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
In the intricate historical mystery, Dissolution by C.J. Sansom, it is 1537, shortly after the death of Jane Seymour. Henry VIII had declared himself the supreme head of the church in England in 1534 and the wealthy Catholic monasteries were now in the process of being dissolved under the auspice
Kyoptic lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been appointed one of Cromwell’s commissioners and, along with his assistant Mark Poer, has been sent to the Benedictine order at Scarnsea to investigate the murder of Cromwell’s previous commissioner, and, he is also charged with finding justification for the dissolution of this monastery. The first commissioner was found beheaded on the kitchen floor at the same time a desecration of the church occurred and a valuable religious relic was stolen. After arriving at the isolated community another murder takes place and a third body is discovered.
This author certainly knows his history and of what he writes, making the time come alive and seem current. He also doesn’t sacrifice plot, this is a well developed mystery that keeps the reader engaged and interested. Superior writing, intelligent plot, along with detailed historical facts combine to make Dissolution a great read. This is the first in a most promising series.
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of the Vicar General, Thomas Cromwell. After a rebellion in the north of England, Henry’s men have to proceed with the dissolutions much more carefully. Kyoptic lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been appointed one of Cromwell’s commissioners and, along with his assistant Mark Poer, has been sent to the Benedictine order at Scarnsea to investigate the murder of Cromwell’s previous commissioner, and, he is also charged with finding justification for the dissolution of this monastery. The first commissioner was found beheaded on the kitchen floor at the same time a desecration of the church occurred and a valuable religious relic was stolen. After arriving at the isolated community another murder takes place and a third body is discovered.
This author certainly knows his history and of what he writes, making the time come alive and seem current. He also doesn’t sacrifice plot, this is a well developed mystery that keeps the reader engaged and interested. Superior writing, intelligent plot, along with detailed historical facts combine to make Dissolution a great read. This is the first in a most promising series.
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LibraryThing member soliloquies
Enjoyable book about a 16th century lawyer sent, by Thomas Cromwell, to investigate a murder at a monastery. The historical backdrop of the dissolution of the monasteries is fascinating as it allows the author to create plenty of tension and suspicion. Weave in Cromwell's attempts to curry favour
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with his King and you have a realistic view of Tudor England. Show Less
LibraryThing member yhgail
More historical novel than mystery, this Shardlake novel immersed me in the time and turmoil of Cromwell’s dissolution of an ancient medieval monastery.
I enjoyed it, although I can see that the character of the protagonist may not appeal to all.
I enjoyed it, although I can see that the character of the protagonist may not appeal to all.
LibraryThing member kukulaj
Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell... you could call this Disillusionment. Our detective hero starts thinking that Reform is going to fix the ills of society, but slowly comes to realize that the people on both sides are pretty much equivalent, for better and worse.
Bloodshed, chasing, falling, secret
Oh yeah, a tip of the hat to Umberto Eco in here, a copy of Aristotle's On Comedy, long thought lost, is in the monastery library!
Bloodshed, chasing, falling, secret
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passageways, the works. A perfectly competent page turner. Plus enough details about a crucial time in history... educational entertainment!Oh yeah, a tip of the hat to Umberto Eco in here, a copy of Aristotle's On Comedy, long thought lost, is in the monastery library!
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LibraryThing member Mercury57
issolution plunges us into the turmoil of a sixteenth-century England whose citizens fear for their lives unless they adhere to the country’s newly proscribed form of faith. Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell is hell bent on ensuring Catholicism is eradicated; dissolving the monasteries, evicting its
The murder of a Royal Commissioner while on a mission to root out corruption at a monastery in Kent , threatens to disrupt all of Cromwell’s plans. He needs the perpetrator found quickly and secretly — and he knows just the man to do the job. His choice — Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of the Reformation. Shardlake and his young relative Mark Poer are despatched to the south coast to investigate the murder.
As in all good murder mystery stories, the investigators quickly learn almost everyone has a secret and a motive. Hidden passages; false trails; multiple corpses; near death experiences; fights and escapes: all the standard components of the genre are in this book. What lifts Dissolution well above the usual fare is the quality of Sansom’s writing with its strong sense of place and atmosphere and an intriguing, multi-dimensional protagonist.
Sansom perfectly evokes the desolation and isolation of the monastery’s setting on the edge of the Weald with its treacherous currents that only smugglers and a few inhabitants dare cross. The heavy snow which falls as Shardlake arrives at the monastery acts as a metaphoric cloak through which he must penetrate to find the killer.
But Shardlake uncovers more than the answer to the crime. What he discovers creates deep unease within himself about Cromwell’s motives and challenges his beliefs about the new future for his country once Reform is fully enacted. By the time the book ends, his faith in humanity is damaged and his idealism has given way to an acute awareness of the corruption all around him.
'…. there is nowhere safe in the world now, nothing certain. …. The Bible says God made man in his image but I think we make and remake him in whatever happens to suit our shifting needs. I wonder if he knows or cares. All is dissolving.'
Dissolution is the first in a series of books featuring Shardlake. I will definitely return for more of this intriguing character.
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cloistered inhabitants and selling the land and assets to loyal supporters of his master King Henry VIII. Those who resist and speak out against the new order find themselves imprisoned in the Tower of London and tortured or executed.The murder of a Royal Commissioner while on a mission to root out corruption at a monastery in Kent , threatens to disrupt all of Cromwell’s plans. He needs the perpetrator found quickly and secretly — and he knows just the man to do the job. His choice — Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of the Reformation. Shardlake and his young relative Mark Poer are despatched to the south coast to investigate the murder.
As in all good murder mystery stories, the investigators quickly learn almost everyone has a secret and a motive. Hidden passages; false trails; multiple corpses; near death experiences; fights and escapes: all the standard components of the genre are in this book. What lifts Dissolution well above the usual fare is the quality of Sansom’s writing with its strong sense of place and atmosphere and an intriguing, multi-dimensional protagonist.
Sansom perfectly evokes the desolation and isolation of the monastery’s setting on the edge of the Weald with its treacherous currents that only smugglers and a few inhabitants dare cross. The heavy snow which falls as Shardlake arrives at the monastery acts as a metaphoric cloak through which he must penetrate to find the killer.
But Shardlake uncovers more than the answer to the crime. What he discovers creates deep unease within himself about Cromwell’s motives and challenges his beliefs about the new future for his country once Reform is fully enacted. By the time the book ends, his faith in humanity is damaged and his idealism has given way to an acute awareness of the corruption all around him.
'…. there is nowhere safe in the world now, nothing certain. …. The Bible says God made man in his image but I think we make and remake him in whatever happens to suit our shifting needs. I wonder if he knows or cares. All is dissolving.'
Dissolution is the first in a series of books featuring Shardlake. I will definitely return for more of this intriguing character.
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LibraryThing member breic
It took me a while to get into this story, but by halfway through I was hooked. The mystery is so-so, but the setting works, and the main character is interesting.
LibraryThing member dougwood57
Dissolution by CJ Sansom features one of the more unusual `detectives' in the crime fiction genre: Matthew Shardlake, a 16th century attorney in the employ of Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII's vicar-general. Shardlake also happens to be a hunchback.
Cromwell sends Shardlake to investigate the
Sansom uses the setting to explore life in a 16th century monastery in the midst of great turmoil. He examines the bitter divisions between former Catholics and the reformers. Shardlake's naïve idealism takes a beating, too, as he finds rampant avarice among not just the monks, but the king's men as well. Sansom also takes the reader around 16th century London as well. Lust for power, money, and more bodily sins dominate this fascinating tale. Highly recommended. Shardlake's story continues in Dark Fire and Sovereign: A Matthew Shardlake Mystery (Matthew Shardlake Mysteries).
Cromwell sends Shardlake to investigate the
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murder of one of a royal commissioner at the fictional monastery at Scarnsea on the Sussex coast. Cromwell has embarked on the dissolution of the formerly Catholic monasteries. There is no lack of likely suspects - they may be monks, but they also fear they are about to lose their soft lives. Sansom uses the setting to explore life in a 16th century monastery in the midst of great turmoil. He examines the bitter divisions between former Catholics and the reformers. Shardlake's naïve idealism takes a beating, too, as he finds rampant avarice among not just the monks, but the king's men as well. Sansom also takes the reader around 16th century London as well. Lust for power, money, and more bodily sins dominate this fascinating tale. Highly recommended. Shardlake's story continues in Dark Fire and Sovereign: A Matthew Shardlake Mystery (Matthew Shardlake Mysteries).
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LibraryThing member wandering_star
This is a good page-turner - set around the time of the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, although the title also refers to the dissolute living which was going on at some of them. An up-and-coming lawyer is sent down from London to a monastery on Romney Marsh, with two tasks - to
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persuade the abbot to surrender the monastery to the Crown, and to find out who murdered the last man who tried to do the same. He carries these out dutifully - but at the same time, he begins to question the value of the reforms which he has always supported. That storyline, and the historical detail, add extra levels of interest to what is already a good mystery story. Show Less
LibraryThing member jody12
Historical whodunits are a popular genre and Sansom’s Shardlake series is no exception. The monastery setting with its quirky population of monks and villagers (and the essential dead body) all set during the time of Cromwell and Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries satisfied the mystery
Along with the obvious points … history, power and wealth, the formula writing for mystery novels was discussed and we felt this one followed it to the letter, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Many readers prefer the familiar and respond well to this method. But some of us found the plot a little weak and plodding, with a melting pot of issues and characters that were a little underwhelming.
Those of us who love a good whodunit enjoyed the well described setting and historical background and felt the combination of characters was authentic and plausible. Shardlake himself was found likable enough, with just the right amount of clever uniqueness required of heroes nowadays. And although there is nothing exceptional regarding this tale, it does the job of so many whodunits … entertain with just the right amount of intrigue and mind stretching.
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lovers in our group. Along with the obvious points … history, power and wealth, the formula writing for mystery novels was discussed and we felt this one followed it to the letter, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Many readers prefer the familiar and respond well to this method. But some of us found the plot a little weak and plodding, with a melting pot of issues and characters that were a little underwhelming.
Those of us who love a good whodunit enjoyed the well described setting and historical background and felt the combination of characters was authentic and plausible. Shardlake himself was found likable enough, with just the right amount of clever uniqueness required of heroes nowadays. And although there is nothing exceptional regarding this tale, it does the job of so many whodunits … entertain with just the right amount of intrigue and mind stretching.
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LibraryThing member alexezell
I was excited about starting this series because the historical period and setting is very interesting to me. That part of the book was great. The mystery plot was pretty weak. I never figure these things out and I had it solved half way through. For the great lawyer and investigator he's supposed
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to be, Shardlake doesn't come off as very smart or interesting. I might check out the next book but I'm not going to jump right into it. Show Less
LibraryThing member AriadneAranea
Historical fiction is my guilty pleasure - this one does not disappoint.
LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: Cromwell's man investigates gruesome monastery slaying.
Extended review:
My level of confidence in the author's grasp of his material suffered right from page 1. Despite evidence of extensive research into the place and period, England in the early years of the Protestant
I noted several misused words as well, although those looked more like editorial lapses to me.
With respect to research, moreover, I felt repeatedly that the author was swamping me with historical detail while not showing me what I needed to know about the characters and their relationships (something that's never a problem in, say, the Cadfael books, where it's all well integrated and subordinated). For instance, by the conclusion I felt that I knew almost as little about Shardlake, apart from his physical condition, as I knew at the beginning.
In the end I really wasn't all that thrilled or impressed. The plot seemed overwrought and at times confusing, and I didn't really take to any of the characters. The historical period does interest me, and I've read and seen enough to bring plenty of context to it. I liked the historical details, and I especially liked the way Shardlake's view of Cromwell changed, setting up some interesting possibilities.
Thanks to the encouragement of some enthusiastic readers, I will probably give the series another chance, at least through the second book. But I'm not in any great rush to get to it. The excitement just isn't there.
Extended review:
My level of confidence in the author's grasp of his material suffered right from page 1. Despite evidence of extensive research into the place and period, England in the early years of the Protestant
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Reformation, I was put off by a surprising lapse. Right at the top of the first page of frontmatter, between the map and the opening of chapter 1, the word "obedientiaries" is misspelled. (The first i is missing.) It turned out that this misspelling persists through many occurrences all the way through the book. It made me question the author's grasp not only of his setting and its terminology but of the English language--because the word "obedience" jumps right out of it, and the missing letter suggests that he doesn't see that.I noted several misused words as well, although those looked more like editorial lapses to me.
With respect to research, moreover, I felt repeatedly that the author was swamping me with historical detail while not showing me what I needed to know about the characters and their relationships (something that's never a problem in, say, the Cadfael books, where it's all well integrated and subordinated). For instance, by the conclusion I felt that I knew almost as little about Shardlake, apart from his physical condition, as I knew at the beginning.
In the end I really wasn't all that thrilled or impressed. The plot seemed overwrought and at times confusing, and I didn't really take to any of the characters. The historical period does interest me, and I've read and seen enough to bring plenty of context to it. I liked the historical details, and I especially liked the way Shardlake's view of Cromwell changed, setting up some interesting possibilities.
Thanks to the encouragement of some enthusiastic readers, I will probably give the series another chance, at least through the second book. But I'm not in any great rush to get to it. The excitement just isn't there.
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LibraryThing member Abbyroad909
Although I enjoyed the atmosphere and historical setting of Dissolution, I just couldn't really get in to it. For a detective novel, there didn't seem to be a whole lot of detecting going on, and I felt that it dragged. Definitely not a bad book, though, and maybe worth trying if you like
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historical mysteries. Show Less
LibraryThing member anglophile65
So excited to have stumbled upon this series. Truly well-written and visuals of the life and times are so clear.
LibraryThing member Sovranty
Surprises at every turn. Just when you think you have the killer figure out, you find out you are wrong...or are you?
Set in Tudor England, this historical fiction allows the reader a glimpse of the English Reformation. True character is in the eye of the beholder, and these characters afford a
Set in Tudor England, this historical fiction allows the reader a glimpse of the English Reformation. True character is in the eye of the beholder, and these characters afford a
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darker vision of Thomas Cromwell in his efforts to retain power and dissolve the power of the church. Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
It is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in England since 1066. Henry VIII has procliamed himslef the Supreme Head of the Church. The country is waking up to new savage laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers that it has ever seen. Under the orders of Thomas
But on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Cromwell's commissioner, Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body. His horrific murder is accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege - a black cockerel sacrificed on the church altar and the disappearance of Scarnsea's Great relic.
Dr. Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell into this atmosphere of treachery and death, accompanied by his loyal assistant Mark. His duty is to uncover the truth behind the dark happenings at Scarnsea.
Shardlake's investigation soon forces him to question vereything that he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes..
Although set 300 years later, this book reminded me a lot of the Brother Cadfael books. I found it a bit slow to start with, but the plot was clever and the characters wll drawn. An intersting picture of the turmoil that resulted in Anne Boleyn's execution. At the time of the book, Jane Seymour has just died and Cromwell survives. The impact of the dissolution of the monasteries is well described and Henry VIII's need for them to agree to their own dissolution in the name of Reform gives an intersting perspective.
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Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent throughout the country to investigate the monasteries. There can be only one outcome: the monasteries are to be dissolved.But on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Cromwell's commissioner, Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body. His horrific murder is accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege - a black cockerel sacrificed on the church altar and the disappearance of Scarnsea's Great relic.
Dr. Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell into this atmosphere of treachery and death, accompanied by his loyal assistant Mark. His duty is to uncover the truth behind the dark happenings at Scarnsea.
Shardlake's investigation soon forces him to question vereything that he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes..
Although set 300 years later, this book reminded me a lot of the Brother Cadfael books. I found it a bit slow to start with, but the plot was clever and the characters wll drawn. An intersting picture of the turmoil that resulted in Anne Boleyn's execution. At the time of the book, Jane Seymour has just died and Cromwell survives. The impact of the dissolution of the monasteries is well described and Henry VIII's need for them to agree to their own dissolution in the name of Reform gives an intersting perspective.
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LibraryThing member Clurb
The reformist lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, is sent to Scarnsea monestary to investigate a murder of a government commissioner. In the process he learns much about his own religious philosophy and uncovers a number of unnerving crimes from the monestary's history. Fast-paced and engaging. Yes, this is
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a poor man's Name Of The Rose but don't let anyone tell you that isn't a good thing. Show Less
Awards
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2003)
Waverton Good Read Award (Shortlist — 2003)