The C J Sansom CD Box Set:

Matthew Shardlake #1-4

by C.J. Sansom

This box set contains all four titles from the critically acclaimed and extremely popular historical crime fiction series by C. J. Sansom. Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and reformist in London during the reign of Henry VIII. His investigation skills are tested in four cases where both his life and the lives of others are threatened. In "Dissolution" he travels to Scarnsea Monastery where one of Thomas Cromwell's Commissioner has been brutally murdered. Shardlake must expose the killer but his inquiries soon force him to question everything he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes. In "Dark Fire" Shardlake returns to London and a new assignment from Cromwell. The formula for Greek Fire, a legendary Byzantine weapon, is discovered by an official of the Court of Augmentations. Shardlake is sent to retrieve the formula but instead finds the official and his alchemist brother murdered and the formula missing. "Sovereign" takes Shardlake to York, following Henry VIII and his Progress to the North. The murder of a local glazier involves Shardlake in a mystery connected not only to a prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. And in "Revelation" when an old friend is horrifically murdered Shardlake promises his widow to bring the killer to justice. His search leads him to connections with the dark prophecies of the Book of Revelation. Shardlake follows the trail of a series of horrific murders that shakes him to the core, and which are already bringing frenzied talk of witchcraft and a demonic possession - for what else would the Tudor mind make of a serial killer...? Praise for the series: 'Dissolution is a remarkable, imaginative feat. It is a first-rate murder mystery and one of the most atmospheric historical novels I've read in years' - "Mail on Sunday". 'One of the author's greatest gifts is the immediacy of his descriptions, for he writes about the past as if it were the living present' - Colin Dexter.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Crime

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Christopher John "C.J." Sansom was an English writer of crime novels.

Sansom was educated at the University of Birmingham, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he decided to retrain as a solicitor. He practised for a while in Sussex as a lawyer for the disadvantaged, before quitting in order to work full-time as a writer.

He came to prominence with his series set in the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century, whose main character is the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Shardlake works on commission, initially from Thomas Cromwell in Dissolution and Dark Fire and then Thomas Cranmer in Sovereign and Revelation.

He has also written Winter in Madrid, a thriller set in Spain in 1940 in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War.

Dark Fire won the 2005 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA). Sansom himself was "Very Highly Commended" in the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library award, for the Shardlake series.

The television series "Shardlake" was adapted from the books and released by Disney+ on 1st May 2024, just 4 days after Samson's death.

(from Wikipedia®)

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a long time since I read a book (or in this case a series of books) that evoked a time so completely. Sansom is a glorious writer, he takes you back to Tudor England - you can see it, smell it (unfortunately), hear it - these books have done more to bring that historical period to life for me than any history book. If that were the books only virtue, that would be pretty impressive, but the fact that the plots are fascinating, the characters fully rounded and equally ready to leap off the page and take you by the hand - I don't think they could get any better. Historical crime fiction - another winning combination

[Franette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series and cannot wait for the new one to come out. As well as deeply engrossing and very well written, the historical accuracy also allows the reader to almost experience Tudor England - from the cold, wet muddy foggy mornings in London by the river Thames to the stench of the city and roads on warmer days - highly recommend!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook BBC adaptation. I question if this is cheating as I am not reading the entire book. Either way I get a full sense of the story and lose myself in the next plot of Shardlake’s life.

[Penny Shales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually I read all four of these books separately over the last few years but they are all great reads. Sheldrake is a hump backed lawyer in Tudor England who has a knack of solving bloody crimes. England of the period is vividly portrayed and the crimes are suitably gory. The religious turmoil of the period is well portrayed and the style is delightfully dry - Sheldrake's voice is lawyerly in its dry wit and concision - he has a self deprecating style that makes you long for him to find the life companion he so clearly both needs and deserves.

Thoroughly recommended

[Mckayd229 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the 1st three books in this series and greatly enjoyed them. A depiction of Tudor England from the point of view of lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Intelligent historical fiction at it's best.

[Lowri Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the character Shardlake, I love how Sansom writes. Brilliant, really brilliant!

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need a break from the Sanom "Shardlake" series after reading this, the goriest and and darkest of the books--the fourth in the series. It is a riveting series that puts you in the middle of Henry VIII's Tudor dynasty. Henry declared Protestantism as the religion of the realm when he married Anne Boleyn. He kept the religion after he had her beheaded, but it began to backfire on him because people began reading the Bible and becoming more radical and independent. Henry then outlawed the reading of the Bible by the common people. However, some people were becoming very fearful of Hell since they didn't have priests to absolve them. This book is about how this fear manifested itself in people with mental disease. One case, in the hospital Bedlam ("Bethlehem") may see such a patient's way to recovery, but the other case portrayed in the book becomes a mass murderer. I felt Sansom overdid the detailed descriptions of murder after murder, but that was the whole plot of the book. It was saved by his rounded and realistic characters which we follow in book after book. I will read the next one, but not until I give my mind a rest with another book or two.

[Judith]

As of early 2020, there are now 7 Matthew Shardlake Tudor-era mysteries -- get them all. Superb historical research backs lively plots and many interesting characters, including the empathetic, agnostic, ethical, melancholy Shardlake, a barrister in London who gets regularly embroiled in other people's mysteries and problems.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read anything by C J Sansom. I have finished 5 of his series with Tudor lawyer Shardlake. They are well researched and really give a view into the Tudor time period and its layer cake of society. I am reading a few other books before I go on with the series as once I start on one of Mr. Sansom's books, I have a difficult time making time for anything else.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

love these books, the historical elements make them fascinating.

[Judith Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Shardlake series especially the last one.

[Alvia Turney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic, you just want to know what happens to the characters. The books look huge, but you read them so quickly.

[Erika Shupe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped: gory, video theater narrated, political.

[Sue]

Well, I read the books, not listened to CDs, but this selection means I can review the 1st 4 books in the Matthew Shardlake series. I was inspired to read them after finding the 5th in the series (Heartstone) in the local library. For some reason I'm liking historical fiction just now and these are good stories, about a London lawyer-cum-detective who is close to parts of the Tudor court. The books are well-written and plotted, with strong and rounded characters, set in a reasonably accurate historical context of Henry VIII's later reign (divorce of Catherine of Aragon to marriage to Katherine Parr). I really enjoyed reading the series pretty well back to back, and learned a bit about a time I knew nothing much about.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all these books. Started one the second one by mistake but it did not matter then went back and read all the series. I thught Shardlake was a great character and the plot lines interesting and feasible. I also liked the little insights into the everyday life in Tudor times especially the false teeth!

[Rrosierose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Shardlake series. It's got a bit of everything: crime, intrigue, romance and even includes some real historical characters, albeit in a fictional setting. Can recommend for anybody who is a fan of the Tudor period but also could be a nice change from modern crime fiction.

[Beverley Eikli · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really well written and thoroughly researched with lots of tenderness and excitement. Nevertheless, I I would have liked a more thrilling ending which I felt was just a little predictable.

[Bill Walker]

Well worth the read

[Ike Sharpless · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's definitely a fine line between historical fiction and utter garbage, but this fun series maintains something like a skein of attempted accuracy while crafting a romping fun yarn.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic! Brilliant historical thrillers.

[Shirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brilliant, I want a new one out

[Nuala · Rating 4 out of 5]

K

[Becky Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I understand he is working on a new book for this series, and I hope it is out soon.

[Frieda Perry]

Read all of the Shardlake books.

[Lisa Metcalfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really could not put these books down. Went straight from one book to the next. I'm now reading Heartstone.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction and Matthes Shardlake is a compelling hero.

[Steph Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

[Amy Teal · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series

[Yvonne Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the Shardlake series and was eagerly awaiting another in the series. Am now reading Dominion. Can't wait to get settled at the weekend for a proper read!!

[David Tucker]

excellant