But for me, he is somewhat naïve, given that he is a lawyer who operates very close to the heart of the court. A man of strong pro-reform views, he believes in the work Cromwell is doing, and is happy to be a part of it. Shardlake is a likeable character, if a little cliched. From the moment he arrives, Shardlake is very aware that everything he is being told is what people want him to hear, rather than necessarily the truth. Public profession of the new rules is one thing, but can a man change his heart quite so easily? The suspicions and unease hanging over the monastery are very well portrayed. This is especially true within a monastery like Scarnsea, where the monks have had their world and beliefs turned upside down.

The setting is superbly drawn anxious times, when no-one knows who to trust, and everyone keeps their true feelings very close to their chest. Needless to say, things quickly become a lot more complicated. So Shardlake sets out with his assistant to solve the crime, and keep things quiet. Scandal and bloodshed are the last things he wants in the current climate, and he needs a quick resolution to the incident. An earlier forceful attempt led to a rebellion, so alternatives are needed.Īt Scarnsea monastery, one of his commissioners has been murdered, and he sends Matthew Shardlake to investigate what has happened. Cromwell has carried out a thorough survey of all monasteries and religious houses, and is waiting for an opportunity to dissolve them. It is set in a time of great upheaval Henry VIII has declared himself head of the English church, and his ministers are looking at ways of dismantling the power of the priesthood. Over the last year or so, whilst reading and reviewing books in other series, I have occasionally come across references to C J Sansom’s Shardlake books, so thought it was time to give them a go.ĭissolution is the first book in the series, where we meet Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer and occasional fixer for Thomas Cromwell.

The series that is right for you may not be right for me after all, if you’re investing a lot of time – and money – in a dozen or so books, you need to get it right. There is no shortage, but sorting the wheat from the chaff is not easy. And coming to the end of a favourite series can be quite emotional.įinding a new one is difficult. The author has so much more time to develop their main character or characters slowly and carefully, rather than having to draw them in a few chapters. Regular readers will know that I am a lover of a good series.

Dissolution by cj sansom