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Matthew Shardlake series by CJ Sansom

15 replies

JaneFondue · 30/05/2026 14:01

I have come to this late, but it's so incredibly good! I feel like I am back in Tudor times. My faves are Sovereign and Dark Fire.
I wish he had been able to complete the series.

OP posts:
Johnogroats · 30/05/2026 14:04

Love them!

HelenaWilson · 30/05/2026 14:06

Yes, he was excellent at creating the later years of Henry VIII.

There was a definite falling off in quality in the last one, but that is understandable.

SkippitySkoppity · 30/05/2026 14:07

Love this series so much and was genuinely sad when Sansom died.

Dark Fire, Sovereign, and Revelation was the strongest run of the series for me. I think my fave is Sovereign. Heartstone, Lamentation and Tombland could have done with more rigorous editing (in my opinion) but I still really enjoyed them.

TonTonMacoute · 30/05/2026 14:12

I really enjoyed them too but agree about the later ones. I have never managed to finish Tombland, it was so stuffed full of extraneous historical detail it completely overwhelmed the plot.

They did some radio adaptations which are worth listening out for. I enjoyed the tv adaptation too, but I think they said they weren't going to do any more

vicryl4 · 30/05/2026 14:15

Love them too

JaneFondue · 30/05/2026 14:16

Lamentation dragged for me but I liked Tombland, as I had no idea about that particular period of history. I have been walking around London thinking about all the layers of history that lie underneath. Such a welcome distraction from 2026.

Not seen the Disney show.

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SkippitySkoppity · 30/05/2026 14:18

I enjoyed the Disney show. Kind of. But I had such vivid ideas of what Shardlake and Barak would be like that the TV series was never going to match the pictures in my head.

JaneFondue · 30/05/2026 14:19

SkippitySkoppity · 30/05/2026 14:18

I enjoyed the Disney show. Kind of. But I had such vivid ideas of what Shardlake and Barak would be like that the TV series was never going to match the pictures in my head.

Sean Bean is what I imagined Cromwell to be like- wily and Machiavellian- but I am not sure about the other actors.

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SpareVanKeys · 30/05/2026 14:20

Can only agree. They’re all so brilliant and transport you straight back.

I didn’t think the tv version really did the first book justice. They’d be fabulous films but only if they were done properly. I guess we’d all have a different idea of who could play Shardlake 😄

lifeisgoodrightnow · 30/05/2026 14:32

They’re excellent books I couldn’t put any of them down and I’m not a fan of either historical dramas or crime fiction THAT’S how good they are.

Aberdeenantler · 30/05/2026 14:37

Love them! And it reignited a love affair with London. We also made the trek to visit the Mary Rose on the back of Heartstone.

OpheliaWitchoftheWoods · 30/05/2026 14:39

Love the series. I particularly liked Tombland and have been to stay at the Maid's Head in Norwich, next to the cathedral. There is a Shardlake walking tour you can go on from the hotel, visiting all the mentioned places.

JaneFondue · 30/05/2026 17:51

Suggestions for any similar books appreciated!

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Nofeckingway · 30/05/2026 17:53

BBC Sounds have great audio renditions of done of these . The Brother Cadefel series are great too .

CurlewKate · 30/05/2026 18:28

The audio books are fantastic.

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