In my opinion, C J Sansom's Tudor novels featuring the lawyer Matthew Shardlake are brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I've read them and recommended them and given copies away and got my reading group to read them and recommended them some more.... When my friend plum-crazy said she'd bought Dark Fire, Sovereign and Revelation (books 2, 3 and 4) from a charity shop in Kircudbright while on holiday in Scotland, I was concerned that she didn't mention the first book in the series, Dissolution. As far as I know she hasn't read it, so I was delighted to find this copy for her in a charity shop in Northallerton this afternoon. Happy Easter, lass!

Amazon Editorial Review: "Henry VIII has ordered the dissolution of the monasteries and England is full of informers. At the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control with the murder of Commissioner Robin Singleton. Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer, and his assistant are sent to investigate."

This is now taking a leisurely stroll across the Pennines carrying Easter Greetings (probably belated by the time it arrives) to plum-crazy :-)

Thanks so much for for completing this set for me Nu-knees - it's much appreciated. And what a pristine looking book it is- it doesn't look like it's ever been opened! Don't you just love charity shops....

...oh, and I hope you had a lovely Easter! :o)

On its way to Glencourse Centre OBCZ via Cassandra2020 as I have not only an unregistered copy (well it's hubbys) but have it on an audio book too!

Thank you Plum-Crazy, much appreciated. This will be on the shelf later this week.

I've actually read this one a few years ago. Love the Shardlake series.

Retrieved from obcz

Decided to offer up as a bookray. You can find the details here:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/530179

List so far:

List so far:

Clairby11xx in UK, UK postage only
Saskiasosmile in UK will post to UK, then EU, then Anywhere
Greenbadger in UK will post anywhere
penelopewanders in Switzerland will post within Europe


If this changes for any reason, I will update this journal entry as well as the forum post

Posting out to the first on the list - happy travels little book

Arrived safely with me, thanks :)

I really enjoyed this, I had previously read Sovereign and remember that I enjoyed that too so thought it was high time to start at the beginning. It is a very well researched book and the details of the English Reformation are fascinating to read, it was certainly a very dark and dangerous chapter of English history. As a student of history it always makes me particularly sad when I consider how much was lost in those years, never to be seen again.

In terms of the murder mystery itself, I did guess who had done it but not until right at the end when Shardlake himself was finally opening his eyes to reality. Shardlake is an interesting main character, honestly I didn't like him and thought he was a self-righteous idiot for most of the book. I was coming round to him in the end and I have Dark Fire to read at some point in the near future, so maybe I will like him more in that one.

On it's way to the next reader on the list, I hope you enjoy it too, safe travels!

Arrived in the post today! Thanks!
i have read other books by this author and enjoyed those, so I am looking forward to this one.

Thanks very much, looking forward to reading this! I'm also on the ray for book 2 and managed to find book 3 in a charity shop while in Leeds for the meet up (hi Nu-Knees!) the other day.

Matthew Shardlake, a commissioner for Cromwell, is sent to Scarnsea monastery when the previous commissioner, sent to persuade them to consent to dissolution, is murdered. The monks are greatly reduced in number and living a life of luxury and sinfulness, not keeping well to their rule. It's a difficult time, when people must change their beliefs according to the whim of the king, and finding the murderer won't be easy when so many have something to hide. Took me a while to get into this but I ended up really enjoying it - look forward to the next in the series!

Travelling on to penelopewanders who is next in the ray.

I do prefer to start a series at the beginning - this has arrived here in Switzerland - or rather, it was waiting for me with a number or other books when I arrived back from my holidays. It looks like I might be last in this ray- if not, please set me straight! With a new school term starting up and other books which will have to travel further, I might wait a bit before picking this one up (unless I'm mistaken about being at the end). Meanwhile, thanks for sending and making it available. I look forward to it!