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Book Review
Jun. 5th, 2026 09:06 pmSovereign
by C.J. Sansom
This is the third Matthew Shardlake mystery, set during the later days of Henry VIII's reign. Shardlake is sent along on the king's great Progress in the north of England. The King is there to gain the submission of a formerly rebellious region of his realm. Shardlake is there at Archbishop Cranmer's behest to ensure the prisoner Broderick, a member of a conspiracy against the king, is kept in good enough health to be transported to London for questioning by the torturers of the Tower. When a glazier in York fall to his death, Shardlake finds himself a target of a dangerous and murderous conspiracy.
This mystery was very intricate and clever. There were multiple threads to it, and more than one culprit. It's also more than just a murder mystery, it has aspects of a thriller based around a deep conspiracy. I liked the way the story explored the intricacies of Tudor politics and court life as well as the machinations of power, status, and lineage. Shardlake is such a relatable character. He's very smart and observant, but also kind of grumpy and touchy and sometimes difficult.
by C.J. Sansom
This is the third Matthew Shardlake mystery, set during the later days of Henry VIII's reign. Shardlake is sent along on the king's great Progress in the north of England. The King is there to gain the submission of a formerly rebellious region of his realm. Shardlake is there at Archbishop Cranmer's behest to ensure the prisoner Broderick, a member of a conspiracy against the king, is kept in good enough health to be transported to London for questioning by the torturers of the Tower. When a glazier in York fall to his death, Shardlake finds himself a target of a dangerous and murderous conspiracy.
This mystery was very intricate and clever. There were multiple threads to it, and more than one culprit. It's also more than just a murder mystery, it has aspects of a thriller based around a deep conspiracy. I liked the way the story explored the intricacies of Tudor politics and court life as well as the machinations of power, status, and lineage. Shardlake is such a relatable character. He's very smart and observant, but also kind of grumpy and touchy and sometimes difficult.
