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Sovereign

A Gripping Tudor Conspiracy from the Bestselling Historical Series

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Sovereign

By: C. J. Sansom
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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About this listen

Following on from Dissolution and Dark Fire, Sovereign is the third gripping historical novel in C. J. Sansom's number one bestselling Shardlake series, for fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory.

‘Sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. Like Hilary Mantel, he produces densely textured historical novels that absorb their readers in another time’ - Andrew Taylor, Spectator

Autumn, 1541: King Henry VIII has set out on a spectacular Progress to the North to attend an extravagant submission of his rebellious subjects in York.

Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak. As well as assisting with legal work processing petitions to the King, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission for the Archbishop Cranmer – to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator being returned to London for interrogation.

But the murder of a local glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. And when Shardlake and Barak stumble upon a cache of secret papers which could threaten the Tudor throne, a chain of events unfolds that will lead to Shardlake facing the most terrifying fate of the age . . .

Continue the number one bestselling historical series with Revelation, Heartstone, Lamentation and Tombland.

 Christian Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Royalty Fiction Exciting Tudor

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Critic reviews

I have enjoyed C. J. Sansom's series of historical novels set in Tudor England progressively more and more. Sovereign, following Dissolution and Dark Fire, is the best so far . . . Sansom has the perfect mixture of novelistic passion and historical detail. (Antonia Fraser)
Even if heart-pounding suspense and stomach-tightening tension were all Sansom’s writing brought to the table, few would feel short-changed. Added to these gifts is a superb approximation of the crucible of fear, treachery and mistrust that was Tudor England, and a memorably blood-swollen portrait of the ogreish Henry’s inhumane kingship. A parchment-turner, and a regal one at that.
Not only a great detective novel but also a fabulous insight into the historical happenings of the Tudor period, this book is an absorbing read.
A dazzling conspiracy theory novel of the Tudor age.
Third volume of CJ Sansom’s deservedly popular Tudor detective series . . . Between them, Sansom and Starkey have the 16th century licked.
A brilliant evocation of tyranny in Tudor England.
A fine setting for crime fiction and CJ Sansom exploits it superbly . . . Never mind the crime: this is a terrific novel. (Peter Green)
I was enthralled by Sovereign by C. J. Sansom, a novel combining detection with a brilliant description of Henry VIII’s spectacular Progress to the North and its terrifying aftermath. (P.D. James)
A master class in suspense...an age of political and religious convulsion is conjured up with thrilling immediacy. (Peter Kemp)
Both marvellously exciting to read and a totally convincing evocation of England in the reign of Henry VIII.
Sansom has a real knack for bringing the sights, sounds and smells of Tudor times to life and his evocation of a time when your fate could be decided on a whim and England was ruled by a bloated monster make you very glad indeed that, fascinating as it is, you'll never have to witness Shardlake's world first hand.
Sansom brings the colours, sights and sounds of Tudor England brilliantly into the imagination in this gripping historical novel.
The best detective story I’ve read since The Murder of Roger Ackroyd . . . [a] devilishly ingenious whodunit . . . Sansom’s description of the brutality of Tudor life is strong stuff, but he is a master storyteller.
Sansom is excellent on contemporary horrors. This is no herbs-and-frocks version of Tudor England, but a remorseless portrait of a violent, partly lawless country . . . You can lose yourself in this world. (Jane Jakeman)
Dissolution by C J Sansom was an impressive start to a historical fiction series featuring stubborn, admirable Tudor lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Sovereign is the third outing, and this series just gets better and better.
All stars
Most relevant
Can't recommend this brilliant third installment enough. The plot, characters and narration are quite superb. The interweaving of a thriller - mystery with historical events is incredibly rewarding. I can't get enough Shardlake. Thank you, Mr Sansom!

Jesu this is good!

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Steven Crossely does a great job. I like the way he doesn't put on a whiney, high pitched voice when he voices women. He really is Matthew Shardlake!

Excellent

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Loved it and sorry it ended. Another great story and very well narrated. Thank you

Excellent as always

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Story, as I’ve come to expect from c.j sansom, very well plotted, intriguing exciting and absorbing .... can you tell I loved it 😄

Every time, every single time I’ve read or listened to a Shardlake book, I’m dropped into to Tudor times, the sights, smells, it’s atmosphere.

The reader, Stephen Crossley does a really good job, I thought his Barack voice was a little too ‘heavy’ but that apart... there’s nothing I could criticise, if I wanted to..... and I don’t... Sansoms writing is excellent....

Shardlake ! Excellent !

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Although I'd read this story I wanted my first audible to be an engrossing and rich story. I wasn't disappointed. so well read it felt like i was there at the progress.

my first audible really enjoyed it

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