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Tombland

Shardlake, Book 7

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Tudor England is brought vividly to life in Tombland, the seventh novel in C. J. Sansom's number one bestselling Shardlake series, for fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory.

'When it comes to intriguing Tudor-based narratives, Hilary Mantel has a serious rival' - Sunday Times
‘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

The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller

England, 1549: Two years after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos . . .

The nominal king, Edward VI, is eleven years old. His uncle Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, rules as Protector. The extirpation of the old religion by radical Protestants is stirring discontent among the populace while the Protector’s prolonged war with Scotland is proving a disastrous failure and threatens to involve France. Worst of all, the economy is in collapse, inflation rages and rebellion is stirring among the peasantry.

Since the old King’s death, Matthew Shardlake has been working as a lawyer in the service of Henry’s younger daughter, the Lady Elizabeth. The gruesome murder of Edith Boleyn, the wife of John Boleyn – a distant Norfolk relation of Elizabeth's mother – which could have political implications for Elizabeth, brings Shardlake and his assistant Nicholas Overton to the summer assizes at Norwich. There they are reunited with Shardlake’s former assistant Jack Barak. The three find layers of mystery and danger surrounding Edith's death, as a second murder is committed.

And then East Anglia explodes, as peasant rebellion breaks out across the country. The yeoman Robert Kett leads a force of thousands in overthrowing the landlords and establishing a vast camp outside Norwich. Soon the rebels have taken over the city, England’s second largest.

Barak throws in his lot with the rebels; Nicholas, opposed to them, becomes a prisoner in Norwich Castle; while Shardlake has to decide where his ultimate loyalties lie, as government forces in London prepare to march north and destroy the rebels. Meanwhile he discovers that the murder of Edith Boleyn may have connections reaching into both the heart of the rebel camp and of the Norfolk gentry . . .

This is the seventh stunning novel in the bestselling Shardlake series, that began with Dissolution. Includes an Historical Essay from the author on Reimagining Kett's Rebellion.

 Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Crime Royalty England Fiction Tudor War Murder Marriage

Critic reviews

Tudor England of 1549 is effortlessly evoked. The murder mystery absorbs, the characters are vivid and the history is seductive, but it's the author's inclusive humanity that lingers (Elizabeth Buchan)
Tudor terror tingles through C. J. Sansom's murder mystery novels . . . With remarkable expertise, sustained over more than 850 pages, Sansom weaves together a wide cast of characters and knits his murder story into a vivid tapestry of little-known historical happenings (Peter Kemp)
Sansom handles his huge cast with aplomb. This is a totally immersive and vividly written tale: compelling reading for history lovers and crime aficionados alike (Laura Wilson)
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)
Sansom blends impeccable historical research with a bloody good whodunnit
Sansom has the rare knack of bringing the past to life in three dimensions . . . The honest Shardlake shines like a beacon
With the Shardlake series . . . Sansom has surely established himself as one of the best novelists around
Tudor England has never seemed so vibrantly alive and viscerally authentic than in the pages of the extraordinary Matthew Shardlake novels and after a four-year wait, C.J. Sansom’s mild-mannered, middle-aged, hunchback lawyer makes a magnificent return.
Shardlake is a superb creation who gains more substance with each new book . . . A grand historical epic . . . 800 pages in Shardlake's company will always fly by (Stephanie Merritt)
I really don’t think crime writing comes much better than this, and as always with Sansom there is a wealth of enjoyment in his rich storytelling . . . This novel may have been four years in the making but it was well worth the wait.
Few writers can keep readers interested over the length of 866 pages, but C. J. Sansom is one of those . . . Built on substantial research and written with such confidence that the prose is both smooth and colourful, Tombland is a superb achievement
Yet again C. J. Sansom has produced a novel so rich in historical detail and colour that the reader feels immersed in Tudor England
A compelling story that rises above the stink of stables and open sewers . . . The marketplaces and hovels zing off the page, as does the colourful Norfolk dialect
When it comes to intriguing Tudor-based narratives, Hilary Mantel has a serious rival . . . A Scottish historian who had a career in law before turning to fiction, Sansom finds an ideal protagonist in Matthew Shardlake, the humane hunchbacked lawyer-sleuth, in his Tudor novels
A book to curl up with . . . At 880 pages it's a real doorstopper, but the inventive plot is a delight, and the characterization is as strong as ever
CJ Sansom’s books are arguably the best Tudor novels going
All stars
Most relevant
I think the reviewer above has made a mistake. Steven Crossley has narrated ALL of the unabridged Shardlake books (I have all of them), perhaps whoever ‘Anton’ is narrates the abridged ones and the reviewer made a mistake and thought they’d bought that. Not sure! But Steven Crossley has narrated all of the series and the voices are exactly the same as normal. I write this so no one is put off by reading an erroneous review.

The book itself is great, just as all the others have been, perhaps a little more intricate than some of the previous ones which I personally love. Shardlake himself is the same as ever, a nice mixture of sympathetic and harsh! I’m so glad Barack is still in it as I was disappointed when I thought he may be written out, but he’s here!

It’s nice that we’ve moved forward a little historically too. This particular period isn’t much written about (when Edward was King and Elizabeth just ‘Lady Elizabeth’ and so that made it interesting too.

It’s long, which I also loved, having waited for months for this novel!

If you like the Shardlake series, you will LOVE this. Personally, I would not have bought it if anyone other than Steven Crossley had narrated as I love his characterisations and he is consistent (which doesn't always happen).

It’s also not quite as brutal as some of the other historical novels encompassing this period of history, it has its gruesome bits, but it’s not the main focus of the story.

Enjoy it!

Another Great Book

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For the clever sods slagging Steven Crossley...
Anton Lesser ONLY narrates the ABRIDGED versions of the Shardlake novels...
No doubt I won’t be the last to mention their whinging errors...
Here’s an idea...
Wait for the abridged goldfish version and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed

Excellent Narration!!

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Much anticipated book which slightly disappointed. Unlike the previous books this one contains a plethora of historical details which in part detract from the storyline and account for the length of the book which I found way too long. The narrative in places would have been more at home in a book setting out on a non-fictional journey so overall I was disappointed with the book and couldn’t wait for it to finish. Compare it with the length of previous books especially the earlier ones.

Very detailed historical accounts

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Another great story from C J. Sansom
I thoroughly enjoyed it and as always it was narrated beautifully. it was really interesting to hear about the little known story of Robert Kett and from both sides

So good to have Shardlake back

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Finally I reached the end of the series, completing Tombland, which I never wanted to end.

We are now on 1549 and our hero, Shardlake, is called upon by the Lady Elizabeth, for whom he acts with minor legal work, to investigate the foul murder of the wife of a distant cousin, John Boleyn, who stands accused and whose trial is about to take place in Norfolk.

This story is double edged as the murder investigation is about to take place as the peasantry are becoming restless. 
Together with his assistant Nicolas Overton and aided, again, by the faithful and wonderful Barak, the three manage to become embroiled in the Kett Rebellion.

Edward V1 is eleven years old and the Lord Protector, his uncle Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, is faced with an economy in collapse, problems with Scotland (of his own doing) and, as a result, with France, radical Protestants are causing much religious unrest and the peasants have had much common land fenced in cutting their livelihoods beyond acceptance.

As ever, Sansom has powerfully presented in this novel the awful treatment of the lower classes and the ruthless disregard for poor. His description of the camps and conditions takes the reader to the very heart of the day.

Through his dynamic character of Shardlake, we are treated to a man of humanity, kindness and intelligence.

We are given an understanding of the suppression of the lower classes and the value of a strong and fair leader in Kett who would always pose a threat to the wealthy of the day whose entitlement outweighed any intellect or compassion.

The book contains a rich historical notation at its start, and a strong bibliography at its end.

And so ends a series of such power that each novel served to teach the reader far more about the period through powerful writing of stunning fictional tales woven into historical fact, perfect continuity and mystery.

The characters became friends, some of whom we lost, and when we did the pain was quite real.

In this I must, again, mention the great Steven Crossley. An actor and award winning narrator whose talents and velvet voice brought to life each and every character and made the spoken world one of reality.

As is well know, CJ Sansom was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012 and this book is the last in the series. 

How I will grieve for the characters in the knowledge that with 20 more years left in Shardlake we would have been in for a treat through the Bloody Mary's reign and glory as Elizabeth 1 took control.

It will be a poorer literary world without the works of this fine author. 

Farewell Matthew Shardlake - What a majestic book

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