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Tombland
- The Shardlake Series, Book 7
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 37 hrs and 41 mins
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Tombland
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Summary
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.
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What listeners say about Tombland
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jim__Leeder
- 26-10-18
Superb - Samson’s best yet
Matthew Shardlake investigates a brutal murder in Norfolk while caught up in the widespread popular revolts against corrupt and unjust rulers.
With a wide range of characters from paupers to Royalty, the story is gripping from start to finish.
The backdrop is people’s revolt and war, enriched with lots of detail about the period. Personal touches brining to life the city of Norwich, rhe countryside and the rebel camps.
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19 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deborah Talbot
- 08-06-20
Exceptional book in another Tudor murder mystery
Love the Shardlake detective sagas. I enjoy all of these books & the narrator is great. I recommend you read the Shardlake books I the correct order to appreciate his developing relationships & his career
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Colour Tree
- 02-12-21
Kett’s Rebellion
Being fascinated with Kett’s Rebellion and Norwich history I jumped at the chance to listen to the book in audio format. This is a good tale well written and based on historical facts. It kept me fully enthralled all the way through it’s many hours of listening.
There is an added bonus at the end of the book of an essay exploring the Rebellion in the wider context. I studied History at the UEA in the 1990s and when looking to write an essay about Kett was bemused by the lack of written material on him.
As I wonder around the beautiful city of Norwich today, I like to imagine the land and buildings as they once stood. This book has enhanced my knowledge of events during Kett’s Rebellion and introduced me to this wonderful author and the Shardlake series which I will look out for once I’ve re read the book again of course! An excellent read/ listen.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Keith Hare
- 27-03-19
Good, Although detail overshadows the plot
Fantastically detailed, and brilliantly narrated, this latest Shardlake instalment provides a vivid account of the Norfolk uprising of 1549, and a version of Robert Kett as a 'hero of the people' rather than the more traditional view as a dangerous rebel.
It’s a long stretch though, weighing in at 37 hours, and feels consistently as if the plot is subservient to the author’s meticulously researched retelling of the rebellion and, more generally, the political pulse of the time.
I love the Shardlake series but I am somewhat ashamed to admit I listened on 1.75x speed for the second half of the book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Seayeaitch
- 21-01-19
Superbly written
And so the story continues bringing together the Shardlake group and introducing new characters and old adversaries CJS writes superbly and Steven Crossley brings the story alive this is a perfect partnership.I am now looking forward to the next instalment.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M. J. Veness
- 05-12-18
Great book!
First one of Sansom's novels I've listened to, read all the others, as always a great story, even has all the historical notes.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Garethman
- 22-07-19
Excellent primer to poorly known era of English history.
Excellent story well based in historical fact..Shardlake is a great character with complexities that add interest to the book. Make it your next purchase !
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- rachel sparrowhawk
- 15-07-19
can't stop listening
like all the others you feel like your in the story. feeling smells and sounds. need to be made in to BBC television series
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Louis Hall
- 14-11-18
Just a vehicle to write about Kett.
I have loved the books so far. I thought that this one was slightly too long, and a touch repetitive at times. That is not to say it isn't a good listen.
It is just not quite a enjoyable as previous ones. It felt like Shardlake had been really crow-barred into the mouse hill narrative. So much so, that his Boleyn murder plot line became a bit trite, and was wrapped up in a rushed way. X, Y, and Z just happen to walk by at the end, as he leaves Norwich to have a little chat about how their part in the story finishes. With most people confessing to Shardlake in an almost James Bond villain (before Bond escapes from the sharks) way.
The author obviously really really wanted to write about Kett, and this was his vehicle. The Historical note at the end, is almost the best bit of the book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bookthrower
- 08-05-21
Would Matthew Shardlake have enjoyed this novel?
I loved the first six Shardlake novels, because I became very fond of the main characters. I enjoyed the plots and the history was interesting. I could describe Shardlake as a disabled James Bond-style hero (i.e. he gets involved in political plots and intrigues and is saved many times, at the last second, usually by his own cleverness, from seemingly certain death.) Shardlake, however, is much more honourable and compassionate, far less arrogant, and generally nicer, than Bond.
I enjoyed the characters and plot just as much in "Tombland" as in the other novels, but like some other reviewers, I felt there was too much detail about, for example, living conditions in the rebels' camp, their plans and theories, battle strategies (no doubt interesting to some, but not me) etc. Shardlake and his companions spent too much time wallowing in dust/ heat and/or mud while nothing much was happening except occasional insults and threats, more occasional acts of friendship, plus quite a lot of stew-cooking. If novels had been available then, to help them while away the time, I wonder if they would have wanted to read about people whiling away time whilst stuck in a camp?
I
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