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Dissolution

by C J Sansom

Dissolution Cover

ISBN13: 9780142004302
ISBN10: 0142004308
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

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Staff Pick

With extremely good writing and a clever interweaving of history, C. J. Sansom has introduced a new mystery series that focuses on Tudor England and a protagonist who works for Thomas Cromwell. I'm looking forward to further investigations by this sharp, new character.
Recommended by Mark, Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

It is the winter of 1537 and England is divided into those faithful to the Catholic Church and those loyal to the King and the newly established Church of England. Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's feared vicar-general, crusades against the old Church with savage new laws, rigged trials, and a vast network of informers. Queen Anne Boleyn has been beheaded and monasteries are being dissolved-their treasures pillaged and their lands eyed greedily by courtiers and country gentry. But having put down one people's rebellion, Cromwell fears another might topple the realm. So, when one of his commissioners is murdered in the monastery at Scarnsea on the south coast of England, he enlists his fellow reformer, Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer renowned as "the sharpest hunchback in the courts of England," to head the inquiry.

When Shardlake and his young clerk and protg, Mark Poer, arrive at Scarnsea, the two are greeted with thinly veiled hostility and suspicion as their investigation quickly uncovers evidence of sexual misconduct, embezzlement, and treason. While the community of brothers is revealed to be far less pious than they would seem, Shardlake himself is shocked to discover truths about Cromwell that undermine his own beliefs and threaten to cost him his faith, and even his life. But when a novice is poisoned and a year-old corpse dredged up from a nearby pond, Shardlake must act quickly to prevent the killer from murdering again

Exciting and elegant, Dissolution is a riveting historical novel and a brilliant debut by a writer who is sure to attract fans of Iain Pears, Ellis Peters, and Umberto Eco.

Review:

"Reminiscent of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose (without much of the intellectual discourse), Sansom's first novel will not disappoint fans of historical fiction." Booklist

Review:

"With this cunningly plotted and darkly atmospheric effort, Sansom proves himself to be a promising newcomer." Publishers Weekly

Synopsis:

Exciting and elegantly written, Dissolution is an utterly compelling first novel and a riveting portrayal of Tudor England. The year is 1537, and the country is divided between those faithful to the Catholic Church and those loyal to the king and the newly established Church of England. When a royal commissioner is brutally murdered in a monastery on the south coast of England, Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's feared vicar general, summons fellow reformer Matthew Shardlake to lead the inquiry. Shardlake and his young protguncover evidence of sexual misconduct, embezzlement, and treason, and when two other murders are revealed, they must move quickly to prevent the killer from striking again.

About the Author

C. J. Sansom earned a Ph.D. in history and was a lawyer before becoming a full-time writer.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
nutfarm, August 4, 2009 (view all comments by nutfarm)
For escapist mystery these Shardlake books are fabulous, intriguing and historic. I recommend this one first and then they just get better. You won't be able to put any of them down!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780142004302
Other:
Sansom, C. J.
Publisher:
Penguin Books
Other:
Sansom, C. J.
Author:
Sansom, C. J.
Subject:
General
Subject:
History
Subject:
Religious - General
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - Historical
Subject:
Monks
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - General
Subject:
Historical fiction
Subject:
Mystery fiction
Publication Date:
May 2004
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
400
Dimensions:
8.10x4.90x.74 in. .58 lbs.

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