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8 Local Warehouse Mystery- A to Z

Dissolution

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Dissolution Cover

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

 

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 protégé, 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 protégé uncover 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.

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About the Author

C. J. Sansom earned a Ph.D. in history and was a lawyer before becoming a full-time writer.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 5 comments:
Donald McDougall, January 30, 2013 (view all comments by Donald McDougall)
I have read all of Sansom's book. Dissolution is the first in the series and nearly the best. I very much enjoyed the tale. Historical fiction from a very interesting time in the history of England, and about an important matter which most experts do not know much detail about -- the dissolution of the monasteries. I think it is well worth reading and I am now ordering it for a friend.
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Anna Hernandez, September 1, 2011 (view all comments by Anna Hernandez)
Another book I couldn't put down. I've been to several of the places that the characters describe so I was transported there but not to modern day but to the middle of the reign of Henry VIII, that's how good the historical research in this book it. The characters are well drawn and the dialogue is beautifully written. You actually feel like you could be friends with the main character so that during his trials and tribulations you yearn to reach out and comfort him. The author’s view of the political reasons behind the dissolutions of the monasteries and the religious upheavals is also very interesting.
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Kristen M, February 7, 2010 (view all comments by Kristen M)
I thought that this one was well put together with a good plot and tone. It was a little slow-going to start and didn't really have much build-up until the very end but it was still engaging and interesting. The topic is the dissolution of the British monasteries after the rise of the Church of England. This particular Benedictine monastery happens to be the site of the murder of a government official and Shardlake is sent to investigate. This isn't a time period that I have read a lot about so I feel like there is more to learn from Sansom.
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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
Subject:
Mystery Historical
Copyright:
2004
Edition Description:
Trade Paper
Series:
Matthew Shardlake Mysteries
Publication Date:
20040431
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 12
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Inlcude endpaper art from hard cover in
Pages:
416
Dimensions:
8.10x4.90x.74 in. .58 lbs.
Age Level:
from 18
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Related Subjects

Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Mystery » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Mystery » Historical

Dissolution Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$6.50 In Stock
Product details 416 pages Penguin Books - English 9780142004302 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

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.

by Mark
"Review" by , "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."
"Review" by , "With this cunningly plotted and darkly atmospheric effort, Sansom proves himself to be a promising newcomer."
"Synopsis" by ,

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 protégé uncover 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.

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