By Larry Mazzeno

Last month I finished reading C. J. Sansom’s Revelation, the fourth novel in his Matthew Shardlake mystery series. If you are one of those people who likes to read mysteries, is a fan of history, and enjoys long novels with lots of serious sub-plots, Sansom’s novels may be just the ticket.

The Shardlake mysteries are set in Tudor England. Henry VIII is on the throne and making changes, especially with respect to religion. People are taking sides, some remaining loyal to the Roman Catholic Church, some eagerly accepting Henry’s reforms, and a few going even farther than the King wishes, embracing the teaching of radicals like John Calvin who would do away with all church hierarchy. Sansom’s hero, a lawyer born a hunchback, is among the reformers but loyal to the King. In the first of Sansom’s novels, Dissolution, Shardlake is tasked by the King’s most trusted advisor, Thomas Cromwell, to discover the murderer of one of the commissioners assigned to close down the Catholic monasteries and transfer their riches to the Crown. In the second, Dark Fire, Shardlake must solve more than one murder and try to keep Lord Cromwell from falling out of favor with the King. The third, Sovereign, and fourth, Revelation, follow a similar pattern. With each succeeding novel, Sansom manages to make his plots more involved and the danger to Shardlake more immediate. 

I recommend these novels for several reasons. First, they are exceptionally well constructed. Small details planted in early chapters become important clues to one or more of the crimes Shardlake must solve.

Second, they provide a detailed glimpse into an exciting and controversial period of history. Not only will you learn much about court intrigue, but you’ll get a real education in everyday life during the early sixteenth century.

Third, the ‘back story’ for these novels is often as compelling as the ‘who-done-it’ that drives the action. Sansom provides insight into social inequities, class and racial prejudice, sociological trends, and especially religious issues that dominated life during these turbulent times. While a few critics have complained about the amount of detailed description in his work, those of us who love a good mystery and want to learn how people lived and thought in ages past will discover that reading Sansom’s novels is a rewarding experience.