Dissolution by C J Sansom - A Review

Dissolution is the first in a highly successful series of novels by author C J Sansom, centring on the life of hunch-backed lawyer, Matthew Shardlake.  It is set against the backdrop of Henry VIII’s reign and the dissolution of England’s monasteries, as Henry quarrels with Rome over his divorce of Catherine of Aragon. It is an historical crime thriller which is superbly written and captures the attention from start to finish, expertly interweaving the politics of the period with a gripping murder mystery.

 
Shardlake finds himself caught up in the shadowy world of Thomas Cromwell, despatched to a monastery on the Sussex coast in the middle of winter to investigate the death of one of Cromwell’s commissioners.  With the head severed from the body, it is clear that foul play is afoot.  The monks are under suspicion, and Shardlake’s leaning towards Reform magnifies his distrust and discomfort.  Will they protect their wealth and power at any cost?  Who can he trust throughout his investigation?  To complicate matters even further, Shardlake himself was brought up in a Monastery and often compares the modern day Scarnsea to the monastery of his youth and how the times have changed.

If you have a passing interest in the Tudor period of England, this book will draw you in effortlessly.  As well as a riveting storyline, Sansom peppers his prose with accurate depictions of medieval life and creates a vibrant world without going over the top.  You don’t have to have prior knowledge of this era to appreciate the landscape laid out before your eyes.

You will no doubt feel disappointed when you reach the end of this book – but only because there is no more left to read!  But fear not, dear readers, for there are another four Shardlake novels to date with which to quench your thirst for satisfying historical fiction.  The subsequent books in order are: Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation, and Heartstone.

In summary, this book is a must-read, whether you are a history buff or not.  If you finish this book and can resist reading the others in the series, there is something wrong with you!