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Welcome to our Jan/Feb 23 buddy ready of Dissolution by C.J. Sansom (Shardlake #1) first published in 2003.

Dissolution is the first in the phenomenal Shardlake series by bestselling author, C. J. Sansom, followed by Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone and Lamentation.

It is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in England since 1066. Henry VIII has proclaimed himself Supreme Head of the Church and the country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers ever seen. Under the order of Thomas Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent through the country to investigate the monasteries. There can only be one outcome: the monasteries are to be dissolved.

But on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Cromwell's Commissioner Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body.

His horrific murder is accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege - a black cockerel sacrificed on the altar, and the disappearance of Scarnsea's Great Relic.

Dr Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell into this atmosphere of treachery and death. But Shardlake's investigation soon forces him to question everything he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes . . .

The series is as follows:
Shardlake
1. Dissolution (2003)
2. Dark Fire (2004)
3. Sovereign (2006)
4. Revelation (2008)
5. Heartstone (2010)
6. Lamentation (2014)
7. Tombland (2018)

Join us in 2023 to discover, or rediscover, this popular historical mystery series.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

As it's the weekend, I'm just opening up all our new buddy reads, with thanks as ever to Susan for the introductions.

Who is reading this one? Exciting to be starting to read this acclaimed series together.

The spoiler thread is linked below:/topic/show/...

I've started this and am really enjoying it although I haven't had time to get all that far in as yet - hoping to do better over the next day or two! I'm liking the character of Shardlake and all the layers of historical detail.

Interesting also to read this after reading the Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel, and see a different angle on Cromwell.

Yes, Cromwell is more traditionally portrayed here, Judy. I've read this a few times - have you read it before?

The series doesn't really get into its stride until the second book, but this is a good introduction to Shardlake.

Hi Susan, no, I've never read this series before. Good to hear that it gets even better!

I also have a non-series book by C.J. Sansom, Winter in Madrid, so should move that one up my list.

Good to hear, Judy. This is one of my favourites. I am hoping enough people want to read on to add the second to our long buddy read list.

I am in and glad to be 'forced' to continue. I recently read the second book, a couple of years after the first, and was glad to revisit Shardlake's beginning. Didn't remember who done it. Hope some members will join us moderators, as I intend to read more.

Well, only need 2 for a buddy read, mods or not, so looking promising if all 3 of us are reading it!

I reread this one, gladly! I read the whole series, as they were published, and had forgotten much of what happened to Shardlake in this first book. It was great to reconnect with these characters at their first appearance, and to see who is still around at the last book (view spoiler)[(Shardlake and housekeeper Joan are the only two, I believe- testament to the tumultuous times to come!) Also, fascinating to see the first cracks in Shardlake’s rose-colored glasses about the aims, ideals, and likely outcomes of religious reform. This is a continuing thread throughout this stellar historical series, so interesting to revisit our melancholy hero at the beginning of his journey. (hide spoiler)]

I plan to continue rereading the series, it spanned over many years, and I originally had to wait at least a year for each new book. It was easy to forget developments. I borrowed the book from my library, and was able to get the audiobook through scribd, a nice enhancement to the story.

I started this series late last year on audiobook, and have just finished the third. Loving the series so far. As I read it only recently I won’t reread, but it’s fresh enough in my mind to hopefully join the discussion!

Great that you both enjoy the series too, Susan in NC and Julie. Looking good for more buddy reads!

I've seen a recent report that Disney Plus is planning to adapt the series for TV, and hopes to film four episodes in the UK this year.
No casting details yet but the director is said to be Justin Chadwick, who directed the film of The Other Boleyn Girl and a series called Becoming Elizabeth about the young Elizabeth I.


Does anyone have any thoughts on who would be good to play Shardlake? The BBC did plan to make a series starring Kenneth Branagh years ago, but it never happened and I think he would be a bit old now (he's about the same age as me, early 60s) and is also tied up with all his films.

Judy wrote: "Great that you both enjoy the series too, Susan in NC and Julie. Looking good for more buddy reads!

I've seen a recent report that Disney Plus is planning to adapt the series for TV, and hopes to ..."

Thank you, my old hardcover library book said something on the back flap about Kenneth B developing Shardlake for film, and I think that has been mentioned in the past here. I wondered whatever happened! I am surprised, with all the “Tudor-mania� stirred up by the books and film adaptations of the Hilary Mantel and Boleyn books (years ago, now!), I would have thought this would have been a hit!

I’m afraid I’m not up on current actors, haven’t been a filmgoer for years, but I remember the actor who played Cromwell in the Mantel adaptations for TV, with his sad eyes. But playing Cromwell, then playing a lawyer working for him, might not work for viewers. Matthew’s so melancholy and serious, it would have to be someone who could pull that off, and I believe he mentions in this book he’s almost 40? Of course, 40 then is probably more like 60-65 nowadays!

Judy wrote: "Great that you both enjoy the series too, Susan in NC and Julie. Looking good for more buddy reads!

I've seen a recent report that Disney Plus is planning to adapt the series for TV, and hopes to ..."

Thanks for the article link, Judy - I would only echo the one comment, “please don’t screw this up, please don’t screw this up, please don’t screw this up…� ;)

I've read the first couple of this series quite recently so will join the later buddy reads and will follow the discussions of the first two.

Good news, Frances. Glad we have started these as I think I stopped about halfway through and this makes me finish.

This has been on my list for a while, so I´ll read this too, but a little later. :)

This is also on my physical bookshelf. Unfortunately I just don’t have the time to start it right now, but will return to comment when I’ve read it, down the road.