DissolutionDissolution is the debut novel in C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake series, a gripping historical mystery set during the turbulent reign of King Henry VIII and his infamous Chief Minister, Thomas Cromwell. It's 1536, and the Catholic Church is under siege in Britain. The Dissolution of the Monasteries is underway – a brutal campaign that will leave no monastery standing by 1540. Tensions are sky-high, splitting the country between loyalists to King Henry and those clinging to the Cathol...

This is a reread for me, the first in C.J. Sansom's historical series set in Tudor England. It introduces lawyer Matthew Shardlake, a compelling character afflicted by a physical deformity that causes him constant pain. Henry VIII has ordered the dissolution of the monasteries, intending to profit handsomely. This has created a febrile atmosphere of religious unrest, with Catholics hunted and executions commonplace. It is 1537, and a weary, unhappy Shardlake is summoned by the much-feared Lord T...

The first book in a truly excellent series. I read it several years ago and highly recommend it.

This series is among the best historical fiction written about the era of Henry VIII.
A pure delight.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, especially those set in Tudor England, C.J. Sansom's *Dissolution* is a must-read. It's a captivating blend of historical detail and suspenseful storytelling that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. A top pick for fans of historical fiction book reviews!

I've always had a soft spot for historical mysteries, and *Dissolution* by C.J. Sansom is a prime example of the genre, at least for me. This book definitely earns its place among the best book reviews I've written. *Dissolution* is the first book in the Matthew Shardlake series. The story unfolds during the reign of the infamous King Henry VIII, and features a hunchbacked lawyer in the service of the equally famous and controversial Thomas Cromwell. The title itself hints at the novel's subject...

I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction book, recommended by my Goodreads friend Ingrid. *Dissolution* by C.J. Sansom is set in 1537 England, a turbulent time. Henry VIII has broken away from the Catholic Church, and the country is deeply divided between those loyal to the new Church of England, with Henry VIII at its head, and those still faithful to the Catholic Church. A royal commissioner is murdered in the monastery of Scarnsea, located on the southeast coast of England. Thomas Cro...

5★“He [Thomas Cromwell] was holding up a casket [small box] and studying the contents with a contemptuous frown, his wide, narrow-lipped mouth down-turned above his lantern chin. His jaw held thus made me think of a great trap that at any moment might open and swallow one whole with a casual gulp.”And with a brutal gulp, Cromwell dissolved and swallowed the monasteries across England, beginning with smaller ones in 1536 and completing the dissolution of even the largest old ones by 1540, pension...

Even though I read a lot of history, I've never been a huge fan of historical fiction. So, when one of my book clubs picked C.J. Sansom's *Dissolution* as our monthly read, I approached it with some hesitation. But for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised and ended up enjoying *Dissolution* more than I expected. *Dissolution* is set in England during a couple of brutally cold and snowy weeks in 1537. This is shortly after King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church and established the C...

I very rarely bother with crime novels. The genre feels overdone and, well, a little bit boring. To me it all looks like the same regurgitated story. I blame the terrible police dramas on television; they make me yawn when I see how stupid they are. I did a two-year course in forensic science, and it never ceases to amaze me how the writers of these television shows think that wearing gloves will therefore mean that the crime scene is not contaminated by the otherwise exposed investigators. Neve...

"'This is not Thomas More's Utopia, a nation of innocent savages waiting only for God's word to complete their happiness. This is a violent realm, stewed in the corruption of a decadent church.''I know.''The papists will use every means to prevent us from building the Christian commonwealth, and so God's blood I will use every means to overcome them.''I am sorry if my judgement erred.''Some say you are soft, Matthew,' he said quietly. 'Lacking in fire and godly zeal, even perhaps in loyalty.'Lor...

In C.J. Sansom's debut novel, *Dissolution*, the first in this Tudor-era series, he lays a solid foundation for what promises to be a great set of historical mysteries. After King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries across England, Thomas Cromwell dispatched commissioners to enforce the new rules swiftly. When one of these men, Robin Singleton, is found murdered at the Scarnsea monastery, Cromwell orders an investigation. He turns to Matthew Shardlake, entrusting him to find the killer a...