Anybody tried C J Sansom?

I've only recently come across this writer. He's published four books so far set in Tudor England with his lawyer-cum-sleuth Shardlake. Even the posh broadsheets are praising him. You really get a sense of the turbulent times of mid-16th century England. The last one published is Revelation. (touchstone is wrong)

Yes! I enjoyed Dissolution and Dark Fire, but haven't kept up with the series so far - will catch up with the rest later, if you recommend them?

I remember thinking Shardlake a sympathetic 'tec, and that Sansom had a good eye for imagery (the mangy dying parrots, for starters!)

I am a big fan of Sansom! I read Dissolution, Dark Fire, and Sovereign. I just now did a search on amazon (I forgot the name of the third book so was looking it up) and Revelation is listed for sale...but I've never seen it in bookstores, and on amazon it's listed as published by Random House Canada and only available from independent sellers so I guess it's not out in the US yet? Then again there's no future publishing date listed. Maybe hasn't been announced or something.

Bibliotheque, I'd certainly give Sovereign a whirl. I read an interview with Sansom where he stated that he tries to think of special "situations" for Shardlake in each novel. Dissolution was sort of a closed-society mystery (the equivalent of the snowed-in resort or lonely country house), Dark Fire was a "quest" novel, and Sovereign was a political thriller.

I thought Sovereign was really well-done, and the politics and dangers and mysteries were all tied together really well. Setting the story in York, this northern outpost of a city which is more or less hostile to Henry VIII, was a great idea as well. I always enjoy stories where there are attempts on the life of the investigator, it gives things a somewhat creepy air. I agree that Shardlake is an excellent idea for an amateur detective. At once he's a pariah, yet he has access to the higher levels of government. Plus you can't beat Renaissance England for a historical setting.

Just saw this thread having arrived home from holiday and wanted to let you know that I bought Revelation in large format paperback at the airport! By my reckoning that usually means the p/b will be in the shops any day soon.

I'm currently reading Dissolution and am finding it a pretty good read about 2/3rds done.

I read Dissolution a few months back, and loved it! It was one of those books I thought about when I was doing something else, and I couldn't wait to get back to it. I look forward to reading the next one, Dark Fire, I think.

We read Dissolution for one of my mystery discussion groups a couple months ago, and I really enjoyed it. Plan to read more in the series--eventually.

I have read all of C. J. Sansom's books--just finished Revelation. They are all great historical fiction. The Book Depository is a good source, at the moment, for Revelation.

I'm waiting to get Dissolution (it's on order)--I already have the second two in the series, but I wanted to start at the beginning. I also have Winter in Madrid, so I'll soon have a wealth of Sansom to read.

Oh, boy. Another author to add to the ever-growing, pretty much out-of-control ATBR list. Thanks.

;-b (Just kidding. I'm always thrilled to find fresh meat, er, new authors/books/series.)

Yes, I've read all of his stuff. I really like the series. I gave all his books four to five stars. Also, if you liked these, try the novel Wolf Hall.

I read his Tudor mysteries last winter , Sovereign being my favourite. Dissolution, the first one, was not the best one of the series, allthough the history of the dissolution of the monasteries and its consequences was fascinating reading for me. Wolf Hall I enjoyed immensely, but there were not so few moments when I liked Sansom more, his Shardlake being as interesting a character as Mantel's Cromwell.

Winter in Madrid is still on my TBR pile.