Tombland

Tudor terror tingles through C. J. Sansom’s murder mystery novels … With remarkable expertise, sustained over more than 850 pages, Sansom weaves together a wide cast of characters and knits his murder story into a vivid tapestry of little-known historical happenings * The Sunday Times *Sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. Like Hilary Mantel, he produces densely textured historical novels that absorb their readers in another time – Andrew Taylor * The Spectator *Shardlake is a superb creation who gains more substance with each new book … A grand historical epic … 800 pages in Shardlake’s company will always fly by * Observer *Sansom handles his huge cast with aplomb. This is a totally immersive and vividly written tale: compelling reading for history lovers and crime aficionados alike * The Guardian *Sansom blends impeccable historical research with a bloody good whodunnit * The Times *Sansom has the rare knack of bringing the past to life in three dimensions … The honest Shardlake shines like a beacon * Daily Telegraph *Tudor England of 1549 is effortlessly evoked. The murder mystery absorbs, the characters are vivid and the history is seductive, but it’s the author’s inclusive humanity that lingers * Daily Mail *A book to curl up with … At 880 pages it’s a real doorstopper, but the inventive plot is a delight, and the characterization is as strong as ever * Independent *

C. J. Sansom was educated at Birmingham University, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he retrained as a solicitor and practised in Sussex until becoming a full-time writer. Sansom is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Shardlake series, as well as Winter in Madrid and Dominion. C.J. Sansom died in April 2024.