Shardlake Books in Order
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The Shardlake series by C. J. Sansom consists of seven historical mystery novels published between 2003 and 2019, set in 16th century Tudor England. The series centers on Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer and barrister whose work involves legal and investigative tasks, often intersecting with royal and ecclesiastical affairs. The first six novels are set during the reign of Henry VIII, while the seventh, Tombland, is set two years after the king's death. Each novel is grounded in historical events and settings, reflecting the political and religious upheaval of the period. The series explores themes of justice, power, and morality within the context of the Tudor era. The series began with Dissolution in 2003. C. J. Sansom indicated prior to his death that he intended to write additional novels featuring Shardlake during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Publication order
In the order the books were originally released.
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Buy on Amazon2003 · C. J. Sansom
Dissolution (2003) is a historical mystery novel by British author C. J. Sansom. It is Sansom's first published novel and the first in the Matthew…
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Buy on Amazon2004 · C. J. Sansom
It is 1540 during the hottest summer of the sixteenth century. Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer, believes he is out of favor with Thomas Cromwell. He is…
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2006 · C. J. Sansom
Sovereign is a 2006 historical mystery novel by British author C. J. Sansom, his fourth novel and the third in the Matthew Shardlake series. Set in…
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Buy on Amazon2008 · C. J. Sansom
In Revelation, the third novel in the Shardlake series, the year is 1543, and King Henry VIII is pursuing Lady Catherine Parr, a woman who supports…
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Buy on Amazon2010 · C. J. Sansom
Summer, 1545: England is at war after Henry VIII's invasion of France goes badly wrong, and a massive French fleet prepares to sail across the…
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Buy on Amazon2014 · C. J. Sansom
In this 2014 novel by C. J. Sansom, set in summer 1546, King Henry VIII is dying while Protestant and Catholic councillors fight for control of his…
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Buy on Amazon2018 · C. J. Sansom
In 1549, during a time of political turmoil in England, lawyer Matthew Shardlake faces a difficult choice. The country is in chaos under the rule of…
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Shardlake series books in?
Read them in publication order, starting with “Dissolution”. Start with “Dissolution.”
How many books are in the Shardlake series series?
We list 7 books by C. J. Sansom , published between 2003–2018.
Where can I buy the Shardlake series books?
Each title above links to Amazon. See our affiliate disclosure.
More series like Shardlake series
Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.