The dissolution of the monasteries is in full swing during the first book, which takes place in a monastery at Scarnsea but the strong portions of the books are set in amongst the throng of London. Tasked by Thomas Cromwell and latterly Archbishop Cranmer to investigate politically sensitive crimes, he tries to solve several murders while steering clear of falling foul to the many powerful players that vie for position in Henry VIII's favour. Shardlake is a sympathetic character rapidly becoming disillusioned with his former reformist beliefs by the maelstrom of politics, religion, greed and courtly intrigue that rages around him. The first book begins shortly after the execution of Ann Boleyn. They follow the life of a hunchbacked lawyer in the sixteenth century. I discovered them earlier on in the year and have been working steadily through them until now. I've just finished reading the last of the first four Shardlake books by C.J.Sansom.
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