--- product_id: 49691936 title: "Dissolution: 1 (The Shardlake series, 1)" price: "€ 0.39" currency: EUR in_stock: false reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/49691936-dissolution-1-the-shardlake-series-1 store_origin: GR region: Greece --- # Dissolution: 1 (The Shardlake series, 1) **Price:** € 0.39 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Dissolution: 1 (The Shardlake series, 1) - **How much does it cost?** € 0.39 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/49691936-dissolution-1-the-shardlake-series-1) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Now a major Disney+ original series 'C. J. Sansom’s books are arguably the best Tudor novels going' – The Sunday Times Dissolution is the first novel in C. J. Sansom’s phenomenal bestselling Shardlake series, perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel and Phillipa Gregory. After one of Cromwell's commissioners is brutally murdered, Matthew Shardlake is drawn into an investigation that becomes darker than he could have ever imagined . . . England, 1537. It is a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in England since 1066. Henry VIII has proclaimed himself Supreme Head of the Church. The country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers it has ever seen. And under the orders of Thomas Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent throughout the country to investigate the monasteries. There can only be one outcome: dissolution. But on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Cromwell's commissioner, Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body. His horrific murder accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege. Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell to uncover the truth behind the dark happenings at Scarnsea. But Shardlake's investigation soon forces him to question everything that he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes . . . Follow Shardlake into the dark heart of Tudor England with the next book in the series, Dark Fire . Review: These novels are so addictive. But do read them in the right order. - It started with this one. I'd never read anything by this author before. It took me a while to get into his style and the deceptively ambling pace, made me wonder if I'd made the right choice. But Sansome cleverly weaves his plots and the characters gradually fill out. His historical knowledge and descriptions are great and perfectly complement the places, people and plots of the story. Now I'm addicted and up to novel number six. Matthew Shardlake, physically impaired but highly intelligent and knows about the law. He's the most understated hero ever. Think Columbo in a Tudor role. Review: A fine Tudor mystery - I hadn’t heard of C J Sansom before, somehow he had passed me by but, as an author, he was recommended to me by a golfing buddie, so I thought I’d give him a go and I’m glad I did. The copy of Dissolution that I read was subtitled ‘10th Anniversary Edition’ and was published in 2008, so this author has been writing for some time and this book is the first in a series featuring the same protagonist, a lawyer by the name of Matthew Shardlake. It is England in the winter of 1537. Ann Boleyn has been executed and Queen Jane Seymour has recently died shortly after giving birth to Henry VIII’s much desired male heir. The dissolution of a number of small monasteries, abbeys and priories has led to rebellion in the North of England, causing the dissolution process to be paused. Instead, the larger, richer monasteries will be ‘persuaded’ to ‘surrender’ themselves to the King, handing over their land and treasuries to enrich Henry and provide lands for his favourites. A Royal Commissioner sent to Scarnsea Abbey, in Sussex, to persuade it to surrender, has been murdered and Matthew Shardlake is sent by the Vicar General (also Lord Privy Seal), Thomas Cromwell, to find out who committed the murder and, also, to complete the mission of the previous commissioner and obtain the surrender of the monastery. Shardlake is presented with a range of suspects, all of whom have motives for committing the crime. There is the Abbott, the Bursar, the Prior, the Infirmerer, the Sacristan and several others. While there is plenty of evidence as to previous bad behaviour, the problem is finding any evidence to convict any of them for murder. To add to Shardlake’s problems, snow arrives, virtually cutting the Abbey off from the outside world. Then there is a second murder, or is it the third? On the whole the reader is presented with a satisfying detective story which would baffle Scotland Yard’s finest if it were set in a later period. Hampered by the lack of any modern assistance, Shardlake must solve the crimes using only his own wits and the assistance of Mark Poer his young, if rather rebellious, protégé. The characters are well drawn and suitably reticent about what they know or are willing to say. There is a strong feeling of period, especially when the author describes cities and towns such as London. The plot is believable and told in a suitable style for the period in which the story is set. Fans of detective fiction will be just as satisfied as fans of historical fiction. So, why only four stars? Firstly, there is quite a lot of theological debate between Shardlake and the monks and with his assistant Mark. While the monks have sought to protect themselves by swearing an oath to obey Henry’s new laws on Christian worship, it is clear they were reluctant to do so. Given the period this sort of debate probably actually took place, but here there is a little too much of it and it slows the pace of the story. On the other hand, I did learn a lot about what had gone on. Bigod’s rebellion, for example, was real but I had never heard of it. Secondly, the way the author drip feeds the ‘evidence’ into the story doesn’t allow the armchair detective to solve the crime before Shardlake. We have to wait until the author provides the last vital bit of the jigsaw puzzle before the murderer can be revealed; there is no way of deducing it beforehand, which rather spoiled the fun for me. The author does provide some pointers to what may have happened, but the revelation of the murderer does feel a bit like a conjurer saying ‘hey presto’. I like to be able to feel cleverer than the protagonist and the author doesn’t provide me with that opportunity. But, that aside, this is a very entertaining historical detective novel and I will be reading more in the series. ## Features - Under the order of Thomas Cromwell - A team of commissioners is sent through the country to investigate the monasteries - There can only be one outcome the monasteries are to be dissolved - But on the Sussex coast - At the monastery of Scarnsea ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 413,339 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 3 in Spiritual & Historical Fiction 10,386 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 18,053 Reviews | ## Images ![Dissolution: 1 (The Shardlake series, 1) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91bkFiWeHpL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ These novels are so addictive. But do read them in the right order. *by Y***N on 8 April 2026* It started with this one. I'd never read anything by this author before. It took me a while to get into his style and the deceptively ambling pace, made me wonder if I'd made the right choice. But Sansome cleverly weaves his plots and the characters gradually fill out. His historical knowledge and descriptions are great and perfectly complement the places, people and plots of the story. Now I'm addicted and up to novel number six. Matthew Shardlake, physically impaired but highly intelligent and knows about the law. He's the most understated hero ever. Think Columbo in a Tudor role. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fine Tudor mystery *by C***T on 9 January 2018* I hadn’t heard of C J Sansom before, somehow he had passed me by but, as an author, he was recommended to me by a golfing buddie, so I thought I’d give him a go and I’m glad I did. The copy of Dissolution that I read was subtitled ‘10th Anniversary Edition’ and was published in 2008, so this author has been writing for some time and this book is the first in a series featuring the same protagonist, a lawyer by the name of Matthew Shardlake. It is England in the winter of 1537. Ann Boleyn has been executed and Queen Jane Seymour has recently died shortly after giving birth to Henry VIII’s much desired male heir. The dissolution of a number of small monasteries, abbeys and priories has led to rebellion in the North of England, causing the dissolution process to be paused. Instead, the larger, richer monasteries will be ‘persuaded’ to ‘surrender’ themselves to the King, handing over their land and treasuries to enrich Henry and provide lands for his favourites. A Royal Commissioner sent to Scarnsea Abbey, in Sussex, to persuade it to surrender, has been murdered and Matthew Shardlake is sent by the Vicar General (also Lord Privy Seal), Thomas Cromwell, to find out who committed the murder and, also, to complete the mission of the previous commissioner and obtain the surrender of the monastery. Shardlake is presented with a range of suspects, all of whom have motives for committing the crime. There is the Abbott, the Bursar, the Prior, the Infirmerer, the Sacristan and several others. While there is plenty of evidence as to previous bad behaviour, the problem is finding any evidence to convict any of them for murder. To add to Shardlake’s problems, snow arrives, virtually cutting the Abbey off from the outside world. Then there is a second murder, or is it the third? On the whole the reader is presented with a satisfying detective story which would baffle Scotland Yard’s finest if it were set in a later period. Hampered by the lack of any modern assistance, Shardlake must solve the crimes using only his own wits and the assistance of Mark Poer his young, if rather rebellious, protégé. The characters are well drawn and suitably reticent about what they know or are willing to say. There is a strong feeling of period, especially when the author describes cities and towns such as London. The plot is believable and told in a suitable style for the period in which the story is set. Fans of detective fiction will be just as satisfied as fans of historical fiction. So, why only four stars? Firstly, there is quite a lot of theological debate between Shardlake and the monks and with his assistant Mark. While the monks have sought to protect themselves by swearing an oath to obey Henry’s new laws on Christian worship, it is clear they were reluctant to do so. Given the period this sort of debate probably actually took place, but here there is a little too much of it and it slows the pace of the story. On the other hand, I did learn a lot about what had gone on. Bigod’s rebellion, for example, was real but I had never heard of it. Secondly, the way the author drip feeds the ‘evidence’ into the story doesn’t allow the armchair detective to solve the crime before Shardlake. We have to wait until the author provides the last vital bit of the jigsaw puzzle before the murderer can be revealed; there is no way of deducing it beforehand, which rather spoiled the fun for me. The author does provide some pointers to what may have happened, but the revelation of the murderer does feel a bit like a conjurer saying ‘hey presto’. I like to be able to feel cleverer than the protagonist and the author doesn’t provide me with that opportunity. But, that aside, this is a very entertaining historical detective novel and I will be reading more in the series. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Murder in a Monastery - Faster, easier read than Name of the Rose *by F***T on 2 June 2023* If you’re a fan of medieval monastery murder mysteries, and either loved The Name of the Rose, or just couldn’t plough through it, this is the book for you. The Name of the Rose, I am embarrassed to say, was a DNF for me (the only book I started but didn’t finish in the last five years or so). I would love to go back to it someday, as the setting in particular fascinated me, but I couldn’t connect with the writing style. Dissolution, the first book in the Matthew Shardlake series, was a fast and cosy whodunit which helped to scratch that itch in the meantime. I say cosy, though at times it was anything but. It is set in the time of Henry VIII, after the execution of his first wife, and Thomas Cromwell’s assault on the Catholic Church. One of his agents has been murdered at a monastery. Enter Matthew Shardlake, lawyer / investigator with a hunch. On his back. There’s mention of dungeons and racks and torture, but nothing too graphic. Religious discussions that never got overwhelming. Overall, an engaging plot, interestingly written characters, and as I mentioned, an intriguing setting. If you loved The Name of the Rose, give this a try. If you hated it, give this a try. I know I’m looking forward to continuing with the series. Apparently there’s a TV series coming up soon. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.gr/products/49691936-dissolution-1-the-shardlake-series-1](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/49691936-dissolution-1-the-shardlake-series-1) --- *Product available on Desertcart Greece* *Store origin: GR* *Last updated: 2026-06-07*