C.J. Sansom Books in Order

Where to Start with C.J. Sansom

For most readers, the ultimate gateway into C.J. Sansom’s work is the celebrated Matthew Shardlake series. This sequence of historical mystery novels features a hunchbacked lawyer-sleuth operating during the turbulent Tudor dynasty. Because the series features a continuous narrative arc, evolving political backdrops, and deep character development, the best way to read these books is in their chronological (and publication) order.

Sansom’s meticulous historical research means that as Matthew Shardlake ages, the political climate of Henry VIII's reign shifts around him. Reading them sequentially allows you to witness the dissolution of the monasteries, the fall of major political figures, and the transition into the reign of Edward VI as a cohesive, epic story.

Matthew Shardlake Series in Chronological Order

Since the publication order matches the chronological timeline perfectly, following this list from start to finish is highly recommended:

• Dissolution (2003) – Set in 1537. Shardlake is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the gruesome murder of a commissioner at a monastery in Sussex during the dissolution of the monasteries.
• Dark Fire (2004) – Set in 1540. Shardlake is tasked with finding the formula for Greek Fire, a legendary incendiary weapon, just as Cromwell's political influence is collapsing. This novel won the prestigious Ellis Peters Historical Dagger.
• Sovereign (2006) – Set in 1541. Shardlake travels to York during Henry VIII’s grand progress to the North, where he is caught up in royal conspiracies and local rebellions.
• Revelation (2008) – Set in 1543. Shardlake hunts a religious serial killer whose murders mimic the prophecies in the Book of Revelation, all while Katherine Parr enters the King's orbit.
• Heartstone (2010) – Set in 1545. Against the backdrop of England's war with France and the eventual sinking of the Mary Rose, Shardlake investigates an abuse case at a wardship estate.
• Lamentation (2014) – Set in 1546. As Henry VIII lies dying, Queen Katherine Parr's secret protestant book is stolen, and she enlists Shardlake to recover it before conservative factions use it to destroy her.
• Tombland (2018) – Set in 1549. Moving past Henry VIII's reign into the protectorate under Edward VI, Shardlake investigates a murder in Norfolk that places him in the middle of Kett's Rebellion.

The Medieval Murderers Collaborations

C.J. Sansom was a founding member of The Medieval Murderers, a collaborative performance and writing group composed of popular historical crime fiction authors. Formed alongside writers like Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Philip Gooden, Ian Morson, and Karen Maitland, the group wrote interlinked historical mystery novels.

In these collaborative works, each author wrote a novella-length section centering on a common theme or a cursed object (such as a relic or a sword) as it traveled through different historical eras. While these books are not part of the Shardlake continuity and feature distinct characters, they are a delightful read for fans of historical mysteries. Because they are collaborative anthologies, you can read them in any order, though they are listable by publication date:

1. The Tainted Relic (2005)
2. Sword of Shame (2006)
3. House of Shadows (2007)
4. The Lost Prophecies (2008)
5. King Arthur's Bones (2009)
6. The Sacred Stone (2010)
7. Hill of Bones (2011)
8. The First Murder (2012)
9. The False Virgin (2013)
10. The Deadliest Sin (2014)

C.J. Sansom’s Standalone Novels

If you want a break from Tudor England, Sansom wrote two highly acclaimed standalone novels that showcase his versatility in historical fiction. These can be read at any point in your reading journey:

• Winter in Madrid (2006) – A spy thriller set in 1940, immediately following the Spanish Civil War. The plot follows a British spy sent to Madrid to infiltrate the circle of an old school friend, capturing the grim reality of post-war Spain.
• Dominion (2012) – An alternate history political thriller set in a dystopian 1952. In this timeline, Great Britain surrendered to Nazi Germany in 1940, leaving the country as a puppet state under German control. The story follows members of the British resistance fighting back. This novel won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History.

What to Know Before You Start

Sansom’s novels are celebrated for their dense atmosphere, complex characters, and unvarnished historical realism. Shardlake is not a typical detective; he is a reform-minded lawyer who is physically disabled (living with scoliosis), which colors his interactions with a society that views physical deformity as a sign of moral corruption. Furthermore, a highly anticipated screen adaptation of Dissolution was released on Disney+ in 2024, introducing Shardlake's world to a brand-new generation of viewers.