Questions About Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake, #1)

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Answered Questions (8)

Ok, I REALLY want to start this series, because I picked up Lamentation at Asda and didn't know what it was about and the synopsis sounded badass but then I realised it's part of a series, the author got a phD in history and a BA I think, so i'm pretty intimidated by this series. I'm not fresh on my tudor history so will this series be lost on me or is it all explained?

Pat C. Don't be intimidated. This is an excellent series. I learn most of my history from fiction so I always appreciate it when the author knows what they'r…moreDon't be intimidated. This is an excellent series. I learn most of my history from fiction so I always appreciate it when the author knows what they're talking about ;-). The stories are suspenseful, the murders grisly but not nauseating, the characters are fully fleshed out. My only complaint is that I wish the hero would get a girlfriend..(less)

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I'm looking for books with lots of snow. I found this one on a couple of lists to that effect, but they're not always reliable. Is the entire novel set in winter?

John Oh a fellow fan of this niche! I'm too early in this book to say, but I've just read The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, which is intelligent…moreOh a fellow fan of this niche! I'm too early in this book to say, but I've just read The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, which is intelligent sci-fi set on a cold planet. The descriptions of an icy journey in the second half are absolutely gorgeous.(less)

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I really loved the entire 'Shardlake' series and am casting about rather desperately for something that might be as good. Any suggestions? Sansom gives us an eye-watering total immersion experience in Tudor England as well as a riveting thriller/mystery.. I never read historical fiction or thrillers really..but C.J. S. has changed all of that.

Kylie H You would really enjoy books by Edward Rutherfurd if you enjoyed this series.

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Is Mathew Shardlake's father a land owner (farmer)? I thought during this time his father would have been a serf who worked the land for a lord. If his father is a serf, how could he pay to send his son off?

Jayjay Sanson The Black Deathin the 1300s pretty much did away with serfs. The shortage of manpower changed the balance of power and meant people who had formerly b…moreThe Black Deathin the 1300s pretty much did away with serfs. The shortage of manpower changed the balance of power and meant people who had formerly been serfs went where the wages were better rather than stay tied to the land. That old feudal strata is pretty much gone by Shardlake's time. His father is part of the up and coming landed farming class who had money, like Shakespeare'father. Serfs just no longer exist by the 1500s. (less)

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I’m really interested in reading this series Is it clean read?

Declan Ellis Relatively so. Everybody has different standards as to what constitutes a 'clean' read but I'm often sensitive to sex and violence in books, and I was…moreRelatively so. Everybody has different standards as to what constitutes a 'clean' read but I'm often sensitive to sex and violence in books, and I was fine with this.

There are no sex scenes and the violence is generally not overly graphic. It has strong sexual references, including references to rape and homosexuality. Probably the worst is when the main character confronts a homosexual monk about spying on his friend (for pleasure), lewdly remarking that his "cock swelled." There are also strong references to torture and beheadings, as well as a variety of murders that take place at the monastery.

It's a solid medieval murder mystery. Hope you enjoy! (less)

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