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Sovereign (Matthew Shardlake, #3)

C.J. Sansom

Start date: September 15, 2023

Finish date: October 7, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Continuing this acclaimed historical series.
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What Members Thought

Aug 07, 2014 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the third Matthew Shardlake novel, following on from Dissolution and Dark Fire. Shardlake is now a much more established character, with Jack Barak as his foil and sidekick, and this is a much more assured novel (which, considering how excellent the first two books are is very impressive). It is 1541 and, after the fall of Cromwell, Shardlake has gone back to his law practice and has taken Barak on to work with him. They are not the only ones to remember Thomas Cromwell though – it is ru This is the third Matthew Shardlake novel, following on from Dissolution and Dark Fire. Shardlake is now a much more established character, with Jack Barak as his foil and sidekick, and this is a much more assured novel (which, considering how excellent the first two books are is very impressive). It is 1541 and, after the fall of Cromwell, Shardlake has gone back to his law practice and has taken Barak on to work with him. They are not the only ones to remember Thomas Cromwell though – it is rumoured that the King himself regrets losing such a loyal and competent servant. Shardlake had hoped his days of being involved in the Court are behind him, but he is asked by no less than Archbishop Cranmer, who had been told by Cromwell himself of his discretion, to escort a prisoner from York to London.

Henry is making a Progress in the North. A conspirator, Sir Edward Broderick, is being sent from York to the Tower of London and Shardlake is told to ensure he arrives safely within the Tower walls. However, shortly after arriving in York, Shardlake hears a scream and finds a glazier has been killed. Before he dies, he tells Shardlake, “no child of Henry and Catherine Howard can ever be true heir.” Unwillingly, Shardlake is told to investigate by Maleverer; a crony of his old enemy Richard Rich. Soon, Shardlake is trapped in an unenviable situation – forced to deal with a conspiracy which strikes at the very heart of the succession to the throne, embroiled in treason and with his life in increasing danger, whilst also having to try to keep Broderick alive and well in order to face torture in London.

The characters in this novel are a mix of real and fictional, but they are all so well cast, that it is impossible to say which is which. There is the sadistic jailer, Radwinter, Jennet Marlin, a member of the Queen’s servants, young Tamasin Reedbourne, who catches Barak’s eye, Lady Rochester – former wife of George Boleyn – the new young Queen Catherine, who is way out of her depth, the arrogant young men who surround her, including Culpepper and Dereham, and the elderly lawyer, Giles Wrenne, who befriends Shardlake. Indeed, Shardlake needs a friend in this book. With Barak busy being in love, under pressure from Maleverer and Rich, with several attempts on his life and humiliated by King Henry himself, this really makes you face the reality of the Tudor world. We are taken behind the pomp to the backstage of Court life, from the grandeur of the King to the vicious reality of power; even to the real fear and horror of torture in the dungeons beneath the Tower itself. A wonderful read in a brilliant series.

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Mar 11, 2019 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore added it · review of another edition

Shelves: history, murder, tudor, mystery, historical-fiction, series, c-j-sansom, matthew-shardlake

Book 3 of the Matthew Shardlake series. This one, like book 1, Dissolution, takes place for the most part away from London. The setting is York, where Henry VIII’s progress is set to arrive. Shardlake has been appointed to assist with the petitions that the King will hear while there, something he accepts as he is in need of money. Alongside, Archbishop Cranmer charges him with a second mission, one he is reluctant to accept but has to—to ensure the welfare of a conspirator, Sir Edward Broderick Book 3 of the Matthew Shardlake series. This one, like book 1, Dissolution, takes place for the most part away from London. The setting is York, where Henry VIII’s progress is set to arrive. Shardlake has been appointed to assist with the petitions that the King will hear while there, something he accepts as he is in need of money. Alongside, Archbishop Cranmer charges him with a second mission, one he is reluctant to accept but has to—to ensure the welfare of a conspirator, Sir Edward Broderick, who is to be brought back to London, destined for the tower. He arrives at York where preparations for the progress are underway. Then a glazier who he has just met falls to his death, something that Shardlake suspects is murder. Then Shardlake is attacked and some papers that were found in the glazier’s possession stolen. The papers he has found but not had the opportunity to really read contain a secret that might threaten the Tudor throne, and when there are more attempts on Shardlake’s life, the dangers for him increase. He must also deal with the unpleasantness with Sir Richard Rich who still holds a grudge for the case that Shardlake is fighting against his interests, and who is there are part of the privy council. Meanwhile Barak is falling in love with Tamasin Reedbourne, part of the queen’s entourage, which attracts the attention of her mistress Jennet Marlin (who had grudges of her own), and Lady Rochford, George Boleyn’s wife and now in service of Catherine Howard. Catherine Howard, is young and clueless, and with her possible/rumoured infidelities coming to light, circumstances put Shardlake and Barak in further danger.

This book somehow I felt was much darker than the first two somehow with prisoners being put to (or destined) for the rack and worse, the sadistic Radwinter in charge of Broderick, the cold Maleverer, and Henry himself, who is now old, ill, distrustful of everyone, and getting more and more cruel by the day. The fact that Shardlake finds himself in deeper waters than before, and has to undergo an ordeal that certainly sent chills down my spine, adds to this atmosphere. While I enjoyed reading about how the progress went on, how things would have been arranged, worked, etc., especially as with Sansom’s writing and descriptions, you can really picture things as they would have been, the constant threat of torture, cruelty, and death makes one feel rather uneasy. The mystery or mysteries in the book had several twists and I couldn’t really guess how any of them would be resolved. I also enjoyed the characters, all of them are really well done, and of course, following the stories of Shardlake and Barak. This was a gripping read, though slower paced, perhaps, than Dark Fire, but still really enjoyable (though that’s probably not the right word to use here).
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Apr 04, 2008 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: currently-re-reading, favorites, audiobook, reread, library-book

I first read this before I joined Goodreads, so no review. It was published in 2006, and all I remembered was the claustrophobic feeling of Shardlake’s experience as a hunted man among the massive Progress of the king and court to the restive north.

York in 1541 was suspicious of Londoners like lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant, Jack Barak. The king wants to be seen to be sympathetic to the rebellious north, and will hear petitions for justice; Archbishop Cranmer has sent Shardlake to os ...more

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Jan 23, 2024 Frances rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-series

Another great entry in this series, this one involving the Progress of Henry VIII-a trip with a huge retinue to the North to quell any insurrection/discontent with the monarchy. Shardlake is brought along to assist in some legal petitions and gets drawn into some murders which are tainted by a question of rebellion/overthrowing of the King. There are secret papers, illicit affairs, questions of legitimacy, young love, and wonderful if somewhat distasteful descriptions of life at the time of Henr ...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Ellie M rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Another good Shardlake murder-mystery. This time based on the true historical event of Henry VIII's progress to northern England and York particularly. I went to York whilst reading this and it was nice to be able to compare a current map to the old map in the book and see what had changed.

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