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Sovereign (Matthew Shardlake 3)

Author: C.j. Sansom
Publisher: Pan Books
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

64 reviews
Sales Rank: 311

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.8

ISBN: 0330436082
EAN: 9780330436083
ASIN: 0330436082

Publication Date: March 16, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Daily dispatch from UK warehouse - This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. Just contact us by email for a fast response.

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 64

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Predictable July 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I had figured the plot out from about half way through, it's a blindingly obvious whodunnit and I'm not sure I have the patience to read the other two from this series that I have sat on my shelf - I'll probably take them on a plane or train journey.

Having said all of that there are some lovely historical nuggets in there, attention to detail of the places, people, language and so forth is wonderful and the characters are also likeable and believable.

If you are not into history, and you like a challenging murder mystery then I wouldn't bother.

3 out of 5 stars

could have been much better June 15, 2008
0 out of 6 found this review helpful

immediate thoughts on ploughing through this epic, not very entertaining, book, was - I won't bother with any more by this author, thank you. His editor should have suggested drastic pruning to make it a thriller, a whodunnit, not a day by day itinerary of the King's Great Progress. My biggest complaint though is that the book does not feature Henry VIII at all. He is incidental to the 'plot' even though it is his time, his Progress, his wife, his country. Somehow he has managed to be sidelined and this detracts from the book. Over written, desperately in need of pruning and a better 'whodunnit' story would have improved it no end. I have to assume that the reviewers who are quoted on the cover read a different version to me.

5 out of 5 stars

A racking tale June 12, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is every bit as good as the previous two Shardlake novels. I've no idea if it's historically accurate, because I don't much care for history. But it certainly felt authentic, and the sense of abiding terror is palpable and rather appropriate for our age, as we move towards a police state similar to that of Henry VIII.

5 out of 5 stars

Nen June 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Having read the first two of the Trilogy, I was hooked. The plot is excellent and the novel makes one feel that one is living in the times. I was quite sad when it was finished. I hope that the author can bring himself to write more of Matthew Shardlake and Barak. I felt these stories are as good as Cadfael.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

5 out of 5 stars

It just gets better and better... June 9, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

CJ Sansom's novels get progressively better. This is, in my opinion, an even better read than his superb first two novels. Whilst the writing-style was never in question - here it is as vivid, intriguing, full of historical interest and full of interesting characters as ever - the plots are getting more complex, more epic and more surprising. In all, they are getting better.

This novel picks up a reasonable amount of time after Dark Fire, and takes us on a new adventure with Shardlake and Barak (whose excellent friendship is once again central to adding that little bit of extra to this novel). The delight for me comes from the intriguing tit-bits of Tudor life, and in this book in the intriguing 'rumours' which Sansom turns into a remarkable plot. In addition to that, I really enjoyed the descriptions of the city of York. Most of the novel is set there, while King Henry VIII travels north with his great Progress, and as someone who has spent a great deal of time there myself, I found myself fascinated by the descriptions (many of which hold true today!).

And that is, in reality, Sansom's real strength. His book here has in equal strength a superbly crafted mystery, and a wonderful and deep knowledge of history, given the full outing (amidst a little imagination) to create what is a really brilliant book.

Now I'm off to read the next Shardlake book...