Sovereign Audiobook By C. J. Sansom cover art

Sovereign

A Matthew Shardlake Mystery

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Sovereign

By: C. J. Sansom
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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C. J. Sansom is an international best-selling author known for riveting suspense and intricately constructed mysteries. His atmospheric prose has earned him an Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award, among other accolades.

In the third novel in this riveting series, barrister Matthew Shardlake is faced with the most terrifying threat in the age of Tudor England: his own imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Harsh autumn winds stir the English countryside as King Henry VIII, along with a thousand soldiers and his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, make their way from London to York after a violent uprising. Shardlake and his loyal assistant, John Barack, have a secret mission - they must transport a dangerous conspirator back to London for interrogation.

After a local glazier is murdered, Shardlake finds that this death seems not only connected to the prisoner, but to the royal family itself. Shardlake grows more determined when he realizes that a greater threat looms over the crown.

©2007 C. J. Sansom (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC Historical Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting

Critic reviews

"An engaging mix of history and fiction that Sansom has made his own." ( Boston Globe)
Intricate Plotting • Historical Accuracy • Consistent Character Voices • Engaging Mystery • Well-researched Details

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I've enjoyed this series. Reading (well, listening to) them out of sequence was not a problem, the main character is likable and the historic setting is interesting. But by the time I got to this volume, my annoyance at the initially tolerable flaws of Sansom's writing just became too great. There are the anachronisms - the diagnosis "concussion" definitely did not exist in this time period, but what's worse is the mix of contemporary slang and terms with a thin attempt at authentic language of the period. It's OK to use modern language and terminology and consider that you are "translating" your story into modern English. And it's fine to throw in some archaic language for flavor. But having your characters exclaim "Jesiu!" constantly, is just plain laziness. I honestly had begun to flinch every time I heard it, and at times that was every few seconds. No more Sansom until he expands his quasi-historic vocabulary.

I guess you CAN have too much of a good thing

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Having now listened to three of the Chaloner mysteries I’ve grow to like the main character more and more. He seems to be growing in depth and complexity with each in the series. Hats off to Sansom for that. The story is very engaging although there were a few slow parts that felt a bit like filler. Crossley is a skilled narrator and provides interesting and consistent voices for the various characters and classes.

Growing to like the characters

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This is the third of the Sharlake (sp?) mystery series and is, so far, may favorite. The mystery itself is very engaging but what I most enjoy are the characters of Sharlake and Barrack.

A nice mystery against the background of a clever reimagining of British history

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Compelling Story and historical facts interspersed through out the story,but never found out who let Bear out of cage

Excellent Narration

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The installment takes place mostly during Henry VIII's great "passage" to York in which he went, with 3000 of his courtiers and soldiers, on a tour of Northern England to impress and cow the locals.

Sansom has done a superb job recreating this world. One of the best aspects for me is Sansom's ability to reconstruct how these people thought. It is hard for us, at this distance, to understand the role of religion and the monarchy in most people's lives in 1540. Sansom gives us not only the details of this world but an insight into the emotional and philosophical life of 1540.

Henry VIII appears briefly, memorably and frighteningly; Henry's fundamental smallness is conveyed with deft skill.

It's a great mystery that is different from the first two books. Unlike so many authors, Sansom does not simply re travel worn trails.

The book is not perfect; some characters do tend towards stereotype, but even then those characters ring essentially true.

Without revealing too much, there is an appalling visit to the Tower of London that will make you most glad to be alive today and not in 1540.

The narration is superb.

It's a great listen; you will not be disappointed.

WOW, another great novel from CJ Sansom

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