DISSOLUTION

C.J. Sanson

Macmillan £17.99 hbk

Reviewed by Ayo Onatade

1537 is not only the age of treachery, but also one of turmoil and reform. It is a time of revolution and England is in the midst of the greatest changes it would see since 1066. All this is taking place under the strict direction of the High Commissioner Lord Cromwell.

In this debut novel, Matthew Shardlake a lawyer and long time reformist accompanied by his assistant Mark Poer is sent by Cromwell to investigate the death of one of his Commissioners Robin Singleton. Singleton had been sent to investigate the monastery of Scarnsea before it is dissolved. Shardlake soon finds himself investigating not one but four deaths. However, Shardlake soon has his faith and all that he believes in and has come to accept severely shaken. From the blatant admission from his master Lord Cromwell that confessions have been falsely obtained to his own confused feelings towards what is going on around him.

C J Sansom has written a powerful and gripping novel set in the period of the reform. Dissolution is a breathtaking and stunning debut of depth and perception that makes you want to go and read a bit more about this fascinating period. Impressively told the reader is not only drawn willingly into this turbulent period in English history, but they are surrounded by the smells, behaviour and the thoughts of this violent era. While written with a light but firm touch, Dissolution is also a powerful and wonderfully engrossing read. This is a historical crime novel that will surely remain in reader’s minds for quite sometime and a must for not only historical crime readers but also all lovers of history. This book will certainly be on my top ten list this year.