Reading Order
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Start with Dissolution and continue through all 7 books in the listed reading order.
Start Here
Start with Dissolution
Book 1 by C. J. Sansom • Published 2003
In 1537, Henry VIII’s commissioners are tearing down the monasteries, but at Scarnsea, a brutal murder halts the proceedings. Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer for Thomas Cromwell, is sent to investigate. He unc...
Complete List
Matthew Shardlake reading order
Ends with Tombland
- 1
Book 1:Dissolution
C. J. Sansom • 2003
In 1537, Henry VIII’s commissioners are tearing down the monasteries, but at Scarnsea, a brutal murder halts the proceedings. Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer for Thomas Cromwell, is sent to investigate. He unc...
- 2
Book 2:Dark Fire
C. J. Sansom • 2004
Shardlake faces a race against time to defend a girl accused of murder, while simultaneously searching for the lost formula of "Greek Fire" for Thomas Cromwell. Set in the stifling heat of 1540 London, he must navigat...
- 3
Book 3:Sovereign
C. J. Sansom • 2006
In 1541, Henry VIII embarks on a spectacular Progress to the North to quell rebellion. Shardlake is already in York, tasked with ensuring the welfare of a political prisoner, but soon discovers a conspiracy involving...
- 4
Book 4:Revelation
C. J. Sansom • 2008
London, 1543. A serial killer is terrorizing the city, staging murders based on the prophecies in the Book of Revelation. Shardlake must catch the fanatic before they strike again, all while navigating the dangers of...
- 5
Book 5:Heartstone
C. J. Sansom • 2010
Summer 1545. England is at war, and the French fleet is poised to attack. Shardlake travels to Portsmouth to investigate the abuse of a ward of the court, but finds himself in a war zone, uncovering secrets that link...
- 6
Book 6:Lamentation
C. J. Sansom • 2014
1546. King Henry is dying, and the court is torn between Catholic and Protestant factions. When Queen Catherine Parr's secret, heretical manuscript is stolen, she turns to Shardlake to recover it. He must navigate a d...
- 7
Book 7:Tombland
C. J. Sansom • 2018
Two years after Henry VIII's death, England slides into chaos. Shardlake is working for the Lady Elizabeth when he is called to investigate a murder in Norwich. There, he gets swept up in Kett's Rebellion, a massive p...
Quick Answers
Matthew Shardlake FAQ
What is the best order to read the Matthew Shardlake series?
The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with Dissolution.
How many books are in the Matthew Shardlake series?
There are 7 books currently listed in the Matthew Shardlake series on GurusReads.
Where should I start with the Matthew Shardlake series?
New readers should start with Dissolution, the first book in the reading order.
Is the Matthew Shardlake series complete?
Based on the publication years we have, the series appears likely complete and spans releases from 2003 to 2018.