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  • Sovereign

  • Shardlake, Book 3
  • By: C. J. Sansom
  • Narrated by: Steven Crossley
  • Length: 20 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,852 ratings)

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Sovereign

By: C. J. Sansom
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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Summary

Following on from Dissolution and Dark Fire, Sovereign is the third gripping historical novel in C. J. Sansom's number one bestselling Shardlake series, for fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory.

'A parchment-turner, and a regal one at that' - Sunday Times

‘Sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. Like Hilary Mantel, he produces densely textured historical novels that absorb their readers in another time’ - Andrew Taylor, Spectator

Autumn, 1541: King Henry VIII has set out on a spectacular Progress to the North to attend an extravagant submission of his rebellious subjects in York.

Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak. As well as assisting with legal work processing petitions to the King, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission for the Archbishop Cranmer – to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator being returned to London for interrogation.

But the murder of a local glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. And when Shardlake and Barak stumble upon a cache of secret papers which could threaten the Tudor throne, a chain of events unfolds that will lead to Shardlake facing the most terrifying fate of the age . . .

Continue the number one bestselling historical series with Revelation, Heartstone, Lamentation and Tombland.

©2006 C. J. Sansom (P)2014 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
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What listeners say about Sovereign

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Best of the Shardlake stories.

I have read/listened to all of the series, which is good, but this is the best so far.

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1 person found this helpful

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Amazing writing!

This book completely absorbs, informs and engages. You are there, in the hard and grimy, physical and political world. The story is layered with twists and shocking turns. Wonderful and I thank CJ Sansom for his gifts which he shares with us.

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Fantastic story, listened to multiple times

CJ Sansom’s second best in the series after Lamentation. I thought the ending was perfectly written.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

historical murder mystery

really enjoy these historical murder mysteries. I can invest in the characters who have ordinary life problems.
I would like the narration to have more distinction. all the voices sound the same, it is hard to know who is "talking"

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story and narrator

Great story, with twists and turns. love the characters and Stephen Crossley was an amazing narrator

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Entertaining read

Convincing characters, intriguing plot, great sense of time and place, vivid historical detail. A very good read!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent plot

Great storytelling love how it weaves history facts with fictional characters and events. Good use of descriptive language to bring the story location and settings alive

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Deep breath and immerse yourself in Tudor thrills

my only concern is Jack does not sound like the Jack in my head from reading the books (yes I've read them all but doing a lot of driving I love listening to them all over again. the complex plots mean I dont get bored!)#sansomsaddo. I read this one first having lived in York and that was fine but quickly went to the others and read in order.

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Tudor Sherlock Holmes - totally awesome

Details of the Tudor way of life, the court & Henry VIII, a great book

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Really enjoyable

Having read the the first two books in the series I am happy to say the narrator does a great job in bringing the story to life. Good stuff

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