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Sovereign

A Matthew Shardlake Novel

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Sovereign

By: C. J. Sansom
Narrated by: Anton Lesser
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About this listen

Abridged edition.

Following on from Dissolution and Dark Fire, Sovereign is the third title in C. J. Sansom's bestselling Shardlake series.

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 gripping historical series with Revelation, Heartstone, Lamentation and Tombland.

©2006 C J Sansom Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense England Fiction Royalty Crime Exciting Suspense

Critic Reviews

"Anton Lesser performs with marvellous versatility, helped by Sansom's sure touch for voicing telling detail with simple directness." (The Times)

"Sanson's description of the brutality of Tudor life is strong stuff, but he is a master storyteller". (The Guardian)

"Anton Lesser is in his usual brilliant form... Smashing!". (The Daily Express)
All stars
Most relevant  
I had read the previous two books in this amazing series. Being a fan of Anton Lesser I decided to give the audible version of book 3 a go. However, I have to say that even though I enjoyed what I listened too, so much of C J Samson’s wonderful scene building and character development was lost in this massively abridged version of Sovereign. Therefore, I will be returning to the physical book for instalment number 4 of Matthew Shardlake’s adventures

Too Much Missing

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Love this book, but half the story and characterisation is missing. CJ is a brilliant writer but this abridged version is too butchered to warrant a credit.

Chopped up version of my favourite Sansom novel.

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The narrator is excellent! I liked Him immensely. I enjoyed the characters & their accents and expression. Great acting from Anton Lessor!

Great story that keeps you listening.

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