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  • Sovereign

  • A Matthew Shardlake Novel
  • By: C. J. Sansom
  • Narrated by: Anton Lesser
  • Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (40 ratings)

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Sovereign

By: C. J. Sansom
Narrated by: Anton Lesser
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Publisher's Summary

Shortlisted for Theaksons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year, 2008.

Autumn, 1541. Following the uncovering of a plot against his throne in Yorkshire, King Henry VIII has set out on a spectacular Progress to the North to overawe his rebellious subjects there. Accompanied by a thousand soldiers, the cream of the nobility, and his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, the king is to attend an extravagant submission of the local gentry at York.

Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant, Jack Barak. As well as assisting with the legal work of processing petitions to the king, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission: 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. As the king and the Great Progress arrive in the city, Barak stumbles upon a terrifying secret, and a chain of events unfolds that will lead Shardlake to the most terrifying fate a subject of Henry VIII can fear: his own imprisonment in the Tower of London.

© C.J. Sansom; (P) Macmillan Publishers Ltd

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)

What listeners say about Sovereign

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Too Much Missing

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

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Chopped up version of my favourite Sansom novel.

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.

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