Before reading Tombland by CJ Sansom I knew nothing about the English rebellions in 1549. What a magnificent series this is, so often emulated but rarely equalled. And how fitting that the final Matthew Shardlake book should shed light on such a little-known uprising. 
Two years after King Henry VIII’s death his young son Edward VI sits on the throne, but a Protector rules in his stead. With war against the Scots and a new law allowing the enclosure of land, dissent among the yeomen and farm labourers rumbles into protest into rebellion. The poorest in society find their voice to protest against injustice imposed by the wealthy.
In these uncertain times lawyer Shardlake, living a quieter life in London, is called to investigate a murder in Norfolk. The man accused is related distantly to Anne Boleyn and therefore to her daughter Princess Elizabeth. What is planned as a short visit to Norwich turns into a prolonged stay when Shardlake and his assistant Nicholas Overton are caught up in the rebellion, captured by the rebels who see them as gentlemen and therefore enemies in the fight for peasant rights against the powerful landlords. Set in a time of continuing religious changes, the introduction of Cranmer’s new English language prayer book, churches stripped bare of decoration and walls painted white, people have become used to hiding their true beliefs. As the crown has spies amongst the rebels, the rebels have their own spies. Amidst this suspicion, distrust, gossipmongering and manipulation, Shardlake must find the murderer of John Boleyn’s former wife. Able for some time to survive in the rebel camp, aiding the leader Robert Kett to ensure good law is followed, he must decide whether he is a rebel or a loyalist.
Sansom sets a complicated murder story within a patchwork of historical events, some of those described sound too violent and far-fetched to be true though the Author’s Note assures us they happened. With familiar characters – the return of Jack Barack is welcome – many new faces add their voices to the world as we see it through Shardlake’s eyes, troubled as he is that the valid demands of the protestors will be defeated. Bullied stable boy Simon. Shardlake’s former servant Josephine and her husband Edward. Goodwife Everneke who is the ‘mother’ of the Swardeston village group within the huge Mousehold Heath rebel camp outside Norwich. Isabella Boleyn, former barmaid and second wife of the accused man. Throughout it all, the honesty and goodness of Matthew Shardlake shine through. He defends the underdogs, challenges the liars and stands up to bullies. Always in pursuit of the truth, no matter how uncomfortable, how painful, how inconvenient.
Tombland is a big book, 880 pages, but I read it far quicker than I do many shorter novels, picking it up at every opportunity. And though long, I would not reduce it. This paperback has been sitting on my shelf for ages, calling to be read. From the first sentence I knew I was in a familiar place, ‘I had been in my chambers at Lincoln’s Inn when the messenger came from Master Parry, asking me to attend him urgently.’ Such a simple sentence but the voice so clearly that of Matthew Shardlake.
I had been hesitating over picking up Tombland, wanting to have one more Shardlake book left on the shelf still to be read. Oh what a treasure it is. So now I’ll go back to the beginning and read Dissolution again.
And here are my reviews of other novels by CJ Sansom:-
DOMINION
DISSOLUTION #1SHARDLAKE
DARK FIRE #2SHARDLAKE
SOVEREIGN #3SHARDLAKE
REVELATION #4SHARDLAKE
HEARTSTONE #5SHARDLAKE
LAMENTATION #6SHARDLAKE
If you like this, try:-
‘Three Sisters, Three Queens’ by Philippa Gregory
‘Cecily’ by Annie Garthwaite
‘The Lady of the Ravens’ by Joanna Hickson #1QueensoftheTower
And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview TOMBLAND by CJ Sansom #Tudor #detective https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-7z3 via @SandraDanby
COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- 
SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS 