Shardlake The Complete BBC Radio Col..., CJ Sansom
Shardlake The Complete BBC Radio Col..., CJ Sansom
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Shardlake: The Complete BBC Radio Collection
Six BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

Author: CJ Sansom

Narrator: Full Cast, Jason Watkins, Justin Salinger, Bryan Dick, Mark Bonnar, Robert Glenister, Sam Dale, Sean Baker, Emily Wachter, Jessica Hardwick

Unabridged: 13 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/17/2022


Synopsis

The complete collected dramatisations of C. J. Sansom's historical mystery series

Set during the reign of Henry VIII, these six stunning dramas follow the adventures of hunchbacked lawyer-detective Matthew Shardlake as he navigates the dangerous world of Tudor England, solving crimes and seeking out murderers.

Dissolution - Winter, 1537. When a King's Commissioner is brutally murdered at Scarnsea monastery, Thomas Cromwell sends Shardlake to investigate. Can he catch the killer before he strikes again?

Dark Fire - Summer, 1540, and Shardlake is embroiled in two urgent cases: tracking down a batch of Greek Fire, an ancient weapon of mass destruction, and defending an orphan girl accused of murder. Accompanied by Cromwell's man, Barak, he must race against time to save Elizabeth's life - and Cromwell's skin.

Sovereign - Autumn, 1541. As the King embarks on a Royal Progress to York, Shardlake and Barak arrive in the city on a secret mission for Archbishop Cranmer. But soon they are caught up in a murder investigation - and a daring plot to bring down the royal family...

Revelation - Spring, 1543. With London rocked by religious turmoil, Shardlake must complete two vital assignments: help a teenage boy imprisoned in Bedlam for his heretical ravings, and prevent a serial killer from completing his unholy mission.

Heartstone - Summer, 1545, and Shardlake and Barak are drawn into two murky mysteries: one involving 'monstrous wrongs' committed against a ward of the court, the other involving the troubled past of Bedlam inmate Ellen Fettiplace. Meanwhile, across the Channel, the French fleet is preparing to attack...

Lamentation - 1546. Henry VIII lies dying, and his Protestant and Catholic factions are vying for power. As heretics are burned at the stake, the Queen rashly decides to write a compromising confessional book - and when it is stolen, she turns to Shardlake. His investigations lead him from London's backstreet print shops to the heart of the royal court...

Jason Watkins and Justin Salinger star as Shardlake, with Bryan Dick as Barak, Mark Bonnar and Robert Glenister as Cromwell, Sam Dale and Sean Baker as Cranmer, and Emily Wachter and Jessica Hardwick as Queen Catherine Parr.

Written by C. J. Sansom
Dramatised by Colin MacDonald
Produced and directed by Kirsteen Cameron, David Jackson Young and Bruce Young

© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Reviews

Goodreads review by C.A. on January 26, 2025

God's bones, these Tudor-era stories are mediocre! I enjoy radio dramas. It's nice to see they are making a comeback through certain streaming services. While the sound effects and voice acting in these Shardlake mysteries are impressive, the writing is overplotted. It was difficult to connect with a......more

Goodreads review by Timeout on September 27, 2025

These adaptations are superb. I heard these before I listened to an abridged version of the first book - it's what made me want to do that. They manage to condense huge books into 90 minute dramas and you don't feel short changed either. The actor who plays Shardlake does change, but you really don'......more

Goodreads review by Shatterlings on September 18, 2023

I really enjoyed these, they are cleverly done, well acted and fast paced stories, if you don’t want to read a 500 page historical novel then these are a great alternative. I hadn’t read the last 2 and don’t feel inclined to after listening to these.......more