BookBingeShardlake Books in Order
The short answer
C.J. Sansom · 7 books
- How many books?
- There are 7 books in the Shardlake series, published 2003–2018.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with Tombland (2018).
- Where to start
- Start with Dissolution (2003).
About 4,200 pages — roughly 70 hours of reading
A hunchback lawyer navigates Tudor England's most dangerous cases in the shadow of Henry VIII.
Here is the complete Shardlake reading order — all 7 books by C.J. Sansom, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- DissolutionMatthew Shardlake investigates a murder at a monastery during Cromwell's dissolution of the monasteries.2003395 pages
- Dark FireA missing formula for Greek fire, and a teenage girl's mysterious crime.2004528 pages
- SovereignShardlake travels with the King's Progress to York and uncovers treason.2006563 pages
- RevelationA Book of Revelation-themed serial killer in London.2008655 pages
- HeartstoneMary Rose-era espionage and a case on the Isle of Wight.2010542 pages
- LamentationCatherine Parr's missing manuscript, written in secret against the King.2014650 pages
- TomblandKett's Rebellion of 1549, with Shardlake in the middle.2018880 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Shardlake books are there?
There are 7 books in the Shardlake series by C.J. Sansom, from Dissolution (2003) to Tombland (2018). Together they run to about 4,200 pages.
Is the Shardlake series finished?
Yes. C.J. Sansom completed the series with Tombland in 2018; all 7 books are out now.
What is the first Shardlake book?
Dissolution (2003) is book one, at 395 pages. Matthew Shardlake investigates a murder at a monastery during Cromwell's dissolution of the monasteries.
Should I read the Shardlake series in publication order?
Yes. For the Shardlake series, reading order and publication order are the same — Dissolution (2003) through Tombland (2018).
How long does it take to read all Shardlake books?
About 4,200 pages across 7 books — roughly 70 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Tombland (880 pages); the shortest is Dissolution (395 pages).