Dead Land

England, 1549. After the death of Henry VIII, the detective-attorney Matthew Shardlake enters the service of the late king’s younger daughter, the young Elizabeth Tudor—who has not the slightest idea that one fine day she will be called to become Queen of England. At last, Shardlake—no longer young and already quite tired of court intrigue—can breathe more freely. However, he is destined to enjoy a quiet life for only a short time: Elizabeth asks him to go to Norwich and help John Boleyn, a distant relative of her late mother, who is accused of the wicked murder of his wife.

Matthew sets off on the road, not suspecting at all that he is destined to become a witness to events fateful for the kingdom…

In the world of literary heroes—and in the mind of today’s reader—the image of Matthew Shardlake holds a place of honor among such famous figures as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe, and Inspector Maigret.