Shardlake series author CJ Sansom dies age 71
Chris Sansom, Scottish author of the popular Shardlake historical crime series, has died at the age of 71.
His first novel, Dissolution, introducing lawyer Matthew Shardlake, was published 21 years ago and he went on to write six more Shardlake novels as part of a bestselling series.
A Disney+ adaptation of Dissolution, starring Sean Bean and Arthur Hughes, is being released on Wednesday.
His longtime editor and publisher, Maria Rejt, said Sansom "worked tirelessly on each book, never wanting to disappoint a single reader."
Sansom also enjoyed success with two standalone historical novels, Winter in Madrid and Dominion.
He won several awards for his historical crime writing, most recently picking up the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for his outstanding contribution to the genre.
Rejt described her late colleague as "an intensely private person, Chris wished from the very start only to be published quietly and without fanfare".
"But he always took immense pleasure in the public’s enthusiastic responses to his novels... he was working on his new Shardlake novel, Ratcliff, when he died but his worsening health made progress painfully slow: his meticulous historical research and his writing were always so important to him.
"I shall miss him hugely, not only as a wonderfully talented writer who gave joy to millions, but as a dear friend of enormous compassion and integrity.’
Anthony Topping, Sansom's agent, added: "He had a loathing of injustice of any kind and a special contempt for bullies.
"At the same time he had a joyful and piercing sense of humour which he would spring on you, with an attempt at a straight face, when you were least expecting it."