Whether writing a police procedural, a high-tech thriller, or a historical novel, it's not uncommon for authors to spend a great deal of time doing research to add authenticity to their work. Most of the time, that means a quick Google search or maybe an interview with a subject matter expert.

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In some cases, though, the problem is that nobody has ever done the research. That's exactly the problem author CJ Sansom ran into when writing Sovereign (the third book in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery series).

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Part of the story dealt with Henry VIII's progress to York in 1541, and he quickly realised it was a subject no one had ever researched in any great depth - so in addition to writing a compelling mystery, he had to do a fair bit of original research.

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He spoke about this and other aspects of his work with On the Tudor Trail, and you can read the full interview HERE.

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​10 Brilliant British Books That Became Hollywood Blockbusters​

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New in the Last Week...

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• ​The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash - Nancy, new to running her dream seaside bookshop, reluctantly accepts help from Dennis, a know-it-all businessman, but as they navigate challenges together, sparks—and unexpected lessons—start to fly.
• ​The Price of Dormice by Steve Lunn - After a near-fatal encounter with Oxford’s corrupt chief planner, Mick joins a protest against a destructive development, only to become the prime suspect in a tragic arson.
• ​Murder of a Suffragette by Marty Wingate - When a suffragette is murdered at a conference, amateur sleuth Mabel Canning and the London Ladies’ Murder Club race to unmask the killer before they strike again and derail the fight for women’s rights.
• ​The Mid-Life Trials of Annabeth Hope by Alice May - When overwhelmed country girl Annabeth meets burnt-out city doctor Rick, their worlds clash, but sparks fly, hinting they may be just what each other needs.
• ​The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins - On the remote island of Eris, where solitude reigns, Grace's quiet life is disrupted by a visitor and a discovery in London, unearthing secrets long buried.

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• ​Rebellion by Richard Cullen - As war looms and rivals threaten King John’s rule, young squire Estienne Wace must prove his worth under the guidance of the legendary knight William Marshal.
• ​The Body in the Lighthouse by Kate Hardy - Photographer and amateur sleuth Georgina Drake uncovers a suspicious death and long-buried secrets at Summerstrand Lighthouse.
• ​Murder on Skye by Daniel Sellers - Detective Lola Harris identifies a victim as missing juror Kathryn Main, whose involvement in a high-profile case sparks new revelations that lead her to the Isle of Skye.
• ​A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson - American Cassie O'Hara’s holiday plans take a twist when her quaint village stay leads to a rescue, two handsome suitors, and long-hidden family secrets.
• ​Blood Fountain by David J. Gatward - Big-city cop Harry Grimm’s peaceful country life is shattered when a deadly feud between locals and tourists escalates, leaving him racing to stop a hidden killer.

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• ​A Gentleman Under the Mistletoe by Grace Burrowes - Lord Julian Caldicott's attempt to anonymously spread Christmas cheer at his family estate is thwarted by a mysterious rival gift-giver, sparking a festive feud as he races to unmask his holiday competitor.
• ​Petteril's Christmas by Mary Lancaster - Piers' plans for a cozy first Christmas with April are upended when his eccentric aunt demands help with a theft—and a murder forces April to confront her past before they can celebrate.
• ​A Poisoned Chalice by Alison Joseph - When Jay Sorrell turns up dead in a church fire, Agnes suspects a connection to the fabled Judas chalice and sets out to uncover the truth.
• ​A Deadly Flame by Doug Sinclair - Anna Galbraith’s life unravels when her husband’s distillery burns down with a body inside, leading DS Malkie McCulloch to uncover family secrets and hunt a ruthless killer.
• ​The Married Man by KL Slater - After eleven years of hiding, a woman learns her supposedly "dead" husband has remarried, ruining their plan and endangering her and their son.

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More to Read...

​25 of the Best British, Golden Age Detective Novels​

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​11 Great British Christmas Mystery Novels​

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"I do love a serial killer and I do love writing about fictional serial killers, but I cannot stand reading about real ones because I can’t get past the fact these are real people, and the people they kill never get remembered – it’s always the person who does the killing. I love writing and reading about made-up ones because no one was hurt in the production of a book."

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Stuart MacBride, author of Cold Granite​

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