BasedontheinternationallyacclaimedTudormurdermysterynovelsbyC.J.Sansom,thefour-partdramaissetin16thcenturyEnglandduringthedissolutionofthemonasteries. TheserieswillfollowthestoryofMatthewShardlake,alawyerwithanacutesenseofjusticeandoneofthefewhonestmeninaworldbesetwithschemingandplots.ShardlakeworksforThomasCromwell,thedangerousandall-powerfulright-handmantoHenryVIII. DespiteShardlake’sunwaveringloyaltytoCromwellandtheCrown,hispositioninsocietyisunfavoredduetohisappearance,asapersonlivingwithscoliosisduringtheTudorperiod,sufferingtheindignityofbeingabusedasa“crookback”whereverheturns.AsheinvestigatesthemurderofoneofCromwell’scommissionersatamonasteryintheremotetownofScarnsea,heisaccompaniedbyJackBarak,acockyandgood-lookingcharacterwhomaybeCromwell’sspy.