What does history have to hide? Secret relatives? Dark political plots? Or perhaps a dead body or two? That’s what CJ Sansom asks in his acclaimed book series that follows Tudor barrister Matthew Shardlake as he solves mysteries during the reign of Henry VIII. Now Shardlake comes to Disney+ in a four-part drama series which blends Agatha Christie’s Poirot with Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.

Shardlake’s quiet life is disrupted when Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s closest advisor, sends him to a remote monastery in the town of Scarnsea to investigate a murder. Set against the backdrop of reformation, Shardlake must close the monastery for good and crack the case to secure Cromwell’s political power. Although unique in its setting, Shardlake hits on the crime genre’s familiar tropes: grisly murders, suspects quarantined together, and a trail of evidence leading in multiple directions. Here though, our detective wears a codpiece and shows an (almost) unwavering loyalty to the crown.

Arthur Hughes plays the titular crime-solver, a man imbued with a rare sense of justice yet tasked by Cromwell to achieve success above truth. Hughes brings warmth at the right moments to thaw an otherwise cold demeanour and is ably supported by Anthony Boyle as Jack Barak, the cocky assistant whose secret fear of returning to poverty is his key motivation. Acting as each other’s narrative foil, their dynamic keeps you captivated.

Let’s not forget the brilliant ensemble cast either; while Sean Bean’s scenes as Cromwell may be brief, his presence is felt in every moment of tension. Scenes of torture and execution are made even more horrifying by his sly calculations influencing every move. Shardlake might not break every mould, but it still makes an impact. A perfect watch for fans of historical fiction who want (even) more murder in their history lessons.

All episodes of Shardlake are available on Disney+, Wednesday 1 May.