Christopher John "C.J." Sansom was a British writer known for his historical crime novels, particularly the Matthew Shardlake series. Born on 9 December 1952, he gained an educational background in history at the University of Birmingham, where he acquired both a BA and a PhD. Before becoming a full-time writer, Sansom worked as a solicitor in Sussex, advocating for the disadvantaged.

His acclaim largely stems from the Matthew Shardlake series, set during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII. The series features the compelling character of Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer who initially works on commissions from key historical figures such as Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer across titles like Dissolution and Dark Fire, and Sovereign and Revelation. Besides this series, Sansom also authored the spy novel Winter in Madrid and the alternate history novel Dominion.

Sansom's literary contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the 2005 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History in 2013, and the Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2022. He passed away on 27 April 2024.