The second Shardlake novel in C. J. Sansom's remarkable historical crime series
Dark Fire (Shardlake Series)
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C. J. Sansomas highly atmospheric and well-crafted sixteenth-century thriller... vividly describes the turbidity of Tudor London. (Jasper Fforde)
Book Description
It is 1540 and the hottest summer of the sixteenth century. Matthew Shardlake, believing himself out of favour with Thomas Cromwell, is busy trying to maintain his legal practice and keep a low profile. But his involvement with a murder case, defending a girl accused of brutally murdering her young cousin, brings him once again into contact with the king’s chief minister – and a new assignment . . . The secret of Greek Fire, the legendary substance with which the Byzantines destroyed the Arab navies, has been lost for centuries. Now an official of the Court of Augmentations has discovered the formula in the library of a dissolved London monastery. When Shardlake is sent to recover it, he finds the official and his alchemist brother brutally murdered – the formula has disappeared. Now Shardlake must follow the trail of Greek Fire across Tudor London, while trying at the same time to prove his young client’s innocence. But very soon he discovers nothing is as it seems . . .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
199 of 202 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having raced through DIssolution last weekened, I'm thrilled to discover Dark Fire, also featuring the hunchback Tudor lawyer Matthew Shardlake, just as compelling. Set three years after the events of the first novel, it has the honest barrister once again forced to work for Lord Cromwell - a man who still strikes terror into all, but who is on the verge of losing his power and his head thanks to his attempts to shore up Henry Vlll's dismal marriage to Anne of Cleves. Cromwell intervenes to allow a young girl, accused of murdering her cousin, two weeks' grace in order for Shardlake to track down the secret of "Greek Fire", a fearsome weapon believed to have been rediscovered by two alchemists, now brutally murdered. To assist him in this Shardlake not only has the enchanting Arab physician (now apothecary) and former monk, Brother Guy, but a Jewish man, Barak, loyal to Cromwell. Their difficult relationship and reluctant respect for each other form a most entertaining and thoughful part of a race against time to solve two murder cases. Once again, what is so captivating about this new star of historical fiction is the intelligence and compassion with which he writes. I highly recommend this to all who love really good detective fiction, historical fiction and an intelligent, literate novel that does not disdain a strong plot and characters.
118 of 120 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you have even a passing interest in historical fiction, particularly Tudor London, and you enjoy a gripping mystery replete with twists, turns and colourful characters, you're likely to have a good time with this book. C.J. Sansom's Shardlake character is a little on the obvious side, with his pure heart and indefatigability overcoming the constraints of his flawed physical being (he's a hunchback lawyer in case you're wondering). Still, it's impossible not to become enthralled by this tale of political intrigue and murder with its adroit descriptions of the machinations of the nobility, corrupt lawyers and officials, and vivid portrayal of the sights and sounds of Tudor London. To my mind, one of the best compliments a book like this can have is that it makes you want buy the next one before you've even finished it, just to be able to delve straight back into Shardlake's world.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. J. Gray
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are three elements to this excellent book.
The title story is a vaguely credible political thriller about Cromwell's last days attempting to cling on to power.
The intrigue running in parallel with this is the investigation of a child's murder with a fascinating picture of the values that were held in the sixteenth century in relation to criminal law.
The background throughout is the stage itself - mid-Tudor London, with a focus on the Inns of Court, but a marvellous view of the commercial, residential, social and institutional elements of London at the time, with all the smells, contexts, sights and horrors that Sansom vividly portrays.
I rate each of these elements highly. The background is first rate - double-starred. As a barrister I was fascinated by the proceedings at both the civil and criminal courts in Westminster and London. The crime itself was not difficult to work out, but that's by the by in the context of how the authorities view it. The political background is great although the concept of "Dark Fire" itself was a bit daft. Without giving too much away, it seems inconceivable that the French or Spanish at the time hadn't already got it.
The history and the setting is six stars. Therefore an overall five.
The title story is a vaguely credible political thriller about Cromwell's last days attempting to cling on to power.
The intrigue running in parallel with this is the investigation of a child's murder with a fascinating picture of the values that were held in the sixteenth century in relation to criminal law.
The background throughout is the stage itself - mid-Tudor London, with a focus on the Inns of Court, but a marvellous view of the commercial, residential, social and institutional elements of London at the time, with all the smells, contexts, sights and horrors that Sansom vividly portrays.
I rate each of these elements highly. The background is first rate - double-starred. As a barrister I was fascinated by the proceedings at both the civil and criminal courts in Westminster and London. The crime itself was not difficult to work out, but that's by the by in the context of how the authorities view it. The political background is great although the concept of "Dark Fire" itself was a bit daft. Without giving too much away, it seems inconceivable that the French or Spanish at the time hadn't already got it.
The history and the setting is six stars. Therefore an overall five.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Imaginative
In Tudor England the nation is gripped by war fever and the unlikely hero is ordered to enquire into the recent trials of Greek Fire where those demonstrating it were mysteriously... Read more
Published 3 days ago by G. Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fanstaic Read
16th Century Morse!
I cant say anything bad about this book. This kind of read is right up my street!
A complex mystery of intrigue and murder. Read more
I cant say anything bad about this book. This kind of read is right up my street!
A complex mystery of intrigue and murder. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Rachel Osnowska-Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
More brilliant and compelling period writing
Very clever and very well written as always by Sansom, who takes us with him on an ingenious journey into the minds and lives of ordinary and extraordinary people in Tudor England
Published 12 days ago by R. J. Cowley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Series
C J Sansom is one of my favourite writers, I have read the first book and have used my Kindle for downloading this book.
Published 14 days ago by Judith P
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Looking back, the plot is quite fanciful, but you get caught up in it. Sansom is a brilliant writer, combining the thriller with lots of good historical detail.
Published 14 days ago by Hillary
4.0 out of 5 stars
Second in Shardlake series
Liked it better than the first in the series. Later ones even better still.
I love this series as each book gives you an insite into what people's lives were all about, and... Read more
I love this series as each book gives you an insite into what people's lives were all about, and... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Westies
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 1500's thriller
Dark Fire is a wonderful story full of intriguing twist and turns. CJ Sansoms lively descriptions of the smells and essence of London in the 1500's brings the book to life, I... Read more
Published 18 days ago by Brian Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
I enjoyed this book and feel eager to read more of shardlake's adventures. It is mysterious, well-informed historically and has a fast pace. Highly recommended.
Published 24 days ago by vasoua
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but somewhat disappointing
I enjoyed reading this but it much weaker in plot than the first Matthew Shardlake, Dissolution. I felt the middle part of this was overlong and somewhat boring and the story... Read more
Published 24 days ago by Yorkshire Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutely the best of the series - of five
nail-biting tension as different factions battle it out to grasp the then wmd - greek or dark fire........ cromwell is still around by this time...... Read more
Published 27 days ago by Tga Donaldson
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