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Dark Fire (The Shardlake Series) [Paperback]

C. J. Sansom (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (305 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 18 May 2007 | Series: The Shardlake Series (Book 2)
The second Shardlake novel in C. J. Sansom's remarkable historical crime series

Frequently Bought Together

Dark Fire (The Shardlake Series) + Sovereign (The Shardlake Series) + Dissolution (The Shardlake Series)
Price For All Three: ï¿½15.57

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Product details

  • Paperback: 595 pages
  • Publisher: Pan; paperback / softback edition (18 May 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0330450786
  • ISBN-13: 978-0330450782
  • Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 19.7 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (305 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's C. J. Sansom Page
C. J. Sansom
C. J. Sansom was educated at Birmingham University, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he retrained as a solicitor and practised in Sussex, until becoming a full-time writer. He lives in Sussex.

Product Description

Review

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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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
204 of 207 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent sequel to Dissolution - recommended 20 Feb 2005
By A. Craig HALL OF FAME TOP 1000 REVIEWER
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.
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119 of 121 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling stuff 7 Sep 2007
By Simon Parsons
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.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding historical imagery 14 Feb 2007
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.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising! 16 Aug 2005
By C Leonard
Format:Hardcover
At first sight I did not think I would like this book. Following a recommendation from a friend I decided to read it and am very glad I did. The author creates the sense of belonging to another age whilst conveying ruthlessness, evil behaviour, religious tension and more within the context of a gripping story of murder and intrigue. This book deserves to be up the charts and once it gets onto the radar of the avid reader I think this will be seen on many tubes and trains in the coming months.
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64 of 67 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Fire is as HOT as its title 29 Nov 2005
By Kali
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Dark Fire is a well written if somewhat slow paced novel in parts that is the sequel to the equally good Dissolution.

Welcome to the 16th century world of the lawyer Mathew Shardlake, a hunchback who is a skilled scholar and a savvy Detective all rolled into one.

Dark Fire takes place a few years after Dissolution and sees him defending the niece of a friend who has been accused of murdering her 12 year old cousin Ralph.

With the case surely lost because the judge is eager to see the girl pressed for not pleading, Mathew gains time to help her through Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's Vice General who wants Mathew to do a job for him, a job that Mathew knows will not be easy or for that matter with dangers lurking in every corner.

In this book we are introduced to Barek, an insolent young commoner with some learning who on his father's side is descended from the ancient faith of Judea, in Dark Fire we watch the jaded Mathew and the shrewd Barek slowly form a grudging relationship, based on their abilities to use their brains together and come up with some startling answers to some frightening questions.

Dark Fire is actually two stories, who actually murdered the 12 year old boy and who has the formula to Greek Fire, an ancient weapon with modern ramifications.

With murders happening all over the place, a mad Grandmother hell bent on preserving her family honour, along with a power struggle between Thomas Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk, and a whole heap of other exciting threads to bring together we have book filled with intrigues, dark secrets and even darker tragedies.

I really enjoyed Dissolution but I enjoyed Dark Fire even more and the hunchback lawyer protagonist in my opinion is a new breed of hero, a person with a disability in a time when disability was not accepted, not only that he is a lawyer, a man of letters, a man of compassion and a man of honour.

I am really looking forward to the next instalment in this series of book which I think will be equally as interesting and intriguing.

A cracking good read for those cold lonely winter nights when you want something intelligent to get your teeth into.

Excellent! Read more ›

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Kept me thinking about game of thrones and the liquid fire that was used to protect king landing,very interesting.throughout, what's next
Published 3 hours ago by MR DENNIS RICHARDS
5.0 out of 5 stars C J Sansom
C J Sansom never fails to write a brilliant book. This as is all his novels was great. I couldn't put it down.
Published 5 days ago by cheryl onraet
5.0 out of 5 stars As always
We read in bed most nights - this is why it is after midnight before we sleep!! The atmosphere is real.
Published 6 days ago by F. D. I. Mason
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Fire
Loved it, kept me gripped from page 1.

Would recommend, it is a well written book.

cannot wait to read Dissolution
Published 7 days ago by Shirley Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story well told.
Gripping from the start, excellent characterization bringing history to life in a way that completely engages the senses, emotions and intellect.
Published 15 days ago by Ms Mary Peyton
4.0 out of 5 stars Curl up on a Sunday afternoon by a fireside type stuff
It's quite a long book but so well written that you glide through each chapter.

There are some unsatisfying passages. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Gargoyle
5.0 out of 5 stars A second great Shardlake
The 15th century detective doing what he does best. A simple way to learn a bit about English history without realising.
Published 26 days ago by Julie
5.0 out of 5 stars CJ Sansom's Shardlake
CJ Sansome books are brilliant. The Shardlake series excellent. I am part way through Dark Fire and it is well written and really interesting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Jean Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Sansom at his best
This is a great read it flows alone a cracking pace. Sansom is such an amazing author and his characters come to life, he makes you really care about them. Read more
Published 1 month ago by pskeynsham
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read
Continuing on from Dissolution.. again I couldn't put the book down until finished. .Almost thought I was living in the same city and the same time . Excellent read ... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dorothy McKenzie
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