Dark Fire: A Shardlake Novel

By C. J. Sansom

The second novel in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery series—the inspiration for the Disney+ original series Shardlake!

In 1540, during the reign of Henry VIII, Shardlake is asked to help a young girl accused of murder. She refuses to speak in her defense even when threatened with torture. But just when the case seems lost, Thomas Cromwell, the king’s feared vicar general, offers Shardlake two more weeks to prove his client’s innocence. In exchange, Shardlake must find a lost cache of "Dark Fire," a legendary weapon of mass destruction. What ensues is a page-turning adventure, filled with period detail and history.

"Atmospheric and engaging" (Margaret George), this second book in Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery series delves again into the dark and superstitious world of Cromwell's England introduced in Dissolution.

Awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger – the highest honor in British crime writing.u

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9780307362391

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. Sansom is the bestselling author of the acclaimed Shardlake series, the Spanish Civil War thriller Winter in Madrid and the number one bestseller Dominion. in 2023, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. He lives in Sussex.

Reviews for Dark Fire

[louis69-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a great story! Am now looking forward to the next one. Sansom really brings to life the dangerous times of this time.A tour de force!

[ameise1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two cases are involved in this story. On the one hand, Shardlake has to find out the formula for the Greek fire, something that is always found in stories, and in the end all that is charlatanry. He also has to defend a young woman who allegedly threw her cousin into a well and he died.It was an exciting listening, although it took me a moment to immerse myself in the story.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the Matthew Shardlake series, featuring a Tudor lawyer. Although, I didn't enjoy "Dark Fire" as much as "Dissolution", it was still a solid sequel. For some reason I didn't pick up the fact that Matthew was a hunchback in the first book, but it was mentioned a couple of times in this novel and it made me appreciate him even more.Shardlake was such a very believable and likeable protagonist. He was caring, intelligent, modest and incorruptible. I also enjoyed his humorous side-kick, Jack Barak. Barak brought some lightheartedness into the story which was lacking in the first. I just hope that Matthew finds a woman worthy of him. I didn't like Lady Honor; she was far too haughty and aristocratic to be a love-interest."Dark Fire" was full of history and suspense, and had me hooked from the start. Once again, I loved the picture of Tudor London Sansom painted with his wonderful descriptions and I look forward to the next book in the series.

[robeik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What happens in two weeks in London in 1539? Set around more tumultuous events, a lawyer is asked to defend a young woman accused of throwing her cousin down a well. It, however, escalates to a much bigger case which sees him working directly for Thomas Cromwell.A enjoyable book to read, steeped in history, but a few too many convenient twists and turns for me to come to a satisfactory conclusion. But that's fiction.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dark Fire takes place in Tudor England in 1540. Thomas Cromwell's position is in trouble and Shardlake is given the task of a young girl accused of murder. She refuses to speak in her defense and is imprisoned. Cromwell gives Shardlake 2 weeks to prove her innocence. In the meanwhile Shardlake is also commissioned to find a lost cask of Dark Fire which is a weapon of mass destruction. This book takes up right after the events of Dissolution. The character of Shardlake grows on you as he is a good and honest man. He is commissioned once more to solve a murder mystery which has political repercussions to the success or failure of Thomas Cromwell's position. There is lots of adventure and period detail and history to be fascinated with once again. Samson's characters are complex and well-drawn. The plot is very believable and held my interest to the very end. I look forward to reading the next installment of the series and I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical mysteries.

[ariadnearanea · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction is my guilty pleasure - this one does not disappoint.

[carltonc_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A hugely enjoyable historical mystery novel, sei in a vividly created London of 1540.The central characters of Shardlake, and the likeable rogue Barack, are believable and engaging. The two mysteries are both interesting and allow us to wander around a London that ismalmost a character in herself, so firmly imagined and described, with familiar places that can still be walked today jostling with buildings and streets that are no more.Highly recommended, and better than Dissolution, although you will appreciate the character of Shardlake more if you have read the first in the series, is not essential.

[theidlewoman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Didn't grab me quite as much as Dissolution, because the multiple plot strands didn't seem to be handled with quite as much control. Nevertheless, another engaging mystery, as Shardlake finds himself mixed up with a girl who refuses to plead guilty or not to the murder of her young cousin, and with a group of ne'er do wells who seem to have discovered the formula for Greek fire, the most lethal weapon of the Byzantine empire. Once again, pacy and well-written.

[fergus_cooper-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

C.J. Sansom is an awesome writer. His control of language and the ease with which he weaves complex plots and sub-plots within a historical framework is extremely impressive. The reader becomes completely engaged in protagonist Matthew Shardlake doings and the the journey Sansom takes us on. Dissolution set an incredibly high standard. As a historical 'Who done it!' it has few equals. And so when I read Dark Fire my expectations were also set very high. However, the storyline was more convoluted than in Dissolution and the setting was less confined which brought its own difficulties for the writer in terms of plot and control. It still gets 4 stars from me as Sansom's vibrant story telling and prose draws us along toward a historically significant finish.

[oregonreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Shardlake mystery that I've read and I am now a fan. Sansom is a very good writer, conjuring up the feel of the Tudor age, bringing his characters to life, and keeping the reader off-balance in solving the mysteries. He does a good job of including historical characters as well as the fictional ones. I'll be reading more.

[majkia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Second in the Matthew Shardlake series, about a hunch-backed lawyer who finds himself serving Thomas Cromwell, more by necessity than by choice. In this book, Cromwell is attempting not to be deposed by Henry VIII and pretty desperately sends Shardlake and a young assistant, Barak, off to discover the truth behind 'dark fire' which in this case refers to Greek Fire, something that has been promised to King Henry. In short order, Shardlake's life is in danger and he and Barak are rushing across London to save themselves as well as Cromwell.Not bad for the most part except : Why, when you are confronting a family you KNOW to have enabled the death of one young boy and then blamed that death on an innocent young girl, why oh why would you be stupid enough to drink wine they offered you? Why do authors seem to have this need to make characters stupid to come up with a stupid plot point?I like Shardlake and I really enjoyed Barak and his development and change throughout the novel.

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Count another person hooked on this series. This is quite different from Dissolution but equally as good. I could feel the mugginess and smell the nauseating odours of London in the summer of 1540 which was quite a contrast from the cold and snow of Dissolution. And Shardlake's mission for Oliver Cromwell is certainly different as he is pursuing the formula for Greek Fire, a highly flammable substance which could change the course of warfare. Also, this time Shardlake has a sidekick, Jack Barak, an adherent of Cromwell's whose favourite descriptor for someone he doesn't like is "arsehole". Shardlake and Barak have only 10 days to find the formula and also to find out what really happened in the Wentworth household the day the young son, Ralph, died. Ralph's cousin, Elizabeth, has been charged with his murder and unless she pleads she will be pressed by heavy stones until she dies. The judge has ordered a stay (at the behest of Cromwell) but only for 10 days. Shardlake and Barak cover London in searching for clues to both mysteries and face at least two adversaries who are bent on killing them. I would not have wanted to live in Tudor England but it is fascinating to read about it.

[mireille4m · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

who dunnit met achtergrond England in de 16e eeuw

[dougwood57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

CJ Sansom continues the investigations of Matthew Shardlake, the hunchbacked attorney in Dark Fire, an historical detective novel set in 16th century Tudor England. This time around the story centers on London and its immediate environs. As book opens Shardlake is quickly retained to represent a young woman accused of murdering her cousin. The girl refuses to speak, which can present a challenge to even the most accomplished defense attorney (although in truth many a finely crafted defense has been wrecked by a client's indiscreet disclosures of fact!). In 16th century English criminal law, however, a capital defendant who refused to enter a plea was subjected to `the press' - a board being placed on top of the prostrate defendant and weights were added until the defendant plead or died. Just when Shardlake despaired of saving his client, the judge strangely allows a two-week reprieve. Shardlake soon learns that his benefactor is none other than Lord Thomas Cromwell, recently elevated to Earl of Essex by the grace of Henry VIII. Three years earlier at the time of the events set forth in Dissolution, the first Shardlake novel, Matthew was still an ardent reformer and devoted servant of the Vicar-General. By 1640, however, he has become disillusioned by Cromwell's slavish service to Henry. But, the price to save his young client a horrible death is cooperation in Cromwell's investigation into the secrets of Greek Fire, also known as Dark Fire. With the aid of Cromwell's rough-edged helper Jack Barak, our man Shardlake delves into many an odd corner of London's streets, including a trip to the pleasures offered in the brothels of Southwark, dining at an aristocratic table with the Duke of Norfolk, exploring old Roman texts, digging in church graveyard, and seeking the secrets at the bottom of a horrid-smelling well. The Greeks surely knew the secrets of Greek Fire, but has it been rediscovered in Tudor London? If it has, who will benefit? Cromwell or his enemies? Sansom weaves another intricate historical tale - perhaps a bit longer than necessary with, some may think, too many references to the (historically accurate) sweltering summer of 1640 - but all-in-all an interesting and entertaining piece of work. Dark Fire won the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Ellis Peters Historical Dagger in 2005. Highly recommended.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this the second book in the series things are complicated, secrets within secrets and not everything being what it seems. There are two stories here, one of a young woman who is accused of killig her nephew, this is the case that Shardlake starts with, he suspects that there are secrets that aren't being told and reasons why the suspect is in near catonia in a jail.Secondly Cromwell wants him to investigate what may be a formula for Greek Fire, using the first case to bribe him into compliance.Interesting with it's description but lacking the fire of the first story. Here's hoping that the third book is better.

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another splendidly detailed and absorbing Tudor whodunnit, above the standard of others in this genre. I perhaps didn't enjoy it quite as much as Dissolution and it did drag a just a tiny bit in parts. But Shardlake was more sympathetic here and the sights, sound and smells of Tudor London are just so authentic that you can imagine yourself there (though you would hardly wish to be). Excellent stuff.

[soliloquies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Second in the Shardlake series and this one was an improvement on the first - the author really seemed to settle in with the character, which made the writing flow better. The introduction of Jack Barak is a good one, as he's street savvy. Loved the intrigue between Norfolk, Rich and Cromwell and how easy it was for Shardlake to get sucked into the politics of a Tudor court.

[clurb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Matthew Shardlake is once again on a mission from Cromwell in Dark Fire, the second book in this series. With a new sidekick and a very tight schedule, Shardlake battles his way across Tudor London in a very evocative, fast paced and entertaining story.

[passion4reading_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the second adventure for Matthew Shardlake, the hunchbacked lawyer working on assignments for Thomas Cromwell, who was introduced in Dissolution. This time he has to try to prove a young woman's innocence who has been accused of murdering her cousin, and at the same time find the secret of Dark Fire and secure it for Cromwell.Having read Dissolution and loved it, this book is even more accomplished. The characters are entirely believable and jump off the page, and the descriptions of Tudor London are vivid and simply marvellous, bringing the city of nearly 500 years ago to life. The plot is complex but not complicated, and I thought the device of adding the countdown to Elizabeth's trial worked extremely well, heightening the tension no end. Admittedly, there is a lot of toing and froing from one end of London to the other, chasing up leads and interviewing suspects, only to find they're not at home or don't want to reveal the whole truth and have to be revisited, but I thought that was very realistic and believable, with Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak becoming frustrated and anxious as they realize that time is running out. Shardlake is a wonderful creation, appearing like a rock in such a turbulent time, someone decent having to make compromises but trying to stay true to his principles while so many others are out to make a fast profit at the expense of the ordinary citizen and men in power becoming traitors to advance themselves depending on where the political wind is blowing from. Yet for all his intelligence he's shown not to be infallible, for instance he fails to spot that his clerk has very poor eyesight and is in desperate need of some spectacles in order to do his work. Again Shardlake is beginning to question his faith, and there are plenty of opportunities for the reader to reflect on religious fanaticism, the absence of faith and the nature of faith itself. I'm looking forward to the next volume in the series, Sovereign. Thoroughly recommended.

[sabbiemv · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas present from from a friend a couple of years ago, I was rather sceptical about it. Reading the publisher's blurb, I felt bored, but fixed the widest grin on my face while giving my friend the most upbeat 'thanks!' I could muster. I pretty much decided to read it just to get the pain over and done with - but have become an historical novel convert as a result. I never imagined I could be gripped by a book about a lawyer (an overly sweaty one at that...) who was solving a case in pre-electricity times.I almost cried when I came to the end of the book until I realised that, not only was the author was writing the next installment, but there was a previous Shardlake book to dive straight into.Hurrah for the (well written) historical crime genre!

[mooknits · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another stonking read from old CJ. This one was not as good at the first book "Dissolution" but still a good read. There was so much going on and so many characters sometimes it was hard to keep up with what was going on. However you feel as though you are right there in the action - I was totally gripped and couldn't put the book down - always a good sign. I have the next one all lined up ready to go. Can't wait !

[libraryliz2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great read. Sansom makes the time period come to life. The main character, Matthew Shardlake, is so moving, a man of conscience in a violent and uncertain time. Just wonderful!

[ecw0647 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good historical mystery. No need to recount the plot. One often wonders, however, just what the relationship is between reality and author's license in historical fiction. And it's the little details about life during the period that make these kinds of novels intriguing for me. For example, "The salt cellar, a foot high and particularly ornate, was set at the very top of the table, opposite a high chair thick with cushions. That meant nearly all the guests would be below the salt and therefore that a guest of the highest status was expected." Now that's an intriguing little piece of cultural history.

Or that the wives would wear "heavy layers of lead rouge" I love those little kinds of details in historical novels. It's what makes them spring to life for me, aside from the story. Fortunately, Sansom (a pseudonym?) has a good reputation for historical accuracy.

[meredy_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Six-word review: Plodding double mystery never takes off.Extended review:This book isn't really a mystery, never mind two of them.For investigator Shardlake it is, but not for the reader.What I mean by that is that we are not invited to consider the cases along with the sleuth. We simply follow along as spectators to his efforts. We are given prolonged churn and frustration as substitutes for suspense. The possible culprits are never depicted in a lineup of suspects, as it were, with enough information for us to be able (theoretically, at least) to pick them out from the innocent parties, and so when the wrongdoers are finally revealed it is pretty much of a yawn.And those weren't the only yawns for me in this 503-page tome. Situated in a fascinating time and place, England under Henry VIII during the rocky transition from Catholicism to Protestantism, it has tremendous dramatic potential in its setting alone. However, the author suffers from the apparent compulsion to dramatize everything in scenes when some of it would do well as summary. Conventional writing classes mislead with their mantra to show and not tell: you don't have to show everything--you have to show what needs to be shown; it's okay to tell some things. As a result, the story is laden with unnecessary and repetitive dialogue, a jumble of indistinct secondary characters produces confusion, and, as in the first book, a rushed ending leaves me wondering what actually happened. It's instantly forgettable. I'm afraid it doesn't help that Elizabeth's suicidally persistent silence and the book's McGuffin--the Dark Fire of the title--never really cross over into plausibility.If I wanted to be mean, I could say that Sansom seems to have studied at the Willis school of historical fiction writing. This novel furnishes ample instances of the same maddening qualities that made me gnash my teeth through one and one-third of the Oxford Time Travel novels: repetitiveness, verbosity, repetitiveness, loose editing, and repetitiveness. Here is but one example of Sansom's doing the same thing that the author of The Doomsday Book does (repeatedly). On page 444 we read: "Toky was frowning now, his ebullience gone." And then on the following page: "Toky grunted; his ebullience had evaporated."Soon afterward, we have this (page 454): "He grabbed at his bicep, blood welling between his fingers." (And yes, he does say "bicep," which is not a singular form of "biceps"; "biceps" is the Latin name of that arm muscle, and it is singular.) On page 456 the same character is described thus: "He clasped his wounded arm and I saw a trickle of blood welling between his fingers."This kind of carelessness and inattention suggests to me that as he approached the finale the author was writing in haste, a horse galloping toward the barn at the end of a long journey, forgetting what he just said, making random changes without checking surrounding text, not looking back or even using a word-frequency counter to catch overuse of unusual words, and that no editor was maintaining stern vigilance at sentence level to save the author from embarrassing himself in this ever-so-avoidable way.There is also some egregiously pedestrian writing. Here's an example taken from what should be an exciting action-filled scene near the end of the book:=====(Sansom excerpt 1 begins)I nodded, my heart beating fast. We climbed the rickety wooden staircase carefully. I looked at the door, afraid that it might open and Toky might fly out at us. Barak held his drawn sword in front of him and I clutched the dagger at my belt. But we reached the platform safely. I saw that the door to the office was also secured by a padlock. It seemed darker now; glancing up at the high window, I saw the sky was dark as a winter dusk. I heard a faint rumble of thunder. (Dark Fire, page 441)=====(Sansom excerpt 1 ends)If a Freshman Comp. student can't think of at least two, and preferably more than six, ways to improve that paragraph through editing, I'll swallow my eraser.As it happens, I finished my latest outing with Brother Cadfael only a day earlier. Coincidentally, both novels pose a climactic scene as a thunderstorm breaks after a prolonged spell of summer heat. Peters' novel is only 200-odd pages, as against Sansom's 500, and yet she is willing to spend several lines evoking the dark explosion of a rainstorm after a long buildup of meteorological tension:=====(Peters excerpt begins)They were well down the first reach between the water-meadows when the east suddenly darkened, almost instantly, to reflect back the purple-black frown of the west, and suddenly the light died into dimness, and the rumblings of thunder began, coming from the west at speed, like rolls of drums following them, or peals of deep-mouthed hounds on their trail in a hunt by demi-gods....Then the rain began, first great, heavy, single drops striking the stretched cloth loud as stones, then the heavens opened and let fall all the drowning accumulation of water of which the bleached earth was creditor, a downpour that set the Severn seething as if it boiled, and spat abrupt fountains of sand and soil from the banks....And steadily and viciously the torrent of rain fell, and the rolls and peals and slashes of thunder hounded them down towards Shrewsbury, and the lightnings, hot on the heels of the thunder, flashed and flamed and criss-crossed their path, the only light in a howling darkness. (An Excellent Mystery, pages 175-176)=====(Peters excerpt ends)In contrast:=====(Sansom excerpt 2 begins)There was silence for a minute. Then I heard a loud hissing sound from outside. I could not work out what it was at first, then drips began falling from the ceiling and I realized it was raining. Thunder sounded again, a mighty crack right overhead. (Dark Fire, page 445)...We walked slowly back along Cheapside then down to the river, through lanes that the rain had already turned into trails of filthy, clinging mud. There can be something pitiless about rain when it pounds, hard, on exhausted heads, as though cast from heaven by an angry hand. This was a real storm, no half-hour cloudburst as before. Everywhere drenched Londoners, their thin summer clothes clinging to them, ran to get out of the rain. (Dark Fire, page 456)=====(Sansom excerpt 2 ends)Which one has a pulse you can feel--special effects delivered through evocative language, setting mood and heightening drama? Which one is flat and undistinguished, somehow seeming more verbose in 37% fewer words? In fact, the latter passage would be briefer still if all the static, do-nothing words were removed; and while we were editing, I hope we'd also delete one of the two occurrences of "clinging" within the space of five lines of text.Lest I imply, however, that faults of form and substance are confined to the closing pages of the book, when the author might understandably have been racing to meet a deadline, let me assure you that they are not. As before, I note odd misnomers and malapropisms--not many, perhaps, but enough to raise doubts about Sansom's or his editor's care with the language. For example, Sansom doesn't seem to realize that the popular use of the expression "just desserts" is a pun, a play on the phrase "just deserts," with "desert" in this case (de-ZERT, not DEZ-ert) meaning something that one deserves. A dessert (with the double s) is the sweet course at the end of a meal. Twice (page 33, page 294) he refers to "desserts" as if the word meant "comeuppance."I also counted numerous misuses of "lest," which does not mean "in case" ("The workshop door was open. Barak banged it wide, lest anyone was hiding behind it." - page 330, and essentially the same sentence again on page 441). This particular error occurred throughout the first book, Dissolution, as well.Flaws of execution are no novelty in fiction writing; even the best work may occasionally show regrettable lapses. But this author could have compensated for or eliminated many of those by practicing a reasonable economy. It's not in the original writing so much as in the rewriting and self-editing that a book succeeds or fails. This one, in my opinion, demanded far more of my time and patience than it rewarded. I liked the setting; I liked the dynamic between Shardlake and Barak; I liked the glimpses of the political milieu. But those features are not enough to sustain my interest. I've given the author two lengthy chances; I won't be back for a third.

[firebird013 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sanson at his powerful best. His novels do not have to be read in order - but if you have not read any then read this after Dissolution.

[readafew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dark Fire is the second book the the Mathew Shardlake series. This book has improved quite a bit over the first Dissolution and I really enjoyed reading it. Sansom has a great way of making you see and feel the time period in which the story is taking place. He also does a great job of twinning his story through real historical events that took place at during the story.Here we find Shardlake asked by a friend, to help represent a niece accused of murdering her cousin. Lord Cromwell steps in and gets Shardlake's client a 12 day reprieve, in exchange for another favor. Once again Shardlake gets into a trouble he would rather have avoided. Someone has found the ancient Greek Fire and Cromwell wants our protagonist to secure it. There are plots and plots afoot and Shardlake needs to separate out the truth from the lies and he doesn't have much time to do it in.

[uncultured · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have a big weakness for this mystery series starring a hunchback lawyer working in the dangerous times of the English Reformation. Shardlake, the main character, is wonderfully sympathetic and interesting, and Sansom couldn't have picked a better time to set a mystery. With so many rival factions both at court and in the country at large, the list of suspects is never short. This particular book, second in a series of three (so far), concerns attempts by the government to acquire a quasi-mystical Greek weapon that sounds to modern ears like a long-distance flamethrower. Throw in some whores, alchemists, assassins, and treacherous courtesans, and you've got yourself a helluva mystery. Good stuff. Must add, though, that it is not short. It doesn't drag, though, so never fear.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Matthew Shardlake takes on a case of a girl accused of killing her cousin. Although the judge sentences the girl to be pressed for her refusal to plead, Cromwell assists in a 12-day reprieve because he needs Shardlake to locate a mysterious substance known as "Greek fire" (often called "Dark Fire" because of its dark color). It is able to burn things and even works on water. Cromwell wants it for its potential use in naval warfare. Shardlake does not really want to do Cromwell's bidding, but he has no choice because of the time he has been bought on the case of young Elizabeth. Cromwell lends Shardlake a man named Barak to assist in his inquiries. A recurring character from the previous installment is Guy, the former monastic doctor who is now working as an apothecary in London. It's another great installment in one of my new favorite series. It gives me a glimpse into some of the reasons some of my ancestors migrated to America during this period.

[brenzi_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What sets this series above others that involve an investigator and crime is that author C.J Sansom is a professional historian and, as such, is able to weave a lot of his knowledge of 16th century Tudor England into his stories. Oh and of course there's the fact that the man spins a crackerjack tale. Once again, Thomas Cromwell has assigned a task to lawyer Matthew Shardlake and to help out he gives him the rather rough Jack Barak. The two of them have exactly ten days to discover the formula for Greek Fire, an ancient legendary substance that Cromwell will be able to use in a demonstration for Henry VIII, that will enable the King's navy to rule the seas and conquer his foes. Cromwell is worried about losing the King's favor and this will save him. At the same time, Matthew has to solve the case of a young girl, Elizabeth, who is accused of killing her cousin, yet refuses to offer a plea, leaving herself open to being pressed as a punishment for this refusal. Being pressed is one of those old Tudor torture methods that were so prevalent during the 1500s along with other pleasant experiences like being drawn and quartered, burned at the stake or losing your head, literally. Not a good time for being seen as an enemy of the King.Sansom writes beautifully and is able to impart the feel of the filthy city of London in the 16th century when sanitation was, er, lacking. His characterization of the mighty and the meek, the rough and the upper class, the haves and the have-nots is just superb. And, oh dear, Matthew and Jack do get themselves into some pretty nasty skirmishes and the question all along is one of time. Can they find the Greek Fire formula and apparatus and can they discover who actually killed the young cousin before time runs out? Sansom keeps us guessing, for the most part, right up until the end. Highly recommended, although I thought the author could have trimmed the almost 600 page tome by about a hundred pages without diminishing its effectiveness.

[ckowal_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Darkfire is the second novel in the Mathew Shardlake series. This time Shardlake and his associate and friend, Jack Barak, are enlisted by Thomas Cromwell to pursue a powerful weapon that could mean the glory of England or the destruction of London. Another great example of Sansom's fiction bringing a historical world to reality.