Dark Fire - C.J. Sansom

Dark Fire sees lawyer Matthew Shardlake pulled into national politics as he reluctantly undertakes a new mission for Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s Chief Minister. He must solve two murders: one threatens to claim the life of a young girl, the other is connected to Dark Fire – a mysterious weapon which could wreak havoc in the wrong hands. This book is the second in the Shardlake trilogy - the first being Dissolution. If you’ve not read Dissolution, you might be better reading it first. Although Dark Fire can be read as a standalone novel, it’s better to read them in order. Sansom does assume that you will already be familiar with his work. Dark Fire provides ...  Read the complete review

Dark Fire is the 2nd book in the series staring ficitional character Shardlake, a hunchback lawyer in the time of Tudor England. I surprisingly enjoyed the first book in the series, Dissolution, I say surprised because the plot doesn't sound too exciting but the book itself was excellent. I certainly wasn't disappointed by this 2nd book. Dark Fire is set 2 years after Dissolution and again we meet up with Shardlake, and the events of this book are set in London itself. Shardlake is helping a friend, Joseph who's niece, Elizabeth, is in jail accused of murdering her young cousin Ralph, a 9 year old boy. However, Joseph believes Elizabeth to be innocent and ...  Read the complete review

I cannot help but feel I have done myself and the author of the Shardlake series C.J.Sansom a disservice by not reading his amazing novels in their correct order. As some of you may have read my Revelation review I was literally hankering after my next one in the set, on seeing Dark Fire in Asda for £4.77 I stupidly bought it without noticing it is the second in the series, meaning I have now read the fourth and the second! Needless to say this has caused me some problems which I have sought to overlook in my review. Dark Fire is another tale featuring my new favourite detective, Master Shardlake, a lawyer who more often than not deals in property and civil ...  Read the complete review

This is the second book written by C J Sansom about the adventures of lawyer Matthew Shardlake during the reign of Henry VIII. I have reviewed the first book, Dissolution, and in that review I mentioned how 'hit and miss' historical fiction can be. Dissolution, in my opinion, is an excellent example of great historical fiction - you can almost see the sights and smell the smells of Tudor London (although sometimes, particularly in this book, I'm VERY glad you can't). I was nervous that Dissolution would have raised the bar too high, and that I would be let down by book two, but I really needn't have worried. The book starts assuming you have read ...  Read the complete review