Dark Fire

Dark Fire is C. J. Sansom's second novel after Dissolution and begins three years later. In this novel we find the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake getting involved in a criminal case where Elizabeth Wentworth is accused of the murder of her cousin. The facts are vague but Matthew is convinced of her innocence. The only problem is Elizabeth refuses to speak. Unless she enters a plea, she will be pressed (cruelly crushed to death under a load of stone that is added to daily until she finally dies).

Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's vicar general, has offered a stay of execution if Shardlake will promise to investigate the existence of "Dark Fire", a mythical weapon from ancient Greek history that would make the British navy unbeatable. show more Cromwell's political future is on the line as he has promised this weapon to his Henry. Cromwell's hold on power grows shakier as the novel progresses, as powerful traditionalists with Catholic views plot against him. If Cromwell cannot find a sample of dark fire to placate the king, he will likely lose his head.

With the help of one of Cromwell's trusted servants, Jack Barak, Shardlake finds himself traveling all over London tracking down clues and interviewing alchemists, aristocrats and lawyers. He also finds himself trying to avoid the assassins who seem intent on killing everyone who's ever heard of the elusive dark fire.

The interaction between the characters is very compelling. Matthew Shardlake believes in an established class system necessary in the order of society which clashes with his reformist views. Barak, his assistant, is very mistrustful of the class system but loyal to Cromwell. Guy Malton, the former monk turned apothecary, shows us the bigotry of 16th century England.

I love Sansom's mixture of culture, history, and mystery. Dark Fire, is set in the stagnant heat of a squalid and malodorous London summer. Sansom captures 16th century London in all its wretchedness. He also reveals the inequities of the classes. Petty thieves are hung for stealing anything worth more than a shilling. Women blackened their teeth on purpose to show that they mainly lived on fine sugar, which is a sign of high class and wealth.

With historical accuracy and flair for both action and details, Sansom takes the time to develop his characters with sharp distinction. His blend of historical events and the characters playing them out, both real and fictional, is well crafted and exciting. I look forward to the next volume featuring this fascinating character and his cohorts. show less

Dark Fire is a historical mystery set in Tudor England and the second book in the Matthew Shardlake Series. Published in 2004, this novel continues the adventures of the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake during the tumultuous period of Thomas Cromwell's final days of power. In the summer of 1540, Thomas Cromwell is desperately clinging to power after his recommendation to King Henry VIII to marry Anne of Cleeves has gone awry. Cromwell tasks Shardlake with finding the secret of Greek Fire, an ancient incendiary weapon that could change the balance of power in Europe, which Cromwell has promised to deliver to the King. In return, Cromwell will delay the trial of a young woman accused of murdering her cousin, whom Shardlake believes is show more innocent and has decided to defend.

Shardlake remains a compelling protagonist. His physical disability and outsider status give him a unique perspective on Tudor society. Sansom excels at weaving actual historical events and figures into his narrative. The novel captures the religious and political tensions of the period, particularly the vulnerability of those caught in power struggles of the privileged classes. The dual mysteries provide excellent pacing, with enough drama to keep readers engaged throughout the substantial length of the novel.

Dark Fire works as a standalone thriller and as an advancement of the larger story arc of the series. The book provides enough background to be enjoyed without having read the first book, though I think the character development is richer when the series is read in order. I particularly enjoyed Sansom's combination of historical detail, complex characters, and intricate plotting. It will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery readers, and those interested in Tudor England. show less

Dark Fire is C. J. Sansom's second novel after Dissolution and begins three years later. In this novel we find the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake getting involved in a criminal case where Elizabeth Wentworth is accused of the murder of her cousin. The facts are vague but Matthew is convinced of her innocence. The only problem is Elizabeth refuses to speak. Unless she enters a plea, she will be pressed (cruelly crushed to death under a load of stone that is added to daily until she finally dies).

Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's vicar general, has offered a stay of execution if Shardlake will promise to investigate the existence of "Dark Fire", a mythical weapon from ancient Greek history that would make the British navy unbeatable. show more Cromwell's political future is on the line as he has promised this weapon to his Henry. Cromwell's hold on power grows shakier as the novel progresses, as powerful traditionalists with Catholic views plot against him. If Cromwell cannot find a sample of dark fire to placate the king, he will likely lose his head.

With the help of one of Cromwell's trusted servants, Jack Barak, Shardlake finds himself traveling all over London tracking down clues and interviewing alchemists, aristocrats and lawyers. He also finds himself trying to avoid the assassins who seem intent on killing everyone who's ever heard of the elusive dark fire.

The interaction between the characters is very compelling. Matthew Shardlake believes in an established class system necessary in the order of society which clashes with his reformist views. Barak, his assistant, is very mistrustful of the class system but loyal to Cromwell. Guy Malton, the former monk turned apothecary, shows us the bigotry of 16th century England.

I love Sansom's mixture of culture, history, and mystery. Dark Fire, is set in the stagnant heat of a squalid and malodorous London summer. Sansom captures 16th century London in all its wretchedness. He also reveals the inequities of the classes. Petty thieves are hung for stealing anything worth more than a shilling. Women blackened their teeth on purpose to show that they mainly lived on fine sugar, which is a sign of high class and wealth.

With historical accuracy and flair for both action and details, Sansom takes the time to develop his characters with sharp distinction. His blend of historical events and the characters playing them out, both real and fictional, is well crafted and exciting. I look forward to the next volume featuring this fascinating character and his cohorts. show less

Plot-wise and historical detail wise, this kept me very intrigued, informed and entertained. Historical mysteries can get hung up in too much detail and explanation or too little; assuming the reader has as much knowledge as the author when it comes to the time period described. Sanson adroitly sidestepped both pitfalls. I was neither bored nor patronized. Sanson also avoided hero-worship by placing a fictional character central in the story and allowing real historical figures to play supporting roles only.

Brother Shardlake, a lawyer, is our central figure. He has a disfigurement in the form of a hunched back and doesn’t hide his great intelligence or perception. Class-wise he’s middling. A professional man with some standing, but show more he’s not high enough to retain the esteem of a certain woman of nobility. There is definite attraction on both sides, but because of his low birth and dim prospects for elevation, they go their separate ways. It was a sad testament to the way things were when the classes were bound and separated.

There were a lot of unfortunate things about the times then. Infuriating things that I’m so glad the western culture has moved beyond. Suspicion of science. Religious intolerance. Oppression of women. Religious entanglement in secular law and order. Rampaging ignorance. Amazing we got anything done at all.

All my life I’ve been vaguely aware of the Protestant Reformation and King Henry VIII’s part in it, but I hadn’t understood the scope of what happened. I’m sure this novel only scratched the surface, but it was enough to give me a new perspective on those events. Sure, the Catholic Church has been one of the most corrupt entities in the history of the world, but the dismantling of their infrastructure in Great Britain was painful and unjust to the least of the population. Basically the monasteries, churches, orphanages and hospitals were sold off and some just plain given away and dismantled. When this happened many of the church officials were executed. Those who gave up their vows and allegiance to the Pope were spared, but not always. Worst of all were the patients and orphans who were just turned out into the streets. Of course then the nobles and officials complained of the subsequent crowding, disease and crime. Define irony.

Then there is the upper crust wrangling for power. Cromwell is Henry’s chief minister and advisor, recipient of the Order of the Garter. For over a decade he’s served his king and his own interests. But now there are others who want a return to Catholicism; ostensibly to avoid a war with the allied countries of France and Spain. None of Henry’s marriages has been able to secure England against the Papists. Some want to capitulate and return to the old order. But Henry is having too good a time being King and head of the Church to possibly do that. Sickly and at the end of his reign, he also wants an heir. Of course we know what happens, but it is interesting to see it from Shardlake’s perspective. It was also interesting to see how Sanson would cover Cromwell’s arrest and execution which loomed so close during the story.

He does this by inserting the quest for Dark Fire. Also known as Greek Fire. Again, I’d heard of it, but didn’t know its historical context. Invented by the Greeks, harnessed somewhat by the Romans, but pivotal to the Byzantines, this substance was lost and became mythic. Then rumors surfaced that some survived and various alchemists were employed to essentially reverse-engineer the stuff and try to make more. It would be especially useful against the Papists. Cromwell saw it as his last chance to keep his head. If he got Henry Greek Fire, maybe the Cleves marriage debacle would be mitigated. He sends Shardlake out to find the stuff and reprieves Elizabeth’s Pressing for 12 days; the time in which he promised Henry to produce Greek Fire. Little does he know it’s all a plot to bring his downfall. Shardlake only figured it out in the end. A nice little exercise of alternative thought process. Even though he resents Cromwell’s power over him, he feels a scrap of left-over allegiance and really does try to keep Cromwell from the executioner.

I really felt for the guy. He was truly between a rock and a hard place. Cromwell or any other nobleman of his rank could make Shardlake’s life hardly worth living. They could destroy his career, confiscate his property and throw him in jail. Hanging on a trumped up charge is totally conceivable as well. It’s frightening how vulnerable everyone was to the whims of those higher up. Sure, there were laws, but many of those were made and enforced only to protect those in power. Even if there was a hearing, the judges were often corrupt. It was funny to see lawyers as sneered at and slandered as they are now. Poor Shardlake. He was a rare good one.

The case of Elizabeth’s imprisonment is a perfect example. I’m not sure that the crime itself isn’t a bit too modern to fit here, but it would be as horrific a thing as anyone could have seen in those days. Here in the 21st century, psychopathic killers are too commonplace to be as shocking.

That’s basically what we have; evidence of a child’s torture and murder of animals and another boy are found at the bottom of a well. Because basically the whole household is against her, Elizabeth has no one to turn to when she discovers the grisly remains. She didn’t push her cousin down the well, but his sisters conspire to frame her and everyone else just falls into line. Because she doesn’t speak in her own defense she will be sentenced to Pressing; the practice of placing heavier and heavier weights on a person’s chest to make them either speak or die. This is in lieu of a trial. Logical and brilliant to be sure.

Of course Shardlake and Barak solve her case and save her skin; outing the real murderers at the same time. He’s made enemies though; the judge and some nobles. They’re sure to rear their ugly heads in future installments. I like the disparate pairing of Shardlake and Barak though. It works. Shardlake needs a guy of Barak’s talents. He’s educated, but his intelligence is more shrewd than strictly clever. He’s also physical and knows weapons and how to use them. Crafty, but sensitive (he points out poor Skelly’s myopia and Shardlake berates himself for not recognizing it earlier) he’s a complementary force to Shardlakes and I’m looking forward to seeing what they get up to in future novels. show less

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, show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Another pacy thriller from C J Sansom, set at the time of Henry VIII's marriage to Ann of Cleves and Thomas Cromwell's fall from grace. Matthew Shardlake is pulled back into Cromwell's service to try to secure the secret of Greek Fire. As he tries to unpick that mystery, he is faced with 8 murders. At the same time, he's trying to defend a young woman he believes falsely accused of another murder, survives four attempts on his own life, and tries to bring a corrupt colleague to justice. No wonder he starts to yearn for a quiet life in the country! It's an exciting story that maintains pace throughout all the twists and turns. Some twists I worked out, others I was fooled by. As with Master Shardlake, though, I tired pretty quickly of show more his assistant Barak's constant use of arsehole as an insult. I'm sure people of his nature would have had a broad range of expletives at the ready, even in Tudor times. show less