Customer Reviews

Dark Fire (Shardlake)

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I had plans for this weekend. I had household projects to finish, a few errands to run, that sort of thing. None of them were accomplished, because -- for the first time in a long time -- I fell headfirst into a novel and didn't even want to climb out.

Dissolution was a good book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, because "murder in a monastary" is a familiar trope, it doesn't have as much of a sense of surprise or historical interest. Or perhaps the author is simply getting better with each book -- which is quite an accomplishment, considering how well he writes now.

Dark Fire succeeds on a number of levels. The protogaonist is interesting, both as a man of his times and an "enlightened" person who considers difficult questions. The writing immerses the reader in the era: not just the intertwined mysteries to be solved, but the smell of the Thames, the desperation of the beggars who once worked for the monastaries, the fascination with the discoveries arriving from the New World. And boy -- did Sansom pick an interesting time to write about, with political and religious upheaval that affected nearly everyone.

Yet, he doesn't let the scenery get in the way of the story. As with most mysteries, it's difficult to discuss the plot without giving it away. I'll just say that it's deliciously complex without being so twisty that you lose track of what's happening.

Great book, in other words. The sort we all love to discover. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a novel to keep your mind engaged without requiring serious scholarship.

C J Samson's second novel opens three years after the events at Scarnsea and we find our hunched hero, Matthew Shardlake getting involved in a criminal case where Elizabeth Wentworth is accused of the murder of her cousin. The facts are sketchy, Matthew's convinced of her innocence. The only problem is the accused refuses to speak.
Cromwell steps in to gain some time from the accused being peine forte et dure but the cost is Matthew must convince the renegade augmentation clerk, Gristwood to hand over the newly re-discovered formula to greek fire. Which swiftly proves impossible as Matthew and his new side-kick, Barak, find Gristwood dead. What follows are three plots lines as Samson weaves them altogether in a tangle so you're never sure which character is actually associated with which nefarious deed. Matthew rides round London, first on Chancery, then on another steed after Chancery winds up dead after saving Matthew's life, with twelve days to save Elizabeth, find out who is removing his cases from him and discover the whereabouts of the alchemist's formula.
Into the mix Samson stirs the lawyer, Bealknapp, with his unsavoury eye for financial gain, Sir Richard Rich, who is going round converting dissolved monasteries into tenement deathtraps, Lady Honor Vaughan, famous for her sugar parties and eclectic dinner conversation, the overly boorish and ambitious Lord Norfolk, the poorly lineaged but ever-grasping Serjeant Marchamount, and Matthew's master again, Lord Cromwell. Amongst it all a host of supporting characters from the downright nasty Wright and Tokey to the apothecary, Guy (from the first novel) move amongst the slums and mansions of London, from the Thames to the suburbs.
With Barak at his side they race through St Paul's Cathedral, jump walls and climb down wells, leap from burning buildings and dig up corpses as the pair weave through the growing list of murders to find conspiracy at a personal and political level that reaches from the courts to the King.
By the end Matthew has unravelled the mysteries, a new political order is in place and loose ends are tied up as he heads north for a quiet life.
Samson's writing is electric, clearly at the same level as Susanna Gregory as he brings Tudor London to vivid life where its harshly regulated lifestyle of informers and accusors draws the reader into breathing the very dirty air of such a tormented city. The prose is crisp and precise, the characterisation pointed, the plot effusive. Utterly worth reading and hopefully Samson will produce more tales of his put-upon hero for this reader, at least.

Tudorian England is brought to life in this highly suspenseful novel of murder and mayhem in London.

Its 1540, and King Henry is preparing to divorce his fourth wife, the German Anne of Cleves, and marry "the harlot" Catherine Howard. All of London is on shaky ground, as loyalties shift back and forth. Everyone is concerned that, with Catherine as Queen of England, the country will be returned back to its Catholic past.

Into all this comes Thomas Cromwell, advisor to the king and strongly out of disfavor due to the Cleves marriage. Cromwell feeels that he must get back into the graces of king by digging up Greek Fire- a Weapon of Mass Destruction that could make or break the future of England. He will give the king a demonstration on June 10th- an inocuous day, since it turns out to be the day on which Cromwell is arrested by the king's men. Greek Fire itself, a real substance, was invented by the Byzantines and needs petroleum in order to make it work properly. It is called Dark Fire because the formula is of a black color. The author made up the whole bit about Greek Fire being rediscovered, since there is no way that the English could have known about natural gas in the 16th century. Despite this, this is an excellent read.

Matthew Shardlake is a highly regarded lawyer in the City. On the same day that he is hired to investigate Greek Fire, he is also called to investigate the case of Elizabeth Wentworth, who supposidly pushed her cousin Ralph down a well. The case is a gruesome one; and what is found down at the bottom of the well is not for the sqeemish.

The case of Greek Fire leads Shardlake and his assistant, Barak, to investigate the ruins of the old monasteries, torn down in the eight years since King Henry's break with Rome. In the course of their investigation, they have run-ins with a pock-faced man, a wealthy noblewoman, and the uncle of Catherine Howard. London is detailed in intimate detail, and emphasis is placed upon the lives of ordinary people in 16th-century London. This is an exciting, fast-paced read, good for anyone who likes mysteries and historical fiction. In addition, the author includes a very helpful historical note at the end which details the historical authenticity of Greek Fire and explains the whole Henry-Anne of Cleves-Catherine Howard-Thomas Cromwell deal.

I picked up "Dark Fire" with high hopes, having thoroughly enjoyed the first Mathew Shardlake mystery, "Dissolution". However, "Dark Fire" proved to be a very different kind of novel. The pace was much slower, and the plot less intricate, even if based on interesting ideas (Greek Fire, a rediscovered weapon of the ancient world). Matthew Shardlake, the hunchback lawyer, was still an engaging character, but this second volume of his adventures lacked the self-discovery and character development of the first. Foul-mouthed and insolent Jack Barak, servant to Lord Cromwell, accompanies him in his investigations in "Dark Fire", and, despite being irritating at first, proved to be a very likeable character. I look forward to his return in future books.
Despite some disappointment in "Dark Fire", I remain interested in the Matthew Shardlake series as a whole, and look forward to the next book, "Sovereign". I would recommend you read the first book in the series, "Dissolution" before reading "Dark Fire"--although it is not essential to the plot, it gives a much better portrait of Matthew Shardlake's character.

Lawyer (and hunchback) Mathew Shardlake is minding his own business, trying to protect his clients and make a living. But when he agrees to represent a young woman accused of murder, his old nemesis, Lord Thomas Cromwell (not Oliver Cromwell of the English Civil War but his ancestor and Henry VIII's great advisor) has an opportunity to pressure Shardlake for help. And Cromwell needs help. The marriage he arranged for King Henry has turned into a disaster. Henry won't even look at Anne of Cleaves and now is sniffing after the niece of Cromwell's greatest rival, the Duke of Norfolk.

Cromwell's hope is Greek Fire. In the wreck of a dissolved monastery, a clerk and his alchemist brother discovered the original Byzantine formula for Greek Fire--a napalm-like substance used by the Byzantines to defend their city but lost to history. Henry VIII is beset by the Catholic nations of France and Spain. With Greek Fire, his navies can rule the seas (remember that although gunpowder was known at this time, cannon were still primative and dangerous to those firing them as well as to those being fired at). But Shardlake is conflicted. He no longer feels passion for the Christian commonwealth and fears that another weapon will simply mean more killing. Still, Cromwell has him over a barrel and he can't ignore the summons.

Together with Cromwell's aide, Barak, Shardlake investigates the origins and nature of Greek Fire--and discovers a trail of death. Every time he seems to get close, another body stops his progress. In the meantime, Shardlake needs to solve the case of the accused woman--before she is pressed to death in an attempt to force a plea.

Author C. J. Sansom does a fabulous job describing the legal landscape, political infighting, protestant/catholic collision, and physical nature of Tudor England. But Sansom personalizes the conflicts and settings. The evolving relationship between Shardlake and Barak draws the reader in, as does Shardlake's attraction to the beautiful and noble Lady Honor.

DARK FIRE is one of the best historical mysteries I've read in a long time. I definitely recommend this one.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THOMAS CROMWELL'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Thomas Cromwell came from humble beginnings son of a blacksmith/brewer, born in Putney, London, in 1485. As a young man he lived in Europe and served in the French Army in Italy, on his return to England he worked as a Lawyer which led him into the service of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (King Henry VIII's Chief advisor). By 1523 Cromwell was elected to the House of Commons and two years later became Wolsey's Chief Agent. By Late 1530 Wolsey's was disgraced and on his journey to the Tower of London he died. Thomas Cromwell was sworn into the King's council and he rose rapidly thereafter.

Cromwell set about changing the course of History, unlike Cardinal Wolsey's, Cromwell was not a priest or a papist; he was a lawyer, his own character, methodical, detached and above all calculating upon government issues. Cromwell's first reform was to make the government effective and efficient; it was a modern form of government; based on a bureaucracy staffed by capable people who worked to a series of rules and procedures. Departments were created that dealt with the specifics associated with that department and only those specifics. Each department's received money from pre-specified sources and in turn were rigorously audited so there was no over lapping on money paid out.

In 1531 Cromwell became a member of the King's Privy Council this was his second reform. Henry had one hundred men as advisors, however, not everyone turned up for a meeting, and they were normally dominated by one person. Cromwell arranged to have the Privy Council made up of twenty men of choice; dealing with the day to day running of government, in theory, no individual could dominate the proceedings.

Cromwell became Chancellor of the Exchequer by 1533, each year after he continued to gain a new title. The main thing for Henry around this time was to receive his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Cromwell made it possible with a planned Break from Rome followed by making Catherine's marriage to Henry Invalid. 1534 onwards, motions were in place for the dissolution of the monasteries and establishment of the Royal supremacy. Cromwell's rise was vastly helped by supporting the ambitious Anne Boleyn, but a few years after, Anne became a liability. Boleyn no longer held the King's favour, Cromwell was given the task of getting rid, it was a complete betrayal on Cromwell's part he produced some trumped up charges of adultery, incest and witchcraft, Anne Boleyn was executed May 19th 1536.

Cromwell founded the most famous departments Ministries of Augmentations and First Fruits, to handle income from the dissolution to the King's treasury. Also in use at this time were the two courts of Wards and Surveyors which allowed more efficient taxation and leasing. Cromwell then put his power and deviousness into full force with a new invention the printing-press, spinning the first propaganda campaign in English history. He quickly moved to politically integrate the Kingdom, by extending sovereign authority into northern England, Wales and Ireland, but by this action he had angered the great feudal lords.

Since 1531 Cromwell had received unfavourable attention from Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk and Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk. Two powerful Dukes, Gardiner had worked with Cardinal Wolsey's, but after Wolsey's dismissal all three expected in their own way to be placed in the King's highest favour but Cromwell rose to overtake them all.

Cromwell would have faired better to have stuck to his job of being a great statesman and stayed far from the King's marriage affairs. By April 1540, Henry gave Cromwell the title Earl of Essex, but powerful enemies had already hatched plans, reward of any Earldom was about to be short lived.

C.J SANSOM - DARK FIRE REVIEW

In this Second novel Dark Fire, two stories have been entwined over a twelve day period; C. J Sansom has brought us forward three years to 1540, the hottest summer of the 16th century. Based in London where brutality of life is harsh, noisome, sweat, stench and greed is everywhere. Thomas Cromwell's position as chief of staff for King Henry VIII is filled with great uncertainty, for the King is preparing to dump yet another wife Anne of Cleves. Sansom has also questioned Hunchback London lawyer Matthew Shardlake views after his Dissolution experience, he is now less sure of his political position, religious convictions and more sceptical of others.

Shardlake had been trying to keep a low profile; business had not been great since he had been out of favour with Cromwell. A case had come his way unexpectedly by helping an old friend's niece. Even though the Judge ruled against Shardlake in court, he suddenly had a change of heart outside of it; the Judge agreed to a stay of execution for two weeks. But Shardlake was about to realise darker forces had intervened, Cromwell's network had been doing overtime and the girl was only to keep a longer life span if Shardlake was to help his old nemesis, another pressing matter awaited.

Cromwell had witnessed with his own eyes a demonstration of Greek fire or Byzantine fire of liquid. It was capable of discharging a stream of burning fluid effective on both sea and land, inextinguishable, dreaded and feared by any enemy on attack. The secret behind Greek fire was handed down from one emperor to another and no one else had been able to produce it, but in history the formula had been lost long ago. What a war weapon to behold, not to mention it would put Cromwell back in favour with the King, whom he'd already promised a demonstration to, in two weeks. The problem was these men who had held the liquid formula were shrewd, willing for it to go to the highest bidder either in England or overseas; this was conspiracy against the King. Shardlake's commission was to find out about these men, quietly, also obtain the formula and source of Dark Fire, Cromwell appointed a minder for this dangerous mission one Jack Barak, the chase across London Begins.

Fantastic! Sansom gives us a broad view of politics in the Tudor era, conspiracies of court, a political system based on birth not merit, the division between church and state, prisoners who are tried without representation, housing and sewage problems, even Jack Barak is mocked for being the descendant of Jews. Shardlake is given plenty of scope to debate the morality of the world. Sansom does a great job of weaving real history with fiction so it flows remains easy to read and understandable.

This book is longer than Dissolution, but it's so enjoyable it's not noticeable, with its history and mixes of real names in history such as Richard Rich, Thomas Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk even an overview of Henry VIII and his wives entwined with fictitious characters. Mathew Shardlake is a great fiction character at last given the opportunity for some sexual tension between him and a lady of higher standing. But adding the character Jack Barak to this novel is a wonderful touch of writing; Shardlake and Barak complement each other. Shardlake's quiet, logical and has formality, Barak's younger, slightly arrogant, rough and ready with touches of violence if needed and an eye for the ladies, the two get into no end of trouble.

Thoroughly enjoyable History. Highly Recommended!

Andrea Bowhill

CJ Sansom introduced an appreciative reading audience to Matthew Shardlake, a crafty 16th century attorney specializing in property law, in his well received debut novel, "Dissolution". In "Dark Fire", Shardlake has been asked by a family friend to defend his niece, young Elizabeth Wentworth, accused of viciously killing her step-brother by pushing him into a deep, abandoned well. Elizabeth, verging on the loss of her reason, simply refuses to speak in her own behalf and will not even enter a plea in court. Under English law of the day, 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 expires.

Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's feared vicar general, has offered a stay of execution of this sentence if Shardlake will promise to investigate the existence of "dark fire" - a fabled weapon mysteriously resurfaced from the misty past of ancient Greek history that would make the British navy all but invincible. Cromwell's political future is on the line as he has promised this weapon to his king and Shardlake is acutely aware of what this pressure means for his future and, indeed, his life as well.

Death and destruction follow Shardlake through a brilliantly portrayed squalid, poverty stricken 16th century London as he searches for Cromwell's mysterious weapon of mass destruction. Sansom has not only crafted a compelling murder mystery but he has also wonderfully woven it into the frightening politics and legal machinations of the day. Cromwell's political future is hanging by a thread as he makes promises he may not be able to keep and foolishly makes known his views against Cromwell's pending divorce of Anne of Cleves. It's every man for himself with backstabbing corruption prevailing at the highest levels of King Hal's court as gentle nobles and ladies seek to secure their positions. It's out with Anne of Cleves and in with the tarty young Catherine Howard.

Much recommended for lovers of historical fiction and murder mysteries.

Paul Weiss

Sansom made a strong start out of the gate with DISSOLUTION. So, perhaps I had inflated expectations for the second book. But while it doesn't live up to DISSOLUTION, it is a better historical mystery than many I have read.

The author goes into great detail about the times, which I like. But the main mystery - in this case, there were two - seemed contrived. As he explains at the end of the book, no one knows what prompted Cromwell's sudden removal from office.

Certainly, he had lost credibility with Henry VIII over his position on the Cleves marriage. But why so public and dramatic a removal, no one knows. The "mystery" fills in the blanks, and unfortunately, it's too contrived.

I think the strengths of the book are in the historical setting and the feel the reader gets for the society and politics of the times. If you like Bruce Alexander, you will probably like this book.

C. J. Sansom's stunning historical novel, "Dark Fire," is set in Tudor England. The year is 1540, and Henry VIII is still in the process of dissolving the monasteries, after breaking with Rome and declaring himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England in 1534. However, London is abuzz with rumors that Henry wishes to divorce his current wife, Anne of Cleves, and take Catherine Howard, a young and pretty Catholic woman, as his next wife. This would put Henry's vicar, Thomas Cromwell, in jeopardy, since he was the one who pushed Anne of Cleves on Henry in the first place. To secure his position with the king, Cromwell hatches a plan involving the hero and narrator of the tale, Matthew Shardlake.

Shardlake is an enormously appealing character. He is self-deprecating (describing himself as a "whey-faced hunchback lawyer"), loyal, compassionate, tenacious, and clever. One of Matthew's clients, Joseph Wentworth, asks Matthew to assist him when Joseph's niece, Elizabeth, is accused of murdering her cousin. Elizabeth refuses to defend herself, in spite of Joseph's pleas. She is imprisoned in a filthy dungeon, where she will remain until she undergoes a form of torture known as pressing. Matthew reluctantly takes the case, although he knows that he has almost no chance of saving the girl. When Cromwell intervenes to gain Elizabeth a temporary stay, Matthew becomes embroiled in a complicated scheme to help Cromwell secure the formula for a deadly substance known as "Greek fire." If Cromwell can present this weapon to Henry, it will secure the vicar's position and give Henry an enormous advantage if he goes to war against his powerful enemies.

What follows is an action-packed adventure in which Matthew, assisted by Jack Barak, Cromwell's loyal servant, does everything in his power to find the formula for Greek fire. Matthew interviews everyone who may have valuable information, including whores, sailors, laborers, other lawyers, and a beautiful and aristocratic lady whom Matthew fancies. Unfortunately, many of the witnesses turn up dead, and two thugs repeatedly attack and attempt to kill Matthew and Barak. Meanwhile, Matthew never stops trying to vindicate Elizabeth before her judgment day arrives.

"Dark Fire" is brilliantly researched and executed. Sansom's atmospheric descriptions capture the stench of London's cesspits and the decay of the decrepit hovels where the poor struggle to survive while the wealthy live in luxury. The author also explores the political infighting, corruption, and religious schisms that highlight the uncanny similarities between Tudor England and life in the present day.

Sansom is a master at creating three-dimensional characters. Guy Malton is a former monk who fled Spain with his Moorish parents. He is now a skilled apothecary who diligently tends to Matthew's psychological and physical ailments. Stephen Bealknap is a slimy and grasping lawyer who would cheat his own mother if there were profit in it. Barak is a profane but courageous sidekick; the young man earns the Matthew's grudging respect when the two fight side by side on more than one occasion. Cromwell is a ruthless man who grows ever more desperate when he realizes that his days may be numbered if he does not find a way back into the king's good graces.

My one quibble with this excellent book is its length. At five hundred pages, the narrative flags occasionally; Matthew questions the same witnesses once too often. Still, "Dark Fire" is a wonderful accomplishment. Sansom deserves kudos for his keen insight into human nature, fascinating account of political and religious intrigue, compelling and suspenseful plot, and lively and colorful characters. I'm hooked on Matthew Shardlake and I eagerly await the next installment in this outstanding series.

Another wonderful novel featuring Matthew Shardlake. The historical setting is wonderfully described, with Thomas Cromwell casting a long shadow over events.

Sansom provides a good sense of the politics of influence while at the same time providing characters who appear to be congruent with the times.

Well worth a read!