Title: Dark Fire
Author: C. J. Sansom
Series: The Shardlake Series (2/6)
Time/Place: England, 1540
Teaser: ‘He licked his finger, peeled off a sheet and handed it up to me, then went on bawling at the crowd. “The most terrible crime of the year!”’
Summary: Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer, is dragged into defending the hopeless case of a young girl accused of murdering her cousin. The difficult trial brings Shardlake to the attention of Thomas Cromwell as he’s swept up in a frantic quest for ancient Greek Fire, racing against the executioner’s clock and Cromwell’s mounting enemies.
My Thoughts:
I picked this book up because it’s hard to read in the historical genre for long without hearing about C.J. Sansom. I’d put this book on my shelf a long time ago without knowing the historical genre or even the time period, and finally decided it was time to find out more.
The history: I was a little apprehensive when I realised this book was set in the mid-1500s – although it’s extremely popular with writers and readers, the Tudor era isn’t my favourite. However, this book focuses chiefly on everyday life in sixteenth-century London, and I found this a fresh angle, distanced from monarchs and courtly affairs. Alchemy, history, medicine and law are key themes, and these blend well with the turbulent religious and political background of the time. The city of London has a tense atmosphere in the hottest summer of the century, and there are plenty of political alliances, enemies and figures that ground the mystery in its era. Cromwell’s brief appearances as a menacing yet haunted presence are a definite highlight that give good insight into the courtly goings-on that most of the characters aren’t privy to.
The story: I haven’t read many crime or thrillers, and although it’s now a growing sub-genre in historical writing, I hadn’t come across it in this context before. Having read Dark Fire, I will definitely try it again. I thought the fast pace of a murder mystery was well-set against the historical detail, and I liked Shardlake’s character, which was well-developed and didn’t fall into any ‘private detective’ cliché’s. Although I managed to guess some of the plot twists, the climax of the book is especially tense, and the added uncertainty surrounding the myth of Greek Fire was a unique aspect that created a link between the Tudors and more ancient history. I especially enjoyed the relationship that developed between Shardlake and Barak, a loyal worker for Cromwell. Unlikely partnerships are often brilliant in historical novels if they’re done well, and the rapid-fire repatoire that built between the two felt natural despite their very different mindsets and upbringings. I’d only recommend that anyone interested in this book reads the first in the series before moving onto this one, as previous events were a little too glossed over for the reader to get full insight.
My favourite character was Barak. Quick-witted and loyal, he plays the perfect (I hesitate to say sidekick, but some of the elements are there) role alongside Shardlake, and I hope he will be a feature further in the series.
Recommended: For anyone looking to expand into historical genres from crime, or maybe even vice versa. Fans of Mantel’s Cromwell series may also enjoy Sansom’s take on justice and punishment in Tudor London, providing they don’t mind a less literary style.
My Rating: 4/5
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