England, 1540. Out of favour with Thomas Cromwell, Matthew Shardlake is intent on keeping a low profile in the courts. But his involvement with a murder case, defending a girl accused of brutally killing her young cousin, brings him once again into contact with the King’s chief minister – and a new assignment . . .
The secret of Greek Fire, the legendary substance with which the Byzantines destroyed the Arab navies, has been lost for centuries. Now an official of the Court of Augmentations has discovered the formula in the library of a dissolved monastery. When Shardlake is sent to recover it, he finds the official and his alchemist brother brutally murdered – the formula gone.
Now Shardlake must follow the trail of Greek Fire across Tudor London, while still trying to prove his young client’s innocence. But very soon he discovers nothing is as it seems . . .
My reading experience:
This was quite the wild ride! Running through the streets of London or bolting on horseback from murderous enemies, Shardlake got more than he bargained for after once more being called in by Cromwell to investigate for him. Shardlake, ever the likeable character butts up against the rough but charmingly roguish Jack Barak, one of Cromwell’s ‘men’ to help him with his investigation. By the end of this tale, it is no surprise they are firm friends.
This story has two investigations with many surrounding plots. This is only natural in Henrician London, where it is dangerous to speak of any politics or religion as neither reformists or papists can be saved from burning.
I highly recommend Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom. This is the second book in the Shardlake series. Please see my review for Dissolution here.
Appletree Books 