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Book Review of Dark Fire (Matthew Shardlake, Bk 2)

Dark Fire (Matthew Shardlake, Bk 2)
eadieburke avatar reviewed on + 1643 more book reviews


Dark Fire takes place in Tudor England in 1540. Thomas Cromwell's position is in trouble and Shardlake is given the task of a young girl accused of murder. She refuses to speak in her defense and is imprisoned. Cromwell gives Shardlake 2 weeks to prove her innocence. In the meanwhile Shardlake is also commissioned to find a lost cask of Dark Fire which is a weapon of mass destruction.

This book takes up right after the events of Dissolution. The character of Shardlake grows on you as he is a good and honest man. He is commissioned once more to solve a murder mystery which has political repercussions to the success or failure of Thomas Cromwell's position. There is lots of adventure and period detail and history to be fascinated with once again. Samson's characters are complex and well-drawn. The plot is very believable and held my interest to the very end. I look forward to reading the next installment of the series and I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical mysteries.