Customer Reviews

Dark Fire

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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Dark Fire is the second in the series as it follows 'Dissolution' - while this book can be read as a stand alone, to enjoy it properly it needs to be read after the first book. This book manages to both teach history and use history as a means of telling a compelling story - oddly I was watching 'the six wives of henry VIII' on dvd at the same time as reading these stories. The historical detail in both is astonishing and I can only imagine the research involved in creating the novel. As I am involved in Disability Studies, I'm impressed that Sansom has caught the depth of disability myth and prejudice here. A great read - for the mystery, an incredible read for the history.

Extremely well written excellent mystery that transports you back to a time and place during the 16th century.

This was my first exposure to C.J.Sansom, and -- frankly -- I wish he'd hurry up and start churning out more novels (I believe he's only got four Sharlake novels, and one set in Spain), as I don't seem to be able to get enough of his writing.

Sansom manages to transport you back into Tudor England, entangle you in its realities, and have you swept off your feet by his hunchback narrator, Shardlake.

Shardlake's perceptions of others, as well as what he deems appropriate behavior in various situations, rings true and modern -- which (surprisingly!) only deepens our involvement with the novel.

This book seems long (500 pages) when you first pick it up, but it moves really quickly. The plot is twisted. A very well written mystery. I thouroughly enjoyed it.