This is another fascinating tale from Sansom about his “anti-hero”, a lawyer called Matthew Shardlake who has a hunchback and thus is reviled by some of the ignorant and misinformed people of that time (this story is set in 1540). This tale has everything: mystery, intrigue, deception, plot, and counterplot all set in the dangerous political and religious atmosphere of that period. Sansom weaves history and fiction skilfully together to create this fascinating tale.

The search for the secret of Dark Fire, desperately sought by Thomas Cromwell on behalf of Henry VIII, leads lawyer Shardlake through the perils of multiple murders and further intrigue. Anne Boleyn has already been beheaded and Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry, is about to be dethroned in favor of Catherine Howard. Amidst the turmoil of the king’s wives, Cromwell seeks to protect his position by providing the monarchy with the formula for Dark-Fire. He turns to Shardlake to unravel the mystery and find this weapon for the king.

 It is a very good atmospheric and evocative historical thriller with faultless characterization. The author created an interesting cast of different characters, described London during the Reformation so well that made me feel there and then, I could almost hear the sounds, feel the smells of that long-gone time, go about London streets with Shardlake and Barak. The way Sansom used minor details, even weather, to create the atmosphere in this book, is outstanding. His characters are three-dimensional, have their motivations, passions, and weaknesses.

Although this is the second book in this series, you don’t need to read the first to be able to make sense of everything in Dark Fire. If you enjoy rich, meaty, multi-layered historical mysteries with excellent characterization and plotting, by all means, make the acquaintance of Matthew Shardlake!