Dark Fire
A Matthew Shardlake Novel
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Dark Fire
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Narrated by:
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Anton Lesser
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By:
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C. J. Sansom
About this listen
Abridged edition.
Winner of the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, Dark Fire is the second thrilling historical crime novel in the Shardlake series by C. J. Sansom.
It is 1540 and the hottest summer of the sixteenth century. Matthew Shardlake, believing himself out of favour with Thomas Cromwell, is busy trying to maintain his legal practice and keep a low profile. But his involvement with a murder case, defending a girl accused of brutally murdering 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 London monastery. When Shardlake is sent to recover it, he finds the official and his alchemist brother horribly murdered – the formula has disappeared.
Now Shardlake must follow the trail of Greek Fire across Tudor London, while trying at the same time to prove his young client's innocence. But very soon he discovers nothing is as it seems . . .
Continue this gripping historical series with Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone, Lamentation and Tombland.
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Critic reviews
"Having hugely enjoyed Anton Lesser's reading of Sovereign, the third of C.J. Sansom's Tudor mystery series starring the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake, I backtracked to hear the first two in the series, Dissolution and Dark Fire.. . As a trio, they reveal just how skilled Sansom is in creating convincing characters in a fully imagined historical world, and it is no surprise that a television series featuring Shardlake is planned. I'm not sure if Anton Lesser will star in it, but after hearing him narrate all three books, I can't imagine anyone better suited to the role... Following the text in a paperback, I let my eyes chase what my ears were hearing and was impressed at how little had to be lost." Christina Hardyment (The Times Books)
What listeners say about Dark Fire
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matt Lyward
- 12-06-19
Another cracker!
I'm really loving this series of novels. Found the first one by accident and now will listen to the whole series before going on to anything else. Well written and evokes the time they are set perfectly. Great tangling webs of plot.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Dave
- 03-01-09
Excellently complex historical thriller
This is the second of (currently) four Matthew Shardlake novels by CJ Sansom - and even better than the first (Dissolution) which I listened to via Audible previously.
Whilst Sansom's novels give something of a nod in the direction of Ellis Peters "Cadfael" books, this is altogether more sophisticated work, both in terms of its historical detail and the complexity of its plot, and has a somewhat darker, more adult feel.
I enjoyed Dissolution a lot, but this novel had me completely absorbed and its twists and turns kept me engrossed until the very end. Others have already complimented Anton Lesser (who also narrates the "Falco" series by Lindsey Davis) for his work, but he surpasses himself here, with such vivid characterisation of Shardlake and others that for most of the time you entirely forget that there isn't in fact a supporting cast! An excellent listen, and well worth every one of its five stars.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Linda
- 27-03-15
A really gripping story
An excellent story with suspense and much intrigue. Characters brought to vivid life by narrator Anton Lesser, all around true historical facts.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SRF
- 31-05-18
Keep them coming
I am unashamedly an Anton Lesser fan. I could happily listen to him reading a telephone directory. Fortunately we have him reading a good story; well written with well developed characters. Great . Easy. Satisfying
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth Davies
- 16-03-10
Good, but not the best of the series.
I like the main character and enjoyed the book but I don't think it is such a good story. The others in the series are better, I think.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mary
- 06-11-08
stunningly good
This is the second of the Matthew Shardlake stories and, if possible, even more fascinating and exciting than the first. The world of everyday London at the time of the rivalry between Thomas Cromwell and the Earl of Norfolk - its sensations and its intrigues - I found utterly convincing. The characters of the lawyer and his assistant have human flaws as well as courage and integrity and one cares about them - in fact, all the people in the story are three dimensional. It is an irresistible mixture of flavours - complex plot, touching characters and incredible pace. Lots of blood and gore - but the horrors fulfill an important function in the overall effect of the novel. There is much in this world that echoes our own.
Anton Lessor's splendid reading is remarkable for its range and its underlying humanity. I can't think of many better ways to spend 7 hours than entering this world created by C J Sansom.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Karen
- 27-05-13
Really enjoyable
Well worth the listen - I feel at a bit of a loose end now that I have listened to all Anton Lesser's readings of the Shardlake novels - it has been a lot of fun.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dermot
- 18-12-13
History and drama hand in hand
Where does Dark Fire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I've purchased hundreds of tales like this over the years, this is now in my top ten. Well written and Mr Lesser at his best. (He's a national treasure)
What about Anton Lesser’s performance did you like?
Great performace again, I could listen to him all day. I felt I was there!
Any additional comments?
I am looking forward to my next purchase.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jason Kinmond
- 20-03-21
Brilliant narration as ever by Antonio lesser
A well written tale - seems authentic in its time and place, but made really enthralling by Anton Lesser.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs Jill Williams
- 03-05-10
Dark Fire
Great for listening to in the car whilst on a long journey!
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