Book Review
Jul. 13th, 2011 10:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariDark Fire
by C. J. Sansom
This is the second in a historical mystery series set during the reign of Henry VIII, with the hunch-backed lawyer Matthew Shardlake as protagonist. I had read the first one, Dissolution, several years ago and liked it well enough to eventually continue with the series. This volume has Shardlake pursuing two mysteries at the same time: the case of a young girl accused of murdering her cousin, and a political intrigue surrounding the possible rediscovery of Greek Fire.
Sansom does a very good job with historical detail, bringing Tudor London alive, especially when it comes to poking into corners and aspects of daily life that are less well-covered in historical fiction. Shardlake is a very likeable character - he is clever and very good at working through the mysteries but still possesses very human failings and remains humble about his successes. Unfortunately, the mysteries in Dark Fire are a bit too predictable, so Sansom's characterization and eye for historical detail have to carry the book.
by C. J. Sansom
This is the second in a historical mystery series set during the reign of Henry VIII, with the hunch-backed lawyer Matthew Shardlake as protagonist. I had read the first one, Dissolution, several years ago and liked it well enough to eventually continue with the series. This volume has Shardlake pursuing two mysteries at the same time: the case of a young girl accused of murdering her cousin, and a political intrigue surrounding the possible rediscovery of Greek Fire.
Sansom does a very good job with historical detail, bringing Tudor London alive, especially when it comes to poking into corners and aspects of daily life that are less well-covered in historical fiction. Shardlake is a very likeable character - he is clever and very good at working through the mysteries but still possesses very human failings and remains humble about his successes. Unfortunately, the mysteries in Dark Fire are a bit too predictable, so Sansom's characterization and eye for historical detail have to carry the book.
