Dark Fire
A Matthew Shardlake Mystery
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Narrated by:
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Steven Crossley
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By:
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C. J. Sansom
About this listen
Winner of the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award, Dark Fire revisits acclaimed master of historical fiction C. J. Sansom's colorful and rapier-witted lawyer, Matthew Shardlake.
Set in 1540, this beguiling tale of murder and mayhem is set against a rich backdrop of medieval London. Here, hunchbacked Matthew Shardlake is called upon to investigate the peculiar case of a young woman accused of murder.
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The much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar in the attitude of a penitent. Everyone who had contact with him had reason to dislike him, but who had reason to kill him? The Sheriff of Worcestershire's thief taker, wily Serjeant Catchpoll, and his new and unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, have to find the answer. And as the walls of the abbey close in on the suspects, the killer strikes again....
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Medieval armchair mystery
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The Counterfeit Madam
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Gil Cunningham had hoped that the first time he set foot in the brothel on the Drygate it would also be his last, but by the time all was settled he felt quite at home within its artfully painted chambers. The bawdy house, along with the neighbouring property and two more in Strathblane, are all part of a deal offered to Gil and his wife Alys by the forceful Dame Isabella.
By: Pat McIntosh
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Wars of the Roses
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In 1437, the Lancaster king Henry VI ascends the throne of England after years of semi-peaceful regency. Named "The Lamb," Henry is famed more for his gentle and pious nature than his father's famous battlefield exploits; already, his dependence on his closest men has stirred whispers of weakness at court. A secret truce negotiated with France to trade British territories for a royal bride - Margaret of Anjou - sparks revolts across English territory.
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100% Fiction and 0% Real History
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The Midwife's Tale
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It is 1644, and Parliament’s armies have risen against the King and laid siege to the city of York. Even as the city suffers at the rebels’ hands, midwife Bridget Hodgson becomes embroiled in a different sort of rebellion. One of Bridget’s friends, Esther Cooper, has been convicted of murdering her husband and sentenced to be burnt alive. Convinced that her friend is innocent, Bridget sets out to find the real killer.
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Only so so
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Shadowmarch
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For generations the misty Shadowline has marked the boundary between the lands of men and the lost northern lands that are the lair of their inhuman enemies, the ageless Qar. But now that boundary line is moving outward, threatening to engulf the northernmost land in which humans still live - the kingdom of Southmarch.
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It's the characters that matter...
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The Innocent Mage
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"The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything." Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars, and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations. Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic.
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Heroic Fantasy well written
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Green Darkness
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The marriage of the Englishman Richard Marsdon and his young American wife, Celia, slowly turns tragic as Richard withdraws into himself and Celia suffers a debilitating emotional breakdown. A wise mystic realizes that Celia can escape her past only by reliving it. She journeys back four hundred years to her former life as the servant girl Celia de Bohun during the reign of Edward VI - and to her doomed love affair with the chaplain Stephen Marsdon.
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A different narrator would have made all the difference.
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The Seven Wonders
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USA Today hails Steven Saylor as a “modern master of historical fiction.” Rich in intrigue and period detail, his novels set in ancient Rome have garnered acclaim the world over. A prequel to his epic Roma Sub Rosa series, The Seven Wonders follows series star Gordianus the Finder as an 18-year-old traveling the Mediterranean to witness the wonders of that fabled age. At each stop, the young investigator finds a beguiling mystery that pushes his powers of deduction to the limit.
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Interesting History, Not much of a story
- By Mark on 08-10-12
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The Widow's Kiss
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Lady Guinevere Mallory has been married four times in 12 years, and each of her husbands has died mysteriously. Adept in the laws of property, she has secured the land of each of her late spouses, vastly increasing her personal wealth. After the death of her fourth husband, this trend raises some eyebrows at the royal court, and Hugh of Beaucaire is sent to investigate these puzzling events.
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Not bad, but veeerryyy ssslllooowwww narration.
- By I like to shop on 08-31-18
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Empress
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In a family torn apart by poverty and violence, Hekat is no more than an unwanted mouth to feed, worth only a few coins from a passing slave trader. But Hekat was not born to be a slave. For her, a different path has been chosen. It is a path that will take her from stinking back alleys to the house of her God, from blood-drenched battlefields to the glittering palaces of Mijak. This is the story of Hekat, slave to no man.
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depressing and left me feeling empty
- By Bonnie on 09-16-09
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What listeners say about Dark Fire
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- L. Gayle
- 03-05-12
Wow, these books are wonderful
What did you love best about Dark Fire?
I loved the atmosphere and the detail of 1540's London, yuk, glad I don't live there, but what endless intrigue and double dealing.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Fire?
The dark fire encounter and the narrow escape for Matthew and Jack.
What about Steven Crossley’s performance did you like?
Steven Crossley is a treasure. He does not miss a beat and that isn't easy in a book that is nearly 19 hours.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
My extreme reaction was to its quality and interesting history. It is a pleasure to be able to immerse yourself in another time and place so completely.
Any additional comments?
Read it and then get all the other books in the series and prepare not to sleep until you are done with the last page! Enjoy yourself.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Ann
- 03-26-14
Great historical mystery
A truly great listen! A grand mystery, that kept me stumped to the very end, combined with fantastic narration makes this a winning combination!
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- JustBill
- 05-22-15
Narrator makes average book Great<br />
I did anticipate the story getting better, but I got to the last page without that transpiring. The Narrator made the book.
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- E. Idenmill
- 11-01-17
Addictive book
This book is very addictive. It is a great story with memorable characters that brings the listener into London under Henry VIII.
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- jerelyn
- 01-11-13
Even if you are tired of the Tudors.
This is the second in the Matthew Shardlake mystery series, and I loved it! I have put off reading these because I was just Tudored out. But a few years have gone by and I have come back to the time period, but I will avoid anything directly to do with any of Henry’s queens. Anyhow…
Cromwell’s career is in jeopardy, and Shardlake is no longer in favor.
What I liked: I like Shardlake, a good man in a system so archaic and broken that it seems there is no such thing as justice. I love the cast of characters, his new side kick is one of Cromwell’s men and I he makes me laugh. Sansom’s a master at drawing complex characters. The story is beautifully woven within real events.
What I didn't like. I think that most people get that 16th century London was filthy, but the descriptions of it gets a bit tiresome. Still 5 stars!
Steven Crossley is a wonderful narrator and I enjoyed his characterizations very much.
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- Chana Goanna
- 05-04-15
Gripping mystery, fascinating history
This is my favorite sort of book: one which weaves a fictional tale and characters into historical events. The basis for the plot of this book seems unlikely but the author makes it sound completely plausible. Wonderful historical details abound, and if you are a fan of the Tudor period, you will be enchanted by the vivid portrait of Henry VIII's London. There is only one thing which detracts from the book and forces me to give it four stars instead of five: the author's tendency to filter the protagonist's point of view through a more politically correct, 21st-century lens; for example, I find it highly doubtful that the phrase "social justice" would have been part of a 16th-century conversation. It is a minor quibble, however, and wouldn't stop me from strongly recommending this series to any lovers of historical mysteries or period fiction in general.
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1 person found this helpful
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- claire
- 11-08-19
Great
I love this book and I am sure I will read the whole series. It’s an excellent historical mystery, if you like Brother Cadfael I think you will like this. It is darker than that- but not so much as to be repugnant. Although I did fast forward for 30 seconds twice in this book to avoid graphic details. I’m pretty sensitive about that, and the parts I skipped probably wouldn’t bother most people. Anyway I enjoyed the characters and all the historic scenes. The suspense was great! But not over done. I am thrilled to have found this series.
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1 person found this helpful
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- NanaB
- 07-22-15
Thoroughly enjoyable in every measure! Don't miss this one.
This book is a must for any lover of historical fiction. The performance is wonderful and the story engaging in narrative as well as setting.
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- No
- 10-29-16
Politics, Corruption, Murder aren't new bedfellows
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend this book to aficionadoes of historical fiction - but they have to be patient. C J Sansom takes time to describe the background of his plot, the scene of Tudor London, and the nature of his characters. Anyone seeking a "quick read" or light froth decorated with descriptions of ladies' fashion will find his work tiresome. No sex either, so viewers of popular ersatz fantasy-history shows won't enjoy it. If, however, one is seeking a mystery populated by characters who are historically accurate in thought, speech, and beliefs, and who enjoys the visual images created by an author who takes pains to create the Tudor world in the mind's eye, this is a good mystery. I do recommend, however, starting with the first book in the series, "Dissolution," to learn about the main character, his motivations, and his reasons for melancholy.
What did you like best about this story?
I liked that the main characters didn't quickly solve the challenges with which they were presented. They had to engage in a lot of back and forth - over their hypotheses, over the evidence presented and sought, and over London - in order partially accomplish their goals. I thought Sansom skillfully wove the main mystery in the plot line within historical fact concerning the events of late spring and early summer 1540.
What about Steven Crossley’s performance did you like?
His portrayal of the character Jack Barak was amusing.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The description of the "hole" in Newgate Prison is appalling.
Any additional comments?
This is not a book one could imbibe in one sitting. Not only is it very long, but the level of detail is such that the listener would have difficulty absorbing all evidence presented because of the enormity of it.
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- Alison Smith
- 05-21-20
Dark Fire well performed
Superb reading performance, engaging story. I look forward to more adventures from this reader and this author
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