'C. J. Sansom's books are arguably the best Tudor novels going' - The Sunday Times Winner of
the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Dark Fire is the second thrilling book in C. J.
Sansom's number one bestselling Shardlake series perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel and
Philippa Gregory. England 1540. Out of favour with Thomas Cromwell Matthew Shardlake is
intent on keeping a low profile in the courts. But his involvement with a murder case
defending a girl accused of brutally killing 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 monastery. When Shardlake is sent to recover it he finds the official
and his alchemist brother brutally murdered - the formula gone. Now Shardlake must follow the
trail of Greek Fire across Tudor London while still trying to prove his young client's
innocence. But very soon he discovers nothing is as it seems . . . This is the second novel
in C. J. Sansom's gripping historical series. It is followed by Sovereign the third book in
the series.
