The Invention of Fire

A Novel

By: Bruce Holsinger

Narrated by: Simon Vance

The author of the acclaimed medieval mystery A Burnable Book once again brings fourteenth-century London alive in all its color and detail in this riveting thriller featuring medieval poet and fixer John Gower—a twisty tale rife with intrigue, danger mystery, and murder.

Though he is one of England’s most acclaimed intellectuals, John Gower is no stranger to London’s wretched slums and dark corners, and he knows how to trade on the secrets of the kingdom’s most powerful men. When the bodies of sixteen unknown men are found in a privy, the Sheriff of London seeks Gower’s help. The men’s wounds—ragged holes created by an unknown object—are unlike anything the sheriff’s men have ever seen. Tossed into the sewer, the bodies were meant to be found. Gower believes the men may have been used in an experiment—a test for a fearsome new war weapon his informants call the “handgonne,” claiming it will be the “future of death” if its design can be perfected.

Propelled by questions of his own, Gower turns to courtier and civil servant Geoffrey Chaucer, who is working on some poems about pilgrims that Gower finds rather vulgar. Chaucer thinks he just may know who commissioned this new weapon, an extremely valuable piece of information that some will pay a high price for—and others will kill to conceal. . .

Chaucer's England reimagined

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If the reader is familiar with English history, geography, and medieval literature, its a good read. If you are not fascinated with the period, its a slow slog.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

After many chapters,many hours, it was a relief to have it be over.

What aspect of Simon Vance’s performance would you have changed?

Too melodramatic.

Was The Invention of Fire worth the listening time?

not for me

Any additional comments?

Bruce Holsinger is a dedicated professor, and a sincerely hard working academic This is a hard working author, deserves credit for his tremendous work.

beautiful written and read

I won't give away the story but it was well written. The ending could possibly lead to another story but even if it didn't the ended tied up all lose ends. Story line is great, the attention to detail makes to feel a part of the scene. I really enjoyed the narrator's voice. I could listen to anything read him. Give it a listen. I'm only sad that the story ended.

History of handguns folded into tale of intrigue

I happen to like narrations by Simon Vance, whose voice conveys a calm, wry skepticism. I also love historical fiction. This story begins with a delightfully revolting scene in which we learn the details of medieval toilet habits. You also get delicious descriptions of how the first handguns worked, how they were made and how quickly improvements followed. Rapscallions, royalty, nobility, the skilled trades and their guilds all figure entertainingly in the story. The eventual solution to the question of whodunit, as in most examples of the genre, hardly matters.

Fascinating story with great depth, perfect audio

Simon Vance does a beautiful job bringing Bruce Holsinger's intricate and intriguing story to life. This is a sequel to Holsinger's A Burnable Book, but you don't need to have read the first to enjoy the second. The same historical characters, John Gower and peripherally his friend Chaucer, are solving a crime and conspiracy that could undermine the English throne. No one is better than Holsinger at creating a rich medieval setting and weaving a fascinating mystery that will keep you engaged until the last word. Bravo to both author and performer.

another brilliant book by Holsinger

as always well researched, I'm a little in love with john Gower... keep them coming