Blood Runs Thicker- A Medieval Mystery- Sarah Hawkswood~ A Powerful Read!~

My 8th outing with Bradcote and Catchpoll #BloodRunsThicker and what a mystery! I'm not positive I can go back and enumerate the list of suspects, which seriously ebbs and flows!

 From the publisher:"Osbern de Lench is known far and wide as a hard master. With an heir who is cast in the same hot-tempered mould, sworn enemies for neighbours, undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, the wily Serjeant Catchpoll and apprentice Walkelin have suspects aplenty." 

 Always an exciting tale is in store, for this place in time ,with an author who is very well versed in Medieval history. The author's narratives are sensitive to women's very understated but real roles in this society, as well as their sometimes powerlessness. Bradcote, as well as his two henchman, work so well together and attempt to empower those without legal status in Society. 

 Hamo, the second son was an especially interesting character with his odd quirks, but he and others such as the Healer, her assistant and a beggar or two were well tolerated by the trio. The Welsh Marches at this time were in anarchy between two Normans and hierarchy was very fluid and lawlessness abounded.

The Dragons of Archenfield - Edward Marston- All coming out in kindle now~ 5 Star ReRead!

The series continued to improve with each outing, so glad I am rereading them again. I only read three or four in the past and hope to read them all now. Thanks Alison & Busby for the ARC!

"DOMESDAY IS COMING ! In 1086, England's mighty king, William the Conqueror, sends out surveyors and census takers to record the resources of his land and its people."

This exciting story starts with an attack and horrific murder on a man and his holdings. It appears to be Welsh marauders because they left a red dragon imprint in the dirt, but was it? Three important men apparently had laid claim to the same tract of land that the King's agents were coming to investigate.

Gervase goes missing in this saga and Ralph seems to find a soulmate? A must read to understand this volatile era post Norman Conquest.

 

To The Dark ( A Simon Westow Mystery #3) ~ Masterful and Suspenseful!!

 #ToTheDark #NetGalley Severn House and Chris Nickson, storyteller superb of Leeds, many thanks for this very exciting historical mystery.

"Winter is about to take a chilling twist...Leeds, 1822.Thief-taker Simon Westow is drawn into a deadly puzzle when the melting snow reveals a dark secret-" As always, Chris Nickson tells a story of historical Leeds as it was in that particular period of time. It was a time of desperation for many people and almost, but not quite, lawless.

Westow and his wife Rosie and his sometime assistant Jane, are involved in a many layered mystery involving the Constable of Leeds, as well as at least one unsolved death. These events resulted in the death of the constable and serious injury of Jane and another younger girl.

The storyline took some extreme turns and I was surprised at some of the events! I am expecting Simon to have increased involvement in Leeds government as he seems to be increasingly feared, as well as respected.( but who really knows until next time)

Again Chris Nickson pens a masterful, suspenseful tale of a dark period in Leeds history. Get yours March 2, 2021!

#AChangingLight #NetGalley- A Quaker Midwife Mystery - Edith Maxwell- Pre-order Now!

 #AChangingLight #NetGalley 4.5 stars rounded to 5."Edith Maxwell is an Agatha-Award winning and national bestselling mystery author.She writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries",which was nominated once and won the Agatha Award once.

I definitely will try one of those two books,(one is a a short story) as this seems to be the end of this series. Rose Carroll, now married and expecting a child is drawn into a murder investigation that occurred at an annual event in her town Amesbury. Apparently as usual, she throws herself into helping the police solve this crime and has her own life threatened.

The well done epilogue shows Rose and her newborn daughter and her husband discussing how the crime was solved and agreeing that there would be no more "detective" work. Very easy to read and enjoyable book. 

The Ravens of Blackwater - Edward Marston ~ Terrific Read- 5 Stars~

 Thanks to Lesley@allisonandbusby for Book 2 of the Domesday Series which I very much enjoyed. I am going to reread this whole series ( read 1-3 in the past).Book #2 had much more vibrant characterization than the first, often the case for series!

Continuing to follow Gervase Bret,chancery legal expert and half Saxon,and Ralph Delchaird Norman soldier and their clerical assistants, as they continue to follow problems in the Domesday Book. The foursome and it's escorts are much more comfortable with each other than in the pilot book of the series.

There continue to be tensions between Saxons, Normans, and occasionally Danes in the recently conquered land, and the mix of this group of "fixers" seem to work well. Post Norman Conquest 11th Century England is quite fascinating in it's customs laws and mores and I am on to the next volume.

Long Bright River- Liz Moore~ Amazingly both gripping and graphic~ 5 Stars!

 

Amazingly both gripping and graphic, Long Bright River was one book I could not put down. Initially I was drawn into it because it was situated in Kensington, where my mother's family came from, Mom was born and her mother died tragically. Author Liz Moore is truly talented and gifted and I will read all her books.

It's about two sisters Mickey and Kacey and their childhood, adolescence and the differences between them in adulthood. Mickel( Michaela) is a police officer and Kacey is an addict who works the streets.

A string of murders in Mickey's district of addicts and prostitutes impels her to throw caution to the winds and try to find her sister.

It is described as being "an intense family thriller" and looks at family systems in an in depth way.

Recommended as top book of the year by many top book reviewers and this reader!

The Anchoress of Chesterfield: John the Carpenter (Book 4) - 5 Stars~ A Must Read Medieval Thriller~

 A fine series by a favorite,extremely talented writer, who loves the history of this area of England. John the Carpenter was orphaned at nine by the Black Death.He lost his father who taught him to love and "listen to" wood, how to be resilient and left him his tools.

Our story opens with John being fairly prosperous, in very perilous times, following plague and famine. He is asked by the coroner to investigate the death of a young anchoress, who is revered by all, and is the youngest daughter of an important man with ties to the crown.

John can barely refuse, although his wife is angry and distraught, as his previous role with a prior coroner had almost cost his life. Now six years later he very much needs the reward he is promised, which will make his family secure. Will it put his family and himself in danger? Will he solve it in the short time he is allowed?

This one was a serious nail biter through the end to the story. Highly recommended! Chris Nickson is a master at historical mysteries, especially of this epoch.