I see my last Blog on Sarah Hawkswood's Bradecote and Catchpole Mystery Series was published on 28th August. Her latest, the seventh, River of Sins, arrived promptly on 19th November and it was a relief to turn to something lighter after the 'heavies' of recently.
The story is set in Worcester during July 1144, just a month after the previous tale. Thus, it is still firmly in the midst of the Anarchy, the Civil War between the supporters of King Stephen and the Empress Matilda. However, it could have been the late 10th to the 13th centuries. There is only one reference to the wider picture and it is as late as page 228 in a book of 283 pages. Here De Mandeville is still causing the king trouble...Robert of Gloucester has a wary eye on us, but since I [Sheriff William de Beauchamp] favour the Empress for all that I am Stephen's sheriff, I hold off. However, the Play's the thing, and Hawkswood, who describes herself as a 'wordsmith', is a skilful story-teller.
The relationships of Undersheriff Lord Bradecote, the lord sheriff's Sergeant Catchpoll and Walkelin, the latter's assistant are further developed from the earlier novels - into increasingly mutual respect. The story is a pretty grisly affair, commencing with a women - Ricolde, The Whore of Worcester - being found axed to death on an island in the River Severn. The twist and turns of the plot appear quite fresh and natural (a criticism against Susanna Gregory's last few Cambridge tales is that they have become 'tired') and a motley crew of characters all stand the test of 'are they real? It could be argued that letting the reader know who the murderer was at the start of the book was a wrong move by the author, as we also then know that the trio are off on goose-chases for most of the ensuing story. However, we don't know who the murderer had become and the blind-alleys are actually very interesting.
I see Mystery People - the online website for writers and readers of mystery - gives Hawkswood's books the thumbs-up: A series that started well and growers stronger all the time. Both characterisation and historical detail are impeccable and the plot is intriguing and cleverly interwoven.
As I have written in previous Blogs, I enjoy a well-written series. The characters become surrogate 'friends', particularly if they are allowed to develop whilst keeping their foibles. Matthew Bartholomew may be coming to the end of his creator's career in Cambridge, but Bradecote et al still have interesting lives to portray.
The next book in the series - Blood Runs Thicker - will be published on 18 March 2021. I, for one, will be looking forward to that date.
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