Sarah Hawkswood's 'Feast for the Ravens' 2025

Allison & Busby paperback edition - 2025

I have loyally bought Sarah Hawkswood's Bradecote and Catchpoll's mysteries each time they have appeared in the Allison & Busby paperback series. Feast for the Ravens is the thirteenth and it has kept up the high standard the author first set with the Servant of Death. The latter was based on events during the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign (1135-1153) and was commenced in June 1143. The reader has now arrived in September 1145. The two medieval sleuths - Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Cathchpoll, joined more recently by Underserjeant Walkelin - well versed in the nefarious behaviour of those of every rank and either sex, now find themselves tracking down the murderer of a Templar knight, found dead in the Forest of Wyre. A document has been found on him suggesting that an important local lord, Hugh de Mortemer of Wigmore, may be persuaded to change sides, deserting the King and going over to the Empress Maud/Matilda.

Previous stories have barely touched on the political ramifications of the Anarchy, but I found here that the issue of the rivalries of local lords and the dangers of swapping sides was well explained. Earl Robert of Gloucester (the Empress' half-brother) and his loss of Faringdon Castle and the importance of Josce de Dinan at Ludlow are mentioned, to give verisimilitude to the story. Was William fitzAlan of Oswestry, a supporter of the Empress, genuinely expecting Hugh de Mortemer to come over to Matilda's cause or was it a cleverly designed plot to cast suspicion on someone actually totally loyal to the King. We shall find out!

The de Mitton family, most of whom were wiped out in a fire, possibly started by an aggrieved sibling, Ivo, are central to the story. The eldest daughter, Rohese, raped by Eustace fitzRobert, the ruthless 'baddie' in the tale, had disappeared, apparently due to an onset of leprosy, but is actually living in Ribbesford Wood as a ghastly disfigured recluse. William de Ribbesford, her one-time beau who had expected to marry her, is the only one who knows of her existence there. He has cleverly encouraged the locals' belief that a Hrafn Wif (Raven Woman) haunts the woods - an evil combination of witch and ghost, not a creature of flesh and blood.  How Ivo and Eustace are finally brought to book is quite skilfully done by the author. On the way, we encounter other well-drawn characters, such as Herluin the Ribbesford Steward; Father Laurentius the village priest; Simon de Mitton, the surviving youngest brother; the blind and away-with-the-fairies old mother of Eustace, the lady Adela; and William de Beauchamp, the irascible Sheriff, who has figured in previous books as the unreasonable boss of the intrepid trio. Although the identity of the murderer is known from very early on, this does not curtail enjoyment of the book. The author is well versed in the period and the setting; the dialogue, and sleuthing, is not spoiled by anachronisms.

Now that Susanna Gregory's Matthew Bartholomew has 'retired' and settled down in (presumably) married bliss, Hawkswood's characters are the only medieval ones that drag my purse open.