Unfortunately, I just could never quite get into this. To an extent, I was interested in the mystery, but I didn’t love everything else enough to want to read on when I was struggling through.
I just couldn’t connect to the main characters (I honestly struggle to enjoy books where there are just no female characters) and couldn’t keep track of who was who. I also found it difficult to read at times.
It’s a shame, but I appreciate it’s a lot outside my usual genre so it probably was never for me.

DNF at 33%

1144 Sergeant Catchpoll and his assistant Walkelin are called out with Under-sheriff Bradecote when a body is discovered in the village of Feckenham. Initially thought to be a wolf attack. But they are not convinced. Who did murder this unlikeable man. Soon there is a raid on a nearby manor, and more deaths.
An entertaining and well-written historical novel set in the time of King Stephen. Containing a cast of likeable and well-drawn characters. Another good addition to this series which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Allison and Busby and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.

Wolf at the Door is book 9 in Hawkswood’s Bradecote and Catchpoll series of mediaeval mysteries, something that I didn’t realise when requesting the book, but I am very glad I didn’t for I may have hesitated and missed out on discovering an interesting historical mystery series.

The book is set in Feckenham Village (and Forest) in Worcestershire in 1144, in the period when there was civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud (also the period when the Cadfael mysteries are set); Feckenham was historically a royal forest in which the King had rights over game, grazing and wood. In our story, in the village of Feckenham, the body of Durand Wuduweard, the much disliked keeper of the forest is discovered, in a badly mauled state, by his no-good son, William. William begins to point fingers to this being the work of a wolf, or worse still, a werewolf, causing much panic among the villagers.

The matter reaches the ears of our main characters, the Undersheriff Lord Bradecote, and Serjeant Catchpoll. Catchpoll who hears of it first, is convinced that William fitzDurand or William Swicol (deceitful/treacherous) as he is known by them is involved but can’t immediately point at how or why. A wolf is involved in the killing, but this can be no ordinary wolf for no wild animal would have entered the house of the Wuduweard if a fire was burning, and the position in which the body is found is not the work of a wolf either. But with rumours and fears of a wolf and even a werewolf spreading like wildfire, the experienced and shrewd Catchpoll calls in Hugh Bradecote the Undersheriff, and William de Beuchamp, the Sheriff himself. They are assisted by young Walkelin, Catchpoll’s apprentice.

While the Sheriff’s men are convinced that the murder is not the work of an animal alone, rumours and fear must be quietened so they plan to investigate while the Sheriff himself must lead a false hunt to calm his people. But things don’t go quite as planned as more events take place adding to the mystery. On the one side we follow Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin as they try to discover what it is that William Swicol is up to; on the other we get a glimpse into the activities of Swicol and his band, getting a few hints but not seeing any of the secrets they hide. With marauders beginning to strike and more gruesome deaths, the sherival team must work fast as Swicol and his gang give effect to their big plan.

I had requested this mystery because of its historical setting, and found this element very well done. The atmosphere, descriptions, and characters felt really authentic and true to the time. From the meals of pottage to the language, the atmosphere in the village, and people’s mores and reactions, all of it felt apt to the time and I enjoyed it very much.

The two main characters, Catchpoll and Bradecote also appealed to me a lot. Catchpoll is the elder of the two, perceptive and also has some cheek in him. Bradecote while the former’s social superior has no airs about himself, and works well with the former (and is even sometimes even dictated to by him). I loved the banter between the two.

As concerns the mystery, while to an extent we do know part of the whodunit, and we do get an insight into what William Swicol’s band is upto, we don’t really know all, so the mystery involves why, what they are up to, as well as some mystery as to who all are involved with Swicol. I enjoyed watching how the sherival party conducted their inquiries (with Young Walkelin falling into a trap once, and also getting some help from unexpected quarters), and how information and messages were sent to both authorities and people. The mystery had its twists and while I had guessed one part (mostly because of a TV mystery set in a completely different time and context that I had watched last week), there was enough of a surprise for me to enjoy the book.

Also, the fact that this was a later volume in the series didn’t really affect my enjoyment of it; there are references to a few past cases and things, but none of it affects one’s reading of the story, so this can be easily read as a standalone.

I also liked Hawkswood’s writing, and the book kept me engaged for the most part, though in some places, it did move a little slower than I’d have liked. But a really interesting read overall, with a mystery that does keep one guessing, likeable characters and authentic historical detail. I shall certainly be looking up previous instalments, and await the next one in the series eagerly.

4 stars.

I had not previously read any of the Bradecote and Catchpoll series (this is number 9), but that really didn't matter, the story easily stood alone. Based on actual events from late eleventh century Worcestershire, I thought the plot was well conceived and I really enjoyed the characters. The interactions between the key characters of Bradecote, Catchpoll and their young trainee undersheriff, Walkelin, were particularly good as they pieced the events and clues together. This was very engaging and I will be looking up the previous novels in this series.

"All Hallow's Eve, 1144. The savaged body of Durand Wuduweard, the solitary and unpopular keeper of the King's Forest of Feckenham, is discovered beside his hearth, his corpse rendered barely identifiable by sharp teeth.


Whispers of a wolf on the prowl grow louder and Sheriff William de Beauchamp's men, Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll, are tasked with cutting through the clamour. They must uncover who killed Durand and why while beset by superstitious villagers, raids upon manors and further grim deaths. Out of the shadows of the forest, where will the wolf's fangs strike next? " - Synopsis from GoodReads.


This is book #9 in the Bradecote and Catchpoll Investigation series.

Alright, right off the bat, I'm going to say, I have not read the previous works in this series. So all characters and any plots from previous works was not known to me while reading this. That being said, it did not seem to cause any real issues as most of the story fills you in while not overly info dumping and slowing the progress of this particular book.

I did find Catchpoll and Bradecote very intriguing. The two kept morphing in my mind as I read. Catchpoll seems to be the grubby yet faithful detective to his younger superior and while I can't quite put my finger on the comparison of the two, I do feel as though they seem to give me some type of familarity. Like "Oh, that sounds like someone I know but I just can't put my finger on it!" - in terms of trying to build the characters in my head. Walkelin was also very endearing as well and I do find the character development with him being the young lawman still green around the gills that comes into his own a good move. Like a splash of Elementary, a splash of Sherlock (BBC), and dash it with Gotham.

There were moments where it did seem to drag out and other times where the story felt like it was stallign out but around the 65% mark, I noticed the uptick to the dreaded climate of bad things getting worse. And oh did they - (no spoilers) it did hurt the heartstrings near the end. Having not read the author's work before, I feel that now I'm inspired to go about fixing that by reading the rest of this series. Definiately a good read. It can be dark, even when there is humor laced in.

Rating: 4 Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

(Also posted at my blog <a href="https://cassieshauntedlibrary.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-arc-wolf-at-door-by-sarah.html">👻Cassie's Haunted Library👻 </a> and GoodReads.))

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this!

Wolf at the Door is the ninth book of the Bradecote and Catchpoll series, but can be enjoyed without having read the eight novels which proceed it.

Worcestershire, 1144. The body of the keeper of the Kings Forest of Feckenham is discovered by his hearth, throat ripped out. Rumours of a werewolf abound and it is down to Sheriff William de Beauchamp’s men, Bradecote and Catchpoll to discover the truth...

This is my second novel by Sarah Hawkswood and I again found myself enjoying her work. The period setting is convincingly portrayed and the central mystery kept my interest. I’d have perhaps liked a little more interaction between Bradecote and Catchpoll – it felt like they had been relegated to the supporting cast in a couple of places, but this is a minor quibble. On the whole this is another solid addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A man is found with dreadful wounds that appear to be the work of a wolf. Local superstition also fears a werewolf may be responsible. Catchpoll, Bradecote and the apprentice Walkelin work together again to find out the truth. There does seem to be an animal involved but the act is a deliberate murder, The atmosphere is well described and I really enjoyed the development of Walkelins’s character. The truth is slowly revealed and the ending satisfying, If you are a fan of historical crime, you will enjoy this series. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

After finishing Blood Runs Thicker I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in this series: Wolf At The Door. I was not disapointed. Again it's a perfect companion to cuddle up with during a quiet evening. A very engaging read, and for the Middle Ages enthusiasts: a full immersion in our favourite era. It is very well done, never 'educational' nor cringy.

The books in this medieval murder mystery series can be easily read as a standalone, but once you pick up one of them you will want to read all of them. The main characters return in every book and I've grown fond of them. I hope the author is already working on her next book.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley

Sarah Hawkswood is an author I've recently discovered and her medieval mysteries featuring the law enforcement team of Bradecote and Catchpoll is turning out to be a *must* for me. The time is 1144 and there is rumor of a killing done by a wolf, an animal not often seen around villages such as Feckenham. Then the whispers begin that this death was not caused by a wolf but a werwulf. The lord Sheriff William de Beauchamp, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and his apprentice Walkelin will have all they can handle to keep the countryside from believing there is a werwulf roaming the night especially when the victims keep adding up.

This story was absolutely dripping with tension. At one point I even considered turning to the final chapter to see what was going to happen. I did resist, but it was a close thing. The historical time period is very well used in this novel but Hawkswood doesn't insist on hitting readers over the head with descriptions of the human living conditions which existed at this point in history. There is just enough mention made of the number of humans (and sometimes animals) living in cottages, food cooking in a pot on the fire, and people dealing with the cold weather to keep me firmly aware of the time period of the story. All of the major characters were fully involved in this investigation and yet the pages never seemed to be over-crowded. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series to see if the time has come for the birthing one of the characters is awaiting. Until then, I have several previous books in the series to keep me involved in the lives of these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for an e-galley of this novel.

I’ve become a big fan of Sarah Hawkswood’s historical mystery series set in medieval Worcestershire featuring Hugh Bradecote, Undersheriff of Worcestershire, his assistant, Serjeant Catchpoll, and Catchpoll's protege, Walkelin. Luckily new books in the series are coming thick and fast with River of Sins published in 2020 and Blood Runs Thicker in March this year.

Although the ninth in the series, Wolf at the Door can definitely be enjoyed without having read any of the previous books. There are a few references to earlier events and to the back stories of the leading characters, which all help to bring new readers up-to-date.

As with previous books, Wolf at the Door has all the features of a police procedural but transported to medieval times: examining crime scenes (rather gruesome ones in this case), gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and identifying possible suspects. Walkelin even tries his hand at the odd spot of surveillance.

Bradecote and Catchpoll make a great team. Catchpoll has an in-depth knowledge of their patch, the ne'er do wells who reside in it and possesses the keen eye of a detective. He also has a reputation for taking no nonsense. For example, when Catchpoll states his intention to have "interesting words" the following morning with a suspect taken into custody, the thought of it makes several observers shudder and thank their lucky stars it's not them. And we shouldn't forget Walkelin, Catchpoll’s apprentice, who adds youthful enthusiasm and some keen observational skills to the mix.

Bradecote may not have the detective nous of his sergeant but he has a keen sense of justice and the ability to use his status to gain access to people and places that would otherwise be denied, or to intimidate others. In fact, he and Catchpoll often use not so much a ‘good cop, bad cop’ strategy as a ‘toff cop, common cop’ approach with advantageous results. As Catchpoll grudgingly concedes, Bradecote's "high-and-mighty arrogance laid on thick, works a treat".

This time Bradecote and Catchpoll don't just face the challenge of investigating a murder seemingly without motive but also doing so within a community terrified by talk of wolves or, even worse, werewolves. Furthermore, Bradecote has a particular reason for wanting to solve the case quickly.

As the investigation progresses, there are tantalizing clues and false trails many of which seem to lead to nearby Feckenham Forest. The author keeps the tension building with some dramatic scenes as Bradecote and Catchpoll close in on the culprits and the reader discovers just what lengths they are prepared to go to.

Wolf at the Door is another skilfully crafted mystery that moves at pace and has plenty of period detail. I'm already looking forward to the next investigation for Bradecote and Catchpoll due to be published next year.

I do love these Bradcote and Catchpoll medieval mysteries and many thanks to Allison&Busby, Sarah Hawkswood and NetGalley for this ARC. I first had to check on the word "wuduweard" apparently Middle English for "wood ward" an occupational name.

Two wuduweards existed in Worcestershire one in Feckenham and one in the north of Worcestershire in Tutnall.One was a good man and the other was clearly not.

Then we had a wolf, mostly unheard of in that area, who presumably killed Durand of Feckenham.
William de Beauchamp Sheriff of Worcestershire and our main men, Undersheriff Bradcote and Serjeant Catchpoll go on the chase with an entourage of hunters,dogs and soldiers and do battle with some very evil men.

There are a lot more casualties from fires, robberies gone bad and the keepers of the wolf perpetrated on innocent people. In the end, of course, our heroes and the Sheriff captured and took back to their fate these outlaws. Walkelin the young assistant to Catchpoll is elevated to "Underserjeant Walkelin"-a good way to end the story. This series never fails to be unique and exciting. I recommend it strongly!

Wolf at the Door is my second Bradecote and Catchpoll book, and I was excited to receive an advanced copy of it. (I'm starting to collect the 'back' catalogue' as well.)

This time, the pair, well the three of them including Wakelin, are sent to discover the truth about a particularly gruesome murder, where a wolf is suspected (hence the title). What follows is a tightly constructed story where the three follow leads, some dead ends, and interact with a. deliciously mixed group of people living in Worcester and the environs in the 1100s.

I love the historical elements of the story, deeply rooted in the time, with King Stephen a spectre who could appear at any time, although he hasn't, not yet. There is more from the Sheriff of Worcester, rather than the undersheriff than in the previous book I read, and he too is an excellent character. Hats off for the mixture of Old English and Norman names, aptly highlighting the split in society, and for deciding that 'Foreign' cursing isn't quite as colourful as a bit of English cursing - (well, Catchpoll makes that observation).

An intriguing story, the mystery kept me intrigued and the ending was excellent. I look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

Welcome to the 11th century! Good capture of politics, superstitions, and early detective work with a solid cast of characters.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.

Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll are tasked to find out who killed an unlikable Keeper of the King's Forest. The time is the 1100s, and the superstitions run wild. Overall a good story, although the killer was not a surprise. Had trouble at times keeping the names straight, but may just be me. Would recommend.

I have never read any of the authors previous books so had no benchmark against which to judge this book, which I prefer to be honest, this is a well written, well told and in my case well read tale of mystery and mayhem in the dark past, the characters are believable and interact well with each other, the story flows well and has intrigue and Machiavellian tones, a thoroughly good book that I enjoyed reading immensely, thank you Netgalley 😀

I regularly find myself checking GoodReads and other book sites to see when I can anticipate the next release in Sarah Hawkswood's Bradecote and Catchpoll series. And when I do get access to one, everything else on the calendar gets crossed off so I can devote myself to reading it. The series is set in mid-12th Century Worcester and the surrounding areas and focuses, at this point, on three lawmen: Bradecote and Catchpoll of the series title and Catchpoll's apprentice Walkelin.

Bradecote is a local lord appointed as undersheriff for the shire; Catchpoll is an aging, experienced, and hardened Sergeant with a strong sense of decency hidden under his cynical exterior; Walkelin is Catchpoll's apprentice Sergeant, a more recent addition to the series, still unsure of himself, easily embarrassed, and deeply emotionally connected to the new career he's learning. Hawkswood makes clear the respect these three have for one another, but also puts some bristles in their relationship that make the respect feel all the more genuine.

This time around, the trio are investigating the death of a keeper of the king's forest, a man about whom no one has anything good to say. It appears that a wolf has entered his isolated hut, attacked him, and left the partially eaten body behind. Those in the local village are panicked by the two most accepted explanations for the killing: either there's a rogue wolf in the forest, one who's not afraid of fire and who will enter human homes, or there's a werwulf at large, entering homes in human form before changing into a wolf to do his deadly work. With howling being heard around the shire after dark, no one feels safe.

Bradecote, Catchpoll, and Walkelin acknowledge that an animal played a role in the attacks, but are not embracing either of the popular explanations, certain that a human is behind the violence. The case quickly grows more complicated with additional deaths—and fires and robberies. These events are clearly all connected, but what that connection might be remains unclear. Hawkswood crafts a puzzle that will have readers every bit as engaged and confounded as the investigative trio are.

I read a lot of historical mysteries, some better than others, and Bradecote and Catchpoll series lands right at the top of the pile. Highly recommended.

I received a free electronic review title of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.