Sarah Hawkswood’s A Taste for Killing is an enjoyable and engaging crime novel set in the 12th Century that will keep readers entertained from beginning to end.

In 1145, Godfrey Bowyer is the best bow maker in Worcester, but while his craftsmanship is exemplary, his personality leaves a lot to be desired. Nobody has a good word to say about Godfrey and when he is viciously poisoned, nobody is surprised. But just who could have poisoned him? His wife Blanche was also struck down after eating the same meal, although luckily she survived the attack. The Sherriff’s men, Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpool, need to figure out who the poisoner is and they initially think that they will find out whodunnit in no time. After all, there is only a limited number of people who could have poisoned Godfrey, but which one of them did it?

Could it be his younger brother who had been cruelly ostracized? Orderic the Bailiff, whose wife had to endure Godfrey’s sleazy attentions? Or perhaps Blanche herself had orchestrated the whole thing and poisoned herself in order to throw the Sheriff’s men off the scent? Bradecote and Catchpoll have got quite a challenge on their hands and distractions are the very last thing which the dynamic duo need, but with their personal lives getting even more complicated, will they manage to find the killer before another dead body is found? Or will this case leave them completely dumbfounded?

A terrific historical mystery teeming with humour, red herrings, shocking secrets and jaw-dropping revelations, Sarah Hawkswood’s A Taste for Killing is sure to delight. The twelfth century is brilliantly recreated and evoked and readers will be completely transported to Medieval England and feel as if they are investigating this murder alongside the wonderful Bradecote and Catchpoll.

A rip-roaring mystery full of twists I didn’t see coming, Sarah Hawkswood does not disappoint with her latest Medieval thriller, A Taste for Killing.

This is the only one I have read in this series and I really wish I had been in at the beginning. Now playing catch-up with this excellent crime-busting duo, Bradecote & Catchpoll, set in the 12th century. Looking forward to the other 9 before number 11 comes along. Thanks to Netgalley.

Three days before the Feast of St. Agnes in January 1185, Godfrey Bowyer and his wife Blanche started to vomit after their evening meal. Roger the healer helped Blanche survive while Godfrey passed away. Who poisoned them? Their relationship has always been rocky despite the fact that he was a skilled bowmaker, especially due to his wandering eye. He was also unpopular in the community. Because of this, when Bradcote and Catchpoll are asked to look into the matter, things are not as straightforward as they initially seemed. Walkelin is having trouble summoning the nerve to tell his mother about the woman he wants to marry, and Bradcote is concerned that his wife may die during delivery.

Although this book's mystery was fascinating, I did quickly deduce whodunit (maybe as a result of reading too many detective stories). I was intrigued by the writing (this book didn't feel as slow-moving as the previous one), so this didn't stop me from enjoying the book. I kept reading to find out if I was right or whether there was still a stunning twist in store. Although my prediction came true, it was interesting to witness how the case evolved and how certain aspects of the explanation grew clearer as the story went on.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book definitely gave Agatha Christie vibes with how it was written. It follows the same formulaic format as Agatha Christie books where a murder happens and then the main characters go and investigate by talking to each of the suspects.

I think that the author did well to encapsulate this style and if you are a fan of these types of books you would probably also love this series of books.

I however, did find it slightly boring at times where it felt that the plot wasn't really moving because of the other storylines to create a "break" for the reader.

However, I found no issues with how the book was presented, the cover is amazing, and the book does what it is set out to do.

I only got into this book to 11% and it wasn’t for me. The 12th Century language used was very stilted and awkward for me and made it extremely difficult to get into the story.

Can’t seem to fault these Bradecote and Catchpole books. They just keep on getting better and better. The characters are wonderfully conceived and developed, especially Wakelin, who all but steals every scene he appears in. The old rogue Catchpole is a gem, and the three lawmen make a very readable team. Refreshingly free of anachronism, the period is realistically evoked, and the plot nicely paced. Can’t wait for next in the series.

unpopular bowmaker Godfrey Bowyer sits down to dinner with his young wife Blanche. Shortly after Godfrey lies dead and his wife is very ill, presumably from food poisoning. It looks as though the cook might be the culprit, or maybe the maid or Godfrey’s journeyman. But as nobody has a good word to say about the dead man, perhaps it could have been just about anyone…

Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin are back for a tenth case, on the trail of a murderer from a wide range of suspects. This entry is very much a detective story, with plenty of suspect grilling and pavement pounding as the sleuths interview possible leads. These range from Godfrey’s household and family through to the great but not necessarily good of Worcester. Meanwhile, Bradecote is worried as his wife is about to give birth and Walkelin has to pluck up courage to introduce his wife-to-be to his mother who hates the Welsh. All the ingredients are here for a good historical procedural complete with engaging characters. As usual I would say that this is highly recommended for anybody who enjoys a good mystery – but for the full effect this series does need to be read in order.

1145 and a bowyer is found dead in the centre of Worcester. He has been poisoned and his wife is also ill. Surely it must have been one of the servants. That's what the local Lord feels but Bradcote and Catchpole think otherwise, it's just too simple. The dead man was not well-liked with feuds amongst his family and jealously among others. However it might be that the answer is even closer.
I have read a few of Hawkswood's medieval mysteries and they are entertaining enough. This is no exception, it's not going to change the world but it jumps along very pleasantly.

One of the reasons I requested this book is because it's historical fiction. Another reason is that it's a mystery, so I immediately thought, Agatha Christie.

So here's what I liked and disliked:

First, what I liked:

✨Like I said, it felt like I was reading an Agatha Christie book, maybe set in a way older time than a Christie book.

✨It's set in 1145, so it gave some pretty nice insight on how things used to be back then. How crime was dealt with, as well.

✨ It gave me cozy mystery vibes when the pace picked up.

✨My first medieval mystery. Probably won't be the last.

What I disliked:

✨As much as I loved the fact it's historical, I felt that the pace was really slow sometimes.

✨A lot of things were repeated.

✨Some of the things that were perceived back then. I recall a character saying something along the lines of "A husband has the right to hand a bad wife." Which I know was normal back then, but I still did not like it.

✨It was kind of predictable, but I still enjoyed reading it.

I should also probably mention that it's the tenth book in the series, but I think you can read it alone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

Thank you @netgalley & @allisonandbusby for this ARC in exchange for an honest review💕

This is the latest book in the Author's series featuring Undersheriff Hugh Bradcote and his friend Sergeant Catchpoll , with help from Catchpoll's new apprentice Undersergeant Walkelin

Three days before the Feast of St Agnes in January 1185 Godfrey Bowyer and his wife Blanche start to vomit after their evening meal - Godfrey dies but Blanche survives with the help of the healer Roger - who poisoned them ? Their's has always been a volatile relationship especially due to his wandering eye , and although an expert bowmaker he was not well liked locally . So when Bradcote and Catchpoll are called to investigate things are not as simple as they first appeared - their minds are not fully focused on the case ......... Bradcote is worried about losing his wife in childbirth and Walkelin is struggling to pluck up the courage to tell his mother about the girl he wants to marry ...... but Catchpoll is determined that their focus must be fully on the case in hand
This murder/mystery was full of the usual twists and turns that the Author always manages to bring to her books .......... the sights , sounds and relationships of the times add to the actual mystery , enhancing the reader experience

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Sarah Hawkswood has a very Agatha Christie-esque approach to writing mystery that I cannot help but admire. At times I struggled to connect pieces of this puzzle, but she always brough everything together in a very clear, analytical way.

The contrast between Bradecote and Catchpoll is almost comical at times. It was fun to Walkelin coming into his own. Each of the characters, from villain to unsuspecting bystander are made relatable and understandable by Hawkswood. Despite taking place nearly nine hundred years ago, these feel like people that you know or could run into on the street.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I haven't read any of this series prior to this book...and now I want it all! This was such a cool and amazing concept which made it all the better. I'm not sure of historical accuracy, but that is not the point. The mystery was well conceived and well solved.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions in this review are my own.
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A Taste for Killing has a plot full of twists and turns combined with a mystery that even veterans of the genre would find tricky to solve.

While the pacing felt slow at times, I was quite invested in solving the mystery so it wasn't a major issue for me.

However, I did feel that the length could have been shortened somewhat to enhance the pacing.

This was an interesting storyline with well-written characters and, thankfully, very much era-appropriate dialogue.

Overall rating: 4/5 stars

I had no idea that this was the tenth book in the series when I picked it up, but holy moly, I'll have to check it out more.

This book put me through more twists and turns than I thought would be possible. A whodunit of incredible proportions -- until about 3/4ths of the way through the book at which point I had a fairly good idea of who it was (and I was right).

The only drawback of the book was that it felt just really long to read. I worked on it for three nights and an entire plane trip back from Europe and I just felt like I should have been nearing the end by about 50% in. Still, it kept me coming back and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

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

A Taste for Killing is Book 10 in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series of medieval mysteries by Sarah Hawkswood, and the second book that I read in this series, having come across it and enjoyed book 9 very much last year. In fact, I’d liked it so much that I requested this book as soon as I saw it on NetGalley. The series follows Serjeant Catchpoll and his superior and friend Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote as they solve murders in Worcestershire, serving under the Sheriff William de Beauchamp. They are assisted by Underserjeant Walkelin, a young man who has recently joined them (as Catchpoll’s apprentice). While the stories of the main characters progress as the series goes on, each book can be read as a standalone. The developments in the characters’ lives are easy to catch on to, though of course reading in order makes it more fun.

A Taste for Killing opens in January 1145, three days before the feast of St Agnes. Godfrey Bowyer lives with his wife Blanche, and journeyman Alwin, cook Gode, and maid Runild. Goldfrey and Blanche have just been served their meal, bread and pottage, and the journeyman and two servants are in the kitchen hearing the sounds of the master and mistress quarrel and throw dishes and pitchers at each other—not an unusual occurrence. The row subsides, and Blanche retires to her room while poor Runild cleans the mess. But suddenly they hear different sounds, Godfrey in pain, doubled over, while Blanche comes down the stairs vomiting. Godfrey is dead, poisoned but Blanche, attended by Roger the Healer survives. Godfrey may have been the best bowmaker in town but he was not much liked. He had a roving eye, and his relationships with those around him were strained whether it was with his wife, his younger brother, or the town bailiff. An unwilling Bradecote, awaiting the birth of his child and not wanting to leave his wife’s side, must join Serjeant Catchpoll and look into the matter. At first, it seems the three in the kitchen were the only people who could possibly have committed the crime, but as they start following different lines of inquiry, things no longer seem as simple. Alongside we follow developments in Bradecote’s life as he fears losing his wife to childbirth a second time, while young Walkelin who is proving himself a worthy Underserjeant, struggles to gather the courage to tell his mother about the girl he loves and wishes to marry.

This book had all the elements I loved in this series the first time I read it last year—a good mystery, excellent historical detail, and likeable characters—and made for as good a read.

I love the sense of place and time Hawkswood has created in these books. Its setting, like the Brother Cadfael books, is during the civil war/Anarchy between King Stephen and Empress Maud, though the unrest doesn’t much affect our stories. While no larger historical events are referenced (though Empress Maud is mentioned a couple of times), in the book one can get a good feel of the social scenario and hierarchy, power relations, everyday life and mannerisms (from meals to forms of address to social interactions), and of course, how shrieval authorities would have gone about conducting an investigation into a suspicious death at a time when resources and knowledge were very different to the present day.

I enjoyed catching up with Bradecote, Catchpoll, and Walkelin. All three belong to different social stations, but Bradecote and Catchpoll have developed a comfortable and friendly relationship, where Catchpoll, the elder of the two taking the lead, or making an observation out of turn is taken graciously by the other, and both respect each other, recognise each other’s talents, as well as take full advantage of the social position of each (for instance, Walkelin’s access to the kitchens or to local gossip through his mother, or Bradecote’s influence and even the fear his position might induce when needed). Walkelin must tread more carefully, being newer to the team, but he is proving himself worthy with every case, and his relationship with the other two is reaching that same easy state. With the Sheriff himself of course, all must toe the line and all formalities observed.

The mystery was an interesting one, though in this book (perhaps the effect of reading too many detective stories), I did guess whodunit very early on. This did not affect my enjoyment of the book though, as I found myself engaged by the writing (this book didn’t feel as slow moving as the previous one) and reading on to find out whether I was right or whether there was still a surprise twist in store. My guess was right, but it was interesting to watch the case unfold, and elements of the explanation emerge which one could work out only as the book went on.

A satisfying instalment in a series that I’m certainly going to be reading more of.

4.25 stars

Fantastic read! It’s not often we get books from this specific timeframe and as a reader of historical fiction, I was excited to dive in.

Hmm, what to say. Some parts I enjoyed ( the setting and the characters) but found parts to be repetitive and I kept thinking I’m missing something and wondered if this is part of a series. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Puzzling deaths in medieval Worcester, 1145

A sudden death, apparently by poisoning has Lord Undersheriff Hugh Bradcote, Serjeant Catchpoll and Catchpoll’s journeyman, Young Walkelin baffled. When a wealthy Burgess, bow maker and arms supplier to the castle, Godfrey Bower and his wife suddenly take ill Bradcote and Catchpoll are called to investigate. All possibilities lead to someone in the household as the culprit. As their investigations deepen the poisoner seems to be in sight—all neatly tied up even, but Catchpoll is troubled by loose ends.
As I’ve said before watching the three mens’ relation develop is a pleasing part of the story. Young Walkelin whom Catchpoll took as his journeyman is coming along. Walkelins actions are confident and his thoughts clear as he puzzles his way through his part of the investigation. His thoughts are now turning to marriage, albeit with a Welsh girl which has his mother somewhat alarmed.
As the trio pull on those hanging threads, the poisoner’s plans begin to unravel and all is revealed.
There’s some lovely touches of continuity with characters from earlier tales and new introductions. I enjoy Master Roger the Healer. The much disliked Lord Furnaux, the Castle countable is once more ill met. All actions are of course at the pleasure of William de Beauchamp, the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire. I love his slightly weary sardonic repartee with Catchpoll in particular.
Another satisfying medieval mystery read from Hawkswood!

An Allison & Busby ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the chance to read and review A Taste for Killing!

In 1145. Godfrey Bowyer, one of the least likeable people in Worcester, dies a painful death by poisoning. Suspicion falls on a whole host of people; his wife Blanche, who ate the same meal but survived; his brother who is in a ton of debt and may have wanted his business; the cook who hated the wife and may have intended to kill her; the servant who was pregnant with the masters child; the man whose wife Godfrey harassed.

While A Taste for Killing is interesting, it's a slow read mostly because it's written in the same dialect that was used in 1145, which slows a reader down. That being said, it keeps your interest for the most part and you can tell that they aren't going to stop digging and take an easy answer.

I had no idea that taste for killing was part of a larger series when I requested it, so I'm not sure if the characters are growing or staying the same. I didn't find most of the characters memorable, all three of the men kinda blur into one for me, and as this was a series I've missed things like when Walkelin fell for Eluned, etc.

While I love Blanche as a character, I wasn't happy that she was the one who had done it. I feel like that was so easy to do as she's an outsider and suddenly that one priest remembers her. She was fairly smart to have gotten away with what look like 2 other deaths, and I don't think she would have risked this all so suddenly; there were too many loose ends for her to do this so suddenly.

If you're reading this do keep in mind that Godfrey does totally deserve his end; he was pretty predatory towards a lot of women and an awful husband.

I thank Net Galley for this digital arc, quirky mystery with a lot of twists and turns but it did have a lot of repetitive parts to the story of a couple poisoned, two sleuths are on to it , set in medieval times the language used in the novel is fitting , I think this book is part of a series and would wager that it might helpful to read more of this author's writing before giving a complete review , this book did lack luster to me but I will to give others in the series a chance