It is 1145, not the time but the year. In the Worcester home, come workshop, come business, of Godfrey Bowyer the servants are listening to the Master and Mistress having a shouting match over dinner in the hall. As befits the master of a significant trade, he has the status of a Burgess. The noise from the hall escalates, tableware is thrown, crockery is smashed, the mistress retires upstairs and the maid clears up the mess. Shortly thereafter Godfrey dies in agony and his wife is violently ill but survives. Given his status, the local law enforcement is called, conclude that they have been poisoned and an investigation begins. But, as this is 1145, investigation means observation of the scene and the corpus and talking to people to establish a background. This initially looks fairly straightforward, but suspicions rapidly arise as to the identity of the culprit. The wife, the servants, the estranged brother, plus most of the rest of the townsfolk – for he is much disliked if not hated – are all in the frame. The story runs through a number of permutations although it is essentially quite a linear plot; meandering rather than twisting.
At heart this is a police procedural, albeit one set in a medieval environment. Criminal investigation is the provenance of the Lord Sheriff (~ Chief Constable) and is delegated to the Lord Undersheriff (~ DCI}, Serjeant (~DI) and Underserjeant (~DC). Some authenticity is lent by the interspersion of contemporary words and phrases, which is interesting but can be annoying when they then require translation. There is also a fair bit of repetition, far more than needed to keep the reader on track with the investigation. There is a similar effect with background detail. The book is the tenth in a series featuring the same set of investigators so must be doing something right, but I wasn’t impressed.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Having caught up to this most recent title, I will say overall, I enjoyed the experience. The mysteries are quite immersive and I found myself transported back to the 1100's. I enjoy fast paced titles and I tore through these with ease.

I do read quite a few books from this era but found this one a bit slow going, The character's were well explained as this was the 10th book which I didn't realise at the time but they were just a little boring nothing grabbed me and I found the mystery obvious and couldn't believe it took so long to solve.. Well enough written but I can't see me going back over the other's. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book number ten in this series ticks all the boxes for me once again. Author Sarah Hawkswood continues to give me mental stimulation and pleasure while I catch up with the three characters who investigate wrongdoing in Worster in 1145. I watched Bradecote and Catchpoll continue to guide Walkelin through how to investigate crime and deal with those citizens both above and below him in the class system operating in this historical period. The characters speak in the dialect of the time, but those words and phrases are so well written that I easily followed their meaning without any difficulty.

One of the things I enjoy so much about this series is that the author uses a wide range of methods for the crimes to occur in her series so I never know exactly what I will find. Even though the criminal is revealed before the end of this story, there is still time taken to explain the how and why. The three law enforcers are building an interesting dynamic, giving their investigative strengths a fine range to ensure the mystery is studied from all angles so each person contributes necessary evidence to reveal the whole picture. Reading this novel was a pleasurable experience and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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

I have read several of Miss Hawkswood's historical novels and have enjoyed them all. They are in essence detective stories with her heroes Bradecote and Catchpole the medievil equivalent of an Inspector and his sergeant.
The methods they use are not particularly different from those familiar to us nowadays questioning and checking and cross checking and it seems that people haven't really changed either, driven by greed lust hate love .Perhaps the only thing that has changed is the willingness of people to accept that those 'better' people - richer higher social standing are less likely to commit a crime, though perhaps not.
A local bigwig Bow maker is poisoned eating his evening meal , his wife is with him their three servants come under immediate suspicion but the questions throw up more questions as much as answers .
A further death in the household seems to solve the case but some troublesome loose ends throw doubt on the whole solution and suck in one of the towns most eminent citizens into the circle of suspicion.
The depictions of a medievil town and how the people lived from the luxury of the wealthy to the squalor of the poor ,the filth in the streets and the overwhelming smells make you almost feel like you're there. Great book.

My first by this author and am super impressed...

When I saw that this was a medieval mystery, I was intrigued and went right in and finished in one sitting. Though this is a part of a series (I did not know while requesting the ARC), it was not difficult to follow.

The story was well developed and I liked all the characters.

Overall - an enjoyable read...


Note: This is a part of a series but can be read as a a standalone. Reading the previous books would definitely help connect with the MCs and understand their background better (am definitely interested in reading the previous ones in the series 😄).

Received an ARC in exchange of honest review.

It's 1145 and Godfrey Bowyer has been fatally poisoned, his wife Blanche is ill too. Roger the Healer has been sent for, to no avail. Serjeant Catchpoll is called upon, for a medieval murder mystery commences.

If you like a historical novel, this is pleasing. If historical novels are not your 'thing' this would still be a good 'detective' novel nonetheless. Certainly much research has been completed and is evident in the writing itself and between the lines, and that is its strength.

The first chapter commences at a pace and the reader is thrown into a domestic scene, where you can hear the raised voices and noises from servants and masters. I enjoyed the vocabulary used, which reflects the medieval scenes and atmospheres: 'owlishly' for example, exudes and furthers the medieval feel. For this reader, the colloquial dialogue is a hindrance, but I do state this as a personal preference, for the syntax is thoughtfully used.

I found that the ensuing chapters lingered a little too long, and I felt they could have been condensed further. However, after about halfway, the pace resumed with an interesting narrative as the story and search for the murderer resumed. The final chapters do go at a pace of knots towards the final conclusion.

I enjoyed the book and the historical references, the vocabulary used is elegant, however, the 'lingering' chapters detract somewhat - some readers may stop at this point and not wish to complete the novel, which would be a shame. It has merits - 3/5

I didn't realise when requesting this that it was actually the 10th book in a series, but on reading it, I didn't feel as if I was missing any essential information by not having read the previous 9. I love historical fiction as a genre, as well as crime, so this seemed a good fit for me, as I was hoping for that sort of immersive read that you get with C. J. Sansom' s Shardlake series for example.

Unfortunately I just didn't enjoy this as I had hoped and found the pace too slow and the characters quite dull. It really didn't feel as if there were any surprises to the plot. Maybe it would it have made a difference if I had read the other 9 books first to have a greater understanding of the central characters and the time period (my go-to historical period is Tudor or ancient Greece), but I can only judge it on how I felt by the end of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this proof in return for a review.

A Taste for Killing had an interesting setting, though not enough to really entertain for long.

I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the opportunity.

I have my own blog ( now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)

Release date: 12th of May 2022.

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I have found out lately that I enjoy cozy mysteries. And so far, I have read quite a few. Not enough to count myself as more than a novice just yet, but enough to know how they can truly be an enjoyable read if done right.

Unlike my usual reviews, this is going to be on the shorter side.

A Taste for Killing manages to still be easy to get through when it comes to the characters, and their histories. It is after all, the tenth book in the series. I for one, didn't know that before making my request on Netgalley (thank you once again), but I was still glad to be able to follow who was who without any issues. The setting to me, is most likely the main thing that is different when it comes to this sub genre.

I haven't read one set in a medieval time before A Taste for Killing, so I was definitely excited to see how different it was going to be. Turns out, it really isn't any different than my basic thoughts, but I was still excited to see the progression.

The murder in itself, wasn't difficult to solve and the motive was a bit mundane as well. What makes it work in this case, is the setting and what you could expect from a time like that. But to me personally, I had hoped for something a little more interesting.

Despite that however, I do believe that my main issue here was with the main characters. I had expected something that makes me think the detective in question was going to be amazing (Poirot), or had something different about them (Chopra) to force the interest from my side. Even if it was from a side character or two. But that doesn't end up happening. Instead, I found myself not caring, nor was I that interested in following the detectives, and in turn, that caused a lack of care for the solving of said mystery.

Which is incredibly saddening, as I had hoped to take my time to go back to the first book and restart the journey from there.

All in all, it works pretty well as a palate cleanser between much bigger reads. And maybe one day, once I run out of cozy mysteries, I might go back to the first book and give it a read as well.

First I'd like to say that I have not read the other 9 books in this series and I think if I had I may have enjoyed this a little bit more. I don't think you need to read the others to enjoy this book, but knowing the back story and characters a bit betters would have been good.

I love that this cozy mystery is set in the medieval times which is what really drew me to want to read this book. Although it is easy to read it is a bit repetitive, a bit slow and the characters are a bit lack-lustre. I would have liked a bit more suspense and excitement from this book as that would have made me want to read the first 9 books.

Overall, an alright book but a bit to slow for my liking.

January, 1145. Godfrey Bowyer, the best but least likeable bow maker in Worcester, dies an agonising death by poisoning. Although similarly struck down after the same meal, his wife Blanche survives. The number of people who could have administered the poison should mean a very short investigation for the Sheriff’s men, Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll, but perhaps someone was pulling the strings, and that widens the net considerably. Could it be the cast-out younger brother or perhaps Orderic the Bailiff, whose wife may have had to endure Godfrey's attentions? Could it even be the wife herself?

It was good to catch up with Bradecote and Catchpoll in Worcester, 1145, where discord is prevalent in one particular home, the center of the action. It is the home of a man and wife attached to the work center where bows are finely made. The household includes kitchen help, the man and wife and a young man who works on the bows.
Bradecote is anxiously awaiting the birth of his second child, but the Sheriff sends for him to assist in solving the murder of a wealthy Worcester burgess.
I have enjoyed 8 of the 10 books from this series in the past and plan to circle back to catch the missing two some time soon. The writing is fine, the time period portrayed with authenticity, the established relationships between Sheriff, Bradecote, Catchpoll and their young Sergeant Walkelin are lively.

I had trouble getting into this. The language was difficult and hard to process. While the title and the description seem interesting, that did not translate to the reading.

As the 10th installment in a series, A Taste for Killing was not a standalone, but easy to follow if you are beginning here. Seemingly a cozy mystery, this medieval investigation was chock-full of dialogue. I can appreciate the author's dedication to setting and investigation processes during such a time, and while I found it charming, I could not get into the story. Because it was so text heavy I found it difficult to get into, although I have read that previous installments in the series might appeal to me more. Sadly, A Taste for Killing was just too slow for me but I did love the idea behind it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby's for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the vibes of this book, the cosy medieval mystery aspect of this book was great. I don’t get on with books that are really forensics heavy so I appreciated the medieval theming that focussed on the mystery aspect. Only dropping it down to 3 stars rather than 4 because I felt the mystery itself was rather basic. Pretty straight forward with no twists to keep me on my toes. But would recommend if you are a fan of the era.

When I requested this book, I did not realise it was the 10th in a fully established series. I would usually steer clear of jumping into a series part way through as it’s always harder to get to grips with who the characters are and any other context from previous books. However, I’m glad I did request the book as I really enjoyed it. I could very easily pick up this book with no previous context and get fully stuck into it.
I love a book set historically and love it even better when it involves a murder mystery.
I loved the main characters and thought they worked really well together which probably comes from their development over the previous stories. The plot had be hooked straight away, it was a great pace, lots of red herrings and twists & turns and a great reveal at the end.
The only reason it doesn’t get a 5 for me, is because I would of liked a twist that I had never seen coming and felt although enjoyable there was nothing life altering about the book. It was a tried and tested Murder mystery, which I do love.
I would definitely pick up another book in this series if I saw it in a book shop.

I was given an arc for this novel by Netgalley and Allison & Busby publishing.

This is the tenth novel in a series, however it is able to be read as a standalone. Good for me, as I was new to this series.

The mystery is a pretty basic one, a classic “who dunnit?” Within a medieval setting. Unfortunately there’s not much to embellish this and make a classic plot line fresh and new. The book is very dialogue heavy, which can be to people tastes, however I found it incredibly repetitive, and found it gave very little insight into any character life or progression. This is a very plot driven novel, but the plot is nothing to shout home about.

I requested this arc because of the description and book cover that alluded to a setting I thought I would find atmospheric and thrilling. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the plot and structure of this book, and will not read another of this series.

It's always a delicious treat to be able to dive into a Bradecote and Catchpoll Medieval mystery! A few hours of fictional bliss spent during the tumultuous reign of Stephen, King of England.

This time around the plot evolves around the highly suspicious death of a rich craftsman in Worcester and the various characters who make up his household: his second wife, his cook, a maidservant and a highly dedicated apprentice.
Who among this disparate group of people could be behind this ruthless crime?
And what could be the motivation behind such a heinous act?

A well choreographed investigation will soon ensue and no clue will be left untouched: a Medieval "femme fatale", sibling rivalries, covetousness, adultery, deep-seated grudges and long-festering jealousies are some of the most deadly ingredients you will find in this witch's brew.....

And by the end some readers might start feeling uncomfortable around mushrooms.....

A captivating whodunit set within the fortified walls of one of England’s greatest cities in the West Midlands region, this entertaining novel offers a fascinating glimpse at the social life and customs of the English people during the 12th century.

Cleverly plotted and blessed with a cast of exquisitely drawned characters this gripping murder mystery deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for this terrific ARC

While I enjoyed this title, I felt the plot lagged at points and became stagnant. The time period aspect was really fun but, I just wish there was more throughout. I know this is as series but, it felt flat.

Sarah Hawkswood has crafted another rewarding read in her Bradecoat and Catchpoll (and Walkelin) mystery series. The characters continue to evolve, and seeing their development as one moves from one book to the next is like coming closer to a long-time friend.

In this title, Bradecoat, a minor Lord and the highest ranking character in this investigative trio, is anxiously awaiting the birth of his second child—which will be the birth of his first child by his second wife. His beloved first wife died giving birth to their son, and Bradecoat can't escape his worries about the danger of childbirth. He'll be delighted to become a father for the second time, but is terrified that his wife may pay for that birth with her life.

Young Walkelin is growing more confident as an officer of the law and gradually finds his interactions with Bradecoat and Catchpoll more comfortable. He's decided that with a steady income and increasing responsibility, he's ready to marry, but suspects his mother will object to his chosen bride. He'll have to assert a new independence without adding tensions to what could become a difficult mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship.

Catchpoll, meanwhile is Catchpoll. Very few things get by him, and his astuteness and dark sense of humor make him the strongest personality among the three.

The mystery this time around is gratifyingly complex. The three identify the murderer at about the 80% mark, so the finish isn't a big surprise, but readers have to do a lot of guessing up to that point.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, I can highly recommend this series to you. Time spent with Bradecoat, Catchpoll, and Walkelin is always time well spent.

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