The much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar in the attitude of a penitent. Everyone who had contact with him had reason to dislike him, but who had reason to kill him? The Sheriff of Worcestershire's thief taker, wily Serjeant Catchpoll, and his new and unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, have to find the answer. And as the claustrophobic walls of the Abbey close in on the suspects, the killer strikes again...
The first in a new series of 12th-century murder mysteries, perfect for fans of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series June 1143: the Lord Bishop of Winchester's Clerk is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey, and laid before the altar in the attitude of a penitent. Everyone who had contact with him had reason to dislike him, but who had reason to kill him? The Sheriff of Worcestershire's thief taker, the wily Serjeant Catchpoll, and his new and unwanted superior, Acting Under-Sheriff Hugh Bradecote, have to find the answer when nobody wants the murderer apprehended until the next death."
The brutal murder of a woman with a past is a thorny investigation for Bradecote and CatchpollJuly, 1144. The body of a woman is found butchered on an island a few miles upriver from Worcester - how did she get there, who killed her, and why? Uncovering the details of Ricolde's life and her past reveal a woman with hidden depths and hidden miseries which are fundamental to the answers, but time has cast a thick veil over the killer's identity.The lord sheriff 's men have a trail that went cold over two decades ago, and evidence that contradicts itself. Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll will need all their wits to solve this mystery.
'A new Bradecote and Catchpoll (and Wakelin) medieval mystery is always a true delight ... An absolute joy' M. J. PORTER 1140s Worcestershire is a place death visits often, and it is up to Serjeant Catchpoll and his new, unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice. In Servant of Death , the much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar like a penitent. A despicable man he may have been, but who had reason to kill him? In book 2, Ordeal by Fire , Catchpoll hopes a fire at a Worcester silversmith's is just an accident, but then a charred corpse is discovered following a second fire. Hugh Bradecote may be new to the job of Undersheriff compared to his wily colleague, but his analytical eye is soon hard at work to find a vengeful arsonist. In Marked to Die , the third instalment in the series, the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire cannot ignore brazen attacks on the salt road from Wich, so Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll have an elusive master archer in their sights. In book 4, Hostage to Fortune , the sleuths face a frantic race against time in an unforgiving winter landscape. The Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy, his entourage of monks and Bradecote's betrothed Christina are travelling on a pilgrimage when they are captured by a renegade who kills for pleasure. Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll must orchestrate a rescue before a psychopath does his worst and Bradecote cracks under the pressure. The fast-paced and suspenseful medieaval mystery series continues in Vale of Tears . A body is found floating by Fladbury mill, a man who has been stabbed but not robbed. Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and their young apprentice Walkelin discover him to be a horse dealer with a beautiful young wife who strays. Did the wife or a lover get rid of him? What link is there to a defrocked monk who was hanged for theft, and where is the horse dealer's steed? 'If you've come across the series before, you don't need me to tell you that this latest is worth reading; and if you haven't, then there are earlier treats in store as well as this!' Historical Novels Review
The vicious death of a man at the teeth of a wild animal does not add up for Bradecote and Catchpoll. All Hallows' 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, Serjeant Catchpoll and young Walkelin, 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?
Sharan Newman’s reputation as a critically acclaimed writer of medieval mysteries continues with this collection of short stories, all previously published and collected here for the first time in Death Before Compline. The stories take us into 12th century Europe and show with sympathy and humor, the astounding variety of good intentions gone wrong and the corruption of human desires. Many of the stories feature Catherine LeVendeur, the beloved protagonist of ten of Newman’s novels, and Solomon, Catherine’s Jewish merchant cousin. These stories takes us into the day to day reality of medieval religious and family life, as it is lived by a variety of people: from nuns, noble people, scholars, courtiers, merchants, hermetic spinsters and children. Fans of the novels will find this collection delightful as the author explains the origins of these stories and the evolution of her protagonists in the novels; these tales also serve as a great introduction to her work for newcomers. PRAISE: “Readers looking for quality historical fiction ought to add Newman’s name to their lists of must-read authors. In addition to providing readers with a vivid look at life in France in the twelfth century, Newman also offers absorbing stories with well-drawn sympathetic characters.” —Mystery Scene “Reading a Sharan Newman novel is like journeying back to medieval times. The sights and sounds of Paris are so vividly described that they mesmerize the reader as they enjoy a fine tale of mystery.” —Romantic Times “Extremely intelligent, highly suspenseful, and richly textured historical fiction.” —Booklist
When an irascible lord is found murdered, undersheriff Bradecote and serjeant Catchpoll are summoned to investigate. August 1144. Osbern de Lench is known far and wide as a hard master, whose temper is perpetually frayed. After his daily ride to survey his land, his horse returns to the hall riderless, and the lifeless body of the lord is found soon after. Was it the work of thieves, or something closer to home? With an heir who is cast in the same hot-tempered mould, sworn enemies for neighbours and something amiss in the relationship between Osbern and his wife, undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, the wily Serjeant Catchpoll and his apprentice Walkelin have suspects aplenty.
Salisbury, 1226 A young pregnant woman is found tangled in reeds in the river Avon, her identity a mystery. Grieving widow Ela Longespée is determined to succeed her husband as sheriff of Salisbury, and quickly takes charge of the investigation. She soon finds herself in the thick of a neighborhood scandal and a struggle to maintain her authority. With multiple suspects, can she identify the true killer? The Ela of Salisbury Medieval Mystery Series This series features a real historical figure—the formidable Ela Longespée. The young Countess of Salisbury was chosen to marry King Henry II’s illegitimate son William. After her husband’s untimely death, Ela served as High Sheriff of Wiltshire, castellan of Salisbury Castle, and ultimately founder and abbess of Lacock Abbey. The Ela of Salisbury Medieval Mystery series: Book 1: Cathedral of Bones Book 2: Breach of Faith Book 3: The Lost Child Book 4: Forest of Souls Book 5: The Bone Chess Set Book 6: Cloister of Whispers Coming 2022: Book 7: Palace of Thorns
This classic dictionary explains the origins of over 16,000 names in current English use. It will be a source of fascination to everyone with an interest in names and their history.This classic dictionary answers questions such as these and explains the origins of over 16,000 names in current English use. It will be a source of fascination to everyone with an interest in names and their history.
As hundreds of pilgrims arrive at the shrine of St. Winifred, Brother Cadfael wonders if two of the pilgrims, obviously intensely bound to each other, are bound to the murder of a knight in Winchester
