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A Taste for Killing

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A Taste for Killing

By: Sarah Hawkswood
Narrated by: Matt Addis
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About this listen

Whose was the hand that poisoned Godfrey Bowyer? Bradecote and Catchpoll are on the trail of the killer.

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, Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin, 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?

With Bradecote eager to return to his manor and worried about his wife’s impending confinement, and Walkelin trying to get his mother to accept his choice of bride, there are distractions aplenty, though Serjeant Catchpoll will not let them get in the way of solving this case.

©2022 Sarah Hawkswood (P)2022 Allison & Busby Ltd Historical Historical Fiction Medieval Mystery Fiction Marriage Middle Ages

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Critic reviews

"Hawkswood’s ability to mix humour with the complexities of everyday life and her crisp and descriptive writing provide an effective lure into the depths of this medieval whodunnit. Read it as a stand-alone or, as I did, become fascinated and follow the series." (Crime Review)

"Hawkswood’s Worcester is a place we can see, hear, feel, breathe—and smell—as the mystery unfolds…an excellent detective story which also gives us an intriguing glimpse into a long-lost world." (Fully Booked)

"Hawkswood skilfully evokes a sense of the medieval world, one which is both far-off and familiar." (Historical Novels Review)
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Most relevant
This is the first I’ve read by Sarah Hawkwood but most definitely will not be the last. I bought it as an offer book and so have started towards the end of the available books in the series and will be buying extra credits so I can buy the series from the beginning.

As an Ellis Peters reader I loved the Cadfael series but it feels disrespectful to suggest that this is a secular version. In this series the detectives are from the town and castle and a lord with his manor outside of the town, and monks and priests are a minor presence in comparison to what I was used to in Cadfael, however we are still made aware of how religion touched all the people in the period the story is set.

The people and their lives are well described. The story is well developed. And as whodunnit, howdunnit, and a whydunnit it’s as good as any Agatha Christie or Ellis Peters.

The Narrator was so easy to listen to as well.

Here’s to a new favourite author, and favourite narrator.

Highly recommend for history and crime lovers.

The first but definitely not the last

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This is yet another great book from Sarah Hawkswood. I love the way the characters play out against each other and the backdrop of the mystery. I also really like how Ms Hawkswood weaves the different strands of the book together, so that things you think are not related in any way, suddenly take on greater significance. It all makes for really enjoyable reading/listening. Matt Addis as usual does a really great job or narrating these stories. He is fast becoming one of my favourite narrators.

Really enjoyable

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Nice listen. Lovely atmospheric medieval mystery. Good narration. The story plot itself, was a little stayed, the murder was evident as soon as the murder was done, in the beginning. The back story of the murderer was interesting, and the rest of the characters have developed well over the course of this series. Overall enjoyable.

Nice Listen.

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An unusual story for the time, a medieval detective novel which I enjoyed very much. Good descriptions and I loved the characters.

Enjoyable

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Loved it . Hope this is not the end, I'm eager to read more adventures of the trio . Both author and narrator brings the historical read to life!!!!!!!

Enjoyable read

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