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Crouchback

The Welsh Guard Mysteries, Book 1

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Crouchback

By: Sarah Woodbury
Narrated by: Tom Mumford
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Crouchback is a medieval word derived from cross-back and indicates participation in a crusade.

April 1284. As a newly widowed lady-in-waiting to the very pregnant Queen Eleanor of England, Catrin never expected to return to Wales again. She was definitely unprepared to be confronted with murder when she got there - or to find herself face-to-face with Rhys, the childhood friend she lost 20 years before. Rhys had never intended to return home either, but a lifetime of war has deposited him right back where he started - impoverished and owing service to Catrin's older brother.

With Wales fallen irrevocably to England and not knowing whom else they can trust, Catrin and Rhys join forces against the treachery and intrigue rife within the half-built Caernarfon Castle. And when the killer strikes again, this time within the royal court, the pair race to uncover his identity before he touches the king himself - or his infant son.

Crouchback is the first book in The Welsh Guard Mysteries.

©2019 Sarah Woodbury (P)2020 Sarah Woodbury Crime Fiction Historical Historical Fiction International Mystery & Crime Medieval Mystery Romantic Suspense Fiction Crime Royalty England Middle Ages Welsh Crime Mysteries
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Nice to hear a story about older characters- though the heroine is as usual beautiful.

The narrator dies some Welsh place names and so in what seems to be an authentic North Wales accent to me, but reads it both slowly and dully.

It does contradict itself at times regarding Catrin’s degree of independence, and like many writers information is repeated as though you don’t know it. For instance we are present at a scene, then later told what happened as though it’s new info. I think that’s lazy writing- because the author can’t be bothered taking out repetitions that were originally intended to help them if they move sections around. A proper editor would clear that kind of thing up. It reads as though the author is paid by the word and has padded the story out!


Interesting story, bit simplistic, narrated like a shopping list for someone skint.

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If history is written by the victors then let fiction go to the conquered. A good start to a series but I’m not invested in the characters yet. Will give book 2 a go when it’s out.

Murder in mediaeval Wales

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I’ve had to rewind this many times and did think I might give up. But I stayed with it and glad I did, I think I’ll enjoy this series as I start book 2

I struggled but glad I stuck with it

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Listened to many historical audiobooks. Just cannot get into this story. Tried a couple of times as know it may take a chapter or two to understand the plot or the characters. The narrator is ok but the Welsh accent grated. (And my grandmother is Welsh!).
May try again but with this book I get i needed a more detailed explanation of the plot: like an emergency button.

Can’t get on with this audiobook

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A clever story with various twists. Interesting characters set in an unusual period. Had to listen with it as lightly speeded up as narrator is slightly slow.

Good characters

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