Ordeal by Fire cover art

Ordeal by Fire

Bradecote and Catchpoll

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Ordeal by Fire

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

September 1143. Bradecote is a minor landowner and newly appointed under-sheriff. His sergeant, Catchpoll, is a weather-beaten, wily and experienced thief-taker who always looks to be one step ahead of any villain. Bradecote though quite new to the job brings an effectively analytical eye to the investigation. A series of fires around the city seem linked, and Bradecote and Catchpoll have to piece together the vengeful motive that links them in order to uncover the arsonist.

©2016 Sarah Hawkswood (P)2017 Isis Publishing Ltd Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime

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All stars
Most relevant  
Loved it! Another great yarn by Sarah Hawkeswood. Can't wait to start on the next one.

A great tale!

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So enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure about the narrator at first but really enjoyed it.

Lovely characters

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as a fan of Ellis Peters i approached both these books with a little trepidation but was not disappointed. Enjoyed as much as the first and am hping for more.

Great little book

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Ordeal By Fire is a fantastically engaging story, a well paced adventure in Mediaeval Worcester and you will be racing along with the characters while they try to catch the arsonist before more people die. Worcester is a character in itself, the streets and people brought to life in everyday situations against the stark background of a crime which puts all at risk. It is the detectives, such as they are in twelfth century England, their relationships and characters which are the real star of the show here.

Sarah Hawkswood has a flair for the characterisation and Matt Addis captures them exactly as I imagined them in the book, his grizzled Catchpoll landing perfectly between hardened soldier and instrument of true justice.

If you enjoy Cadfael or any mediaeval murder mystery, or even a fantasy adventure then you will enjoy this. Highly recommended and I look forward to more from both Addis and Hawkswood.

True Voice Acting & Engaging Story

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I enjoyed the reading of this book Matt Addis made the characters live.

Look forward to hearing the next book.

Enjoyed this reading. Characters were made to live

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In the same sort of era as Cadfael towards the end of the war between Stephen and Maud in the 12th century and just under 50 miles Southeast of Cadfael’s Shrewsbury monastery is the City of Worcester where Undersheriff Bradecote, and Serjeant Catchpoll are joined by Wakelin a man at arms Catchpoll is training to become a Serjeant on the trail of an arsonist.
As books series go this one is fast becoming a favourite and the setting seems familiar after enjoying Cadfael for so long (still on my read again list as I love the stories so much).
I love following Bradecote as he follows his new role as Under Sheriff on his 2nd investigation and seeing the relationship between him and his Serjeant developing.
I’m not sure how the skill of the author pulls me so deep into the story and the point in history it is set in but it’s so natural to be there it feels foreign to hear the trains running over the viaduct a quarter of a mile from my home as I type this review.
Read this series is all I can recommend especially if you’ve loved Cadfael, and if you love well crafted murder mysteries.

Mediaeval murder mystery

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Really enjoyable listen, good pace, captivating reader, appropriately descriptive and certainly kept my attention. Recommended.

Entertaining Historical Novel

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A good plot with several twists and turns, wonderfully vivid characters, all of whom are brought to life by the marvellous performance of Matt Addis. His voice is rich and soothing, yet he can carry off everything from a cranky old woman to a haughty dame, a gnarly old peasant to the High Sheriff.
In this, her second book in the series, Sarah Hawkswood has honed her craft. There was a great deal less head hopping, her plot was neatly stitched, and the historical details cleverly woven through the whole.
This isn’t great literature, but it is a well craft, entertaining and lively medieval whodunnit of the best sort. I’m off to start book 3.

Cracking 2nd Installment

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I enjoyed the characters who were engaging and realistic and the performance by Matt Addis was excellent. The story was interesting enough but slow to start.

It took me a while to realise that this clearly isn't the first Bradecote and Catchpoll story (it's the second in the series) and (because I'm maybe a bit weird about reading things in the correct order) that irritated me because there are several references to the first book throughout.

I definitely want to hear more of these two however so hope that Audible will be getting the first and third books.

Not the first book in the series

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Another great book from Sarah Hawkswood, read brilliantly by Matt Addis. The narration is so good, I can actually see it like a film running through my head. The sounds and smells are almost real (though thankfully not real enough), I heartily recommend both author and narrator.

Another great book

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