Review: Feast for the Ravens by Sarah Hawkswood

Synopsis: Worcestershire, September 1145. A Templar knight is found dead in the Forest of Wyre, clutching a bloodstained document naming a traitor. Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll, and Underserjeant Walkelin must uncover whether the killing was personal, political, or the work of outlaws. They are surprised to find that the locals believe the killer to be the Raven Woman, a mythical shape-shifter said to haunt the woods. Then the knight is identified as Ivo de Mitton, who fled the shire many years ago, presumed guilty of the foul murder of his kin.

As the trio dig through legend and lies, they must determine the truth and bring a cunning killer to justice.

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This is book thirteen in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series, again, with the setting for this latest in firmly during the time of The Anarchy, and the city of Worcestor in 1145.

Bradecote, Undersherrif of Worcester, along with his serjeant, Catchpoll and underserjeant, Walkelin, are sent to investigate the murder of a Knight Templar, amid rumour and susperstition that he was killed by the Raven Women - "hrafm wif".

The murder has its roots in the past - and our trio must untangle these in order to solve the mystery set firmly in their present. Hawkswood again brings the themes of legend and logic, past and present, norman and saxon, into the narrative to deftly weave an entrancing narrative - or rather ".. knots within knots within knots ...".

Highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series as this will provide a much easier introduction into the characters, the setting, the history, though there is enough within this tome to let the reader get the feel for what has transpired before if they are jumping straight into this one.

See my review of book seven: Wolf at the Door