Ordeal by Fire

Bradecote and Catchpoll

By: Sarah Hawkswood

Narrated by: Matt Addis

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

Much more enjoyable

I enjoyed and much more connected and it flowed nicely for me. Will definitely read more in the series

I’m getting more and more pleasure out of this series!

The two main characters (who seem to be adding a third) could be called an “odd couple” despite their differences between the characters of Neil Simon’s play. Combining a knight with a lower class sergeant brings not only humor to these books, but gives us much more insight into their social dynamics. They and their environments are portrayed very accurately in my opinion. I very much appreciate hearing the Saxon names that were still in use one generation after the Norman Invasion. All of the characters in this book are fully fleshed out - not just the protagonists. Hawkswood also spins a mystery that most people will not fully expect when they read the solution. Not only that, she includes a “side” plot concerning a death that everyone had taken for granted as natural. There are so many other good points to what she writes concerning the culture of the time. I was especially gratified that women’s gossip helped when they solved both crimes. People don’t understand the social value that gossip had in those pre-Industrial days.

PS As a Jew, I’m happy to see a Jewish man and his family accurately portrayed.

better than book 1

I had rated book 1 as having no humor and very little excitement. perhaps that is because it was the first in the series and had to establish the characters. Whatever the reason, this book has humor and a good mystery. There was still not a great deal of excitement although more than the first. But I believe I am going to like this series as it progresses.

Highly enjoyable writing and narration

I had read/listened to the first book in the series, which I enjoyed. I like this second book in the series even more. There us a little more humor and banter between the main characters as they become more familiar with each other, and we to them. The dialog is especially well written.
Matt Addis does an excellent job narrating, portraying the voices and personalities of the various characters so that the listener is fully drawn into the story. I highly recommend this series so far, and I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Not engaging

The book was slow and not very engaging, but I stuck it out through chapter six, then had better things to do.