jacey | Booklog 24/26: Sarah Hawkswood: Marked to Die – Bradecote and Catchpoll #3

Audiobook narrated by Matt Addis.

October 1143. Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll along with apprentice Walkeling are sent by the Lord Sheriff of Worcestershire to investigate theft of salt wagons on the road from Wich (now Droitwich) , and the murder of all the packmen. A mysterious archer leaves no one alive, his deadly aim making sure that there are no witnesses. Unfortunately Lord FitzPayne is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is also killed, his (distinctive) horse and good quality sword stolen. Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin are based at FitzPayne's hall where his angry and vengeful widow, Christina, is recovering from losing the child she was carrying. The clues are scant. The mysterious archer makes his kills and melts back into the forest. There are rumours that he's a ghost. The investigation is hindered by FitzPayne's cousin who has designs on Christina and the manor, and by the reeve of Wich who is worrird about losing his place. The is was Christina's second marriage - her first having been truly horrendous, and though she didn't love FitzPayne she liked him. Bradecote, hinself recenently widowed and left with a baby boy, is drswn to Christina and a love story develops alongside the whodunnit. Eventually, thanks to Christina, there's a breakthrough and all is resolved. Matt Addis is an excellent narratore for this series. He's unobtrusive, letting the story stand forward of the narrative, yest at the same time he voiced the characters well, especially the Worcestershire voices. I like this series a lot, though I confess to reading them out of order as they become available.