About the Book
December, 1145. Hamelin Isenmongere, a trader in iron and charcoal, is considered by many to be the most popular man in Worcester. Why then is he found on the quayside near his warehouse with his head beaten in?
As winter bites, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin are on the trail of a killer. However, they must tread cautiously when the trail of evidence leads them back to Worcester Castle itself where William de Beauchamp is more concerned that they seek out a spy within its walls. It is up to the Sheriff’s men to discover whether the murder was an act of betrayal by someone close to home, or one that casts a shadow over the fight for England’s crown.
Format: Paperback (288 pages) Publisher: Allison & Busby
Publication date: 20th August 2026 Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
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My Review
A Shroud of Snow is the fourteenth book in the author’s Bradecote and Catchpoll mystery series set in 12th century Worcester. I only discovered the series when I read River of Sins, the seventh book, back in 2020. I then read and reviewed the next three books – Blood Runs Thicker, Wolf at the Door and A Taste for Killing – but for some reason it fell off my radar after that until the lovely people at Allison & Busby contacted me about this one. (I’m sure I’ll fill in the gaps at some point.)
It was a delight to be back in medieval Worcester with Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin, the latter soon to become a father, a prospect he is viewing with trepidation. The three of them make a good team, each with different skills. Wakelin is observant, intuitive and is able to mingle with the city’s residents, servants and traders. Catchpoll has a deserved reputation for knowing everyone and everything, something he uses to good effect. Only a fool would try to cross him, although that doesn’t stop a few trying. Meanwhile Bradcote’s rank invites respect and often opens doors that would otherwise be closed, unless they’re ones belonging to Simon Furneaux, Castellan of Worcester Castle, the only thing they share being a dislike of the other.
What I enjoy about the books is the way they transport you to 12th century Worcester, with its narrow streets, tiny houses, workshops, wharves and riverside warehouses, all presided over by Worcester Castle. The dialogue gives a sense of the local dialect, although Bradecote being a lord of the manor speaks Norman French to his peers – what the locals refer to as ‘Foreign’. The ability to converse in Norman becomes relevant to the case, as does the ability to read and write because even the Lord Sheriff William de Beauchamp, Bradecote’s irascible boss, relies on scribes to commit his commands to paper, or rather vellum.
What starts off looking like two separate cases – the murder of Hamelin Isenmongere and a possible traitor in the Castle – gradually begins to throw up connections. But are they just coincidences? As Catchpoll observes at one point, ‘Our problem be that we is like ‘ounds in the forest, followin’ a deer, and a second crosses its tracks to and fro and its scent keeps distractin’ us from the first ‘un.’ As the investigation progresses it becomes apparent the Sheriff’s men are on the trail of not just a ruthless killer but a cunning and truly evil individual.
A Shroud of Snow is a really enjoyable historical crime mystery with plenty of twists and turns, revealing both the best and worst of human nature. You can find more about the historical background to the books on Sarah’s website.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Allison & Busby.
In three words: Entertaining, intriguing, atmospheric
Try something similar: The King’s Justice by E. M. Powell
About the Author
Sarah Hawkswood describes herself as a ‘wordsmith’ who is only really happy when writing. She read Modern History at Oxford and first published a non-fiction book on the Royal Marines in the First World War before moving on to medieval mysteries set in Worcestershire.
Connect with Sarah
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