Bradecote & Catchpoll
13 total works
Bradecote and Catchpoll face a frantic race against time in an unforgiving winter landscape
January 1144. Hugh Bradecote does not want his betrothed travelling on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Edgyth at Polesworth, but the Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy and his entourage of monks seem perfect as Christina's escorts, until they are captured by a renegade who kills for pleasure.
Against a backdrop of a hard winter and a frozen River Severn, Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll are struggling to rescue Christina before a psychopath does his worst and Bradecote cracks under the pressure.
January 1144. Hugh Bradecote does not want his betrothed travelling on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Edgyth at Polesworth, but the Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy and his entourage of monks seem perfect as Christina's escorts, until they are captured by a renegade who kills for pleasure.
Against a backdrop of a hard winter and a frozen River Severn, Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll are struggling to rescue Christina before a psychopath does his worst and Bradecote cracks under the pressure.
A fast-paced and suspenseful medieaval mystery
April, 1144. A body is found floating by Fladbury mill, a man who has been stabbed but not robbed. Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and their young apprentice Walkelin discover him to be a horse dealer with a beautiful young wife who strays. Did the wife or a lover get rid of him? What link is there to a defrocked monk who was hanged for theft, and where is the horse dealer's steed?
The trio must unravel the thread that ties together seemingly disparate deaths before even more people die.
April, 1144. A body is found floating by Fladbury mill, a man who has been stabbed but not robbed. Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and their young apprentice Walkelin discover him to be a horse dealer with a beautiful young wife who strays. Did the wife or a lover get rid of him? What link is there to a defrocked monk who was hanged for theft, and where is the horse dealer's steed?
The trio must unravel the thread that ties together seemingly disparate deaths before even more people die.
The first Bradecote & Catchpoll medieaval mystery
June, 1143. The much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar like a penitent. A despicable man he may have been, but who had reason to kill him?
As the walls of the Abbey close in on the suspects, Serjeant Catchpoll and his new, unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote must find the answer before the killer strikes again ...
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS THE LORD BISHOP'S CLERK
June, 1143. The much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar like a penitent. A despicable man he may have been, but who had reason to kill him?
As the walls of the Abbey close in on the suspects, Serjeant Catchpoll and his new, unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote must find the answer before the killer strikes again ...
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS THE LORD BISHOP'S CLERK
September 1143. Sergeant Catchpoll hopes a fire at a Worcester silversmith's is just an accident, but when there is a second fire, and a charred corpse is discovered, he has no choice but to call in the undersheriff, Hugh Bradecote, to help find the culprit. With further fires, a hooded figure stalking the streets, and a possible murder that has gone undiscovered for some months, the duo have to work together to avoid getting more than their fingers burnt in this puzzling investigation.
October 1143. A mysterious archer who kills cleanly and 'dissolves' into the forest, a missing train of pack mules on the salt road from Wich, and a lord in the wrong place at the wrong time, mean a crime the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire cannot ignore. Bradecote, Catchpoll, and the eager Walkelin, are hunting a killer and a gang, and whoever is giving them orders. They are not helped by a reeve keen to keep his position, a lord with his own ends to serve, and a distrusting and vengeful widow with a haunted past, to whom Bradecote is increasingly attracted.
The brutal murder of a woman with a past is a thorny investigation for Bradecote and Catchpoll
July, 1144. The body of a woman is found butchered on an island a few miles upriver from Worcester - how did she get there, who killed her, and why? Uncovering the details of Ricolde's life and her past reveal a woman with hidden depths and hidden miseries which are fundamental to the answers, but time has cast a thick veil over the killer's identity.
The lord sheriff 's men have a trail that went cold over two decades ago, and evidence that contradicts itself. Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll will need all their wits to solve this mystery.
July, 1144. The body of a woman is found butchered on an island a few miles upriver from Worcester - how did she get there, who killed her, and why? Uncovering the details of Ricolde's life and her past reveal a woman with hidden depths and hidden miseries which are fundamental to the answers, but time has cast a thick veil over the killer's identity.
The lord sheriff 's men have a trail that went cold over two decades ago, and evidence that contradicts itself. Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll will need all their wits to solve this mystery.
Bradecote and Catchpoll discover that sometimes the difference between the law and justice is a great one.
June, 1144. The naked corpse of an unknown man is discovered near Worcester, while the Prince of Powys's messenger has gone missing. Making the connection, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and young apprentice Walkelin head to Wales to discover his identity. But did the dead man deserve a noose rather than a dagger?
Retracing the dead man's steps leads the trio to a manor with a difficult lord, a neglected wife, a bitter mother and a fevered brother, none of whom want the truth exposed.
June, 1144. The naked corpse of an unknown man is discovered near Worcester, while the Prince of Powys's messenger has gone missing. Making the connection, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and young apprentice Walkelin head to Wales to discover his identity. But did the dead man deserve a noose rather than a dagger?
Retracing the dead man's steps leads the trio to a manor with a difficult lord, a neglected wife, a bitter mother and a fevered brother, none of whom want the truth exposed.
When an irascible lord is found murdered, undersheriff Bradecote and serjeant Catchpoll are summoned to investigate.
August 1144. Osbern de Lench is known far and wide as a hard master, whose temper is perpetually frayed. After his daily ride to survey his land, his horse returns to the hall riderless, and the lifeless body of the lord is found soon after. Was it the work of thieves, or something closer to home?
With an heir who is cast in the same hot-tempered mould, sworn enemies for neighbours and something amiss in the relationship between Osbern and his wife, undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, the wily Serjeant Catchpoll and his apprentice Walkelin have suspects aplenty.
August 1144. Osbern de Lench is known far and wide as a hard master, whose temper is perpetually frayed. After his daily ride to survey his land, his horse returns to the hall riderless, and the lifeless body of the lord is found soon after. Was it the work of thieves, or something closer to home?
With an heir who is cast in the same hot-tempered mould, sworn enemies for neighbours and something amiss in the relationship between Osbern and his wife, undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, the wily Serjeant Catchpoll and his apprentice Walkelin have suspects aplenty.
The vicious death of a man at the teeth of a wild animal does not add up for Bradecote and Catchpoll.
All Hallows' Eve, 1144. The savaged body of Durand Wuduweard, the solitary and unpopular keeper of the King's Forest of Feckenham, is discovered beside his hearth, his corpse rendered barely identifiable by sharp teeth.
Whispers of a wolf on the prowl grow louder and Sheriff William de Beauchamp's men, Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and young Walkelin, are tasked with cutting through the clamour. They must uncover who killed Durand and why, while beset by superstitious villagers, raids upon manors and further grim deaths. Out of the shadows of the forest, where will the wolf 's fangs strike next?
All Hallows' Eve, 1144. The savaged body of Durand Wuduweard, the solitary and unpopular keeper of the King's Forest of Feckenham, is discovered beside his hearth, his corpse rendered barely identifiable by sharp teeth.
Whispers of a wolf on the prowl grow louder and Sheriff William de Beauchamp's men, Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and young Walkelin, are tasked with cutting through the clamour. They must uncover who killed Durand and why, while beset by superstitious villagers, raids upon manors and further grim deaths. Out of the shadows of the forest, where will the wolf 's fangs strike next?
Worcester, January 1145. Poison strikes down bow maker Godfrey Bowyer and his wife Blanche after their evening meal. While she survives, he dies an agonising death. Few could have administered the poison, which should mean a very short investigation for the Sheriff's men, Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin. But perhaps someone was pulling the strings, and that widens the net considerably.
With an unpopular victim, the suspects are many and varied.
With an unpopular victim, the suspects are many and varied.
'A new Bradecote and Catchpoll (and Walkelin) medieval mystery is always a true delight, and Too Good To Hang is a fabulous addition to the series ... An absolute joy.' - M. J. PORTER
April, 1145. Thorgar the Ploughman is found by the bloodied body of Father Edmund, a village priest in Ripple, and is summarily hanged for being caught at the scene of the crime, despite his pleas of innocence.
When his sister goes to Worcester to seek justice for Thorgar, the lord Sheriff sends Hugh Bradecote, with Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin, to discover the truth. They soon expose strong motives for placing the blame on the ploughman's shoulders, some unpleasant secrets festering among the villagers, and the whisper of a treasure long lost and now rediscovered.
The noose casts a long shadow, but the Sheriff's men will need to plumb the darkness to uncover the true killer.
April, 1145. Thorgar the Ploughman is found by the bloodied body of Father Edmund, a village priest in Ripple, and is summarily hanged for being caught at the scene of the crime, despite his pleas of innocence.
When his sister goes to Worcester to seek justice for Thorgar, the lord Sheriff sends Hugh Bradecote, with Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin, to discover the truth. They soon expose strong motives for placing the blame on the ploughman's shoulders, some unpleasant secrets festering among the villagers, and the whisper of a treasure long lost and now rediscovered.
The noose casts a long shadow, but the Sheriff's men will need to plumb the darkness to uncover the true killer.
'A new Bradecote and Catchpoll (and Wakelin) medieval mystery is always a true delight ... An absolute joy'
M. J. PORTER
1140s Worcestershire is a place death visits often, and it is up to Serjeant Catchpoll and his new, unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice.
In Servant of Death, the much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar like a penitent. A despicable man he may have been, but who had reason to kill him?
In book 2, Ordeal by Fire, Catchpoll hopes a fire at a Worcester silversmith's is just an accident, but then a charred corpse is discovered following a second fire. Hugh Bradecote may be new to the job of Undersheriff compared to his wily colleague, but his analytical eye is soon hard at work to find a vengeful arsonist.
In Marked to Die, the third instalment in the series, the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire cannot ignore brazen attacks on the salt road from Wich, so Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll have an elusive master archer in their sights.
In book 4, Hostage to Fortune, the sleuths face a frantic race against time in an unforgiving winter landscape. The Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy, his entourage of monks and Bradecote's betrothed Christina are travelling on a pilgrimage when they are captured by a renegade who kills for pleasure. Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll must orchestrate a rescue before a psychopath does his worst and Bradecote cracks under the pressure.
The fast-paced and suspenseful medieaval mystery series continues in Vale of Tears. A body is found floating by Fladbury mill, a man who has been stabbed but not robbed. Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and their young apprentice Walkelin discover him to be a horse dealer with a beautiful young wife who strays. Did the wife or a lover get rid of him? What link is there to a defrocked monk who was hanged for theft, and where is the horse dealer's steed?
'If you've come across the series before, you don't need me to tell you that this latest is worth reading; and if you haven't, then there are earlier treats in store as well as this!' Historical Novels Review
M. J. PORTER
1140s Worcestershire is a place death visits often, and it is up to Serjeant Catchpoll and his new, unwanted superior, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice.
In Servant of Death, the much-feared and hated Eudo - the Lord Bishop of Winchester's clerk - is bludgeoned to death in Pershore Abbey and laid before the altar like a penitent. A despicable man he may have been, but who had reason to kill him?
In book 2, Ordeal by Fire, Catchpoll hopes a fire at a Worcester silversmith's is just an accident, but then a charred corpse is discovered following a second fire. Hugh Bradecote may be new to the job of Undersheriff compared to his wily colleague, but his analytical eye is soon hard at work to find a vengeful arsonist.
In Marked to Die, the third instalment in the series, the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire cannot ignore brazen attacks on the salt road from Wich, so Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll have an elusive master archer in their sights.
In book 4, Hostage to Fortune, the sleuths face a frantic race against time in an unforgiving winter landscape. The Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy, his entourage of monks and Bradecote's betrothed Christina are travelling on a pilgrimage when they are captured by a renegade who kills for pleasure. Undersheriff Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll must orchestrate a rescue before a psychopath does his worst and Bradecote cracks under the pressure.
The fast-paced and suspenseful medieaval mystery series continues in Vale of Tears. A body is found floating by Fladbury mill, a man who has been stabbed but not robbed. Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and their young apprentice Walkelin discover him to be a horse dealer with a beautiful young wife who strays. Did the wife or a lover get rid of him? What link is there to a defrocked monk who was hanged for theft, and where is the horse dealer's steed?
'If you've come across the series before, you don't need me to tell you that this latest is worth reading; and if you haven't, then there are earlier treats in store as well as this!' Historical Novels Review
Midsummer, 1145. Walter, the steward of Evesham Abbey, is found dead at the bottom of a well pit. The Abbot, whose relationship with the lord Sheriff of Worcestershire is strained at best, dislikes needing to call in help. However, as the death appears to have not been an accident, he grudgingly receives Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin.
The trio know to step carefully with the contentious undercurrents at play. As the sheriff 's men investigate the steward's death, they discover that truth is in short supply. With the tensions between the Abbey and the local castle guard reaching boiling point, another killing will force the investigation down a dangerous path.
The trio know to step carefully with the contentious undercurrents at play. As the sheriff 's men investigate the steward's death, they discover that truth is in short supply. With the tensions between the Abbey and the local castle guard reaching boiling point, another killing will force the investigation down a dangerous path.