Ordeal by Fire (Bradecote & Catchpoll 2) - Sarah Hawkswood

… possibly the most easy to read historical mystery of the year.  Whether it’s action, reflection, deep personal feelings, description or even repeated gossip, her elegant and carefully chosen prose keep you glued to the page.  She creates a medieval world of her own – and drags the reader deeply into it…  This is as much a tale of personalities, relationships and ambitions as it is of murder and Hawkswood’s ability to bring even her most minor characters to vivid and realistic life gives it a must-read quality.  It will be interesting to see how these characters develop through the series.

If you like Ellis Peter’s excellent Cadfael books, you’re sure to enjoy this.  The research and writing is first class, but what I feel truly gives it an edge is the dynamic between Bradecote and Catchpoll, readers will really take to them.

The author’s detailed research is obvious without ever overwhelming the narrative, and the details of everyday life in medieval Worcester provide fascinating background and the hint of many future outings for the duo.