‘Feast For The Ravens’ by Sarah Hawkswood

Published by Allison & Busby,
18 September 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-74903258-6 (PB)

It is September 1145, and two young boys are hunting for nuts in the Forest of Wyre in Worcestershire, when the bountiful crop tempts them to go further into the woodland than their mother would allow. The children of the area have all been warned to stay out of the forest for fear that the Hrafn Wif, the Raven Woman, would get them. The Raven Woman is a mysterious woman who lives in the forest, whom the villagers regard with superstitious dread. In the clearing, the children discover the body of a dead man, who wears the uniform of a Templar Knight, his face is unrecognisable because his eyes have been pecked out by ravens. As the boys flee in terror, they glimpse the Raven Woman herself.  

The men of the village carry the body back to the church, where it is undressed and cleaned and laid out with due deference. In the process it is discovered that the man was murdered, by a single thrust of a blade, that must have been delivered by someone who could get close to him, despite the fact that he was carrying his sword. Under his clothing they discover a message, written in Latin, and the parish priest can understand enough of the meaning to know it may indicate a change of allegiance and betrayal of King Stephen. At this time, civil war is still raging in England between Stephen, the late king’s nephew, and the Empress Maud, the late king’s daughter; Stephen has been crowned king, but the ultimate fate of the kingdom is still in contention.  

Even without the possibility of treachery, the killing of a Norman knight, who was a member of such an eminent and powerful religious order requires investigation by the sheriff of the county and, as the lord of the manor is away from home, his steward sends a man with a message to Worcester to inform the sheriff, William de Beauchamp. The sheriff is not available, but Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote sets off immediately, accompanied by Serjeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin. Despite the facial mutilation, the dead man is identified as Ivo de Mitton, a man who had vanished from the area after committing an unforgivable crime, which had resulted in the destruction of most of his family. When he left, Ivo had been accompanied by an illegitimate kinsman, Eustace fitzRobert, whom everyone describes as an evil influence, but it is unknown whether he was still in Ivo’s company so many years later. The motive behind the murder is complicated by the potentially treacherous message pinned to the corpse, and as Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin attempt to solve the murder, they have to tread the dangerous path between powerful nobles who are all determined to protect their own interests, while avoiding even the suspicion of misconduct and treachery. Because Bradecote and his assistants are decent men, they also wish to safeguard the rights of the common people, who are terrified that they may suffer for the actions of the unknown killer. Even if the villagers are not responsible for the man’s death, Bradecote and his helpers have to prove, within a few days, that another Norman had committed the crime, otherwise the villagers will have to pay the murdrum fine, which was the fine levied by the Normans on an Anglo-Saxon community if a Norman was murdered, because it was assumed the killer must come from the community that the Normans were subjugating. Despite the best efforts of Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin, the violence escalates and more deaths occur, until they discover the truth, and, at the same time, the identity and tragic history of the Raven Woman becomes clear.

Feast for the Ravens is the thirteenth mystery in the series featuring Bradecote and Catchpoll. The plot is complex, exploring not only the investigation of the murder but also the violence and confusion of the civil war, with all its treachery and double standards. The central protagonists are engaging and their characters and relationships have developed well. Catchpoll can now acknowledge that they work well together as a team, despite his initial resentment when Bradecote was appointed as Undersheriff, that he was inclined to take too active a role in investigating crimes, which Catchpoll had always considered his prerogative. This is an interesting novel, which explores a politically difficult period in English history. It is an intriguing read.
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Reviewer:  Carol Westron

Sarah Hawkswood read Modern History at Oxford University and specialised in Military History and Theory of War. She turned from writing military history to mediaeval murder mysteries set in the turmoil of The Anarchy in the mid 12thC, all set in Worcestershire, where she now lives. The Bradecote & Catchpoll series began with Servant of Death (previously published as The Lord Bishop's Clerk) set in Pershore Abbey. The second, Ordeal by Fire, is set in Worcester itself, and there are already another five written. Writing is intrinsic to who she is, and she claims she gets 'grumpy' when there is not another manuscript on the go. Her aim is to create a 'world', one in which the reader can become immersed, and with an accurate historical context, not 'dressing up'. Sarah Hawkswood is a pen name.  

Carol Westron is a Golden Age expert who has written many articles on the subject and given papers at several conferences. She is the author of several series: contemporary detective stories and police procedurals, comedy crime and Victorian Murder Mysteries. Her most recent publications are Paddling in the Dead Sea and Delivering Lazarus, books 2 and 3 of the Galmouth Mysteries, the series which began with
The Fragility of Poppies. 

www.carolwestron.com