# Bradecote & Catchpoll — Sarah Hawkswood

> Sarah Hawkswood's Bradecote & Catchpoll series: fourteen mediaeval murder mysteries set in Worcestershire during the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign, June 1143 to December 1145, following undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, Serjeant Catchpoll, and Underserjeant Walkelin. Published in paperback, ebook and audiobook by Allison & Busby since 2016.

Sarah Hawkswood read Modern History at Oxford and previously published a factual work on the Royal Marines in the First World War, From Trench and Turret (2006). The Bradecote & Catchpoll series are her first novels. She is a member of the Crime Writers' Association, the Historical Writers' Association, and the Historical Novel Society.

## Author

- [About the author](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/author/): Biography of Sarah Hawkswood.
- [Meet the Author videos](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/author/videos/): Short videos on writing mediaeval novels.

## Novels

- [Full list of novels with synopses](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/novels/): All fourteen Bradecote & Catchpoll novels, in chronological order: Servant of Death, Ordeal by Fire, Marked to Die, Hostage to Fortune, Vale of Tears, Faithful unto Death, River of Sins, Blood Runs Thicker, Wolf at the Door, A Taste for Killing, Too Good to Hang, Litany of Lies, Feast for the Ravens, A Shroud of Snow.
- [Extract: Servant of Death](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/extracts/servant-of-death/)
- [Extract: Ordeal by Fire](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/extracts/ordeal-by-fire/)

## Reviews

- [Independent reviews](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/reviews/): Quoted reviews from outlets including the Historical Novel Society, Crime Review and Mystery People, covering the first six novels.

## Audio Books

- [Audiobooks](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/audiobooks/): Unabridged audiobooks narrated by Matt Addis, available via Isis Audiobooks and Audible.

## Background

- [Background overview](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/)
- [Appeal of the Historical Murder Mystery](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/appeal-of-historical-murder-mystery/)
- [12th century church wall painting](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/doom-wall-painting/)
- [Thick as thief-catchers](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/thick-as-thief-catchers/): On the relationship between the author and her fictional detectives.
- [Hugh Bradecote](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/hugh-bradecote/): About the fictional undersheriff.
- [Serjeant Catchpoll](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/serjeant-catchpoll/): About the fictional serjeant.
- [Placename spelling](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/placename-spelling/): Mediaeval vs. modern spelling in the novels.
- [The Language](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/the-language/): Early mediaeval spoken English.
- [Pershore Abbey buildings](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/pershore-abbey/)
- [Plan of Pershore Abbey](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/pershore-abbey-plan/)
- [St Eadburga](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/st-eadburga/): Anglo-Saxon saint associated with Pershore.
- [Obedientaries](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/obedientaries/): 12th-century Benedictine monastic offices.
- [Plan of mediaeval Worcester](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/background/worcester-plan/)

## News

- [Latest news](https://www.bradecoteandcatchpoll.com/news/): Publication announcements and audiobook releases, newest first.