Hostage to Fortune

'Ms Hawkswood clearly knows her stuff, both as a historian and a crafter of mysteries' Historical Novel Society

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.

Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters, Bernard Knight and Paul Doherty.

Readers love Sarah Hawkswood:

'Another wonderful book full of light and shades, mystery and humour. It propels you to a different period and is life enhancing.'

'Suspenseful and thrilling novel that captivates the reader from start to finish.'

'Can't seem to fault these Bradecote and Catchpole books. They just keep on getting better and better.'

'A well-written, entertaining and well-plotted historical mystery, with its array of varied and likeable characters.'

Hawkswood's medieval world gets richer with each instalment, but you can start with any book in the series