I am a fan of Sarah Hawkswood's books! This novel has everything I want in a novel: a good intricate, complex plot perfectly illustrating the historical side , well drawn characters (I really like the team of investigators!) and a fabulous way of describing the areas and customs.
I enjoyed the dialect sometimes spoken, it makes the dialogues more vivid. A lot of suspense on many levels makes the reading even more interesting. I particularly enjoyed the pace of the investigation: faithful to a time when you did not information as fast as nowadays. This was very well conveyed. A great read!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

The Bradecote and Catchpoll mysteries (and they've been joined at this point by Walkelin, even if he isn't getting title recognition yet) are a favorite of mine. The series is set in 12th Century Worcestershire during the civil war between Maud and Stephen—the same time period in which Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries are set. Bradcote is a very minor lord who serves upon demand as an undersheriff; Catchpoll is a sergeant who works with Bradecote; Walkelin is an undersargeant who entered the series several volumes ago as an apprentice to Catchpoll.

This is a series in which I would recommend reading the first volume first. That's the volume in which Bradecote and Catchpoll meet and gradually learn to respect and trust one another. Seeing the beginning of the relationship gives a sense of how far their partnership has come since then. The plotting has grown in complexity—and this has added to my enjoyment of the series. Originally, I read it primarily for the characters. Now character and plot both grab my attention.

In this volume, the trio are called to investigate the murder of a Knight Templar—and there are questions from the start. Where is his horse? Why does he have no defensive wounds? From there the story grows increasingly twisted, involving two families who have suffered immense losses and whose underlying values vary widely from individual to individual. The boys who find the corpse believe they've been chased by the the Raven's Wife—a legendary and menacing local figure—as they flee the scene. The deaths continue, though it's not clear if they're related.

If you enjoy historical mysteries this is a series you'll want to check out—and once you've done that, you'll almost certainly want to spend more time with Bradecote, Catchpoll, and Walkelin.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that medieval mystery element that I was looking for from the description and enjoyed the overall concept. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed figuring out what was happening and how the story was told. The characters worked well in this universe and was glad everything worked with them. Sarah Hawkswood has a strong writing style and enjoyed getting into this world.

Feast for the Ravens is a richly atmospheric medieval mystery that draws you deep into the tangled woods of 12th-century Worcestershire, where folklore and justice collide. Sarah Hawkswood’s storytelling is as sharp as a raven’s cry—precise, evocative, and quietly compelling.

When a Templar knight is found dead in the Forest of Wyre, clutching a bloodstained document and surrounded by whispers of the mythical Raven Woman, Undersheriff Hugh Bradecote and his loyal companions must sift through superstition, secrets, and long-buried sins. The pacing is deliberate, the dialogue crisp, and the setting beautifully rendered—every moss-covered stone and shadowed glade feels steeped in history.

What I especially admired was the interplay between legend and logic. Hawkswood doesn’t lean too heavily on the supernatural, but lets it haunt the margins, adding a delicious tension. The trio of investigators—Bradecote, Catchpoll, and Walkelin—bring a grounded humanity to the tale, each with their own quiet strengths and flaws.

Perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries with a historical backbone and a touch of folklore. It’s not flashy, but it lingers—like the echo of wings in the trees.

With thanks to Sarah Hawkswood, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.