Sarah's Reviews > River of Sins

What a wonderful discovery River of Sins was! I hadn't previously come across Sarah Hawkswood's Bradecote and Catchpoll series, but now intend catching up on the earlier instalments. That said, if River of Sins is any indication, the books would read well as standalones in any case.
As a big fan of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, which are set within the same tumultuous decade (the 1140's and 50's) and only a few miles further up the Severn at Shrewsbury, I was immediately intrigued by Sarah Hawkswood's more recent series of medieval mysteries. And I was impressed!
Hugh Bradecote, Lord Undersheriff of Worcester, Serjeant Catchpoll and Serjeant's Apprentice Walkelin are alerted to the discovery of a violently murdered woman on Bevere island, about 5 miles upriver from Worcester.

An aerial view of Bevere Island as it appears today
Although the remains are badly disfigured, the men quickly identify the deceased as Ricolde, widely regarded as "the finest whore in Worcester". She was no common street prostitute however, but an astute businesswoman, who built independent wealth, could choose her clients and contributed generously, albeit discretely, to charitable causes in her local parish.
The three protagonists energetically investigate the crime within the walled city of Worcester and in the surrounding area, uncovering plenty of scorn and disapproval for the murdered woman, but also many who held great respect and affection for her. Violent marriages, crooked businessmen and the deceased's own murky personal history throw up plenty of suspects, but this proves a very perplexing case indeed. The stakes are further raised when a second prostitute is found murdered in an alleyway within the town.

This map dates from over three centuries later, but depicts a Worcester not too dissimilar to that policed by Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin
I found the plot of River of Sins engrossing, with its deft intertwining of a police procedural with immersive historical detail. While, unlike the author, I'm no qualified historian, I have always had an interest in the medieval period, and reading River of Sins prompted me to go down a rabbit hole of Google images and maps of historical Worcester. I also found the material contained within the author's own website related to the series fascinating.
The character development is also solid, particularly of the central trio and the victim. I'm conscious that I'm missing a lot of backstory around the developing rapport between Bradecote and Catchpoll, given I haven't yet read the earlier novels.

"A year working together had changed antipathy and resentment, through grudging respect, to a relationship where each knew the strengths, and weaknesses, of the other, and both knew they made a team." (loc.2445/3422)

There's a varied cast of supporting characters and suspects, some inevitably more three-dimensional than others. I was impressed by the way the author portrayed the (main) victim with such sensitivity, in light of her profession. Right up to modern times, sex workers are frequently not accorded the respect they deserve when the victims of crime, either in real life or fiction. Hawkswood explores many intriguing themes around social mobility, the role of women in the family and in society, and the importance of family networks in medieval times.
An entertaining and stimulating read. Highly recommended to those who enjoy well-crafted mysteries, well-researched historical fiction or (like me) both! Trigger warnings for domestic violence and references to child sexual abuse.
My thanks to the author, Sarah Hawkswood, publisher Allison & Busby and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title in advance of its publication on 19 November 2020.