Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Caught Red-Handed by Denise Domning Narrator: Gildart Jackson
Published by Tantor Audio on December 8, 2020
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Length: 8 hours, 5 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Libro.fm
THE DEAD WALK!
It’s the time of year when the immortal army of the ancient king rides Watling Street and the dead become uneasy in their graves. Indeed, in the far north of Warwickshire, the villagers insist that one dead man returned to kill his only son. Now it’s up to Sir Faucon de Ramis, the shire’s new Crowner, to run the walking corpse to ground and put him back where he belongs.
Servant of the Crown Mystery series is one I discovered last year and also discovered a new narrator to add to my favorites list at the same time. I binged on the four earlier installments and then tried to be patient for the long wait until this one. But Caught Red-Handed is here and I dove in and listened all in one setting. Imagine my delight to see the fun spooky twist the author wove into her medieval-era murder mystery.
Sir Faucon is settling into his royally-appointed task as Keeper of the Pleas or King’s Coronarius for Warwickshire while watching his back because the sheriff of the shire wants him dead since the truth Faucon knows after a certain murder investigation is a danger to the man. Not to mention the fact that Faucon’s new duties remove investigating murders and levying fines from the sheriff and thus depriving him of charging extra fines or bribe money to look the other way.
Sir Faucon is assisted by a sharp-tongued and bookishly clever Benedictine monk, Brother Edmund, his man at arms, Alf, and, of recent date, his own older brother in a shaky new peace between them.
They are about to stay at a Cisternian Monastery overnight on their way to perform a task in the area when a common villager and the village priest from a place to the north beg help to prevent a sacrilege. The villager, Wattard, says his step-son was killed that morning by his deceased father. A father, who has been a member of the walking dead for several years, but has become more active of late. While Faucon is digesting the news that a corpse is animated and ambling around a village, the father pleas with the abbot to protect the body of his step-son from getting chopped up for fear it will also walk.
Faucon’s hunter instincts rise and he suspects this is a task that falls into his bailiwick more than the abbot’s and goes hunting murder and shambling corpses even while Brother Edmund beguiles him with tales of the Wild Hunt who charge down Watling Street not far off and Harlequin and his wicked army of the dead.
Yep, Medieval Zombies! I chuckled with glee when Faucon had to investigate that one. I was also thrilled that the ongoing series thread about the serial killer of little girls was come to a tension-filled head in this one.
What I’ve always enjoyed about these is the attention to the historical setting, to the developing of the characters and their personal backgrounds, and to the clever mysteries. I enjoy the camaraderie Faucon shares with his group as they all work together to solve the crimes. This one was easier than most to work out, but it was still entertaining and exciting.
In the end, Faucon figures out the truth and things are left at a good place to start a new series arc. I am left looking forward to the next installment. Those who enjoy the medieval era and love a good murder mystery should definitely pick these up and definitely read them in order.
Narration:
What more can I say than Gildart Jackson brings these books to vibrant life and makes me see the characters, their expressions, and their medieval world. His narration was what made a good series so much better and I doubt I could read the books without hearing him voice the characters. I must listen to more of his work.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Gildart Jackson
With acting credits that span stage and screen, Gildart Jackson is most often recognized for his role as Gideon on Charmed. Other notable TV roles include Jackson Palmer on Providence and Simon Prentiss on General Hospital, as well as guest appearances on Stargate: Atlantis, Las Vegas, and CSI. Theater roles include Trigorin in The Seagull, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Adrian in Private Eyes at the Old Globe.
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As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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You always find the most fascinating stuff I’ve never heard of before. And a favorite narrator also.
Hehe, I do love a good book surprise. In truth, you indirectly influenced me finding this series. You were hosting your first readalong and I caught the enthusiasm from several for the narrator so when I saw a medieval mystery that looked good being offered for review and this narrator everyone was raving about, I gave it a try. 🙂
This sounds like something that I would like. Plus medieval zombies! I love this narrator as well.
Haha, I was tickled to see that he had a murder mystery to solve and it involved zombies running amok. 🙂
Gildart Jackson is one of the best and I need to listen to more of his stuff.
I remember you reviewing a previous book in this series and I was intrigued! This sounds wonderful. Medieval Zombies? I’m so in! Fab review, Sophia! 🙂
Yes, I think I binge listened the first three. 🙂 I just love this series. I cracked up when poor Faucon was told about the roving bodies. He tried so hard to take the guy’s needs seriously when he was getting weirded out. LOL
I need to read the series that this one spins off of even though it’s straight romance. Some of the characters cross over.
If this is the same author, I read this author years ago and really appreciate the style in the writing in the historical realism. Happy to see you enjoyed it here.
She writes medieval romance, too, and, in fact, this series spins off her Seasons series. I need to read those.
Oh that’s fun and different, that’s for sure!
Love the medieval setting, but yes, poor Sir Faucon gets some mighty interesting cases to solve. 🙂
This one sounds interesting! Medieval zombies? LOL!! Exciting stuff 😉
It was pretty funny to think about the poor knight having to go investigate a village situation he wasn’t sure what to believe about it all.
I’m not familiar with the series at all, but it sounds very interesting. Thanks!
I stumbled across it in a lucky way. Happy to introduce you, Jen!
Excellent, a new series ! Well, you know what I mean 😉 I recently started one by Roberta Gellis, I have read Brother Cadfael, so I’m good for another one, especially with… medieval zombis, lol !
Brother Cadfael! I loved those, Iza. These here would be like if Lord Huge Berenger investigated with the stuck up Abbot at his side. LOL Oh man, poor Sir Faucon had no idea what to think when the man described the living dead. 🙂
You might also like Margaret Frazer’s Sister Frevisse or Theresa Tomlinson’s Herb-Wife mysteries.
I thought I recognized that narrator’s name! I loathed him as Gideon. 😀
This book and series sound interesting. I loved Ellis Peters’ series Brother Cadfael series so I will need to check this one out.
Oh no… but that does happen sometimes when a book/narrator match just don’t work for the listener. I loved this match up.
Yes, it’s in a similar world as Brother Cadfael and Sir Faucon does consult with an herbalist monk quite often in these books to help him solve his cases. 🙂