Bardd

The Welsh Guard Mysteries #5

by Sarah Woodbury

Rhys and Catrin become embroiled in murder when King Edward summons all the bards of Wales ...

September 1284. Catrin and Rhys travel with the royal court to Overton-on-Dee where King Edward has called a thousand Welsh bards to a royal eisteddfod, a music festival, in honor of his conquest of Wales. Every bardd in Wales has been commanded to attend.

But the menacing gaze of the king has tensions running high, since his goal is to uncover dissidence and to rein in the power of the bards. When one of the chief contestants turns up dead with a forbidden song stuffed into his mouth, it’s up to Rhys and Catrin to catch his killer—even if it means putting themselves between their people and the wrath of the English king.

Bardd is the fifth book in The Welsh Guard Mysteries.

Series so Crouchback, Chevalier, Paladin, Herald, Bardd, Outlaw

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Medieval

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2024

About the author

With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.

Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).


She makes her home in Oregon.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As heartbreaking as the songs of the bardds

The narrow path the Welsh trod after Edward defeated them is shown so clearly in this novel. Catrin and Rhys have to negotiate their survival and protect their people in each story. In Bardd the balance on a knife edge.

[PR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read every book this fine author has written. Her body of work is amazing.

This one was not nearly as good as the rest of her books...seems like she wrote it quickly as with not as much enthusiasm or thought ax usual
I wait with bated breath for her next books in any of her series! She is a writer with so much passion bans dedication to the dissemination of alk the information about Wales and its history and ways of surviving and thriving ax possible to as wide an audience as possible. She shares her family's touring and experiences in Wales in book, newsletter and video form regularly and one truly feels a visceral connection to the place and its history through all of her experiences.
This book simply did not have the passion, the attention to detail and the great writing I am used to from her.
I was disappointed and really glad I still have her new time travel to sales book with David and his family band extended family to read!
I love all her series and The Been band Gareth barrier and the David series are among my favorites of hers. And I loved all the rest of her series. I have read every one.
Hope Cardin and Rhys next adventure is a bit more satisfying.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Edward, in his effort to dominate Wales culturally as well as politically, has summoned one thousand bards to a musical competition. When the expected winner is murdered, Catrin and Rhys are tasked by the king to investigate. The story brings into focus the centrality of music in Welsh culture, especially the words and voice.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery mixed with a bitter/sweet tale of the bards of Wales at that time. There is always the cloud hanging over Rhys and Catrin of Edward’s defeat and subjugation of the Welch but this book seemed to have a fairly heavy cloud.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Woodsury is a wonderful writer. Her stories are historically interesting and have lots of possible culprits. I can't help but care for the protagonists and their challenges in life.

I am always looking forward to Sarah's next book!

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be my favorite of the series. This is a mystery series,up there with Cora Harrison’s, Burren series. Catrin, Rhys and Simon track down a murderer during King Edward I Welsh Bard festival. Multiple red herrings, good plot and wonderful characters lead to a satisfying conclusion.

[Nancy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Welch Guard is a. Great series

The Welch Guard is a. Great series hope it continues on with Author weaving more tales in the series to keep us reading about these historical times and characters she's created for us ......thank you

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

3 Seriously, this felt more like a treatise on the importance and history of the eisteddfod and barding than a murder that needed solving. Not the best one in the series and at least one incorrect use of ‘transpire’.

[Jacquie Thornber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am weeping

Yet another beautiful instalment in the Welsh Guard Mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would love to hear the poem sung by a Welsh male voice choir 💕

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Linda K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great example of Sarah Woodburys excellent writing of Wales

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting weaving of historical fact and fiction. Gives you pause to wonder and imagine. I really like having read this after the Pendragon series. I hope there are more forthcoming in this series.