The Bloody City

Edwin Weaver #2

by C.B. Hanley

1217: Lincoln is not a safe place to be. A French army has captured the city, and the terrified citizens huddle in the rubble of their homes as the castle, the last remaining loyal stronghold in the region, is besieged. Edwin Weaver finds himself riding into grave danger after his lord volunteers him for a perilous mission: he must infiltrate the city, identify the traitors who are helping the enemy, and return to pass on the intelligence. The last man who attempted such a thing was captured over the castle war was a warning. The city is awash with violence and blood, and Edwin is pushed to the limit as he has to decide what he is prepared to do to protect others. He might be willing to lay down his own life, but would he, could he, kill?

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

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2013

About the author

C.B. Hanley has a PhD in mediaeval studies from the University of Sheffield and is the author of War and Combat 1150–1270: The Evidence from Old French Literature, and a number of scholarly articles on the period. She currently teaches on writing for academic publication, and also works as a copy-editor and proofreader.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting series of murder mystery based just after king johns death and based around the battle of Lincoln in 1217 when the infant henry III comes to the throne

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Ms Hanley’s second story featuring Edwin Weaver, once a commoner but now in the service of Lord William Warenne for his brains, not his fighting skills when he takes his army to help William Marshall and his son, William, break the siege of Lincoln - in fact all the leading barons in the ‘Barons War’ appeared to go by the name of William!

Edwin is certainly not a soldier, but he is given some basic defensive skills by his comrades who take pity on him. This also gives the author a perfect opportunity to explain fighting techniques and weapons of the era which is fascinating in itself.

Once inside the city, Edwin discovers the townsfolk are suspicious of strangers, with secrets of their own and no one quite knows whom to trust. The author pulls no punches as to the realities and hardships of Medieval life – where dying of hunger was a real possibility.

The author brings new life to a period of history I knew nothing about before reading this story, and includes plenty of suspense, action and gentle moments, including the fascinating character of Lady Nicola de la Hay, the custodian of Lincoln Castle.

Against the backdrop of the siege itself is Edwin’s solving of a crime and a love story involving Alys, whose father died whispering a secret to his daughter which plunges her into danger other than the burden of having to provide for her siblings in the besieged city.

For those who love Medieval fighting stories with lots of authentic detail, this is a must.

[G L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical mystery

[Tessa in Mid-Michigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, engrossing, although all the POV's are a bit much and unnecessary..

[Katie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After solving a murder in the last book, Edwin Weaver is now a lord's man. And his lord, William de Warenne, is trying to get back into the favor of the Regent of England, old William Marshal, after previously supporting the invasion of the French Prince, Louis. With Lincoln Castle besieged (and the city in the hands of the French faction), Edwin will be given a task to fulfill that may save the lives of many, and turn the course of the war...

Less of a murder mystery (although there is a double murder to solve, very far in the background), and more of an adventure story set around the Second Battle of Lincoln. Edwin's character continues to develop (and he has an obligatory rite of passage for a young man, a sudden crush on a pretty girl). I'm myself more interested in murder mysteries than fictional adventure stories about sieges (or at least, I prefer the balance between the two to be more even), but Hanley does the latter well.

[Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice easy read. It didn't tax me, it was entertaining if not a little ... simple.
The events take place round the much forgotten Second Battle of Lincoln - in itself an interesting deviation from the historical writer's norm of the wars of the Roses or the Tudors.
The author tried to keep the action going but it really did need some judicious editing and putting together. It was quite annoying to read of events as perceived by one character only then to go back in time to follow another - slightly impacts on the drama.

[Babylon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book set in a fascinating period in English history. The plot and characters were a bit two dimensional but I liked the concept of how the siege and battle would have affected ordinary townsfolk. I could guess who the baddies were, but missed the clue that gave it away, so that works for me in terms of a mystery novel!

[Katie W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and engaging book to read. I like how the author was able to create a story with real historical figures and events (with some creative liberties thrown in).

[Andrew Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody good read

Excellently written story and powerful account of the forgotten invasion. Good characters that you come to care about. Worth a read.

[Shane DH Warman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book with a good amount of mystery - the battle scenes are good.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engrossing tale. Based on fact with the addition of some fictional characters . The cathederal at Lincoln was looted after the battle and the castle was indeed holding out against enemy forces.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much or more than its predecessor. It is a better-written mystery than the last volume in the series and I was also more familiar with the subject matter, having visited Lincoln and read a number of accounts of the battle. I understand that a third book will cap off the series as a trilogy. I will be there for it.