The Honorable Traitor

Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries #15

by Sarah Woodbury

The fires of war threaten to consume Gwynedd in the Honorable Traitor, the fifteenth Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mystery. January 1150. Another attempt at peace has brought the kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys together. Not everyone wants the conference to succeed, however, including King Madog of Powys, who happens to be a participant.

So when the body of a woman turns up in an incriminating location, Queen Cristina is loath to involve anyone in the investigation but … Gareth and Gwen.

The Honorable Traitor is the fifteenth Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 25, 2022

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

[PR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as Expected

This book was not up to the standard I always expect from Sarah Woodbury...I was so disappointed...having invested in all her books thus far and watched her YouTube videos and enjoyed almost every one but the last two books I read of hers...this book was really dense, confusing, and was written assuming one had read many of the previous books in this series... Since they do not come that often and though I own them all it was confusing to one who does not remember every character and every event from all the books that come before. The editing was not done well and that added to the confusion. I so wish there had been more character development, especially of Llelo and Dai, as them come into their young adulthood. Would have loved to be reintroduced to all...each and everyone...of the Dragons as well! We know Gwen and Gareth but do not know the other characters as well. The battles between the Kings are well known by those of us who read her books religiously and I generally rate them 5 stars or more! This book just did not meet her best in the series or in her many, many other books!
I will .continue to buy and read Ms. Woodbury's books in future hoping for better...hope springs eternal!

[Voirrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to catch up with Gareth and Gwen, and their friends and family. There were so many layers of intrigue, and circles within circles, here that it kept me fixed to each page right to the end.

[Bron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this series because it was recommended to me as someone who enjoys the medieval mystery stories written by Ellis Peters. Now fifteen books in, although the 'mysteries ' are still intriguing, the real draw is the unfolding story of a medieval Welsh family, trusted agents of King Owain and Prince Hywel in Gwynedd. And also the background history of battles and politics in this period where Wales is still largely free of the Norman conquerors, although they are making incursions wherever they can, pitting the native princes against each other.

The books are well researched and you get a real feel for medieval life. This one is set in Holywell where the court of King Owain is camped awaiting a peace conference. However, the discovery of an unconscious woman in the Queen's room in the abbey guesthouse ensures that peace is going to be highly unlikely. Gareth and Gwen's older, adopted, sons take on a primary role as investigators in this instalment.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally came across the Gareth and Gwen series and have been hooked eagerly waiting for the release of each new installment since. If I had to rate each book in the series, I would put this one at the bottom. Its more like a lengthy setup for another story (maybe book #16?) with a little mystery thrown in to make it worth your while to read the whole thing.

The characters of Gareth and Gwen’s adopted sons Llelo and Dai are developed a bit more, both showing promise as investigators as they are the ones that mostly following their training and sometimes gut to discover and put together the clues to solve the book’s mystery. And as always, the history of the area and time period in which the book is set is well researched.
These two factors for me save the book somewhat to get my three stars.

Overall, I still love the series and will be waiting for Gareth and Gwen's next adventure with their family and friends.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Owain of Gwynedd and his train have come to Holywell to meet King Madoc of Powys to negotiate peace. As usually happens, Queen Cristina asks Gareth to discreetly come to the monastery guesthouse to see a body. But, surprise, the body, a woman, is not dead. Gareth still needs to investigate how she came to be injured. In the course of the investigation, there is another near murder, a conspiracy or two, a traitor is revealed and there is war instead of peace.

[Roy Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting reading.

Once again Sarah Woodbury has written a thrilling and gripping tale of Welsh warfare. I am a proud Welshman and it's because of these brave ancestors of mine that we now live as a free self governing nation. I can't wait for the next instalment.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good series

I like these stories that are a combination of mystery and history. As a lover of history learning while enjoying a good mystery great

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always good to start the new year with a new Sarah Woodbury book.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading stories about families working together solving problems. Especially when the problems are not about mutual love, appreciation and respect.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to follow this a bit better having just read the previous book (after being long away from the series). It was okay.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of intrigue and mystery as is usually the case with the Gareth and Gwen mysteries. Very enjoyable.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy how the author brings medieval Welsh history to life. I really like Sarah Woodbury’s characters Gareth and Gwen.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had wanted to listen to this one, but the r library didn’t have it as an audio version. I did enjoy reading it and actually seeing the names in print. Really interesting in reading all of the bits and pieces of history and historical figures present in this story.