A strong Medieval Woman

An interesting insight into medieval English life and justice. The fact that is is based upon a real female Sheriff even more so, as it describes the battle she had against male prejudice to claim her right to be Sheriff.
Looking forward to the next book.

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Great medieval murder mistery

I normally don’t go for medieval “whodunnits”, but as I started listening to the wonderfully narrated and well written story, I was hooked! Plenty of twists and turns, and detailed scenes, which made this book a gripping driving companion. Also, great to learn at the end of the story that Ella ‘Countess of Salisbury’ was based on a real person.

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1 person found this helpful

I have enjoyed this book

Loved it. I have midnight the rest of the series.
She is a Medieval miss Marple.

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Brilliant story

I loved the character of Ella, all so well researched and read. My first Ella book but it won’t be my last.

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Great female lead character

really different, good to listen to something new. looking forward to the new book. strong characters with a theme starting

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A thoroughly enjoyable story a beautifully read.

It's a nice change to hear a story of this period centred around a strong female character. I really enjoyed listening to it.

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2 people found this helpful

Enjoyable, interesting, attention-grabbing

I don't normally manage to listen to an audiobook all the way through. It takes real effort. But I enjoyed listening to this one all the way through and following the story.

At first I felt the narrator (and perhaps the story) felt a bit 'flat' and boring. But overall I found various positives amongst the flatness of it. The audiobook feels 'soft' in a good way, with a good amount of 'natural' to bring up imagination and thoughts about the village and characters, and the medieval setting in general.

The audiobook provides a good platform for my imagination and I can create this world in my mind even if overall the story is fairly average. I can't speak of the historical correctness of it all as I don't know much about this stuff. I suppose it's a bit odd that the lady (Ela) just goes around the town trying to solve a murder - I suspect that a lady of such high status probably wouldn't do such a thing.

Overall I enjoyed the medieval theme. And I am currently considering getting the second one, Book 2.

And despite what I said, the narrator has a good, recognisable set of voices - and isn't over the top and annoying.

I find the narrator (and the book) quite peaceful to listen to - and not at all taxing on the brain. I'm mostly interested in developing this medieval setting - the story itself is merely a vessel.

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struggled

I struggled though the start of this audio book, but enjoyed the ending and am warming to the character, will try book 2 , however may return , see how it goes .

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1 person found this helpful

Great story badly read

It’s a great shame that this generally well written and well thought out and interesting medieval whodunnit was marred by a completely wooden performance by Madeleine Brolly in narrating the story. At several points I almost gave up the book, something I have only done on very very rare occasions. I’m sorry to say this as I have never give a negative rating to any of the readers on the many books I have listened to on Audible, and this is not something which is in my nature to do- however I think it’s necessary to say it on this occasion. As I was listening to the performance I tried to think of the appropriate analogy, which ranged from a female robot low on battery, to Titania giving her dying speech to her fellow sprites before she finally expired, to finally the speech of someone who has taken too much valerian root and chamomile, as Lewis’ character had given to her patient to help her sleep. It is well elucidated, I can’t deny that, and every word was clearly spoken, but there was not enough emotion or variation in intonation and speed to her words, particularly in the reading of characters’ spoken lines, just a flat monotone and a failure to vary the speed, volume and emphases of word as would be found in normal day to day spoken language. Would I listen to another. Probably, overall, as it is a very good story, with an interesting scenario, but it will always be a struggle to listen to and Brolly unless she can make her reading a little more realistic.

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Anachronisms aplenty.

A rather weak plot, ending in an unconvincing and uninspired dénouement. Littered with jarringly modern idioms and anachronisms - most irritating when they pop up in dialogue. Most damning, I found myself caring less and less about the characters as the story unfolded, and less still in the outcome of this medieval whodunnit.

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3 people found this helpful