After a gap of a decade, Candace Robb has returned to her murder mystery series set in 14th century York, featuring Owen Archer, a veteran of the wars with France and his wife Lucie, an apothecary. It was nice to reacquaint myself with them in this 11th book in the series. The plot centred around the murder of a father and son, which turned out to be related to a family incident from 20 years earlier involving a series of childish "pranks" that turned ugly and resulted in the death of a young girl and the activation of a long planned programme of revenge. The plot seemed overly complicated and rather ridiculous in places. But good to see the series back. ( )

1374 and in the woods near York Hoban Swann, son of Bartolf Swann the coroner, has been found dead. Swann approaches Owen Archer to investigate. Rumours spread that the killing was done by wolves but Archer deems otherwise. But will this be the end of the killing and what could the possible motive be.
Though I have read a few of the books in the series previously, it can easily be read as a standalone story.
A well-plotted, well-written mystery with as you would expect well-developed characters, most of which are likeable.
A NetGalley Book ( )

This novel was sent to me by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you.

Candace Robb has returned to her popular Owen Archer series set in medieval York. Owen is bored with retirement and both he and his wife are happy when he is asked to investigate the deaths of two popular residents of the city. Hoban Swann the son of Bartolf Swann was found dead in the woods near York. His throat has been slit, but his body also had been savaged by dogs. His father Bartolf is murdered only a few days later, stabbed through the heart. Near his body are the paw prints of a very large dog.

But are culprits dogs? Soon rumors are flying that the canines are wolves, long extinct in this part of Yorkshire. And who is the figure seen with the animals? Is there an element of the supernatural at work here? Archer is a practical man, but even he cautions his family and friends to be extra wary on the streets of York and the nearby countryside.

I have not read an Archer mystery for years and I remember why I liked them so much. The historical setting of York is very satisfying, as is the introduction of real people like Chaucer and the Black Prince. However, I felt overwhelmed by the number of characters who have little or nothing to do with the plot. It is as if the author felt compelled to reintroduce every single person, alive or dead, who featured in her previous books. Too much of a good thing…

The mystery is enjoyable and I hope that Owen will appear often in his new career as captain of the city of York. ( )

'Open thine eyes. Trust thyself.' A word from healer Magda to Owen Archer!

A return to the world of the stunning one-eyed Owen Archer, longbow marksman and former Captain of the Guard, solver of mysteries, is a moment to delight in.
It's 1374 and the former spy for John Thoresby the Archbishop of York"
A new age is dawning, a new archbishop is coming. And with that a new mire of political difficulties. Owen has possibilities offered by York and and Prince Edward.
However, at this time the body of wealthy businessmanHoban Swann, son of the Coroner of Galtres Forest, Bartlof Swann, is found with his throat torn out. Archer is called on to determine the cause. Geoffrey Chaucer turns up to play a part.
Alisoun, Magda Digby's (a talented healer known as the Riverwoman) apprentice has been staying at Magda's whilst she was away to help any who might turn up. She already has had some dealings with a a client who has a suspicious injury from dogs or something more sinister.
As the body count mounts Owen's investigations uncover age old grudges and family divisions. Yet still the mystery eludes him.
As Magda exhorts Owen,
‘Magda recognizes the signs, not how or why this or that is revealed to her. She has no answers for thee, Bird-eye. This is thy conspiracy of wolves. Thou hast the charge, Magda merely warned thee. Thy task. Open thine eye.’
So wolves where there are no wolves, people being attacked and killed by some sort of creature resembling a dog, valuable hunting dogs killed and the citizens of York up in arms.
I was intrigued by the way Robb opened up choices to Archer for his future and the way that decision becomes focused.
I also was fascinated by the journey of Brother Michaelo, the former secretary to Thoresby, Archer's inclusion of Michaelo and the way the Brother takes up the challenges presented to him.
The novel explores closure in many ways for Owen and Lucie' as the vistas open up for the future.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley ( )

My thoughts
I haven’t read any of Robb’s previous novels (mea culpa) but Conspiracy of Wolves works as a standalone. Robb uses backstory well. She’s specific enough that I understood the context of references to the past, but vague enough that she doesn’t give away the solution to a previous series’ title.

I liked Owen Archer & company enough that I’ll seek out previous books in this series. There were so many things to enjoy! Here’s a few:

The relevance
Ever heard the saying “The more things change, the more they stay the same”? This ran through my mind several times as I read.

Each time a character referenced the power of wealthy people to escape justice, I nodded my head. Yes, that still happens.

Each time a character expressed fear over pregnancy and childbirth, I nodded again. Yes, modern medicine has helped lessen the risk of childbearing . . . if one has access to it. Not everyone does. Lucie, Archer’s wife, Alisoun, and Magda, all gifted healers, know the dangers of pregnancy. Each time a pregnancy is mentioned (and it’s a reoccurring motif), it’s with trepidation. The healers make great use of their limited resources, all the while knowing their efforts might be too little, too late.

This theme hit me especially hard because of the high maternal death rate in my home state. Recent news reports have shown that a high percentage of women live more than two hours from a hospital and adequate healthcare during their pregnancies. Horrible, but true. It made the characters’ fears feel relevant and real for me, despite the differences in our time periods.

The historical research
Robb knows this time period. Her words immersed me in 14th century York, its culture, and its people. She brought it to life in rich detail. I was in awe of her ability to re-create a world of the past without bogging down the story with unnecessary facts or drawing undue attention to her methods. (Great historical fiction writers are rockstars, in my opinion.)

Relatable characters
I sympathized and cheered for them. (Well, some of them!) While the time period helps shape their worldviews, these characters’ personalities and relationships show that human nature hasn’t changed.

Chaucer
All the characters were great to meet. But having Geoffrey Chaucer (yes, that Chaucer!) as a character was too much fun for me as a literature major. All that gossipy, clever curiosity in his creative mind: it’s delicious fun to see Robb bring the famed author to life and use him in the story. Anyone who’s read The Canterbury Tales will love this.

And more . . .
Well-developed series characters who continually reveal new sides of their personalities. Conflicting agendas and suspicions. Tense atmosphere with a delightfully creepy edge. Evocative descriptions. A realistic, rich mystery.

A must-read for fans of historical mysteries. ( )