Dark Hunter by F.J Watson

Synopsis
The year is 1317, and young squire Benedict Russell has joined the English-held garrison of Berwick-upon-Tweed after the spectacular Scottish victory at Bannockburn three years earlier.

Serious and self-doubting, he can’t wait for his time there to come to an end. Living on the disputed territory between Scotland and England is a precarious existence, and as the Scots draw ever closer and the English king does nothing to stop them, Benedict finds himself in a race against time to solve the brutal murder of a young girl and find the traitor who lurks within Berwick’s walls.

Review
As my regular readers know, I absolutely love historical fiction, so when Polygon Books contacted me about a review of Dark Hunter by F.J. Watson I accepted straight away. I do have my favourite historical periods, but I had to admit my knowldge of early fourteenth century is pretty sketchy, and I know very little of the war between Scotland and England during this period. I was also intrigued as I live in the North East of England and the setting of this book was Berwick. The book follows young steward Benedict Russell, who arrives in Berwick with his master Sir Edmund,and finds himself investigating the death of a young girl murdered by someone in the town. Set against the constant threat from the Scottish this is a dark and rivitng read.

I found Benedict Russell an intresting central character and one I took to my heart. Benedict, as a second son, was a scholar, educated by monks, with no idea of combat or how to handle sword. After the death of his brother he finds himself having to fulfill the family obligation to Sir Edmund to provide a squire, a shock to the system for Benedict. So, this is how Benedict finds himself. far fom home in the cold and hostile Berwick. Benedict is the narrator of the book so we experience Berwick and it’s residents through his eyes. I enjoyed watching him go from this shocked and bewildered young man, out of his comfort zone to the confident man he becomes. It is his education that sees him put in charge of investigating the brutal murder of a young woman and trying to find a traitor who is working with the Scottish, putting the town of Berwick and it’s residents under threat. There are many more fascinating characters, Dame Eleanor, a female merchant and Lucy her daughter, and his master Sir Edmund, all are brilliantly drawn by F.J. Watson.

What really made this book such an immersive and engaging read was F.J. Watson’s flowing prose and her attention to detail. Watson is a medieval historian so the historical facts are amazing, and I felt I learned a lot as well as enjoying the book as a piece of fiction. Berwick is the last English stronghold in Scotland, a walled city constantly, full of hussel and bussel, under threat from the Scots. It is a cold, grey and desolate outpost even in summer. What I found fascinating is Berwick as a trade port, with access to the river Tweed and merchants operating within the city, something that F.J. Watson’s knowledge and writing brings to life as she captures the atmosphere of the town. As well as the historical part there is also the murder inquiry, and the search for a traitor. The suspense grew through the book, there were many suspects and may motives that had me gripped until the end.

Dark Hunter is a masterful debut novel from F.J, Watson. Written with knowledge and passion for this period of English and Scottish history, it is certainly a book to get lost in. Benedict Russell was a compelling and affable character and I am in the hope that there will be another book featuring him as the ending was left open for him. If you like your historial fiction, like me, then I highly recommend reading this book; a riveting and captivating read.