The Good Knight

The Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries, Book 1

By: Sarah Woodbury

Narrated by: Laurel Schroeder

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Intrigue, suspicion, and rivalry among the royal princes casts a shadow on the court of Owain, king of north Wales....

The year is 1143, and King Owain seeks to unite his daughter in marriage with an allied king. But when the groom is murdered on the way to his wedding, the bride's brother tasks his two best detectives - Gareth, a knight, and Gwen, the daughter of the court bard - with bringing the killer to justice.

And once blame for the murder falls on Gareth himself, Gwen must continue her search for the truth alone, finding unlikely allies in foreign lands and ultimately uncovering a conspiracy that will shake the political foundations of Wales.

©2011 Sarah Woodbury (P)2015 Sarah Woodbury

Odd Narration

I almost didn't persist with this one because I hated the narration at the beginning. The narrator speaks in an American accent reading a story about 12th century Wales. But the oddest part is when she breaks into dialogue in a strange sort of Irish accent. I suppose it's supposed to be a Welsh accent, but who knows? I had the Kindle version as well, and after reading some of the book I was (for some reason) better able to accept the audio version.

The story is pretty good, with an interesting twist, and it's one of those that is based on many actual historical figures and events. The author manages to work her mystery into real history in a seamless fashion, which is always a neat trick.

I probably won't continue with the series, since the story seems to be heading in the direction of more romance and less mystery (a preview of the next installment is at the end of this recording), and that's not what I prefer. But a good effort about an interesting time (1143) and place (Wales).

Note: there is a repetition of 8-9 minutes in the middle (chapter 19 on the audio), but once you get past that technical glitch, it's fine.

A new adventure

I’ve read the After Cilmeri series and just started this series and I love it! Sarah has woven a story set in historical facts and events so expertly I’m hungry to continue!

Can’t get past the narration

I’m only about halfway done with this audiobook, and I want so badly to be able to finish because I think the story is a good one. I can’t get past the strange accents the narrator puts on for dialogue, though. I read another review that said it sounds like an Indian accent and I hear that sometimes but then also hear an Irish lilt and sometimes Eastern European? It’s so distracting. At this point I’d rather she just stick with once voice choice.

Super good

Every once in a while a book will come along that grabs your full attention and you just don’t put it down or, in this case, stop listening to it. It is written in such a way that you can visualize what is transpiring on each page.

What a great story of love and honor and intrigue

Once I got started, I just had to keep listening..now for book 2 in this series. Getting started.

Romance

Would you consider the audio edition of The Good Knight to be better than the print version?

I liked this book and the way it was set up and the narrator was very good too. I like that it was not just in one town and moved . very good

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gwen

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it made me think when she would do the "spying "

Any additional comments?

I could picture the book in my mind as i read it ..

Delightful historical mystery

Sarah Woodbury blended real historical figures and facts of Wales in 1130s with murder mystery, romance, and medieval sleuthing in two main characters of Gareth (a knight) and Gwen (a bard's daughter). It's a very unconventional mystery story and I wasn't sure if I would like it when I started because I found the names intimidating and I'm not really a mystery fan. But the story won me over in this reading by Laurel Schroeder. The narrator makes the story lyrical and clear. Loved the story from beginning to the end where there was a bit of a twist. I feel sorry for Hywel knowing history wasn't exactly kind to him and the story hints at more events to come while making us understand all the historical characters a bit more intimately.

Great start

I just finished listening to The Good Knight. I love the After Cilmeri series so I wasn't sure if I would take to another series also set in Wales. However, I should not have been worried because the story was great! I was kept on the edge of my seat, I was taken all around the country, and a twist at the end I didn't see coming. Excellent book and I can't wait for more!

The Good Knight

I love historical novels! I appreciate that she starts the story and weaves the backgrounds of the characters into the story as we go. I am ready to read the next book in the series as I wait for the next Outlander book!

the good knight

Reasonably accurate historically. Narration is well done. Story line is likeable but not tension filled.