Success as a warrior is one of the few paths to advancement in early medieval Britain and Stefan, a young Saxon peasant, has fought his way up to the rank of captain, serving under an earl who in turn serves the king of Atheldom. Returning from a series of hard-won battles, he hopes for further promotion. Instead, his command is taken from him and given to a better-born rival, while he is sent off to serve as the sheriff of an impoverished shire in the furthest corner of the kingdom. Stefan arrives in Codswallow to learn that, between marauding brigands, corrupt local officials, and a hostile populace, no sheriff has stayed longer than a single season. Determined to defeat the outlaws and gain control over the shire, Stefan forms an alliance with the keeper of the shire's inn, a Briton with a mysterious past, but is frustrated to find that even with that clandestine aid his efforts are stymied. When he is summoned to join the search for Princess Aleswina, the betrothed bride of the king of a neighboring realm, he jumps at what he sees as his chance to get an army command back-only to be drawn into the web of intrigue that lies behind the princess's disappearance.
Industry Reviews
"Readers who like their interpersonal dramas told through the filter of a highly detailed historical lens will delight in A. M. Linden's The Sheriff, book three of her Druid Chronicles series."
-The Historical Fiction Company
“Readers who enjoy being taken away to the distant past, feeling as though they could breathe the air of something different from what they know, will find The Sheriff a fascinating and satisfying read.”
—Chanticleer Book Reviews
“The Sheriff, as the midpoint of the series, continues to breathe life and add flavor to medieval historical fiction.”
—Novels Alive, 5 stars
“ . . . a powerful saga of ‘profane passions’ and encounters that will keep readers on their toes as they walk through Stefan’s world and realizations.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Though the people and locations here are fictional, Linden has clearly done her research, and she brings that deep-cut history—plus extensive backstories and flashbacks for even minor characters—to every page.”
—Booklist
“In The Sheriff, A. M. Linden has written a compelling portrait of life in eighth-century England. The author has skillfully blended history, politics, romance, and social observation to create a fascinating portrait of a little-known yet intriguing period of English history. To top things off, Linden has added elements of a top-notch detective story. The result is storytelling of a very high order. Highly recommended.”
—Christopher Johnson, author of This Magnificent Place and coauthor of Forests for the People
“I was captivated from the first page.”
—Gail Noble-Sanderson, author of the Lavender Meuse Trilogy and The Book of Rules
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