I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

I loved the characters in this book. There was a large cast of characters so I did sometimes get confused. The writing is so good. A great historical book

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the complimentary copy of Minette Walters' book The Swift and the Harrier.

Civil war breaks out and divides people with their allegiances to either the King or the Parliamentarians. It is against this backdrop that we are introduced to Jayne Swift, a very dedicated, yet fiercely neutral doctor. Jayne is unusual in that there were no women doctors at the time of the civil war. By tending the sick and those wounded by the war, Jayne encounters first hand the harsh reality of the war and the great losses suffered by both sides.

On a visit to her cousin, she meets William Harrier, who appears throughout the book. William's view on the war is in opposition to that of Jayne's view, yet in all their meetings an unspoken fondness for each other develops.

Despite the ravages of war, Jayne and William find love, they respect each other which builds a great foundation for their future.

I loved this book, and was really pleased to have been selected to review it. I enjoyed the writing style and could not wait to have a few minutes spare each day to read it.

Loved it! It's both funny and accurate, uplifting without being silly. It's the perfect mix between Jane Austen and Hilary Mantel: a witty romantic feminism on a political and religious background.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Minette Walters' adventures into historical fiction, particularly in such a rather undervalued period and area as this. Luckily for Ms Walters, recent events in contemporary medicine, namely Covid, have made this series of books especially relevant to the modern reader. I love the links with lockdown and self-isolation and the recognition that 'pestilence' and the necessary measures for treatment and to limit its spread are never easy, no matter when they occur. This is not a dry detailing of how to avoid infection in the middle ages, however. It manages to combine the fictional account of their plague with a story of love, loyalty, revenge, perseverance and intelligence. A lovely continuation of the earlier adventures and a fast-paced, absorbing read.

A dramatic story set during the turbulent English civil war. I prefer Minette Walters crime novels and this novel though well written was not for me.

I have loved a lot of Minette Walters book and this is no exception. This is a historical fiction set in a civil war. I love the fact our main character is a strong woman who shows empathy and understanding to those in this war. I loved the romance and the plot and I felt I learnt a lot !

The latest historical novel from former thriller writer Minette Walters is an absolute cracker. I raced through ‘The Swift and the Harrier’ which is a fabulous mixture of dramatic history, medicine, family divisions and romance, all set in the English Civil War.
Three days before the English Civil War begins in 1642, a Catholic priest is hung in Dorset for treason. Gentleman’s daughter and physician Jayne Swift is introduced to us in the public crush on Dorchester’s streets as people press to see the action. To avoid confrontation, Jayne steps into a doorway and finds herself drawn into the house by a thin-lipped elderly woman. They are strangers and in the current political unrest, all strangers must be mistrusted. This meeting is the catalyst for a narrative which takes us through the twists and turns of this war which sets brother against brother, where unpaid soldiers are ordered by superiors to loot and ransack civilian property, where small towns are attacked under siege for little gain and where men choose sides on blind belief rather than an understanding of the facts. Disguise and dissimulation are necessary to avoid the attention of whichever band of soldiers are encountered.
Jayne is a wonderful heroine. Plucky, bloody-minded, honest and fair, with a strong belief of a medic’s neutrality in time of war despite her staunchly Royalist father, she concentrates on treating the sick and wounded. This gets her into trouble numerous times. During the execution in Dorchester, Jayne encounters so many arrogant and boorish men, dismissive not just of women but of anyone whose views or experience are different to their own. She manages to evade arrest, and worse, thanks to some examples of honourable men. The role of women and the lack of freedoms is a theme running throughout the book, not just Jayne’s own medical career but a gentlewoman’s hidden proficiency as an artist, cousin Ruth’s marriage to a domineering violent man, and the bravery and efficiency of the women of Lyme Regis during its siege by Royalty forces. At the heart of it all - the war, the political and religious divide, marriage, work and family relationships and inheritance - is the right of everyone, man or woman, rich or poor, to the freedom of choice.
In the first action scene in Dorchester, Jayne is aided by William, a footman to Lady Alice Stickland, the elderly lady whose doorway in which Jayne takes shelter. And here is the first romantic thread which is stitched to the end of the book. Who is William? Why does his appearance change and why does he tell a different story every time Jayne sees him? Is he trustworthy?
A book I didn’t want to end. My knowledge of the Civil War is superficial and I particularly enjoyed the passages about the siege of Lyme Regis, a place I know.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

Intriguing book, very detailed, I really needed a character list with participants allegiances.
Loved the descriptions of the pain and hardships suffered, the intricacies of the warfare and fighting methods.
Jayne is a real heroine, she stands out for her care and kindness to both sides of the war.I
I am still not sure what caterwailing sounds Leviticus description is formidable.

Female physician Jayne Swift defies convention to tend to the sick throughout the English Civil War, and in so doing finds herself repeatedly coming into contact with the mysterious William Harrier as she makes her way through the troubles of the time. It's an interesting period of history but Jayne was a much more compelling character than Harrier, and although Walters writes well, the story failed to really grab me.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Minette Walters is England's bestselling female crime writer. She has won the CWA John Creasey Award for best first crime novel, the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best crime novel published in America and two CWA Gold Daggers for Fiction. Minette Walters lives in Dorset with her husband and two children.

Dorset, 1642.

When bloody civil war breaks out between the King and Parliament, families and communities across England are riven by different allegiances.

A rare few choose neutrality.

One such is Jayne Swift, a Dorset physician from a Royalist family, who offers her services to both sides in the conflict. Through her dedication to treating the sick and wounded, regardless of belief, Jayne becomes a witness to the brutality of war and the devastation it wreaks.

Yet her recurring companion at every event is a man she should despise because he embraces civil war as the means to an end. She knows him as William Harrier, but is ignorant about every other aspect of his life. His past is a mystery and his future uncertain.

The Swift and the Harrier is a sweeping tale of adventure and loss, sacrifice and love, with a unique and unforgettable heroine at its heart.

I have read, privately, several of the authors previous books and was therefore aware of her superb writing skills in researching and creating a fictional situation and Impeccably infusing it with period detail. The book is very atmospheric and deftly plotted, the characters are all very richly drawn.

The details of the book are fascinating-and give a very vivid picture of life at this time. I was transported every time I picked up this highly imaginative story to the seventeenth century. There were several loose ends at the conclusion which I believe will be tackled in further books in this series.

Most strongly recommended this was one of the best historical mysteries that I have read this year.
(ARC supplied by the publisher via netgalley.co.uk in exchange for a fair review)

I’ve not read many good, solidly historical novels recently and I wish this one had many, many more pages. Atmospheric and beautifully written, it is seriously raised my interest in the other Minette Walters books crowding my wish list.

Jayne Swift, daughter of a Dorset gentleman finds herself caught between the two warring factions of the English Civil War. Whilst only a man can hold the title ‘doctor’ she practices medicine anyway, adamantly staying neutral and treating both sides in a world increasingly by allegiance, rather than family.

The Swift and the Harrier is both a beautiful historical narrative betraying how war allowed women to step out of their gender roles in a way that would not be ready for them for another couple of hundred years, a changing world, and of how romance can bloom between a meeting of minds, even between two people who have a war set between them.

The Swift and the Harrier may not have many bells and whistles, but if you enjoy strong writing, vivid and many faceted characters and absorbing historical world relating (I feel a more apt description than world building for this genre) this is the book you want to pick up in front of the fire on your next chilly afternoon off.

The Swift and the Harrier is a novel I was keen to read because I love Minette Walters's writing style, it's a book set in Dorset and covers a period in English history I know little of. Glad to say, it didn't disappoint.

We follow the strong and capable aristocrat physician Jayne Swift during these tumultuous times as she navigates neutrality being willing to care for Royalist or Parliamentarian alike. She crossed paths often with the mysterious William who, clearly, is much more than he seems. You can guess where their story line leads. I am not a romance reader but this leaned heavily on the budding relationship between them and where it, inevitably, would lead. Aside from the too tidy and perfect ending for these two perfect and stellar people, I focus more on the historical aspects and the great divide between families and friends as they took up arms to fight each other. Not a glorious period of English history but a fascinating one.

This novel was well researched and gave the gritty, ugly aspects of fighting and siege warfare as everyone fought tooth and nail to support either the monarchy or Parliament. Ms. Walters certainly gave pros and cons of both sides and made the ten year war feel authentic and painful for the nation. If you like romance novels, I expect you would enjoy this. If you are looking for more of the historical aspect, that's well covered, too. Win, win.

I liked this historical novel set during the English Civil War. We meet the female physician Jayne Swift, a strong and independent-minded woman who tries to keep neutral during a terrible war. The characters around her are well described and realistic, from the sides of the Catholic Royalists or the Puritan Parliamentarians, but also from those keeping neutral. The novel set in Dorset starts with an exciting and cruel event that leads Jayne to meet the lady Alice and her obvious footman William Harrier. The story moves over several years and includes her work, family, friends and not least love story, which in my opinion could have been described a bit more extensive and feelingly.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an excellent historical fiction novel. There is a lot going on and there is a lot of information to take in but it's incredibly well written and immersive.

The characters are well-developed and gripping and Jayne is absolutely fascinating and a marvelous heroine to follow. I found the story to be exciting and whilst it took me a while to make my way through this (there really is a lot going on in it) I never lost interest.

This is my first book by Minette Walters but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I usually love Minette Walters' books, but this one wasn't for me. It was very well-written, as I've come to expect from this author, but the subject matter was too gory and gruesome. I was left on tenterhooks, waiting for the next nasty thing to happen! If you are interested in the period of history covered by the book (the English Civil War), I'm sure you would find this book extremely interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having very much enjoyed Minette Walters first historical fiction The Last Hours set in the time of the Black Death I was excited to see that this novel set in one of my favourite time periods – the English Civil War
The beginning starts straight into the action, with our main protagonist Jayne Swift surrounded by a seething mob on their way to an execution.

Jayne is a physician who, though highly skilled in her vocation, is not allowed to call herself a doctor due to being a woman.
She is struggling through the crowd in order to attend her cousin’s son who is very ill.
Although they are unknown to her, she is assisted in this endeavor by Lady Stickland and the mysterious William and it is not immediately clear why they are so eager to help her.
Jayne reaches her destination and in treating her cousin’s son displays her skill, demonstrating the power of scientific method and highlighting the danger of superstitious religious fanaticism.

The description of the execution is shockingly realistic but should not be unfamiliar to anyone with knowledge of the religious conflicts of the era and the orgy of cruel violence perpetrated by the cousin’s husband at the execution is in stark contrast to the bleak severity of the oppressive Puritan regime imposed on the women of the household.

The main part of the story concerns the Royalist siege on the Parliamentary supporters at Lyme where Jayne sets up a hospital to treat the wounded. Although they are dealing with the results of a violent siege, the horror of war is portrayed through its effect on characters. The narrative occupies itself with treatments for wounds and interpersonal relationships not returning to the shocking gore of the execution.
A stunning amount of research must have been required for these scenes but the author has a light touch and the information is conveyed to the reader as an integral part of the story.

Despite the repetitive nature of the siege, the pace never slows, the story is interesting and exciting.
However, the story does have some pacing problems later on.
Once the siege is over the narrative resorts to exposition with a lot of the intervening story told in an epistolary fashion. This is followed by some more lively action scenes and the story comes to a natural ending.
Unfortunately, the story is based on history and the war did not end at this point. Thus, the narrative is required to continue a little longer and I felt this section was more suited to an epilogue.

I was also a little surprised that the main theme of this story was a romance though there was little romantic interaction between the characters and it felt a little ‘bare’ to me.

On a more historical level, although Jayne claims to be neutral, the author seemed to be less so.
Though the narrative starts with the horrific execution carried out by Puritans by the last half of the story most of the characters seemed to be leaning towards the Parliamentarians and are favourably influenced by General Cromwell’s behaviour, conveniently ignoring the fact that much of the support for Cromwell and the Parliamentarians comes from the same Puritans who were so eager to execute a priest.
Cromwell may have behaved graciously in genteel company but was enough of a Puritan to cancel the celebration of Christmas while in power and was considered enough of a tyrant that after his death the monarchy was reinstated.
They also seemed impressed by the discipline and efficiency of Cromwell’s New Model Army. I am sure the Irish were as ‘impressed’ with the cruel efficiency with which Cromwell’s New Model Army put down the Irish Rebellion.

Despite my above reservations I do realise this is historical fiction and that a certain poetic license is to be expected.
I found this book very enjoyable and written with the author’s clear, pleasant style. I would definitely recommend it. A solid 4 stars.

Civil War in England and the country is in chaos. Full of drama and historical detail it is a gripping story from the start and will satisfy readers of all ages with it’s fast paced narrative. Highly recommended.

“As long as the message is signed “Harrier”, I shall know it comes from you. A swift never forgets a meeting with a hawk.”

My thanks to Atlantic Books Allen & Unwin for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Swift and the Harrier’ by Minette Walters in exchange for an honest review.

1642, Dorset. Civil war has broken out between the King and Parliament. Families and communities across the land are divided by different allegiances. Only a rare few choose neutrality.

Jayne Swift has trained as a physician and though unable to be formally recognised she has gained the respect of many in the county. While from a Royalist family, Jayne offers her medical skills to both sides in the conflict. Through her perspective we witness the brutality of the war and the devastation left in its wake.

At the opening of the novel Jayne is in Dorchester to attend Lady Alice Strickland. She meets William Harrier, introduced as Lady Alice’s footman. However, as their paths continue to cross it becomes clear that there is much more to the enigmatic William than Jayne first realised.

In recent years Minette Walters has successfully moved from writing crime thrillers to these sweeping historical epics. I found this a solidly plotted work of historical fiction with a romantic element that wasn’t overly soppy but rather developed organically.

I found Jayne Swift a brilliant lead character. She clearly was dedicated to her role as a physician while being realistic that it would remain an unofficial one. She is rebellious in some ways, like wearing britches under her dresses in order to comfortably ride astride, yet remains respectful of her family’s place in society.

I appreciated Walters depiction of the civil war in the South of England as well as the interactions between its various well realised characters.

While not an avid reader of romance, I also appreciated the way in which Walters wove it into the narrative. As such, I was reminded of the works of Jane Austen even though in ‘The Swift and the Harrier’ the realities of the civil war took precedence over balls.

Overall, I found this a highly engaging read that strongly evoked its setting and period. I was pleased that Walters had included a note about the English civil war at the beginning including facsimile maps as it provided the historical context for the story that followed.

On a side note I liked the symbolism of the swift and harrier, including its use on the stunning cover art.

Set in England during the Civil War, this is a story full of historical detail that keeps you gripped from the beginning. Well written, with unforgettable characters, it was an enjoyable read. Highly recommend.