Jayne Swift is an unusual woman, born into local nobility she is unmarried and allowed to ply a trade as a physician. As Civil war starts Jayne finds herself in a besieged Lyme running a local hospital where her skills make her an asset to both sides. Jayne is neutral though, only wanting to help. As war grows ever more close and violent, can she stay neutral or will her feelings for the enigmatic Harrier cause further heartache.
Walters has successfully moved from writing quite dark thrillers to a series of historical novels set in her beloved West Country. here the time period has moved to the mid-17th century and the civil war. the book is quite romantic in tone and those feels more accessible and 'lighter' that its predecessors but the same attention to detail is there. In this case medical treatment and also the legalities of family inheritance and marriage. It's a very entertaining read

This is a brilliant book with the most exciting first chapter I have read in a long time. Jayne Swift is a physician in 17th century Dorset during the civil war. Her story is a fascinating portrayal of courage and humanity. She is determined to treat soldiers from both sides of the conflict. The characters are memorable and it was a treat to experience the lives of strong women and their part in the conflict. I enjoyed the growing romance between Jayne and the mysterious William Harrier, as well as the tensions in her family. The witty exchanges between Jayne and her father Sir Henry added greatly to my enjoyment of the novel. Rich in atmosphere and with strong characters and a compelling plot, The Swift and The Harrier is one of my favourite reads of 2021. Brilliant! Five stars!

I have read many books by Minette Walters but this is my first of her historical novels. Set in the period of the English Civil War it covers many angles - the split in families who are Parliamentarians or Royalists; the fact that the heroine, Jayne Swift, has trained as a physician which is rare and frowned upon by the male population (for the most part); the siege of Lyme Regis which was held much in part to the fact that the womenfolk were heavily involved - determined to protect their town. Battles and sieges that took place are an interesting backdrop to this fascinating story centred around Jayne and her family, with characters well portrayed.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Minette Walters/Atlantic Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this absorbing book

this is the story of jayne who trained to be a doctor, though she could never take claim of that title due to the nature of the times she lived in, but as she started to treat people so her reputation grew...

the times though were not great for women so she would dress below her station when out calling on her patients...

and on one such time she met william and alice, who were to have a great influence on her life

i struggled with the war bits only for the fact i was unsure who was who and fighting for what cause...sorry history wasnt my strong point but loved the other bits to the storyline

its well worth a read and william and jaynes story is fascinating..

will be on the look out for more of this authors works

Rather like the curate's egg... The historical parts were very interesting, especially the siege of Lyme which I knew nothing about. I also started to question my romantic attachment to the Cavalier side of the argument !
Some bits were a bit strange though, such as the rather contradictory attitudes of some of Jaynes family - I'm sure allegiances weren't clearcut, but their ambivalence wasn't well done. The James Bond antics of William similarly and the Lord was simply unbelievable at the end as well, but the main character was well done.

An excellent, compelling and fascinating historical fiction novel, it kept me reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great characters, vivid and well researched historical background.
It was a good way to learn something new and I appreciated Jayne and the realistic description of the Civil War.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

n the summer of 1642, Jane Swift is on her way to tend to a sick child when she inadvertently gets caught up in the dreadful events taking place in Dorchester as the city is swept up in a fervour of unrest and Puritan retribution. Not wanting to witness the harrowing execution of Catholic priests, Jane waits in the doorway of the house of Lady Alice Strickland where she comes into contact, not only with the formidable Lady Alice, but also with William Harrier who is Alice's footman. This momentous meeting between two strong women will have long reaching repercussions as both Jane Swift in her role as a female physician and Lady Alice Srickland's forthright nature are a combined force which cannot be ignored. The enigmatic Harrier has his own dangerous path to tread, and is one which will have far reaching repercussions for all of them.

When the story opens in 1642 the English Civil war is bubbling under the surface. There is widespread discontent against a King who refuses to listen to his advisors and who will not be moved to compassion by the plight of his people. War is inevitable and with meticulous research and fine attention to detail this troubled period in history comes to vivid, and dramatic, life.

I enjoyed walking alongside Jane Swift, she's a strong and decisive character, more than a match for any man who blocks her path and her true calling as a skilled physician is certainly put to the test as the Civil War battles get underway. Jane's complex relationship with William Harrier is fascinating, both are willful, determined and with right on their side, unstoppable however, Harrier's chameleon like nature means that we never really know what he is going to do next. And that's what makes this story such a fascinating read.

Authentically written with all the skill and passion which this talented writer brings to the literary table. I loved The Swift and the Harrier and am delighted to make it my Featured Book of the Month for November.

I'm very much at the middle-aged stage of life where I can remember trivial occurrences from 20 years ago as if they happened last week. But when asked to remember something that actually happened last week, it's pretty much all a blank.

This is probably why I can clearly recall the time I came to discover Minette Walters. She featured as a guest on the TV show 'Through The Keyhole', where she had her house explored by Loyd Grossman, and none of the celebrity contestants managed to correctly guess her. The brief discussion between Minette and Sir David Frost was enough to engage my interest, and I promptly read all of the crime novels that she had had published at the time. Her outstanding debut novel 'The Ice House' and her almost equally fabulous follow-ups 'The Sculptress' and 'The Scold's Bridle' had me well and truly cemented into her fan base, and I continued to read all of her subsequent books almost religiously, up to and including 'The Chameleon's Shadow' in 2007.

After this, she disappeared for a while (though it seems that I somehow missed 'The Cellar' published in 2015. I'll do something about that just as soon as I can). The good news though is that she's back now. And in a departure from the crime fiction drama that established her as an author, 'The Swift and the Harrier' is a historical fiction novel set at the time of the English Civil War.

I absolutely loved about the first half of the book. It begins in Dorchester in 1642, when a crowd is drawn by morbid curiosity to witness the particularly barbaric execution of a Catholic priest. Caught up in the crowd, but trying to escape it is Jayne Swift, who is an admirable but still believable character. At a time when medicine - or what passed for medicine in those days - was rarely practised by women, she is a dedicated and successful physician. And at a time when most of the country was divided into supporting either Royalists or Parliamentarians, she was happy to treat the illnesses and injuries sustained by either, believing that the people mattered more than the causes.

With the character so well established, the reader continues to be engaged by, and to support Jayne as she treats everyone from a sick child, to the real-life character of Prince Maurice (King Charles I's nephew), to a large portion of the population of Lyme Regis in a makeshift hospital, as it falls victim to siege. The descriptions of Jayne's working conditions, the shortage of essential supplies and the injuries she has to treat are - perhaps thankfully - less horrific than the execution featured in the opening chapters. But they still feel all too vivid and all too real.

Seemingly on hand to support Jayne during the key periods of war, but absent during the intervening uneasy peaceful periods, is William Harrier, who is ... who is he? He is initially introduced to Jayne as a footman, but she, and we soon discover that actually, his position is much more privileged. But is he a nobleman, a soldier, a spy or all three? And which cause does he really support?

My problem was that, having been engrossed by the book up to this point, it failed to keep my attention during the second half. I think there are two reasons for this. Firstly, Jayne is finally able to escape the besieged town of Lyme and return to her middle-class home, where she is loved and protected by her parents and their staff. Therefore, the book loses its sense of danger.

Secondly, most of the storyline from this point on centres on the gradual conversion of Jayne's family from the Royalist to the Parliamentarian cause, and on a slowly blossoming romance between Jayne and William. Maybe the issue is that, whilst I'm happy to read historical fiction and love a good psychological drama, romantic fiction really isn't my thing. But all too often I found myself skim-reading and hoping there'd be an exciting twist at the end. However, without wanting to give spoilers away, this never really came.

To sum this book up, then, is fairly easy. It's a case of two out of three ain't bad. The historical element is beautifully done and the characterisation is superb. The romantic element, however, didn't really work for me. But that's probably just my taste.

My thanks to the author, Atlantic Books and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review to Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

The Swift and the Harrier by Minette Walters
In the past I have read other crime novels by Minette Walters such as The Sculptress, The Scold’s Bridle and The Ice House but this is a very different book. I found this story, set in the middle of the English Civil War, entertaining and informative. The main character is a strong and independent woman, Jayne Swift, who works as a doctor in all but name. In the powerful opening to the story Jayne attempts to make her way through the crowds gathered in Dorchester to watch the execution of Catholic priests. (The description of the brutality with which these men are dispatched requires a very strong stomach to read.) The crowd is eagerly anticipating the gruesome end of these poor men but Jayne is desperate to reach her cousins Ruth’s house where Ruth’s son lies desperately ill.
Jayne takes refuge in a doorway that belongs to the home of Lady Alice Strickland. She is swiftly entangled in the life of this unusual woman and her footman, William Harrier. This is the start of a gripping novel which seamlessly weaves fiction with the facts of the civil war raging throughout the kingdom.
Jayne Swift is exceptional for she works as a female doctor in a time when this was not allowed. She works during the siege of Lyme but remains neutral vowing to treat the wounded on both sides. Throughout her character that shines through and keeps you fascinated in the outcome of her story.
William Harrier is a chameleon; initially she believes him to be a footman, a supporter of the King, a soldier and later he is someone who helps to relieve the siege of Lyme. He is a man of many disguises.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to those who love historical fiction and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this novel in return for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to review the previous books, set in the period of the Black Death, 1348, The Last Hours, and The Turn of Midnight, and this is set in the period of the English Civil War, 1642-1645.
This was a horrible series of battles that literally had Fathers fighting against Sons, Brothers ranged against Brothers, England tearing itself apart, due to a King, who believed in the ‘Divine Right’ of Kings to rule without consulting Parliament, and thus ignoring the wishes of the entire population of his country. There followed much loss of life on assorted battlefields up and down the country, until Oliver Cromwell, and his New Model Army started to take back control of the country.
The Swift of this story is Jayne, who is working as a Physician, although she cannot be officially recognised as such, no women are allowed a licence from any college or university at this time. Jayne therefore treats the wounded from both sides of this conflict, she is neither for or against either side. Women were allowed to use skills of herbalists, and midwifery when attending injured soldiers and their families.
Set in Dorset, this story opens with a rather gruesome execution of Catholic priests. The Civil War was all about religion, the Royalists, mainly Protestants, were for the King, the opposers were Puritans, Presbyterians and Independents, who believed that the Church of England owed too much allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church.
The Harrier is William, who works as a servant to Lady Alice Strickland, but he seems more than his role suggests. Is he a spy, or a turncoat soldier with an eye to the main chance? He and Jayne become acquainted and together, help us to understand the horrors and uncertainty of this war.
The characters are sympathetically drawn and the detail of these battles are excellent. Having been to Corfe Castle and read about the actions of Lady Mary Bankes, during the sieges of May 1643, I full admire these women, who took such risks to defend their homes against armed soldiers, when all they had available was stones and various noxious substances boiled up to throw at besieging troops!!
I wasn’t taught this period of history at school, but since then have learnt much about this time of conflict, especially when on holiday in Scotland. I didn’t know that Oliver Cromwell was so dammed unpopular up North, the sheer amount of destruction he and his troops inflicted upon various houses, farms, churches( Kirks) is always pointed out to us when we visit places over the border, I feel obliged to apologise every time we go away!! I have seen a few re-enactments done by The Sealed Knot Society and been in awe of just how loud a cannon sounds when it is being fired. After one of these events done locally, I had the surreal experience of seeing King Charles and Oliver Cromwell sitting together, enjoying a pint, at one of our local pubs! That would have been much the best way to resolve such an unnecessary conflict.
I enjoyed this book, and I always learn so much from the detail, that is gently disguised in these novels. A five star read.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Atlantic books, and publishers Allen and Unwin. This is my honest, freely given review, in return for my copy of this book.

Following her two epic novels on the Black Death, Minette Walters returns with a rousing historical fiction novel and love story set against the backdrop of the English Civil War with an inspirational woman at its heart. Spanning 1942 to 1949 and predominantly set in Dorset, the novel opens in dramatic fashion with not yet twenty-seven-year-old Jayne Swift, the daughter of a local squire from a loyal Royalist family, making haste to attend the sick baby son of her cousin in Dorchester. A physician by training but unable to declare herself one in the county, Jayne arrives as a frenzied crowd awaits the execution of two Catholic priests with her cousin’s husband, Samuel Morecott, leading the Puritan uprising. Encountering Lady Alice Stickland known for her outspoken support for Parliament in Dorchester it is the behaviour of her overly familiar footman, William, that gives Jayne pause for thought. As the conflict continues apace with a siege at Lyme Regis where Jayne takes charge of a former hospital for treating the wounded and wins plaudits aplenty, to returning to her family home and finding it divided by the conflict, Jayne seems to encounter William Harrier wherever she goes. In one instance a footman, in another a Knight or soldier comrade of her brother, William turns up everywhere and it is never quite clear on which side of the divide his loyalties lie.

Jayne Swift is a brilliantly drawn character, a woman to be admired and very much the focal point of this engrossing stand-alone. A woman who has never conformed to expectations, Jayne is an intelligent, quick-witted and kind woman who makes no secret of her intention to remain neutral from the outset of the conflict and treat the wounded, whether they be Royalist or Parliamentarian. William Harrier remains an enigma for the majority of the novel and in contrast to straight-talking Jayne I had difficulty warming to his chameleon-like persona and never quite felt he was trustworthy or indeed worthy of Jayne! The romance aspect of the story is muted and throughout plays second fiddle to the overriding story of the conflict dividing the nation and the opportunities it presents for Jayne to use her training as a physician. Jayne’s romance with William Harrier doesn’t feel written on the cards from the start of this novel and it certainly doesn’t read like a typical historical romance novel which I doubt would have held my attention so completely over the course of five hundred pages. The story is vividly evoked throughout and there is a regular cast of around twenty supporting characters that the reader gets to know with a balance between details of conflicts, political machinations and Jayne’s medical work.

Whilst I think that in reality a female physician, particularly one as doughty as Jayne Swift, would have had a far tougher time getting a modicum of respect and would have faced far more hostility than she did, it did nothing to detract from an extraordinarily compelling reading experience. Unequivocally well-researched and both dramatic and fast-paced enough to make it a real page-turner that is both an accessible and introduction to the period. That the denouement isn’t rushed is the icing on the cake to a powerfully told story where the very best and worst of humanity are on display.

Minette Walters is better known as a crime writer, but she has made some forays into historical fiction in the last few years with The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight, both set in England during the Black Death of 1348. Although I didn’t love either of those books, I did find them interesting, so I was keen to try her new one, The Swift and the Harrier, which is set in a completely different time period.

It’s 1642 and England is divided by civil war. On one side, the supporters of King Charles I; on the other, the Parliamentarians. In the middle, refusing to commit to either group, is Jayne Swift, a Dorset physician – although, as a woman, she is not allowed to officially give herself that title. The reason for her neutrality is that she values all human lives and doesn’t believe in denying treatment to someone in need just because they are the enemy. Most people, however, do take sides and Jayne finds that there are divisions within her own family.

Visiting her Puritan cousin in Dorchester one day, Jayne finds herself caught up in a crowd gathering to watch the hanging of some Catholic priests. She is rescued by a neighbour, Lady Alice Stickland, who introduces Jayne to her footman, William Harrier. Even on that first meeting, Jayne can’t help feeling that William doesn’t behave at all like a servant and, as their paths cross again and again, she begins to wonder who he really is. Footman, nobleman or soldier? Royalist or Parliamentarian? William is an enigma and Jayne must decide whether he can or cannot be trusted.

The Swift and the Harrier provides a wonderfully detailed depiction of life in the south of England during the Civil War. Real historical characters such as Oliver Cromwell and Prince Maurice (Charles I’s nephew) appear now and then and have a part to play in the story, but the main focus is on the ordinary people of Dorset and the impact the war has on them. I found the section of the book set during the Siege of Lyme Regis particularly interesting as I can’t remember reading much about it before, certainly not in as much detail as this.

However, I had difficulty believing in Jayne Swift as a 17th century woman. While I could accept the premise that she had received some medical training from a male physician friend, I felt it was completely unrealistic that she would be able to practise her medicine so openly in the 1640s. The challenges she faces in getting the men she meets to accept her as a doctor seem to be very easily overcome and there is no sense of the danger Jayne would surely be in due to the witch hunts sweeping England at that time, when women with even a basic knowledge of healing and herbal remedies were at risk of accusations of witchcraft. Although I did find the plot quite gripping and enjoyed getting to know William Harrier and some of the secondary characters such as Alice Stickland, the fact that I found Jayne and her circumstances so unconvincing stopped me from becoming fully absorbed in the story.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I've seen TV adaptions from this author but not actually read any of her books
A bit of a revelation for me actually

Loved this - loved the detail intrinsic here, great drawing of characters and loved the pace of the novel.
I couldn't put this down

Historical fiction at its best. Minette Walters' novels always make you feel you're walking alongside the protagonists, in this case Jayne Swift and William Harrier. Jayne remains neutral as one of the few women doctors of the period, treating casualties on both sides of the conflict. William's affiliation is a mystery at first. If you enjoyed The Ice House or The Scold's Bridle, you should enjoy this.

There was a point at the beginning of "The Swift and the Harrier" by Minette Walters where I thought I would have to give up and not carry on reading this historical novel as the execution scene was very gory. Luckily that was the only bit of true gore and you settle down to read how the Swift (Jayne) and the Harrier (William) intertwine their stories and lives. For me, the most interesting parts were when Jayne and her medical colleagues and friends treated the wounded rather than the background of the Civil War. A good book.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read; it's a journey through a turbulent time in English history and I really enjoyed the well-researched historical backdrop. There's also some great characters to follow, specifically Jayne Swift and William Harrier (with a complex and mysterious root to his character) who's relationship is a joy to follow, although there are many ups and downs. I really enjoyed the medical side to the story as well. Highly recommended.

An intriguing tale set against the background of the strife during the Civil War. There is the underlying romance between William , the harrier , and Jayne, the swift, in the title. Jayne is a woman ahead of her time striving to be a heroine and a physician and William is a soldier and man of mystery fighting for the cause of freedom during the epic struggle of the Civil War .

What a wonderful, really enjoyable book this is. It enabled me to cast away the cares of my everyday life and lose myself in the tale of Jayne, a female physician during the English Civil war. Because Jayne was allied to neither the Royalists or the Parliamentarians the story was told in such a way that the reader could make their own mind up about the rights and wrongs of the times. To say too much would give away much of the story, but Jayne and her family and the intriguing William and his family and friends captivated me for a good few pleasurable hours!

I’ve been an avid reader for a long time and a fan of historical and crime fiction for just as long so I’m not sure how I’ve never read any books before by Minette Walters. Anyway, this might be my first but it won’t be my last.

This is a broad sweeping historical novel set in the time of English Civil War and centred around beautiful Dorset. Having grown up in this part of the World I instantly felt the history come alive through her writing especially with the depictions of Dorchester and Lyme Regis. The authors understanding of people is shown perfectly in her writing as all of the characters are so well rounded and more importantly very human. There are so many strong female characters in this book and it celebrates the role that women played in history and particularly in the defence of their homes, and I am glad that they have taken their rightful place in history. One of my favourite relationships in this story is between Jayne and her father, the gruff Sir Henry, it is just charming in its way and brings humour to a very dark time in English history.

The joy of this book.
It is the story of Jayne Swift, daughter of Lord Henry who is a trained healer.
Our story begins in 1642 and we watch the course of the civil war through her eyes as she treads a neutral path caring for those injured in the terrible war.
At he same time Will Harrier is keeping an eye, but who is he really.
I loved the characters in this story.