What's not to like? An enjoyable and entertaining book. Historical fiction, with some interesting history of how inquests were first set up. It kept me reading until the last page. I thought it had really good characters, I especially thought the main character was really likable and well drawn.

Spoiler's Prey is my first Cragg and Fidelis mystery, although it's the 9th volume in Robin Blake's historical mystery series. I'm withholding judgement on the series and intend to try one or two more volumes, but Spoiler's Prey didn't leave me hungry for more.

On the one hand—
• the novel takes place in an interesting period when much of the common land was being enclosed and those who had farmed their rows on the common plots and hunted in the common woods were facing the prospect of becoming wage laborers. Common plots and woods were being converted t grassland for pasturing sheep for mutton—leaving those who would soon be working for paltry wages unable to produce or hunt the small amounts of food that might help their families make it through difficult year
• the tension among faiths at the time—distrust of those who are still Catholics and the burgeoning of what would ultimately become the Methodist church—is given some play

On the other hand—
• the central characters—particularly Fidelis (a doctor) and Cragg (a coroner)—come across as oddly dispassionate; they're fulfilling their societal roles, but don't show the kind of fervor one might expect of them, especially given the changing and volatile times in which they live
• the machinations of of the Lord hoping to enrich himself via enclosure aren't treated as problematic by the Fidelis and Cragg, but just accepted with little thought about their larger impact

I do intend to read another one or two volumes in this series to get a feel for its scope and development across time, but I don't know yet whether I'll be trying to hunt down all eight volumes I haven't yet read. I would need more motivation than I got from Spoiler's Prey on its own to make that sort of commitment.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

A very enjoyable and entertaining book. Historical fiction at it's absolute best, with a believable plot, substantial, well-rounded characters and a thoroughly likeable main protagonist. What's not to like? There is not one negative, and for me that is recommendation enough.

Set in 1748 The County Coroner is on the Kings behalf to have an inquest into suspicious deaths in the village of Ingolside.
Coroner Titus Cragg must uncover the truth. The enclosed village community against the changes of the local squire does not help his cause.
There is much to uncover in this complicated plot.
The setting of the story and how inquests were first set up keeps you interested till the last page.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.