Robin Blake gives us the tenth Cragg and Fidelis historical mystery Spoiler's Prey. Coroner Titus Cragg has come to remote Ingolside to determine how John Lavenham, a specialist in documents, who is helping the squire enclose the fields, died after a fire and possible shooting. Dr. Fidelis, his colleague, completes the autopsy and indicates possible murder. The jury is called and complexities occur in the evidence. What is really happening in this 1748 intrigue? Great read.

A solid and well plotted historical mystery. There's plenty of twists and I was glad to catch with the MCs
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “Spoiler’s Prey.” All opinions and comments are my own.

A cunning plan is at the heart of the goings-on in “Spoiler’s Prey,” the ninth in the Cragg and Fidelis historical mystery series of books written by Robin Blake, set in an English village populated by, in this case, a bunch of unhappy and destructive people. And the solution to this tale of deception and greed will task the intellectual skills of Titus Cragg, the county coroner and his good friend, physician Luke Fidelis, who’s on the scene to tend Mrs. Lumsden, who indicates in no uncertain terms that it is she who “rules” over the local countryside, although there are those who may have other ideas.

There’s been a fire, and a man has died, an outsider who’s there to upset the time-honored method of land-holding. And the villagers make it quite clear they’re not happy about other outsiders doing any kind of investigating. Underneath all this is the clear fact that everyone hates the Squire, Mrs. Lumsden’s son, whose avarice wants to ensure the taking over of the land hereabouts, to his benefit, of course. ‘Tis “madness to change the old ways of farming” is the gist of the dissent. Has murder been done? That’s what Cragg and Fidelis need to decide, in “Spoiler’s Prey,” and a twisted path it is.

But there’s something even more diabolical at the heart of this, and that’s discovered soon enough, when more people and more clues turn up -- and another death is recorded. Author Blake is a master of imagination and inventiveness, and knows how to use the temper of the times; we are in 1748 Britain -- to echo the turmoil when people rebel against “a tide of improvement.”

And at the end, we have an explanation, of how, and why, especially why, it was all done. Messrs. Cragg and Fidelis have another entry in their expanding history of “strange and stranger.” “Spoiler’s Prey” will entice you with an intriguing story that is also enlightening for the time and place.

I like these novels. The humane and modest coroner Titus Cragg and his more flamboyant ally Doctor Luke Fidelis make a fascinating team. Set on the edge of the Lake District in 1748, rural life in the area is undergoing radical change as common land is being fenced off in the interests of the aristocracy and wealthier farmers. There is much disquiet among the poorer classes and violence is simmering. On the death of an agent acting in the interest of the local landlord, Cragg must investigate as coroner, to ascertain if a crime has been committed. He is restricted by the natural reticence of the locals, but patiently gathers witnesses and follows the evidence.

What I enjoyed best about this novel is the entirely plausible focus on the social history of the period. There is drama, yes, not least with a bare-knuckle boxing match and also the search for a local wolf, but the painstaking approach of Cragg convinces this reader, at least, of the fundamental decency of most people in whatever age.

I'd not read the earlier books in this series but that didn't matter- this is a fine historical mystery with interesting characters. Set in 1748, the murder mystery circles around changes in land ownership and use in a small English village. I liked that a coroner and a doctor team up to find the villain. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read - I'll look for Blake again.

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.