The Fallen Princess

Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries #4

by Sarah Woodbury

Hallowmas 1144. With the harvest festival approaching, Gareth has returned from fighting in the south, hoping for a few months of peace with Gwen before the birth of their first child. But when an innocent foray to the beach turns up the murdered body of Prince Hywel’s long lost cousin, a woman thought to have run away with a Dane five years earlier, it is Gareth and Gwen who are charged with discovering her killer. The trail has long since gone cold, or so Gareth and Gwen think, until their investigation threatens to expose dangerous truths that everyone else from king to killer would prefer to keep buried.

No secret is safe, and no man, whether lord or peasant, can escape the spirit of Hallowmas in The Fallen Princess, the fourth Gareth and Gwen medieval mystery.

Other books in the series include The Bard’s Daughter, a prequel novella, and three novels: The Good Knight, The Uninvited Guest, and The Fourth Horseman.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Medieval, Historical, 12th Century

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2014

About the author

With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.

Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).


She makes her home in Oregon.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and relaxing murder mystery. I enjoyed the medieval setting in Wales, the power struggles, and the way of life. Finding a murderer in a time where questions & answers and logic are your only investigative device is interesting.

I haven't read the other books in this series and will look to find Book 1 and start there.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a dead body, long dried out, is found on the beach, Prince Hywel recognizes it as his long lost cousin who was supposed to have run off with a Dane. Gareth and Gwen will need all their skills to lead an investigation. When others are murdered, it becomes clear a murderer walks among them.

This was a delight to read. Again, the story is told alternating between Gareth and Gwen and Hywel. They each bring their own unique skills to the mystery, looking at things from different points of view. Gwen has to slow down because of her pregnancy but she doesn't let this keep her from asking questions.

The plot moved at a good pace. The challenge of trying to solve a five-year crime when so much ahs change and few people still there to remember the details clearly.

It was a fine addition to the series and I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Nance Roepke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. I found this book in the series the most unbelievable of all. I find Gwen's involvement in crimes to be hard to swallow. This was especially true in this book when Gwen is in the late stages a pregnancy. In this day and age, it wouldn't be so unbelievable but in those days women weren't running around putting themselves in danger. At least I don't think they would be. The other thing that I dislike about this entire series is the dialogue. It would go something like this:
I think Cadwallader should be a top suspect, said Gareth.
I agree, said Gwen.
Should we talk to him now, said Gareth.
I think we should wait, that Gwen.
I'm going to trust you on this, said Gareth.
Thank you, said Gwen.
I've made up the dialogue but I have not made up the fact that the characters make short declarative statements followed by he said or she said. The author can't even come up with another word for said. I think this is more of a young adult series. But I like the Medieval time period so may continue.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hywel and Gareth have returned to Aber for Hallomas, and hopefully, to be present when Gwen gave birth. Unfortunately, a body has been discovered on the beach. Gwen has been fetched since Hywel and Gareth are away at the moment. The body is desiccated and appears to have been dead for a number of years. Upon examining the body, Gwen finds a head wound and evidence of bleeding, she also recognizes the embroidery on the gown. When Hywel and Gareth arrive, Hywel recognizes the necklace and realizes it is his cousin, Tegwen, who everyone believed had run away with a Dane five years previously. And so another murder investigation begins. Before it is ended, there are more murders and a near miss as well as a fire.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good solid addition

I enjoy reading these books...well plotted great for teens through adults. Well researched and give us such a great feeling for the times they portray. A lesson in history and mystery! I recommend these for anyone who yearns to know more about Wales some Welsh language and folklore and about the Middle ages in the British Isles. These are highly entertaining and so well written and readable. I am so glad I found these. As a lover of Ellis Peters and Candace Robb and others who wrote of this time period..these admirably fit the bill for me. Thank you, Ms. Woodbury!

[Meg]

I am totally hooked! I really love Sarah Woodbury’s books. The mystery, the attention to historical details, and her believable characters all make for a truly great read.
The Fallen Princess ( book 4 of the Gareth & Gwen series) had me baffled. All through the book I kept changing my mind as to the culprit. I did get it right in the end-as did our medieval sleuths.
Don’t pick this up if you have something else to do because you won’t be able to put it down.

[Chrissey Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this fourth book in the series slightly more than book 3, The Fourth Horseman, because it was slightly easier to follow. There's some great sleuthing and problem solving by the characters, and the Hallowmass setting really adds to the atmosphere of the book.
However it did feel like the last third had been stretched out with unrelated plot points.

Overall, a great story.
[I listened to the audio book version]

[Sandra Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

All of Sarah Woodbury's books are awesome. Yet, I think the Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mysteries are my favorite. I start each one with the idea that I will make it last, yet once started I cannot stop! I get board easily and usually have a mystery solved before the end of a movie or book, but Sarah seems to catch me by surprise. In this book I almost had it, the end almost right, well done Sarah, well done!

[Clay Yearsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun medieval mystery

This 4th entry (5th if you count the short prequel) of the Gwen and Gareth mysteries is a quick read. The mystery is satisfying. There is growth with all the main characters, making them seem like real people. My favorite part, though, is the setting. I enjoy learning about life in medieval Wales: the weather, the running of a kingdom, the customs.
Highly recommended, but read them in order to better understand the characters.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fallen Princess by Sarah Woodbury is a medieval mystery set in 1144 Wales. Gareth and Gwen are hoping for peace with a baby on the way—until a woman’s body washes up on shore. Turns out, she’s a royal who disappeared years ago.

As they dig into the murder, old secrets surface, and danger creeps closer. It’s got royal drama, sharp detective work, and a touch of festival eeriness.

Perfect if you love smart whodunits with a historical twist!

[Laura Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Sarah Woodbury books| ~ all her series!! I enjoy her attention to the historical detail. I get easily bored by the predictability of some books - hers always keep me guessing - love that. They’re quick reads And always, always leave me wanting more. Pick one up!! You won’t be able to put it down.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of an excellent mystery series set in medieval Wales. The mummified body of a Welsh princess is found on the beach, left there in the night by a horse drawn cart. She was believed to have run off with a Dane five years before, but that doesn't appear to have been the case. Gareth, his wife Gwen and Prince Hywel investigate.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1144. A desiccated body is found on a beach. It is identified as Princess Tegwen, who was thought to have run away with a Dane five years previously. Prince Hywel, her cousin, investigates with the help of Gareth and Gwen.
Another entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable characters

[Cynthia Darby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love & Perseverance

Gareth & Gwen always bring a smile! The poignant story of a lost princess, coupled with the hunt for her killer provides the excitement. The love & trust between Gwen, Gareth, & Hwyel bring the smiles & the intrigue! I love these characters & the world they inhabit!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but these things follow a formula, so I suspect that doesn't matter much. There was enough information from previous escapades to fill in what I had missed. Very much like all other couple-solving-murders series, except it takes place in 1400 Wales and includes a bit of historical information.

[Sian Iola Percival · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running out of ways to describe these books each one is amazing, full of detail and mystery as well as backgrounds for the main characters. So happy I discovered these books, and a great way to start of the year.

[Rhonda Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of historical fiction and love all the detail and speculation that she writes. Detail in people, positions, locations, building structures and textiles. Speculation in relationships, death and discovery.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as the three previous books.

[Pat Welte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series by Sarah Woodbury, it is complicated and a fun read.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Woodbury is an excellent story teller with great characters band compelling plots.

[Jena Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adictted

I always love a good mystery and this one is no exception! Characters and plot are strong and I love how she keeps you guessing!

[Kelly Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the book “solved” in my mind differently than it turned out. I enjoy the personalities and the unfolding of the mysteries.

[Wendy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable instalment of the ongoing series. A fun diversion for the current circumstances with good setting and characters.

[JoAnn Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me guessing. I have enjoyed all of the books in the series so far.

[Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot if sympathy for the victim. There was a lot going on in this story.

[Glenys Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Have just started book 5. Highly Recommended.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another intriguing mystery with an entirely surprising ending. Extremely enjoyable.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and intrigue abound here, but I enjoy the main characters.