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Those Who Go By Night

Review

Those Who Go By Night

Bottesford is a small English village where nothing much happens outside of the millworker getting drunk and stumbling home on a regular basis. So when a local beggar is murdered in the village church, it catches the eye of the Bishop of Lincoln. It also attracts the attention of the Pope’s Inquisitor General, who shows up to do his own investigation.

Thomas Lester, a former soldier who is now a church representative, is sent by the bishop to investigate. By the time he arrives at Bottesford, the investigation is already underway by Friar Justus of the Dominican Order and an emissary of the Inquisition, who believes there is something sinister going on in the village that must be brought out into the light.

"If you are looking for a new read, love mysteries, and like a bit of the supernatural mixed in, THOSE WHO GO BY NIGHT is a good pick. It’s a fast read that will fully absorb you in the story."

Thomas’ investigation takes a much different turn than that of the Friar’s, and what he discovers will challenge the church and its beliefs --- and maybe even a few of his own beliefs as well. He also doesn’t feel the sinister vibe that the Friar does, or at least not one connected to the figurative devil. What Thomas uncovers can be directly attributed to a human, and it’s not a far stretch of the imagination to say that a devil, of sorts, is in the village.

Historical fiction set in the 14th century hits a sweet spot for me. Add some witches and a mystery to that mixture, and you have a book that checks all my "like" boxes. THOSE WHO GO BY NIGHT is full of interesting characters and makes you want to know what happens to them even after the last page has been turned. I was fully engrossed in the story, wanting to know what would transpire in this small village and wondering if the Inquisition would be dragging people out of their homes and accusing them of witchcraft.

While the villagers may escape the grip of the church’s full inquisitorial power, you’ll be left wondering if everything that happened was as clean and simple as everyone thought. That’s one reason why I adore mysteries with a supernatural element to them. This one hit the right balance, letting the supernatural feel very real, but also served as a reminder that some things in life can’t be explained or are outside of the human imagination.

If you are looking for a new read, love mysteries, and like a bit of the supernatural mixed in, THOSE WHO GO BY NIGHT is a good pick. It’s a fast read that will fully absorb you in the story.

Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski on December 7, 2018

Those Who Go By Night
by Andrew Gaddes