Fear In The Forest

C12th Devon. Much of the country lies under the iron rule of the Royal Forest laws; with all hunting reserved to the King. The penalty for killing a deer on the King's land is mutilation or death. These harsh laws are rigorously upheld by the King's foresters; notorious for their greed and corruption. June 1195. A tall; brown mare gallops into the sleepy village of Sigford; its rider dragged by the stirrup; the broken shaft of an arrow protruding from his back. The embroidered badge on the dead man's tunic identifies him as a senior officer of the Royal Forest. But; with plenty of money still in the victim's purse; the motive is a mystery. When a second forest officer is violently attacked; Sir John de Wolfe begins to uncover evidence of a sinister conspiracy. And why is his unscrupulous brother-in-law; the sheriff Sir Richard de Revelle; taking such an interest in the case?