This third book in the King's Hounds series was not quite as good as the previous two. I continue to like the setting in King Cnut's England but missed the glossary that the first book had -- there were some unfamiliar terms. The mystery was well done & while reasonable, it wasn't predictable. So why did I feel slightly let down? I think that it was the relationship between the narrator, Halfdan, and his employer & partner in detection Winston. Winston's woman Alfrida played a much bigger role in this one & Winston was much more in the background -- that didn't work as well as the previous partnership in my opinion. ( )

1018 and on Cnut's instructions Winston and Halfdan are on their way to Hampton to determine what Jarl Thorkell, Cnut's sworn man is doing. On the way they meet up with some farmers, who are on the way to Thetford, to seek justice in the local court. So they join them to see if they can find out any information concerning Thorkell at Thetford. But a body is soon found and they are asked to investigate.
Another enjoyable mystery concerning this duo helped by Alfilda, Winston’s woman. A re-read. ( )

This is the third novel in the author's trilogy beginning with The King's Hounds, and set in King Canute's England of 1018. The plot centres around a series of murders arising from a court case where a rapist perjured himself to go free, was rather convoluted and didn't seem to me as effective as the plots of the first two novels. The novel contains the same essential strengths and weaknesses as its predecessors; the narrator, half-Saxon, half Danish Halfdan is well drawn, as is Alfilda, the female companion of Halfdan's master Winston the Illuminator, though the latter has become rather irritating. The main flaw of the novels continues to be the dialogue which just sounds too modern, whether that is a feature of the original Danish, or of the US English translation (looking at the translator's website, I suspect the latter). According to the author's (Danish language) website, there are three further novels in this series, but these do not seem to have been translated into English yet. Canute's England is a fascinating backdrop for a historical novel series, but for me these are not as effective as they might have been. ( )

Winston has settled in Peterborough with Alfilda (his 'woman') but his companion Halfdan is restless. King Cnut wants to travel home as he has the opportunity of joining several kingdoms together but is concerned that in his absence Jarl Torkell will attempt a coup. He charges his 'hounds', Winston and Halfdan, to go to St Edmund's Town to see what they can discover. However during their journey they become embroiled in the murder of a rich farmer during the annual Thetford market.

Many reviews of this book focus on the translation rather than the sheer exuberance of the plot. OK the translation isn't perfect but Jensen's ability to entertain shouldn't be discredited by a little gripe like this. The Anglo-Saxon times were complex politically with different factions vying to control England. In this period, the early 11th Century, King Cnut ruled Denmark as well as England and society was comprised of different ethnic groups. Halfdan is so named because he is half Saxon and half Dane. In addition society was complex and the rule of law was applied in terms related to position in society, thanes were the nobility and the lowest were slaves. This is important to the plot of 'A Man's Word'. I really enjoyed the last book in this series and I really enjoyed this one. ( )

This third book in the King's Hounds series was not quite as good as the previous two. I continue to like the setting in King Cnut's England but missed the glossary that the first book had -- there were some unfamiliar terms. The mystery was well done & while reasonable, it wasn't predictable. So why did I feel slightly let down? I think that it was the relationship between the narrator, Halfdan, and his employer & partner in detection Winston. Winston's woman Alfrida played a much bigger role in this one & Winston was much more in the background -- that didn't work as well as the previous partnership in my opinion. ( )