The Reckoning

Written by Jane Casey

Narrated by Caroline Lennon

To the public, he's a hero: a killer who targets convicted paedophiles.

Two men are dead already — tortured to death.

Even the police don't regard the cases as a priority. Most feel that two dead paedophiles is a step in the right direction.

But to DC Maeve Kerrigan, no one should be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Young and inexperienced, Kerrigan wants to believe that murder is murder no matter what the sins of the victim. Only, as the killer's violence begins to escalate, she is forced to confront exactly how far she's prepared to go to ensure justice is served...

A Random House UK audio production.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House UK Audio
• Release date: Nov 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781448116843

Jane Casey

JANE CASEY is the author of the Maeve Kerrigan novels (Let the Dead Speak, After the Fire) and the Jess Tennant Mysteries (Hide and Seek, Bet Your Life). A graduate of Oxford she also has received a M. Phil from Trinity College, Dublin. Born and raised in Dublin, she lives in London where she works as an editor.

Reviews for The Reckoning

[helenliz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 Follow on from "Falls the Shadow". Picks up after a gap of 5 years, and concentrates on the story of Llewelyn and the end of an independant Wales. I'm left with the urge the give Edward I a massive thump for being so blinkered and almost hypocritical, as well as to give David (Llewelyn's younger brother) a dammed good slapping for being both such a schemer and so very naieve at one and the same time. Terribly sad in lots of places, and the ending is very bleak. I'm torn between wanting Llewelyn and wales to survive and knowing that they don't. But it is a good read.

[magemanda · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The Reckoning" is the third book in the trilogy concentrating on the final days of Wales as a truly independent country from England. It links most closely to "Falls the Shadow", continuing the tale of the de Montfort family and the princes of Wales. In this tale - once again sweeping through years of historical events - we see Edward tightening his hold on Wales. Most of his predecessors had looked to the continent - to take control of Anjou and Poitou and Aquitaine, and the many other principalities that now form modern-day France. Edward was more than happy to consolidate his hold on the other countries that now form the United Kingdom - at the time, the Scottish King already paid homage to Edward as a liege lord and he was looking to Llewelyn to do the same.Edward uses heavy-handed methods to achieve his goals, including imprisoning Llewelyn's bride - Ellen, the daughter of Simon de Montfort - and turning Davydd (Llewelyn's ambitious and loyally ambiguous brother) against him.This was a much improved story (although I do dislike using the word 'story' when referring to historical fiction, since the events have at least a basis in fact) in comparison to "Falls the Shadow". There were strong and memorable characters, and the central love story between Llewelyn and Ellen is very sweetly written - since you end up feeling much empathy for the characters due to the way in which Edward deals with them, the very tragic ending to their relationship is all the more heartbreaking. I had some minor complaints about the story - having said how sweet the love is between Llewelyn and Ellen, it is also a little cloying at times; the characters that Penman wrote herself with no basis in fact can be easily told from those who actually inhabited history; and sometimes Davydd's motives can be hard to comprehend being as he was from such a different age.Having said that, these are very minor issues and overall this is a very strong novel from Penman.

[soliloquies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The final book in the trilogy which sees the annihilation of the Welsh Princes. Llewellyn ap Gruffydd faces battles with his brothers (most notably Daffydd) and the English King as he struggles to retain control of Wales. Fantastic writing from Penman.

[misfit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book. Along with an engrossing story I learned much about English history that I had never heard of before. I have to admit, some of the things that came up during the courtship/marriage of Llewellen and Ellen seemed absolutely bizarre, and then I searched the internet on these characters and they did actually happen. Edward I was and is an absolute two timing double faced snake in the grass!! I won't give it away, but a scene at the end of the book was so heartbreaking I literally cried for about 10-15 minutes. I can't recall any other book affecting me so. This was an awesome series, Here by Dragons, Falls the Shadow and the Reckoning.

[amandab18 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The conclusion to Penmans Welsh trilogy. As a history lover and as a person with Welsh roots I have to say that I absolutely loved this series. Historically accurate and thoroughly compelling, while revealing the harshness of the 13th century.

[aapjebaapje · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

1271-1283. I can’t believe that the book only covers 12 years – there’s so much information and character development packed in. It is a huge book (over 500 pages) but every one is important. Just like “Falls the Shadow” I had close links with the characters based in North Wales as I holiday in Anglesey every year and know the area very well which brought the book alive in a way that added an extra dimension. I have now started reading “The Sunne in Splendour” but am missing the link between 1283 and the start of this next book in Ms Penman’s offering. There’s a bit of a hiccup in the family saga and I hope that she fills in the gap soon because her style brings the Middle Ages alive.

[writestuff_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

No one writes historical Fiction like Penman. Great read.