The latest instalment in the Oxford mystery series is a cracking story centred on the conflict between town and gown. Non has developed as a strong willed character, not quite abandoning her academic dreams, nor her Welsh roots but now pursuing a burgeoning career as a journalist and learning to choose her battles more carefully. She continutes to be terrier like in her quest to seek justice for a young woman accused of soliciting an undergraduate and uncovers a sinister secret society within the colleges of Oxford. Basil is tasked with solving a spate of attacks on undergraduates and inevitably the two cases are soon linked. As Non seeks to expose the miscreants Basil must try to protect the reputation of the University which leads to spirited argument and a fast paced plot. Tarley makes a welcome return as Non’s steadying protector while her conscience plays havoc with her loyalties and emotions in the form of her dead twin sister Angharad.
The story flips between the narratives of Non and Basil frequently leaving each on the type of cliffhanger that makes you read on and on. As the story unfolds, tension rises and it becomes a race to break the stiff upper lips to reveal the truth. The streets of Oxford play an imporant role as the hunting ground - I hope a map is included - and it is clear that the author has done her research both historically and geographically. There is plenty of human interest here too and a lot of care has been taken to present a story and a cast of characters, some from real life, that are both entertaining and thoroughly believable. Alis Hawkins is a terrific storyteller, the reader is plunged straight into a compulsive read from the start and it is very difficult to stop. I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Alis Hawkins’ The Hunters Club is more than a historical mystery—it’s a morally complex meditation on truth, trust, and the power of grassroots resistance. In this third installment of the Teifi Valley Coroner series, Hawkins tightens the narrative lens on community fractures and forensic sleuthing in 1850s Wales, delivering a richly textured and emotionally grounded investigation that feels as modern in its urgency as it is rooted in the past.

When the mutilated body of a well-known landowner turns up near Tregaron, coroner Harry Probert-Lloyd and his assistant, John Davies, are forced into a case that exposes not only a killer but the darkest undercurrents of rural tension—namely, the secretive activities of the titular “Hunters Club.” As the case evolves, it becomes clear this isn’t just about one man’s death, but about the hidden networks of power, violence, and marginalization that shape the lives of the working poor.

Hawkins is particularly adept at showing the friction between Welsh cultural identity and English legal authority, embedding historical detail without overwhelming the reader. The setting itself breathes and bleeds—it’s not just atmospheric, it’s politically alive.

One of the novel’s most compelling elements is its dual protagonist dynamic. Harry is dogged and principled but increasingly aware of the limits of the justice system he serves. Davies, by contrast, is a conduit for the emotional resonance of the story—empathetic, quietly radical, and the lens through which readers see the cost of violence borne by those outside institutional power.

The writing is restrained yet piercing, with moments of understated lyricism that invite reflection. Hawkins doesn’t settle for neat resolutions. Every revelation comes at a price, and moral clarity is hard-won, if it’s achieved at all.

The Hunters Club draws a clear line between historical injustice and contemporary resonance. The titular club becomes a symbol of elite impunity cloaked in secrecy, echoing current concerns about hidden influence and systemic inequality. But this isn’t just political commentary—it’s a story about people trying, and often failing, to do the right thing under immense pressure.

The novel also continues Hawkins’ exploration of male vulnerability and intellectual companionship—refreshingly nuanced in a genre often reliant on lone-wolf detectives or overused tropes.

In The Hunters Club, Hawkins doesn’t just write about crime—she dissects justice. Her historical mysteries are stitched with a contemporary heart, challenging readers not only to solve the case, but to question what justice looks like when the law bends to power. It’s a story of resistance, imperfect reckonings, and quiet courage—a book that lingers like the echo of footsteps in a wet valley at dusk.

Another wonderful story with Basil and Non in Oxford! The stories keep getting better and better. This particular one is complex and engaging but does come with trigger warnings. Basil and Non are fully well rounded characters at this point, and the introduction of Ms Skene was great. Another brilliant book from Alis Hawkins!