Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite

A. M. Linden’s novel, The Sheriff: The Druid Chronicles, Book Three, is a mix of intriguing historical fiction and fantasy, set in early medieval Britain in the eighth century. The story is set in two neighboring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Atheldom and Derthwald. The central character is Stefan, whose childhood home was in Derthwald. When Stefan is 12, his father sends him to the kingdom of Atheldom to train as a soldier. Stefan becomes a captain in the king’s army. After several successful military campaigns, he is sent to the shire of Codswallow to serve as King Athelrod’s sheriff. Stefan’s responsibilities include maintaining Codswallow’s safety and security, and the collection of tolls, fees, and taxes to be paid to the king. At the time, a band of outlaws controls the area. Stefan suspects that the shire’s master, Sedgwick, is in league with the outlaws. At risk to his own life, Jonathan, the innkeeper of the well-run and popular inn, the Sleeping Dragon, agrees to help him identify the outlaw leader. The suspense rises when Stefan is summoned by the king of Derthwald to find Princess Aleswina, who is to marry the king, and who has mysteriously disappeared from the Abbey of Saint Edith.

​I thoroughly enjoyed reading A. M. Linden’s mesmerizing and very imaginative The Sheriff for its great characters, intricate subplots, and atmospheric worldbuilding. I particularly enjoyed Stefan's character development as he faces two very different challenges. I liked how he uses his leadership experiences in the army to outwit and outmaneuver the outlaws. I thoroughly enjoyed the substories that are interwoven in a story-within-a-story approach. Stefan, the lives of key secondary characters, and the major storylines sprang to life for me. I also enjoyed the character development of the innkeeper Jonathan, his kindness, and how he helps the travelers who stop at his inn. For me, the story gained great depth through how the past and present connect overall. The result of the multistory approach and different characters made for a rich, atmospheric, immersive, and very imaginative tale. I enjoyed the suspense and tension of Stefan’s search for Princess Aleswina. I loved the richly detailed settings and descriptions of the Codswallow region, the annual town fair, and the Abbey in Derthwald. I loved the wit and humor that flows through the narration as well as in the dialogues and character descriptions. I highly recommend The Sheriff to readers who enjoy historical fiction.