In Silas and the Black Mare … Bødker left her hero making a clean getaway with Ben-Godik after craftily retrieving his stolen mare from greedy villagers. Now, in two equally strong sequels, she follows his subsequent fortunes as a wanderer on the road with Ben-Godik in Silas and Ben-Godik and as an independent adventurer in Silas and the Runaway Coach. The harsh environment in the first book hasn't improved any in these two additions. Again poverty is rife and adults too often not to be trusted…. Bødker's characters, whether good or evil, are memorable, and Silas in particular continues to awe with his cool self-possession and wise-beyond-years abilities to deal with people—both these traits believable in light of his circus years described in the Black Mare book. More first-rate picaresque adventure.