Product Description
When Shrewsbury Castle falls during a war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Brother Caedfael makes another grim discovery--a strangled corpse lying among the dead--and vows to find the murderer. Reprint. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Brother Cadfael series
The Brother Cadfael series appeals to me as it ties in with both my Welsh background and my long term interest in Genealaogy.The names Ellis Peters used are all familiar as they appear in my family tree and I see [some of] them as old friends.Really old friends.She tells fine tales, uniquely.

Fun, light read
I just discovered the Brother Cadfael series and have found them to be fun murder mysteries as well as a great escape back to an earlier time.The books are short, exciting, and full of little tidbits about living during the latter half of the Middle Ages in England.The characters are a bit on the extreme side - extremely good or extremely evil - but, in a way, that makes for a more relaxing read.It's possible that the formula will get old as the series progresses, but if and until that happens, I plan to keep getting them from the library.

There is Sherlock Holmes and then there is Brother Cadfael
Set in 1138, Shrewsbury England, during the Anarchy; a battle for the crown between Empress Maud and her cousin, King Shephen. Shrewsbury is home to Shrewsbury Castle and Shrewsbury Abbey. Brother Cadfael is a monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey who is practical, worldly, and has come to the cloth, later in life. He's also inquisitive, thoughtful, just, and experienced, with many ways of the lay world, and thus, understands the common man.He's unmoved by political stature, and refuses to involve himself in matters of the war between Empress Maud and King Stephen. Brother Cadfael, also a self-trained Herbalist/Alchemist, has situated his interest on his herb garden, and his personal devotion to God. He's not happy that the civil war has affected Shrewsbury, in more ways than he cares to notice but it has robbed him of two of his usual helpers. He therefore welcomes the assistance of the Abbey's newest potential novice, Godric. Brother Cadfael immediately notices something peculiar about Godric; Godric has a secret, and Brother Cadfael keeps Godric away from the other novices by assigning him to tend to and sleep in his workshop.
King Stephen's army has moved into Shrewsbury, and lays claim to the castle. The castle is being held by Empress Maud's staunch supporters, Adeney & Fitzalan, along with a garrison of loyal rebels but King Stephan's army quickly seizes it. All those who defended the castle are executed at King Stephen's orders but Adeney & Fitzalan escape during the siege, and are on the run. The Abbot is horrified, not only by the execution but also by the manner in which the bodies are disposed. He requests that those executed be given a Christian burial, and King Stephen assents. The Abbot asks Brother Cadfael to head up the preparation as Cadfael has had experience as a Soldier in the Crusades. Brother Cadfael agrees. The bodies have all been laid out, shrouded and the next step is to make them available for claim from their families before the final blessing and burial. He then counts the corpses, while the number 94 has been lodged into his memory, Brother Cadfael counts 95 corpses. Who is this extra corpse, and why has he been hidden amongst the others executed? Perhaps Brother Cadfael's new novice can be of help; and then comes a nobleman, Hugh Beringar, who has recently changed loyalty from Empress Maud's camp to that of King Stephan's. He's a former associate of Maud's loyal ringleaders, Adeney & Fitzalan, and also the former fiancé of Adeney's daughter. It has been rumored that Adeney's daughter is still somewhere in Shrewsbury. "Bring me Adeney's daughter, as a token of your loyalty" are King Stephan's orders to Hugh Beringar. Brother Cadfael is not impressed with Hugh Beringar's clever quips, handsome appearance, dalliances, and constant questions. Who is this Hugh Beringar, and where do his loyalties truly lie?
I have read 17 of the 19 (or 20?) Brother Cadfael books, and "One Corpse Too Many," is truly one of the best of the series. In fact, if you have not read any one of the Brother Cadfael books, I recommend starting with "One Corpse Too Many" rather than "A Morbid Taste for Bones", the first in the series.

Count of the dead does add up
The late Ellis Peters (Edith Pargerer) left readers with the delightful medieval series of Father Cadfael. ONE CORPSE TOO MANY is the second in the series, which is set during the period of Queen Maud and King Stephen both of whom were grandchildren. Stephen is securing his kingdom against the supports of Maud and many families are split in their allegiance.
After a battle for control of Shrewsbury Castle, King Stephen decrees that the remain 94 men who defended the castle be executed by hanging. But when the bodies are prepared for burial there are 95, which is one too many. Father Cadfael discovers that the unidentified body was strangled by a fishing line and turn-knob, this man was murdered and his body dump with the others to escape discovery of the crime. The good father shoulders the burden of finding the killer and giving shelter to a young boy.
A good read for anyone who loves a well written mystery.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Cadfael is always a very good read.
First Sentence:Brother Cadfael was working in the small kitchen garden by the abbot's fishponds when the boy was first brought to him.

There is civil war in England as King Stephen and Empress Maud fight for the throne.A young man, who is not, has been brought to the abbey and placed in Cadfael's care.Shrewsbury Castle falls to the forces of Stephen leaving 94 men to the hangman.Brother Cadfael, having been a soldier in the first crusade and seeing much worse, offers to care for and bury the dead.However, there is a 95th body and it's clear to Cadfael that it is a case of murder.

Aside from the portent at the beginning, which I always hate, I enjoyed this book.Peters creates a strong sense of time and place.She provides a clear, succinct summary of the historical events of the time.The dialogue conveys the feel of the period without slowing the pace of the book.

Her characters are very well drawn.I like the element of Cadfael's "street sense" amongst the clerical community and his ability to reason things through.I also like that her women are strong, smart characters.

I wouldn't read a lot of the Cadfael together, but they are delightful books to pick up when a reliably good read is needed.

ONE CORPSE TOO MANY (Hist. Mys-Brother Cadfael-England-1138) - VG
Peters, Ellis (aka Edith Pargeter) - 2nd in series
The Mysterious Press, 1979, US Paperback, ISBN:0446400513 ... Read more

Product Description
Medieval Benedictine monk Brother Cadfael leaves Shrewsbury to rescue his thirty-year-old secret son, who has been taken prisoner in the Civil War between Empress Maud and her cousin, King Stephen. Reprint. K. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

The war between fathers and sons
This book is the final one in the Brother Cadfael series, and gratefully brought to full circle Cadfael's adventures with his son Oliver. In Virgin in the Ice, Cadfael learns at the end of the adventure of Oliver's existence, and in The Pilgram of Hate, Cadfael admits to his friend Sheriff Hugh Beringar that Oliver is his son. But now, in the final creation of Ellis Peters, Cadfael learns that Sir Oliver has been taken hostage and no one knows his whereabouts, and Cadfael leaves his order in search of his son and the solution of not one but two murders. The ending of this story is absolutely brilliant, and there is a scene with Earl Robert and his son Phillip that makes me cry everytime I read it.The theme is fathers and sons, and the story will warm your heart.It was the fitting end to a masterful murder mystery series!

a good cultural education
I do enjoy a good mystery story.This one happens to be before the rise of the King Henry's.It is a bit fuzzy when it is, but there is a civil war going on over who should be king of England and Brother Cadfael gets into the middle of it, though, to be sure, he has nothing to do with the culmination of it (that is outside the bounds of the story).
Brother Cadfael has a son who gets captured by one side of the war and is being held incognito.The important part of this book is that Mr. Ellis gives a good cultural education throughout.You learn of the various prayers and times to be praying; you learn that the Welsh are not adverse to having and acknowledging illegitimate children; and you learn the structure and discipline brothers live under.It is quite entertaining.
Brother Cadfael has to find out what has happened to his son and what may be done for him.He takes leave from the monastery to go with the Lord of the realm he abides in to a conference where he hopes to find some information about his son. A murder occurs and the wrong person is accused, as well as no information about his son is forthcoming, so he traipses on to further adventures.He saves people from treachery, he finds his son and frees him, etc., etc.
The most unfinished business is that of why was his son captured and kept incognito?I do not remember coming across the answer to that, but still, the book told a good story and it was fun to read.

The Best was saved for Last
I have reviewed many of these in this series in the last few days as I try to finish the series before the end of 2008. Well one to go, but after this, the penultimate, can it get better? If you can get past that there is little need for a mystery, for the body is truly a device to continue the action of what is a first rate historical.

We have spent twenty tales with Cadfael and Hugh and the others of the times. We have Bishop de Clinton, and Earl Beaumont, and even King Stephen. Now we meet Empress Maud but more importantly her nephew Phillip. The tale of what takes place in and around the events of the Coventry Peace conference of 1145 and how Cadfael and Hugh find their way there and the actions that Cadfael must see to of a personal nature is worth the price of admission.

The body, the murder is not important. We have 19 tales that have set this up to be what Pargeter, what Peters seems to do better, give us the setting of this civil war and a story to encompass it. This is the must read of the series.

The heart has its reasons
Finally, I have to say goodbye to a dearly loved friend, Brother Cadfael of the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul, after this, the 20th chronicle. When Cadfael learns that his son, Olivier, has been taken prisoner after the seige and fall of Faringdon castle, he also learns that his captor refuses to release him for a ransom, as he has done with all of the other prisoners. Cadfael is determined to secure his release at all costs and begs leave of the Abbot to travel to Coventry to attend the conference between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, so as to beg for help for Olivier. The Abbot grants him a short leave of absence but stipulates that he must return in a week or consider himslf recused, having failed to keep his monastic vows. Even with this heavy penalty hanging over him, Cadfael knows that he cannot leave his son languishing in a dungeon, and offers his life in return for Olivier's. With the help of Yves Hugonin, scion of a noble family and now brother-in-law to Olivier, Cadfael gains entrance to the castle where he makes the offer of an exchange of his life for Olivier's to Philip of Gloucester, lately of the Empress's court and now an adherent of King Stephen, in this perpetually changing war which is devastating the country. This is a really action packed story with seiges, seige weapons, treachery and murder included...a fine way to farewell an old friend!

A moving exploration of tangled loves and loyalties
"If you go further and delay longer, then you go as your own man, none of mine. Without my leave or blessing."
"Without your prayers?"
"Have I said so?"
"Father, it is written in the Rule that the brother who by his own wrong choice has left the monastery may be received again, even to the third time, at a price. Even penance ends when you shall say: It is enough!"
- Radulfus and Cadfael, discussing Cadfael's leave of absence herein

This book contains a major spoiler for THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE, which introduced two characters appearing in this book, and a spoiler for THE HOLY THIEF that the reader might miss.

Several illegitimate sons figure prominently in this book, all great men in one way or another:
- Robert of Gloucester, the empress' chief supporter and half-brother, who would have been king had he been legitimate. While Robert himself is only on stage briefly, his relationship with the empress is the motive for her actions in the final section of the book. - Robert's son Philip FitzRobert, who recently shocked everyone by repudiating his allegiance to the empress and going over to the king, taking an entire castle and its garrison with him after his father ignored his pleas for support during a siege.
- Geoffrey FitzClare, one of Philip's chief captains in Cricklade, whose seal was set first to the surrender.
- One obscure knight of Philip's following, now held prisoner and not offered for ransom: Olivier de Bretagne.

A list of prisoners taken at Cricklade sends Hugh Beringar to Cadfael, who in turn makes full confession to Radulfus at last: that Olivier is his son, which he never knew until the events of THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE (and Olivier still does not know), and that he never knowingly abjured the ties of fatherhood in taking his monastic vows. Radulfus gives Cadfael as much leeway as he can, giving him permission to attend peace talks in Coventry with Hugh Beringar where the subject of prisoners and ransoms is expected to be a topic. But Cadfael's leave will end with the conference, after which his further absence will indicate that he has repudiated his vows and cast himself adrift.

This is one of only two books in which King Stephen appears in person, and the only one in which the empress appears, which in itself is worth seeing as the two are brought together for peace talks in Coventry. Alas, the end of the war still seems far away, as each holds substantial territory (he in England, she in Normandy) with hopes of total victory, and neither will give up their separate claims to the crown: Stephen's, that he has been formally anointed king; Maud's, that she is the late king's only surviving legitimate child, to whom all the nobles, Stephen prominent among them, swore oaths of allegiance as the king's heir. While most of their faults are complimentary - he is too impatient to pursue either a siege or a grievance, her arrogance with her allies knows no bounds - they share one grievous fault: neither considers their responsibilities to their people, not even in great matters of the devastation wrought by war, let alone small matters of individual justice.

So it is that Cadfael, as he had feared would be the case, is left to pursue the mystery of Olivier's fate without official backing, aided and abetted chiefly by Yves Hugonin, now nineteen and Olivier's brother-in-law, and like him of the empress' following. Soon Cadfael needs to save Yves as well as Olivier, as Yves' hot-blooded confrontation of one of Philip's turncoat captains at the conference makes Yves chief suspect when the man is assassinated soon afterward. While the empress protects Yves under the safe-conduct that made the conference possible, she herself does not believe in his innocence (and, chillingly, approves of the act), nor does someone else. Yves, like Olivier before him, vanishes into unransomed captivity, but this time leaving a trail that Cadfael can follow.

The mysteries of the murders to be investigated in this book, while very interesting in their own right, are in a greater sense only tools in setting the stage for greater mysteries to be explored: that of the relationships between the characters, the mysteries of the human heart. Cadfael's loyalty to his own son, without expected return, is set against Philip's troubled relationship with his great father - all four very fine, honourable men, but separated by various entanglements. Yves' loyalty to Olivier is set against both Olivier's entanglement with their captor and Philip's loyalty to his dead captain. There is also a constant background of personal loyalties conflicting with greater responsibilities: monastic vows against fatherhood, oaths of allegiance against law, order, and justice, loyalty to one's liege against loyalty to one's friends.

And what drove Olivier's captor to hold him beyond price? That, more than any murder, is the great mystery of this book.

Drive-in totals:
- Two murders, one a stabbing at close range.
- One attempted murder (a very nasty fall resulting in permanent injury).
- One sequence straight out of THIEF: THE DARK PROJECT wherein a lone unarmed man sneaks into the heart of a guarded fortress by night.
- One battle with siege, when the empress for hate and scalded pride takes action she would not take to rescue loyal knights of her following.

As always, I recommend the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne. ... Read more

Product Description
The ancient Roman city exuded evil. From the moment she entered the walls of Aurae Phiala, Chrlotte Rossignol knew her life was in danger. But she coudn't turn back. As the only surviving heir of Dr. Alan Morris, she would never rest until her missing relative was found. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Another Ellis Peters Wonder!
I can't believe that no one else has reviewed this book yet.My recommendation is for those of you interested in intelligent, well-written British procedurals, do not ignore the entire George Felse series.In this book we have an up-close and personal look at an archeological site of interest on the Welsh border.The site is called "Aurae Phiala" and it is one of a few known old Roman civilisations.We are also treated to a wonderful cast of characters, and a perfectly written mystery that will baffle up until the very end.And we have George Felse himself.He is a Detective Inspector now, but he is still his usual implacable and unperturbable self.What a wonderful series.Don't let your reading of Ms. Peters end with the Brother Cadfael series.Give this one a try too. ... Read more

Product Description
It is the great annual fair of St Peter at Shrewsbury. A quarrel breaks out between the local burghers and the monks from the Benedictine monastry and a riot ensues. Afterwards, a merchant is found dead and Brother Cadfael is summoned from his herb-garden to test his detective skills again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

St. Peter's Fair
This fourth in the Brother Cadfael series builds the history of the Abbey and the life of Brother Cadfael.Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) is a wonderful writer, adept at pulling you into the story and making her beloved Shropshire come to life.

Cadfael: St. Peter's Fair
One of so many of Ellis Peters Cadfael chronicles; excellent story development and characterizations as always.
Love one, love them all.

Fair Dealing, Foul Deeds, and a Fearful Damsel
Provost Corviser leads a delegation of Shrewsbury's best men before Abbot Radolfus demanding a bigger share of the proceeds of St. Peter's Fair, an annual event sponsored by the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. The money is needed to repair the town after the ravages of the recent seige of the town by the forces of King Stephen. Abbot Radolfus demurs, saying he's bound by the ancient charters.

Philip Corviser, the Provost's son, leads a delegation of young men to request a voluntary contribution from the merchants at the fair. There he is smitten by the beauty of a merchant's niece, and also smitten by the merchant's bludgeon. A riot ensues.

When the dust settles, young Corviser is in gaol, the merchant is in the mortuary, and the neice, Emma, is in fear--but of what? Not to worry, Ivo Cobriere, a handsome young nobleman, stands ready to aid her. Misfortune continues to stalk poor Emma and another murder occurs. Deputy Sheriff Hugh Beringar and Brother Cadfael are sure that Emma knows more than she is telling.

Philip gets out of gaol, another killing occurs, Cadfael and Hugh unravel the mystery, and the saga ends in a stirring chase and rescue.

Not long at the Fayre
St.Peter's fair is held annually on the section of land outside the monastery walls in Shrewsbury, but involves the monastery itself, with its guesthouses filled with the gentry and travelling merchants. When the body of wealthy merchant, Thomas of Bristol is discovered, stabbed, stripped and robbed, his niece Emma who was accompanying him, is put into the care of Aline, the wife of the deputy sheriff, Hugh Berengar. Brother Cadfael becomes the girl's protector as she moves around the town, determined to carry on her uncle's business, as he would have wished. Another merchant is murdered and Emma's belongings are searched as if the killer is looking for something in particular. The townspeople of Shrewsbury become very alarmed as this part of the country is still very much divided in its loyalties, with factions supporting King Stephen and others favouring Empress Maud. Cadfael is convinced that Emma knows more than she's admitting, but it's only when she is openly courted by a young nobleman, who would normally be considered too far above her in station, that her life is endangered. It's another fascinating story of life and death in 12th century England, with the detective monk, Cadfaek working his way methodiaclly through clues to a satisfactory solution.

Brother Cadfael with a chase scene!
Of the chronicles of Brother Cadfael that I have thus far read, "St. Peter's Fair" is the most "mystery-like." No cut and dried solution springs to mind as the plot unfolds. This one had me guessing for some time.

All the regular ingredients of the previous stories are here: Political wrangling, personal intrigue, a love story, and of course--a murder.

Cadfael once more is a treasure trove of wisdom. Some of his lines here are classic. Cadfael is a very noble, very humane, world-weary protagonist. Ellis Peter has truly created a detective for the ages in him.

In "St. Peter's Fair" Cadfael is up against one heck of a baffling case. He and Hugh Berengar (my favorite secondary character) team up to try and solve the murder of a visiting merchant. I have no desire to give the ending away. I will only say that "St. Peter's Fair" has the added bonus of a chase scene.

"St. Peter's Fair" is a worthy entry in this series. The more I read of Ellis Peters, the greater my respect for her becomes. I recommend this book highly. ... Read more

Product Description
Murder in the twelfth century is no different from murder today. There is still a dead body, though this time with an arrow through the heart instead of a bullet. There is still a need to bury the dead, to comfort the living - and to catch the murderer. When Brother Cadfael comes to a village in the Welsh hills, he finds himself doing all three of those things. And there is nothing simple about this death. The murdered man's daughter needs Cadfael's help in more ways than one. There are questions about the arrow. And the burial is the strangest thing of all ... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

The Gift of Ellis Peters
If you're thinking about diving into Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, don't think about it -- just dive in. This story is the first book in the series. I came upon this series (just finished the third book) when I needed an audio book for a car trip and grabbed a Cadfael from my local library. I'll admit that I don't care much for murder mysteries, but the Cadfael series is so much more. Its medieval setting is a facinating period I know little about and the writing and characters are extremely engaging. The only other mystery series I have read in full is Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and to her credit, Ellis Peters' Cadfael series can stand quite well on the same shelf. Soldier turned monk, Cadfael is a deeply human and humane figure. In speaking of The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael (as the series is known), Ellis Peters said:"...the writing of these books has given me more pure pleasure than anything else I have done.." May the pleasure now be yours as well!

A fine series
After reading another in the series I wanted to read them all so I purchased the first.It is not important to read them in order, but it makes the rest of the mysteries even more interesting.Brother Cadfael is sent to Wales on an errand he does not particularly like.Being an obedient monk he goes with others from the abbey to obtain important sacred relics, bones of a saint.As we might imagine there is a murder which Brother Cadfael solves.

Amusing and fun
This is a fun and entertaining story--nothing more or less than that--and it gets 4 stars for the simple reason it delivers on that implicit promise.

Lots a period detail that rings true.But more importantly, the story is peopled with characters I want to revisit in the series' later books.

Of Mystery, Monks and Miracles
In this first chronicle of Brother Cadfael, the medieval monk and amateur sleuth, Peters takes us along as the Benedictine brothers travel to a small Welsh village in order to claim the relics of a neglected saint as their own. But when the community's most outspoken opponent of the relocation is murdered, Cadfael sets out to discover the killer and ends up becoming involved in the miracles attendant upon the saint. A wonderful, short mystery that has become a classic in the genre. The television adaptation starring Derek Jacobi is also highly recommended.

The first Cadfael and a great mystery
As with many books or stories that we get involve with, the characters and their relationships to others in the environment is an important as the mystery. Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) strikes a balance between the characters, history and the mystery. Sprinkled throughout is faith, and a chance that they (the monks) may be correct in the explanation of saints and how the world works.

The external environment is the ongoing 11th century civil war between English King Stephen and his sister the Empress Maude. We also have references to the different societies as they travel to Wales. These become more relevant as the series progresses.

The inward struggle between faith and power is depicted as an individual monk is persuaded or wants to be persuaded to go on a mission to retrieve a neglected saint "St. Winifred." She lies in Wales and it happens that Brother Cadfael has a Welsh background, so he is charged with supporting the mission.

If you saw the movie you will immediately see the differences between it and he book. One main point is the fact that the monk was cured before the trip. The best difference is reviled with the detection and solution to the mystery.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
... Read more

Product Description
The ninth novel in the mystery chronicles of Brother Cadfael finds the twelfth-century Benedictine monk and sleuth defending a young Welshman accused of murdering a sheriff from Shropshire. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Arranged Marriage May Not Be the Solution
DEAD MAN'S RANSOM is one of the most complex and convoluted of the Father Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters. The way to marriage can be through murder.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS.

A Cadfael Fan
I'm reading the Cadfael chronicles in order.Our county library did not have this one, so I bought it.Having finished it yesterday, I'll now donate it to the library.The BBC productions of Cadfael are good, but the books contain much more detail.Each one is delightful.

Lots of Surprises!
I really enjoyed the Cadfael TV series and was sorry when I got to the last installment. Then, I found out that not all the novels had been used. There are 7 (really 8 as one was not followed all that well) left over - not counting the related book of three short stories. The novel here, Dead Man's Ransom, is the first of the novels not used for TV which is the ninth in the overall series of the Cadfael chronicles/novels.

I enjoyed the book, but it seemed to start off a little slow and some of the "expressions" used were a little hard for me to understand - maybe you have to be British. In any case, things do pick up and there are numerous plot twists/surprises along the way to keep things interesting. The author managed to do a lot in only a short number of pages - 190 in the edition I read.

I did manage to figure out who the killer was before it was "announced", but maybe it was pretty easy by that point as there were a lot of clues by then. There is at least one other crime as well which was resolved in a somewhat "unexpected" way. Some may think the ending a bit of a cop out, but at least it is a happy one.

I look forward to the other 6 or 7 novels remaining for me.

It's about the era
Seems more a semi believable love story. The color of the period however makes this a joy.

A Heavy Price
Ellis Peters, the pseudonym for Edith Pargeter, has carved a special niche with the Brother Cadfael mysteries.She is able to bring to life twelfth-century England, mixing monastic daily life with the very real threat of murder and mayhem, which there seems to be a lot of in the town of Shrewsbury."Dead Man's Ransom" is the ninth chronicle of Cadfael's sojourns into sleuthing and it offers readers a unique mystery.

With border clashes an ongoing problem between the English and Welsh, a young Welsh prisoner is brought to Shrewsbury.Hugh Beringar is now in charge of the town since his sheriff has been captured by the Welsh.He hopes to exchange his prisoner for his sheriff, which he manages to do, but not before complications arise.For the sheriff's daughter falls in love with the prisoner, and they know that her father's return will tear them apart.Shortly after the sheriff returns, he is found murdered in the abbey where he had been recovering from his wounds.The likeliest suspect is the young prisoner who had everything to gain if the sheriff was out of his way, and now he must try to clear his name on foreign soil.

"Dead Man's Ransom" is a quick-paced read and an interesting mystery that may keep readers guessing.At times Peters' prose is weighed down with too much effort at capturing twelfth-century English turns of phrases, but Brother Cadfael is a unique detective and one that keeps readers interested. ... Read more

Product Description
It is Christmas, A.D. 1141, Abbot Radulfus returns from London, bringing with him a priest for the vacant living of Holy Cross, also known as the Foregate. The new priest is a man of presence, learning, and discipline, but he lacks humility and the common touch. When he is found drowned in the millpond, suspicion is cast upon a young man who arrived with the priest's train and was sent to work in Brother Cadfael's garden. Indeed, he is soon discovered to be an impostor. To Brother Cadfael, now falls the familiar task of sorting out the complicated strands of innocence and guilt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Mystery Without a Murder
THE RAVEN IN THE FOREGATE by the late Ellis Peters delivers a full-fledged mystery without a murder. This is rare in mystery fiction and it is a delight when it is done well. Ellis Peters had the prose and style to keep us reading until the last page.
1141 -- the civil war between Maud and Stephen is still taking its toll on the lives of their countrymen. Stephen was in power, then in prison, and now he's out again with full power. The Christmas season heralds glad tidings and change as the new year approaches, but Maud supports are on the run for their lives. Many are hiding in Shrewsbury looking for ways to escape Stephen's wrath into Wales or Brittney.
A great classic read.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

The canon keeps on keeping on
The prose of Ellis Peters is phenomenal in it's own way. This time out the mystery has clues and red herrings a plenty, with the background of the civil war still thrown in to keep us entertained. A much better addition to the canon then some of the other previous ones of late.

Gentle Justice
This Twelfth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael has all the elements we have come to expect in this series: a wanted man traveling under an assumed name; a beautiful young woman whose family has been destroyed by the continuing civil war; a body in the mill pond; and at least half a dozen people with motive and opportunity for murder.Once again it is Brother Cadfael's compassionate understanding of human nature that leads to explanation, resolution and, for some of the characters, new hope.Ellis Peters (Edith Parteger) administers a bit of gentle-never malicious-justice even to the insufferable Brother Jerome, in a delightful coincidence that ends the story.

A cat among the pigeons
Just prior to Christmas,1141, a new priest is appointed to the parish church of Holy Cross...also known as the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul. Father Adam, the easy going, genial and forgiving priest who had cared for his flock for many years, has died and the charge of filling his shoes falls to the brothers of the Abbey. The Abbot has selected a well educated, former secretary to the Papal legate as a worthy candidate, not realising that an able administrator does not necessarily make a compassionate and understanding priest. Father Ailnoth immediately alienates his parishioners with his harsh, unforgiving rule, severely ruffling the feathers of servants and free men alike, so when his body is found, floating in the river, Sheriff Hugh Beringar finds a wall of silence surrounding the apparent murder. Suspicion falls on Cadfael's new garden helper, Benet who came to the town as a nephew to Father Ailnoth's housekeeper. As usual, Cadfael and Hugh solve the not so difficult mystery and, as usual, the setting for the story is what makes it so appealing. Despite the changes in the surroundings and circumstances of today, the people of nine centuries past, are just the same as the people of today, with their jealousies, faults and squabbles.

Mystery at Holy Cross
This is the first book that I have read of the Brother Cadfael Mysteries.I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the world of medieval England that Peters brings to life."The Raven in the Foregate" is a quick read, entertaining and mysterious to the fact that there is not much mystery to the case at hand.

As usual, Brother Cadfael is drawn into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the newly instituted priest of Holy Cross, Father Ailnoth.While he was alive, Ailnoth was quick to make enemies in the church and in the community; many are glad to see him dead, and many are content to hold their tongues as to the truth of what caused his death on Christmas Eve.Complicating matters are the search for a French renegade who was undercover at Holy Cross in the guise of the nephew of Father Ailnoth's housekeeper.Brother Cadfael must piece together the scant clues and abounding rumors to uncover the truth of Ailnoth's death.

"The Raven in the Foregate" is a well-written mystery, although at times too tidy and predictable.It was a true delight to enter into the world of Holy Cross and medieval England that Peters has crafted throughout her Cadfael mystery series. I look forward to reading the other books in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
As a favour to his girlfriend Tossa's beautiful but erratic filmstar mother, Dominic Felse agrees to escort a teenage heiress to her father in India. But travelling with the spoilt, precocious Anjili is no sinecure -- and the task of delivering her back to her family proves less than easy. Dominic and Tossa find themselves embroiled in a mystery that swiftly and shockingly becomes a murder investigation. For behind the colourful, smiling mask of India that the tourist sees is another country -- remote, mysterious -- and often shatteringly brutal... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Modern-day India is memorably described.
Ms. Peters does a wonderful job of describing modern-day India in this book.It's easy to tell that she often visited there and loved it.India is teaming with life and with colours.In this book we have Dominic and his girlfriend Tossa acting as chaperones to deliver a young girl to her Indian father.Once there they find themselves in a whole bunch of trouble.Their job of delivering their young charge becomes very complicated when she goes missing.Tossa and Dominic are then racing against time in a strange country in order to try to get her back.Ms. Peters' characters in this book are wonderfully drawn, and the story is a wonderful journey to a wonderful country.

Dominic and Tossa's first journey to India
Strictly speaking, this isn't an Inspector Felse mystery, but a Dominic Felse mystery. Ideally, read all the preceding Inspector Felse mysteries, in order, as they follow Dominic's childhood onward - but only to enjoy the character development properly. At a minimum, at least read _The Piper on the Mountain_, which recounts Dominic's first meeting with Tossa Barber and her mother, before _Mourning Raga_.

Tossa's movie-star mother Chloe has a genius for disrupting her daughter's plans, so Dominic fears the worst when Chloe calls the university just before Christmas vacation, with an offer that sounds too good to be true: accept an all-expense-paid trip to India, to escort 14-year-old Anjli Kumar, the daughter of Chloe's co-star Dorette Lester, to stay with her father while her mother is filming in England. (Anjli's mother is nominally the custodial parent, but even she's mostly an absentee.) Happily, Ms. Pargeter (a.k.a. Ellis Peters), doesn't make either leading lady behave according to stereotype; each is charming in private as well as in public, and they seem to get on well together; their influence to bring others into their orbit is as inevitable as a planet's gravity. :)

Dorette arranged for an old friend to look out for Anjli and her companions, since the friend is directing a film - a dramatized life of Buddha - on location. A potted mini-biography of Siddhartha's early life, before he became Buddha, is provided as the film is described; one noteworthy celebrity they meet is the composer working on the film. He's adapted a morning raga - something sung when guests depart in the morning - as a theme to be played for Siddhartha's bride and their young son; the adaptation is catchy.

Unfortunately, Dorette only wrote to her ex, rather than phoning him or waiting for a reply. Kumar has been out of touch for months, and his mother - Anjli's grandmother - is dying. The only relative left functioning is a cousin who acts as trustee for the estate - and Dominic and Tossa aren't too keen to leave Anjli, Kumar's heir, in his care.

But the matter is taken abruptly out of their hands when Anjli is kidnapped and held for ransom after her grandmother's death. Although published after _Black is the Colour of My True-Love's Heart_, the events of this book take place earlier: their first meeting with the Swami, mentioned in that book, occurs herein. As a friend of Kumar's, he takes a hand in working for Anjli's safe return. And Dominic is very uneasy, since the morning of her disappearance, he heard someone in the street outside the hotel singing a song from the soundtrack of a film that's still in production.

a good edition to the George Felse series
Dominic Felse, the son of the famous policeman George Felse, met his girlfriend Tossa Barber in the earlier book in this series, Piper on the Mountain.Now, as a favor to Tossa's mother, Dominic and Tossa have agreed to escort a young girl named Angli out to meet her father in India.However, when they arrive they find that Angli's father has been missing for over a year, and soon Angli is kidnapped.The result is a good, fast-paced mystery, with some very interesting local color on India. ... Read more

Product Description
In her sixteenth chronicle of the medieval monk-detective Brother Cadfael, Ellis Peters throws a variety of puzzles at her hero. In the summer of 1143, Brother Cadfael is torn from his herbarium to investigate the deaths of two visitors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good and Valuable Service from the UK
Book arrived in several weeks, as seller said it would.This is a great service.These books aren't available in the U.S. and there are very few used copies around for some reason.Getting a clean, new copy for about $20 in a couple of weeks from the UK is a great service, and I feel lucky to have discovered this seller.Good job..

One of the Better Cadfaels
I enjoyed this Brother Cadfael story. It has a lot of the standard parts that one finds in this series, but with some interesting twists. It is one of the better ones of the series.

Heretical leanings
This is the sixteenth chronicle of Brother Cadfael, ex soldier/crusader, herbalist and healer, lately come monk and incorrigibly inquisitive sleuth. Elave is a young man who has accompanied his master, William of Lythwood,to Jerusalem and the East and who followed his instructions to the letter by bringing home his body after death to be buried at the Abbey Of St.Peter and St.Paul. He also brought with him an elaborately carved chest, with unknown contents, as the dowry for William's foster daughter. Before Elave left with his master on his travels, he had filled the position of what would be known today as an accoutant, keeping stocks of the family's money and possessions. This position was filled in his absence by Aldwin, a dour, pessimistic man who is convinced that he'llbe discarded now that Elave has returned, and so sets about making trouble for him. Aldwin's murdered body is found and suspicions point to Elave as the killer. At this same time, a very self important Canon of the Church is a visitor at the Abbey and when Elave, somewhat in his cups, is heard making what could be taken as heretical statements on points of Church law, the Canon insists that he be taken before a court of the Church and tried for heresy. Brother Cadfael investigates both claims in his methodical way and, once again, saves the day. Perhaps this story is a little too tied up with points of theology for some readers, but it's still a most enjoyable read for Cadfael fans.

Flat Inverted Theology
This is not a book I can recommend.There was no depth of character, or plot.I expected some twists and turns, but it was all predictable.The characters are indelibly flat.Of greatest disappointment were the heresies, for the author just seems to pass by them as unimportant.There are some major Pelagian defects in the thoughts of one of the protagonists, and the magnitude of the defects is swept aside by the characters we are meant to bond with, who decide in favor of the heresy through simple platitudes!The primary character, Cadfael, seems to contribute but little to the book or the mystery, and I found great difficulty in caring for any of these characters at all.

Two for the price of one!
As I was reading this book, I remarked to a friend "how often do you get to read a mystery novel that talks about St. Augustine, infant baptism, co-equality of the Trinity, predestination, and Peripassian heresy?"For those who are not interested in such things, this installment in the Brother Cadefael series might seem somewhat tedious.I for one, however, enjoyed the added intellectual stimulation of the doctrinal controversies.

Aside from the heresy issues, which play a fairly peripheral role in the actual crime in question, this is a fairly standard (by Brother Cadfael standards) murder mystery.As always, romance plays a big role in both the heresy subplot and the murder investigation.

I normally give 4 stars to Brother Cadfael mysteries.I'm giving 5 here for the added value supplied by the heresy issues.Those who have no interest in theology and church history might want to give it a 3.
... Read more

Product Description
When the tomb of Jan Treverra is opened to reveal two recently dead bodies, neither of which is Treverra's, Detective Inspector George Felse, on holiday nearby, steps in to investigate the murders. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Enjoyable... and touching
An old mystery is used to confuse the evidence in a new crime, and when it is all sorted out we are left with three human tragedies. One of the author's most endearing traits is that her victims are never cardboard cutouts; they are as real as any of the living characters, and their loss directly impacts the people around them. At the very least: a good read.

Excruciatingly Phony
The author's attempts to portray the thoughts of an adolescent boy are excruciatingly phony.Add secret passages and lost treasure and you have a painfully bad book that doesn't fit in any known category for either adults or children. I can't imagine the author of the Brother Cadfael mysterys writing this shlock.

Light, Amusing--But Extremely Contrived And Very Transparent
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse.Published in 1965, A NICE DERANGEMENT OF EPITAPHS is the fourth novel in that series.Like most of Peters' work, it is a lightly written, enjoyable read.

The story itself finds Inspector Felse, his wife Bunty, and their just-adult son Dominic on a seaside vacation--where they encounter Simon Towne, well known author and lecturer.Towne is present to open the tomb of Jan Treverra, a locally legendary figure who died in the late 1700s and whose crypt may include important writings.But when the Treverra vault is opened, Towne and his assistants find more bodies than they expect.

Peters often elected to work with highly contrived plots, and this is particularly true of EPITAPHS.At one point, Peters has one of her characters comment that the twists and turns of the case are so ridiculous that not even a novelist could get away with them!And it is true that most readers will see each major plot device in the offing long before it appears on the page. When the author writes more for amusement than mystery, this is not necessarily a bad thing, and Peters handles the most blatant aspects of her plot with considerable humor.

Unfortunately, however, the plot is not only contrived: it is extremely transparent. Any mystery reader worth the name will probably spot the killer by the fourth chapter because of the manner in which Peters sets up her tale.Although it is a quick, amusing, and painless read, this is really one of Peters' weaker efforts.Fans will enjoy it, but few will put it on the "must keep" shelf of their bookcase.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

A Nice Little Mystery Puzzler!
This entry in the George Felse series is well-worth a read.In it we see the Felse family on vacation at the seaside.The action of the book takes place over a six day period, but in that time they find evidence of smuggling, a missing body in a family crypt and two murders.(one from about 3 years ago and one most recent).The weird thing about these two murder victims is that their bodies are found in an old family crypt in a stone coffin that is actually minus the original body that was supposed to be there.It's a nice little puzzler that has two or three plot strands running through it.These separate strands do meet up together in the end though, and the mysteries are solved.Great story. ... Read more

Product Description
Sixteen-year-old Dominic Felse is horrified when his heiress girlfriend, Kitty Norris, is charged with murder by his father, Inspector George Felse of the Comerford Police, and his quest for the truth has deadly consequences. Reprint. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Among Peters' Better Inspector Felse Novels
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1961, DEATH AND THE JOYFUL WOMAN is the second novel in that series.Like most of Peters' work, it is a lightly written, enjoyable read.

In this particular novel, Inspector Felse is called to the scene of an unlikely homicide: Alfred Armiger, wealthy businessman and owner of the newly opened pub The Jolly Barmaid, has been found clubbed to death with a bottle of champagne.At a guess, the most likely suspect would seem to be Armiger's son Leslie; the two have had a very public falling out.But Leslie Armiger is hardly the only suspect; there is also the young and slightly eccentric heiress Kitty Norton, whose beauty ensnares Felse's young son Dominic.And Dominic may be willing to run any risk to protect her from prison.

JOYFUL WOMAN is among the most critically lauded of Peters' Inspector Felse novels, and with some reason.The characters are particularly well drawn, the plot is quite tight, and it reads at a quick pace.True enough, Peters will never compete with such masters of the genre as Christie, Sayers, or Marsh--and a sharp reader will likely spot the killer in the last third of the novel.Still, JOYFUL WOMAN is a pleasant read and good introduction to Peters' style of "cosy" mystery.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Repetitive from the first in the series.
Ellis Peters is a very good author, so I don't understand why she would have used the same trick in each of the first two books in the George Felse series.Also, I thought that this series was a George Felse series, but both of the first two books have his young son Dominic as the key character and the one who actually solves the case in each instance. This book also exposes poor Dominic to an adolescent crush that seems to take over the plot of the story.Needless to say, I was very disappointed with this book.I do hope that subsequent books in the series have different plots and a little less of a certain adolescent boy.In this book a rich business magnate is found brutally murdered in his brand new ballroom in his brand new hotel.The police seem to be at sixes and sevens throughout the book, and it appears that this murder is just "too complicated" for them to solve, but it was easily figured out by Dominic.Disappointed (and that's the first time ever that I've said this about Ellis Peters).

"Death and the Joyful Woman":Rediscovering the Felses
Is vulgarity grounds for murder?Alfred Armiger had antagonized many with his greed and crass acquisitiveness.So when the ruthless beer baron is discovered dead, his head beaten in by a magnum of champagne, there is no shortage of suspects.But all of Comerford is shocked with Detective George Felse arrests Kitty Norris, the daughter of a rival beer baron, the last person to see Armiger alive, and the main beneficiary of his will!But Kitty, charming and popular, has an unexpected advocate in Felse's young son, Dominic, who secretly adores her.Passionately convinced of Kitty's innocence, Dominic sets out to find the true culprit, a hazardous undertaking that might well cost him his life!

Best known for the Brother Cadfael mysteries, Ellis Peters actually wrote the Felse series first, but until recent years, these appealing books have been out of print in the United States."Death and the Joyful Woman," which received an Edgar Award, deserves a warm welcome from American readers.Peters has told not only an engaging mystery but a sensitive coming-of-age story as well.Characters and relationships are sharply delineated--Dominic is a highly likable teen sleuth and his interactions with his parents, especially his father, are both amusing and touching. And a subplot concerning a struggling young couple and an unusual painting--the Joyful Woman of the title--proves just as involving as the main storyline.Readers of "Fallen into the Pit," Peters' first Felse mystery, may notice that the method Dominic uses to flush out the murderer is similar to the one he employs here, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent novel.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
When someone pushes a troublesome newcomer from the steeple of St. Eata's church, Superintendent George Felse is charged with sifting through a long list of suspects to catch the killer. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unfortunately, the final appearance of George Felse
I have thouroughly enjoyed reading Ms. Peters' George Felse series, and this is the last book in that series.In this book we are again treated to Ms. Peters' magic in creating characters. Her characters are colourful and multi-dimensional.Clearly the most notable character in this book is little Bossie Jarvis.Bossie, who is entirley too smart for his own good, creates a hoax that he feels will help rid their community of an unwanted member.But by doing this, he unleashes a storm of greed and murder.George finds that he has to keep a close eye on this imp of a boy in order to find his murderer.Goodbye George, and goddbye Ms. Peters (I have read all the Brother Cadfael mysteries already).You have given me hours of enjoyment.

The Last of Felse
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1978, RAINBOW'S END is the last novel in that series.

Peters typically works with contrived plots, and this novel is in some ways typical; RAINBOW repeatedly asks the reader to accept the implausible as plausible.Even so, Peters has a knack for making such plots entertaining, and this brightly written story of an unlikeable antiques dealer who plunges from a church tower is lightly written and quite entertaining.

Felse makes his final appearance having been promoted to head of the Midshire C.I.D. and there are numerous brightly-written characters, most notably Barbara Rainbow and Willie-the-Twig, to round out the novel.It's all good fun.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Product Description
In 1141, two monks have arrived in Shrewsbury from Winchester, where their abbey was destroyed. Now Brother Humilis, who is very ill, and Brother Fidelis, who is mute, must seek refuge at Shrewsbury. And from the moment he meets them, Brother Cadfael senses something deeper than their common vows binds these two brothers. And as Brother Humilis's health fails, Brother Cadfael faces a poignant test of his discretion and his beliefs as he unravels a secret so great it can destroy a life, a future, and a holy order. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Mystery and death
Open up almost any of Ellis Peters' Cadfael mysteries, and chances are that you'll find a romance circling around the heart of it -- good ones, bad ones, and occasionally weird ones. "An Excellent Mystery: The Eleventh Chronicle of Brother Cadfael" is a solid example of the third kind, centering on a powerful love affair, and the only downside is the occasional stretch of believability.

After the abbey at Winchester is burned down, two new monks arrive at Shrewsbury -- Brother Humilis, a famous ex-crusader, and Brother Fidelis, a mute young boy who follows him and cares for him. It also turns out that Humilis received some truly horrible wounds during the Crusades that are slowly killing him, and have left him basically castrated. Because of his injury, he ended his engagement to a rich young girl named Lady Julian and became a monk.

However, an old friend of his arrives at the abbey and asks for his blessing in wooing Julian... only to find that while her brother says she became a nun, there is no trace of her becoming one. Cadfael is brought into the investigation, with only some pieces of jewelry as the clues to where she has gone -- but it soon becomes clear that one of the monks is more than he appears.

This book ends with a marriage prayer, and honestly that isn't surprising. "An Excellent Mystery" revolves around marriage, thwarted love and how true love can be divorced from sex -- on one hand you have the deep love between Fidelis and Humilis, and on the other you have a bisexual monk's obsessions and with Rhun and Fidelis (which are all about physical attraction and rage, with no actual love).

And it's some of Peters' cleverest plotting since EVER: she brings in all sorts of unexpected twists and clues that seem to point towards a straightforward murder mystery, only to double the story back at the climax. And she writes in a rich, antiquated style that seems to match the mellow medieval setting, as well as some depictions of what happened to some of the crusaders who were less fortunate than Cadfael.

The one downside: the story's biggest twist (and the backstory behind it) stretch credibility to the snapping point. Without revealing too much, it's hard to imagine how two different characters could develop such passionate, true feelings for other people they had barely met. It's just too much.

However, Peters' characterizations are excellent -- the warm, paternal Cadfael sits in the middle of all these events, and we get to see some of his old warrior blood stirring. The well-named Humilis and Fidelis are powerful depictions of a dying, ruined warrior who has made peace with his impending death, and a quiet boy with a secret. And Brother Urien is a complex character as well -- Peters makes you both despise and pity him.

"An Excellent Mystery" is indeed an excellent mystery -- sweet, confusing, and a little too romantic for its own good. Not the best-known of Peters' Cadfael mysteries, but certainly worth reading.

Truly an Excellent Mystery
This is the 11th in the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters. The title, An Excellent Mystery, is actually very appropriate.

This book is set at a point in the 12th century civil war in England when the city of Winchester is burned. Two monks from an abbey that was destroyed there make their way to the abbey at Shrewsbury where Brother Cadfael lives. One is a former crusader who is gradually dying from wounds he got in battle; the other is much younger and mute and cares for the elder.

The former crusader was engaged to a young girl from near Shrewsbury, but because of his wounds, he releases her and becomes Br. Humilis. She apparently goes off to a nunnery, but it is discovered as the book goes on that she never got there and may have been murdered. This possible murder is (at least the main) mystery in the book.

Leaving out details so as not to ruin the book for future readers, there is a storm and Br. Humilis is drowned on the River Severn after a lighting strike knocks a tree into the boat he is in at the time. His mute caregiver, Br. Fidelis, is presumed lost and dead from this accident. As the story moves on, the missing girl is found and returns to her home. There is a surprise ending rolled into all this.

There are some subplots as well to keep things interesting. One might seem a little shocking to some actually, but it seems to turn out OK in the end.

The book really held my interest. I really wanted to see how this one came out. It did seem that Cadfael was less involved here than might be expected, but the story was still a very good one.

If you would like to read an excellent mystery, give this one a try.

Very good service.
Prompt deleivery and the used book was in very good condition.All as advertised.I am very pleased.

A Medieval "Gone With The Wind"
Set against a backdrop of a lengthy civil war where King Stephan and Empress Matilda contend for the mastery of England, this installment of the chronicles of Brother Cadfael sets out the dilemma posed by two refugees of the war who come to Shrewsbury after their own Benedictine monastery in Winchester is burned to the ground.

Brother Humilis is a former nobleman and Crusader, wounded and crippled in the holy wars.Returning a broken man, he enters the monastery in Winchester.Soon after, a young man also takes the cowl, going by the name of Brother Fidelis.Fidelis is mute, and attaches himself as friend and attendant to Humilis whose wounds often reopen and lay him low.This unlikely pair has now reached Shrewsbury, in need of all the aid that Brother Cadfael can give: Humilis is dying and Fidelis's silence conceals a secret that if brought to light could shatter the reputation of the abbey and the Benedictine order!

History buffs will enjoy the solid insights offered on the "summer of stalemate" in the struggle between king and empress. Peters has a great talent for presenting the mysteries of the medieval mind to modern readers.Mystery fans will mull the fate of Julian Cruce, a young woman once engaged to the Crusader, who has disappeared into the wreckage of the civil war.Was she murdered for the silver she carried?

Fans of romantic literature will sympathize with Nicholas Harnage, squire to Humilis during the Crusade.He was the one who had to bring the bad news to Julian that her intended husband was unable to marry her.That glimpse of her in grief won his heart. Now he wants to find her and marry her himself.He embarks on a quest that sets him searching the length of war-torn England either to find her or to learn of her fate and revenge her!

The title is most apt; this is an excellent work in all respects.Like other books in the Cadfael series, it can stand alone.Highly recommended!

Not strong enough
Cadfael is one of the great detectives and Ellis Peters is generally a master of the genre. To my mind she invented the medieval Mystery, but here we have much of the detective work being done by another that is not Cadfael. Further Cadfael and we the reader can jump to the conclusion, to the mysteries outcome midway through the book.

A good mystery should not let you have the information you need to solve it so easily. A great mystery keeps you guessing until the end. So where does that leave us here?

Cadfael does not really contribute much to the solving of the mystery, and as such it could be set anywhere. The reason to read this is for the background of what else is happening in Cadfael's england. The Civil War between the King and the Empress, and that outcome that will effect the lives of our real protagonist. ... Read more

Product Description
At the height of the hot summer of 1144, the Earl of Essex succumbs to a fatal arrow - but only after a lingering fever during which his officials do their best to save him from hellfire by restoring various properties he has annexed, including the abbey of Ramsey. The abbey is in such a sorry state that a call for help in restoring it goes out to all houses of the Benedictine Order. But when heavy rains bring the threat of floods to Shrewsbury, and the holy relics must be removed to a place of safety, the subsiding waters reveal a robbery has been committed. So the stage is set for the masterly sleuthing skills of Brother Cadfael to be employed. But before the case is solved, to the crime of theft is added murder... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Superb Mediaeval Mystery
Another superb mystery from Ellis Peters. I hope my local library gets more of these as I would love to read more

Decent enough
Number nineteen and all the elements are in place for a good tale. We have Red Herrings and misdirection, we have a body and multiple suspects. We have motives and misdeeds. Peters delivers a good story.

Way back when, Cadfael did something that he probably shouldn't have in regards to Saint Winifred who is the prize of Saint Peters and Saint Pauls monastery/Cathedral. Well the act was such that it could never be undone, and what takes place in this book could expose Cadfael's indiscretion. Yet larger misdeeds abound once a body is found.

Cadfael, as always, is perfectly positioned with his study of human nature and careful sleuthing to uncover the truth behind all the mysteries. Encompassing the telling is more of the politics surrounding the stagnating civil war. Here we meet Robert Beaumont, Earl of Leicester and the candid dialogue between and Hugh Beringar, sheriff of our home county, adds further to the linear time frame in which the canon takes place. We see the faith of the times put to the test also and it highlights how much more faith was relied on then as to now. That alone elevates this tale of our Medieval past above the rest.

Murder and Mayhem among Monks
This was my first reading trip through 12th century Shrewsbury Abbey, the world created by Ellis Peters, and it was great fun.Cadfael is a sleuthing monk, a Holmes of the Bendectine Order, but more than a brother also a herbalist, man of medicine, and a former soldier and Crusader.He is also master of well-placed words carefully chosen and layered with meaning-a powerful skill in navigating his world.

In this chronicle, Cadfael tackles a theft and a murder alongside his friend Hugh Beringar, the reeve of the shire.The theft of the celebrated relic of Shrewsbury leads to a fascinating thread through the tapestry of local politics, authorities , and medieval Catholicism-very devout but deeply confused.This is a world of powerful and rigid authorities both sacred and secular, of saints and relics, of place and position-a world far from the modern or "post-modern".I'm no historian of the Middle Ages but this seems like a worthy immersion into the medieval mindset.

Most interesting is the tangled process of determining the will of a dead saint concerning the saint's own relic.The culmination of the process is application of 'sortes biblicae', the use of the Bible for divination.This is performed by the seeker taking a copy of the Gospels in hand and letting it open randomly and placing a finger somewhere on the open pages.The portion by the placed finger is read aloud and then applied to the decision at hand.This is truly foreign territory but one must remember that this was an age when most truly believed every event to be the evidence of the will of God.

Furthermore, it's just a good tale! Imagine murder and mayhem among monks!Sin among those totally dedicated and separated to holiness.The many different characters-the monks, peasants, sheriffs, lords, and troubadors-and the interplay between them are well drawn.If you need exhilarating racing action this is not for you, but if you enjoy a good story woven together then pick it up and spend a few afternoons in its pages, it won't disappoint.

Holy shenanigans!
In this penultimate chronicle of Brothet Cadfael, herbalist, monk and resident sleuth of the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul, the waters of the local river are rising to dangerous levels, forcing the evacuation of their precious relics and treasures to higher ground, including the silver coffin containing the bones of Cadfael's special saint, St. Winifred of Wales. Following the sacking of the Abbey's sister house in the fens by the evil Geoffrey de Mandeville, Herluin, the sub prior of that house, accompanied by a novice monk, Tutilio, is sheltered at the Abbey while on a quest to raise funds to enable their own Abbey to be rebuilt. During the upheaval of rescuing the relics from the flood waters, the coffin of St.Winifred disappears and consequently is deemed to have been loaded on to a cart with donated building timber and a large quantity of silver and jewellery. The drivers of the cart stumble back to the Abbey, claiming to have been set upon and robbed by a band of marauders. The coffin is found intact and taken to the nearby manor of the Earl of Leicester who stakes a claim to retain the relics, is joined in another claim by Sub Prior Herluin and naturally enough by the Shrewsbury Abbey in a three way tussle for possession of poor little St.Winifred's bones. The side characters in this story are well drawn and very interesting, making the thought that the next book is the last in the series and so I'm prolonging the pleasure by reading a non connected book in between !

Is the theft St. Winifred's will?
Ideally, read all the preceding books in the series, in order, before reading this one. At a minimum, first read #1 (_A Morbid Taste for Bones_, the story of how St. Winifred's reliquary came to the abbey) to avoid spoiling the end of that book, and _The Potter's Field_, which introduced the Blounts of Longner. If you're interested in an audio edition, check that you're getting the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne.

In the summer of 1144, Geoffrey de Mandeville - after more than a year of running the Fens as his own private robber kingdom - was shot almost by accident during a siege, and died from the infected wound. His lengthy death gave him no chance to receive absolution - only the Pope could have absolved one guilty of the seizure of the abbey of Ramsey - but Geoffrey's followers did what they could for him, restoring the despoiled abbey to its scattered monks. Thus the abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul receives two guests of their own order from Ramsey - grim subprior Herluin and his appealing assistant Tutilo - asking leave to preach. Ramsey needs money, materials, and labour to undo the damage left by Geoffrey's marauders.

Herluin guided their footsteps to Shrewsbury not only to request assistance, but to recall Sulien Blount of Longner, sometime novice of Ramsey, who was sent home to reconsider his vocation. (See _The Potter's Field_ for details.) Cadfael, therefore, accompanies Herluin and his young companion Tutilo to Longner to speak with Sulien - and appeal for the Blounts' generosity toward Ramsey. While Herluin pursues his errand, Cadfael introduces Tutilo to Sulien's dying mother, the formidable Donata, who is more than happy to welcome a bard, even if he's now a novice monk. (Their friendship, brief as it is, is touching.) Young Tutilo is what would now be called a renaissance man, and would be wasted as a monk - if he ever gets that far after meeting the Irish girl Daalny, slave to the Provencal troubadour staying at the abbey guesthouse. Daalny's voice is such as to attract any musician - part of the troubadour's stock in trade. Nevertheless, Tutilo seems passionate enough on Ramsey's behalf.

Unfortunately, someone appears to have been a little *too* enthusiastic for Ramsey's sake - while preparing for a flood, someone stole St. Winifred's relics, and the chief suspects are the brothers of Ramsey. How, after all, could anyone steal the reliquary if the saint didn't *want* to go elsewhere? To further complicate the ensuing dispute over the saint's wishes, the reliquary comes into the hands of Earl Robert "Bossu" Beaumont, a brilliant man with a sly sense of humor who decides to further complicate matters by pointing out that the saint came to rest in *his* care and seems content to stay there. (Robert - who was a real person, incidentally - here makes his debut in the series as a very impressive figure; the crooked back that gave him his nickname doesn't hinder him at all.) Only Brother Cadfael and his confidant Hugh Beringar know just how complicated this situation really is - before a man on the fringes of the quarrel is murdered on a dark night. But was he killed for himself - or because he was mistaken for one of the disputants?

Very nicely ties up some loose ends from _The Potter's Field_, while raking up the old problem of the reliquary very creatively. Robert Bossu alone would be worth the price of admission. :) ... Read more

Product Description
Peters has gained worldwide praise for her meticulous re-creations of 12th-century monastic life. Here, her chronicles continue with a Christmas story, a tale of robbery and attempted murder, and a narrative of Brother Cadfael's early years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Got the answers!
We wondered where Father Cadfael came from. Had the answers in the front two pages of this book! The three short stories just added to the series.

Great Stories
I am a fan of the Cadfael TV series. I noticed that 7 or 8 of the Cadfael chronicle books were not included in the TV series and decided to read those. In the process of locating them, I found out about the book I review here, A Rare Benedictine by Ellis Peters. It tells three short tales from what I think is the time before the first of the Cadfael chronicles books.

The first tells how Cadfael came to be a monk - and there is a mystery solved in the process (or at least one of two). The others take place with Cadfael as a monk in Shrewsbury and are both great stories as well. The second deals with the seemingly miraculous disappearance of some donated silver candlesticks and how justice prevails in this case. The third story involves stolen rent money, and the clever way that it is found. All fit in well with what one would expect from Cadfael.

These are three great stories, and I highly recommend them to Cadfael fans and as an introduction to the series for those who have never heard of it.

Just not enough
A collection of three short stories, interspersed with drawings, as if they were wood cuts by Clifford Harper in my edition, the 150 pages shrinks to even less. Certainly the stories round Cadfael out as they are before Hugh Beringar, and the first even before he is a Benedictine Monk.

But we have no murder amongst them, though the attempt in one. We have seen that Pargeter/Peters can excell at telling the story in the context of an Historical Novel and indeed, there is some Introduction where she dwells on the development of Cadfael. The three short stories though give little historically for us, the first giving us some events of importance to the times, but when the chance is there for us to see deeper on what those events will mean, and did mean as they happened, we are denied. (When Henry I lost his son, the ensuing Civil War between Stephen and Maud was set up which serves as the background throughout the entire series.)

So no great historical depth, no murder, some crimes that Cadfael is on hand to solve. These stories might have served in a mystery magazine, and a couple more would have made a book. The use of the illustrations, and the writing itself, not as all encompassing as the novels gives a less than satisfying send off to our hero. Cadfael will be missed, but one has hopes that the genre has been greatly enriched by Peters/Pargeter and now there are many other mysteries set during this very period.

But we have no murder amongst them, though the attempt in one. We have seen that Pargeter/Peters can excell at telling the story in the context of an Historical Novel and indeed, there is some Introduction where she dwells on the development of Cadfael. The three short stories though give little historically for us, the first giving us some events of importance to the times, but when the chance is there for us to see deeper on what those events will mean, and did mean as they happened, we are denied. (When Henry I lost his son, the ensuing Civil War between Stephen and Maud was set up which serves as the background throughout the entire series.

Charmed, I'm Sure
A RARE BENEDICTINE is the atypical entry in the Brother Cadfael series. Instead of a novel, this book is a set of three short stories conceived, no doubt, by Ms. Peters to supply some welcome background on her popular sleuth. Here, readers learn of the circumstances surrounding Cadfael's decision to become a monk in the Abbey at Shrewsbury.

As always, these stories have a truly charming flavor. Ms. Peters' prose is lovely, and she employs it to give the reader interesting and appealing characters caught up in a tangled plot set in an idealized rendering of twelfth century England. The plots, while tangled, are not too difficult to see through as far as "whodunit" is concerned. There is usually a character who comes across as a likely "bad guy". The challenge is to sort out the "why" and, perhaps, the "how". Cadfael's adventures are always well-plotted and enjoyable to read, however, even if not terribly mysterious.

Brother Cadfael isn't for everybody. If you're looking for lots of action, or a really intriguing whodunit, you won't find it here. For readers who appreciate the Brother Cadfael series for what it is, however, A RARE BENEDICTINE is a must. It provides insight into the character's past only alluded to in other stories.

Light On The Road To Woodstock.
This contains three good reads. It has fine plots, descriptive characterizations, & smooth writing. Cadfael is a wondering Welsh soldier with a huge heart, but feels that a big change is needed in his life after coming home from the Crusades. He soon rescues an English monk from Cadfael's own master, & tensions abound. Not so surprisingly, he realizes that the serenity of being a monk is what he now needs. Jump fifteen years to "The Price Of Light," where Cadfael is now deeply settled as the abbey's apothecary & herbalist. This one was the best of the three stories. I won't spoil it by divulging the details, just read it for yourself. The third story "Eye Witness," is about a violent theft of the abbey's rents. Here cadfael is the dogged detective who has to sort out a myriad of possible suspects. Can a witness help, or is Cadfael alone?To a certain degree these are condensed medieval mystery soap opera's. But, far superior to most anything that we are used to. These stories made the twelfth century come to life in vivid pictures. For that alone, it deserved four stars. ... Read more

Product Description
In the winter of 1142, snow blankets the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul causing damage to the guest hall, and the brothers must repair its roof before the danger worsens. The treacherously icy conditions are to prove nigh fatal for Brother Haluin when he slips from the roof in a terrible fall, sustaining such grave injuries that he makes his deathbed confession to the Abbot and Brother Cadfael. A startling story of trespasses hard for God or man to forgive emerges. But Haluin does not die. On his recovery, he sets out on a journey of expiation, with Cadfael as his sole companion. An arduous trip, it leads to horrifying discoveries. And to murder... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Sadly, not up to par
I've very much enjoyed the first books in the Cadfael series, but this one fell way short of my expectations. I guessed the plot twist very early on and from that point the story seemed rather cardboard and the characters flat. Maybe Peters had run out of steam for this concept? I'll still check out the other books in the series, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

Confession is good for the soul
Hard core Cadfaelians may find this particular story too simple as you can pretty much from the beginning assumes what is about to happen. Yet Ellis Peters still keeps her writing style and has points to make. She will keep you off balance so you are not sure that you know the answer. In an interview on the DVD of Brother Cadfael - A Morbid Taste for Bones (1994), Ellis peters said that because they have trouble adapting her stories for video, which she would attempt to simplify the stories.

Although I have read the book and am sad that they did not make a video of this journey, I must say that Stephen Thorne's reading gives an added dimension to the story allowing you to race ahead or contemplate the past as he make the characters come alive with his unique voice for each.

This of course is book 15 in the series and so many things have been said, does not need to be said again. So lets hear the confession of brother Haluin and sojourn trough 12th century England with him as he takes a journey of the soul.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Confession is good for the soul
Hard core Cadfaelians may find this particular story too simple as you can pretty much from the beginning assumes what is about to happen. Yet Ellis Peters still keeps her writing style and has points to make. She will keep you off balance so you are not sure that you know the answer. In an interview on the DVD of Brother Cadfael - A Morbid Taste for Bones (1994), Ellis peters said that because they have trouble adapting her stories for video, which she would attempt to simplify the stories.

Although I have read the book and am sad that they did not make a video of this journey, I must say that Stephen Thorne's reading gives an added dimension to the story allowing you to race ahead or contemplate the past as he make the characters come alive with his unique voice for each.

This of course is book 15 in the series and so many things have been said, does not need to be said again. So lets hear the confession of brother Haluin and sojourn trough 12th century England with him as he takes a journey of the soul.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Confession is good for the soul
Hard core Cadfaelians may find this particular story too simple as you can pretty much from the beginning assumes what is about to happen. Yet Ellis Peters still keeps her writing style and has points to make. She will keep you off balance so you are not sure that you know the answer. In an interview on the DVD of Brother Cadfael - A Morbid Taste for Bones (1994), Ellis peters said that because they have trouble adapting her stories for video, which she would attempt to simplify the stories.

Although I have read the book and am sad that they did not make a video of this journey, I must say that Stephen Thorne's reading gives an added dimension to the story allowing you to race ahead or contemplate the past as he make the characters come alive with his unique voice for each.

This of course is book 15 in the series and so many things have been said, does not need to be said again. So lets hear the confession of brother Haluin and sojourn trough 12th century England with him as he takes a journey of the soul.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

A Medieval Type A Personality
In this, the sixteenth volume in the Brother Cadfael mystery series, Ellis Peters focuses on one of the less attractive customs of medieval life.Brother Haluin, a monk of Shrewsbury, takes an ill-considered vow to make a penitential pilgrimage in reparation for a long-ago sin.His vow-and the extremes to which he goes in fulfilling it-have less to do with Christian teaching about sin and repentance than about stubbornness, control and what today we might call a Type A personality. The modern reader may wonder about the mindset in which an abbot could approve such a fanatical exercise, but our difficulty is at least moderated when Brother Cadfael is sent along to keep things under control.Mysteries abound as the journey unfolds, and uncharacteristically in this series, the alert reader can understand one key clue before Brother Cadfael sees its significance. ... Read more

Product Description
Edith Pargeter, who also writes under the name Ellis Peters, previously combined her passion for history and storytelling in her creation of the much-loved monk, Brother Cadfael. It was she who paved the way for many others to explore the past through the thriving field of historical mysteries, and for this she was loved by readers and other writers alike. Past Poisons is a bumper crop of outstanding new short stories by the leading American and British historical crime writers, all wishing to pay tribute to the work of Ellis Peters. It is a fitting memorial, and a landmark anthology that no fan of historical crime can do without. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Unimpressive
The name Ellis Peters in the title of the book was clearly meant to lure readers.None of the writers are up to her standards.There is no shame in not being a master but it left me feeling a little cheated.There were a couple of stories that I kinda liked but the rest were forgettable except two were downright yucky.And the tributes to Ellis Peters written by each and every author were so uninteresting that I didn't bother to read any of them through.

The biggest sign of how unimpressed I am with this book -- I am going to give it away which I never ever do, but I feel kinda guilty that I am going to inflict this lame book on some poor soldier in Iraq.I shall have to include better reading material and some snack food in the box. ... Read more

Product Description
The Pilgrim of Hate: As the pilgrims gather at Shrewsbury, in distant Winchester a knight has been murdered. Among the throng of pilgrims, some strange customers indeed begin to puzzle Brother Cadfael, and as events unfold it becomes clear that the murder is a much less remote affair that it first seemed. An Excellent Mystery: In 1141 England is still torn by civic strife. Among the victims of the carnage is the Abbey of Hyde Meade, totally destroyed. But as its brothers attempt to rebuild their lives, old wounds are re-opened, painfully relived and harsh deeds committed. Only Brother Cadfael can ultimately distinguish between victim, innocent and guilty party. The Raven in the Foregate: Abbot Radulfus returns from London, bringing with him a priest for the vacant living of the Holy Cross (known as the Foregate)- a man of scholarship and discipline, but not humility. When he is found drowned in the millpond, suspicion is cast in many directions...and only the perseverance of Brother Cadfael can unravel the threads that lead to the murderer. ... Read more