" 3 stars. i'm re-collecting this whole series, for probably the third time. and rereading as they come to hand. even though it would be nice to read the whole series in order just once. but that would mean waiting. this one's not the best example of this series. but it's still fun, to look in on Brother Cadfael's herb garden, and the monastery's power struggles, and the dissensions between that other town and gown. and it's 1139: so there's a larger civil war being fought around the city of Shrewbury, between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. of all the historical mystery series, this one is still the best. "
— Macha, 1/10/2014