The year is 1143 and this is the 17th chronicle of Brother Cadfael, of the BenedictineAbbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Shrewbury. Once again, the gentle monk is forced to leave the tranquility of his herb garden and use his knowledge of human nature to solve a murder - this one frighteningly close to home.
When a newly plowed field given to the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul yields the body of a young woman, Brother Cadfael finds himself in a delicate situation. The field was once owned by a local potter named Ruald, who has abandoned his beautiful wife Generys to take monastic vows. Generys was said to have gone away with a lover, but now it seems that she has been murdered. With the arrival at the Abbey of young Sulien Blaunt, a novice fleeing homeward from the civil war raging in East Anglia, the mysteries surrounding the corpse start to multiply.
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"Enjoyable. My favourite quotations from this book: "We live as candles in the breath of God." (p. 182) "...My soul has benefited from his prayers. But pain is here in the body, and has a very loud voice. Sometimes I could not hear my own voice say Amen! for the demon howling." (p. 238) " 'It may well be,' said Cadfael, 'that our justice sees as in a mirror image, left where right should be, evil reflected back as good, good as evil, your angel as her devil. But God's justice, if it makes no haste, makes no mistakes.' "" — Poetreehugger (5 out of 5 stars)
"Enjoyable. My favourite quotations from this book: "We live as candles in the breath of God." (p. 182) "...My soul has benefited from his prayers. But pain is here in the body, and has a very loud voice. Sometimes I could not hear my own voice say Amen! for the demon howling." (p. 238) " 'It may well be,' said Cadfael, 'that our justice sees as in a mirror image, left where right should be, evil reflected back as good, good as evil, your angel as her devil. But God's justice, if it makes no haste, makes no mistakes.' ""
" Everything a Cadfael mystery needs: a body, a mystery, and young love. "
" Yet another great Brother Cadfael novel. I really can't get over how well written these are. Once again there was a surprise ending that never even crossed my mind. "
" This version was read by Derek Jacobi who played Cadfael in the television series. I enjoy hearing him play this part but I really think that Peter's meant him to be a tough, knight who had been in many battles and was world weary. Jacobi creates a cozy characterization which is enjoyable in this murder mystery. "
" This was not the first time I'd read this book but I fell in love with the series all over again. Really well-written, educational and good character development with a wry sense of humor. "
" Good historic mystery reminiscent of The Name of the Rose. "
" Lots of twists and turns in this one--an unidentified old corpse will do that. Fun. "
" If you like historical mysteries set in medieval times, you'll enjoy these books - they're really very good. "
" I enjoy Ellis Peters immensely. These are always a quick, engaging read with an interesting murder mystery to solve. If I could only have an herb garden like Brother Cadfael! "
" Enjoying this Medieval Whodunnit. Recommended by a friend at FOL. "
" I enjoyed this a lot it had a good rich plot, but not hard to understand. Interesting characters and themes. "
" The Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters is a wonderful set of mysteries that take place in 12th century England. Ellis Peters does a wonderful job of describing all the characters and she is a great mystery writer. The cases are complicated enough to make them interesting. "
" Again, another author I really enjoy reading. Mysteries without excessive profanity, gore, violence, sex etc. Brother Cadfael is an engaging character - and I wish I had the time he does to putter around the herb garden! "
" Not as good as some of the other Brother Cadfael mysteries, but still better than so many mystery series and their individual entries. The resolution of the plot is somewhat less satisfying than other situations with which Brother Cadfael has had to contend--but it's still very good. "
" I liked this one quite a bit, but not as much as some of the others in the series. I guess I just had a problem with the idea that a man would be allowed to leave his wife to become a monk and she would have to spend the rest of her life alone. The way the mystery was resolved was interesting. "
" A knotty problem deftly unwound by Brother Cadfael. "
" Book #17. The Brothers discover human remains when they plough a newly aquired field. "
" Another great book in the series. Are they getting better and better? While not as "theological" as the previous one (that I enjoyed so much) this was another good mystery. "
" I found this book a bit slow at the start, but Ellis Peters has a incredible ability to provide a powerful, emotional, and surprise ending. In this book she does not disappoint. "
" Still going strong. I find Peter's Cadfael series one of the best series I've read. He always seems to have a good mystery to solve. "
" Just arrived from USA through BM. Another great masterpiece by Ellis Peters. I must continue to read this Brother Cadfael series. "
" A really great read. Very different from others in the series "
" One of my favorite Brother Cadfael mysteries! I absolutely love Brothers Cadfael Mark, and wish they lived next door so we could swap gardening tips! "
" One of my favorites of the series. "
" Another great volume in the Brother Cadfael series. Ellis Peters demonstrates the classic mystery writing style of dropping clues and making the reader feel as though they are making the discoveries along with the characters. I enjoyed the little twist at the end too. "
" This was a good one - good, simple story; good characters. "
" Ouhou, il est terriblement sombre celui-là aussi. "
" Original title for U.S. release (1981): Leapers, Lepers & Love Affairs. Overly whimsical, confusing; did not sell. "
" The solution to this one was easy to reach, but I enjoyed the journey with the good brother, as usual. "
" I love the characters in this book. I'm not sure I love the love story, however. "
" Another good one, although none so far are nearly as good as One Corpse Too Many "
" It was very interesting reading about the leper hospital. What a terrible disease. The young lovers in this book seem to have been in more peril than in other of the Cadfael books, but it's comforting to know all will be well by the end of the book. "
Ellis Peters (1913–1995) was the pen name of English novelist Edith Pargeter, author of scores of books under her own name. She was a recipient of the Silver Dagger Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, conferred by the Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain, as well as the coveted Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America.
Sir Derek Jacobi has had a long and distinguished career. He has toured in Becket and Uncle Vanya, and he received a Tony Award for his performance as Benedick in the RSC’s production of Much Ado about Nothing. His work in television includes the lead roles in Cadfael and I, Claudius, and his film credits include Henry V, Gosford Park, and Hamlet. His narrations have won him eleven Audiofile Earphones Awards.
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