To save his estranged son, a monk risks breaking his vows in this “moving and suspenseful” medieval mystery (Booklist). For Brother Cadfael in the autumn of his life, the mild November of our Lord’s year 1145 may bring a bitter–and deadly–harvest. England is torn between supporters of the Empress Maud and those of her cousin Stephen. The civil strife is about to jeopardize not only Cadfael’s … jeopardize not only Cadfael’s life, but his hopes of Heaven.
While Cadfael has sometimes bent the abbey’s rules, he has never broken his monastic vows–until now. Word has come to Shrewsbury of a treacherous act that has left thirty of Maud’s knights imprisoned. All have been ransomed except Cadfael’s secret son, Olivier de Bretagne. Conceived in Cadfael’s soldiering youth and unaware of his father’s identity, Olivier will die if he is not freed. Like never before, Cadfael must boldly defy the abbot. The good brother forsakes the order to follow his heart–but what he finds will challenge his soul.
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I love the medieval thought process used in Brother Cadfael’s unusual conclusions…like a rosebud opening
to one clue at a time. Keeps the reader guessing all the way through.
Not one of my favorites of Peter Ellis. I read it out of sequence which might be part of my problem with it. While decent as a atand-alone this series needs to be read from the start because each successive book is built on the books before it.
This is the final book of the Brother Cadfael series and can stand on its own, but it certainly helps to have read at least a few of the earlier books in order to understand who the central characters are and how they figure into the current book. All the books are thoroughly entertaining if you like a good mystery coupled with medieval life and English history during a tumultuous time.
My favorite Brother Cadfael so far.
I enjoy all of the Brother Cadfael books, so much so that I’ve bought them all and am rereading them from first to last. I get lost in the era and feel with Cadfael, High Beringer and especially Abbott Radalfus. One cool Abbott there!
Terrific series. Great characters.
I enjoy this series and this author. Always a good story.
Brother Cadfaels’ trips down the historical novel’s paths have been quite enjoyable. I have read all of them to date.
good history
I have found Brother Cadfael sagas to be enlightening about the times in which he ‘lived’. This story was somewhat straight forward in the presentation of the characters and the plot. Unlike some, here we guessed the outcome about half-way through. But it was ‘fun’ to watch Brother Cadfael solve the riddle.
I usually read biographies and history, but I turn to Cadfael as an old friend. Peters has created a character who is smart, respectful, astute about himself, and knowledgeable about people. Although set in the Middle Ages, people and their motives are much the same as today. Wonderful character!!
As always, the best. Have enjoyed every one.
Loved the whole book series. Hated the tv show.
I love all these books.
Takes the reader to a different time and place. You can almost hear the sounds and smells swirling around the characters.
CADFAEL IS ALWAYS A WINNER.
It is great to read a book with a good mystery, good characters and not all modern tools being used to solve.
Wonderful depiction of life in the 12th century.
I generally enjoy this series. Some parts of this book really dragged for me, perhaps I’m temporarily overdone on Medieval materials.
The author took a more somber, darker, sobering approach to the story. Cadfael is torn between his vows to the Church and what he felt were his obligations as a parent to his son. It was an excellent book.