A saintly hermit’s arrival at the abbey coincides with a young heir’s disappearance, in the Silver Dagger Award-winning medieval mystery series. The year is 1142, and England is in the grip of civil war. Within the cloisters of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, there begins a chain of events no less momentous than the upheavals of the outside world. It starts with the sad … It starts with the sad demise of Richard Ludel, Lord of Eyton, whose ten-year-old son and heir, also named Richard, is a pupil at the abbey. The boy refuses to surrender his newly inherited powers to Dionysia, his furious, formidable grandmother. A stranger to the region is the hermit Cuthred, who enjoys the protection of Lady Dionysia, and whose young companion, Hyacinth, befriends Richard. Despite his reputation for holiness, Cuthred’s arrival heralds a series of mishaps for the monks. When a corpse is found in Eyton forest, Brother Cadfael must devote his knowledge of human nature to tracking down a ruthless murderer.
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I am enamoured with Cadfael. I snap up every volume that comes along. Every book is like another visit to home. The history is well researched and accurate, the language is uncompromising, and the characters are old friends. Brother Cadfael is a heroic, humble giant.
If you haven’t entered the world of Brother Cadfael or read any books in the series, you have a great deal to look forward to! If you like historical whodunits with great characters and descriptions, a dash of philosophy and often unexpected twists, you’ll love this book and all the others.
When does the next one come out?
Love this series.
love Br. Caedfal – love historical fiction, especially when well researched
Have always loved Br. Cadfael
Enjoyed when I first read it years ago and really enjoyed it again.
Any thing by Ellis Peters with Brother Cadfiel in it will be exceptionally well written with great characters and fantastic plot!
Reminds me of a BBC show lol
Love all of her books!!!
I love all of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael books, and this one tops the list of ones I’ve read so far. The descriptions of young Richard Ludel, in his boyish pursuits is both endearing and harrowing as he tries to evade his grandmother’s nefarious designes to wed him to a neighboring landowner’s adult daughter. History, salted with political intrigue not entirely tied to the struggles between rivals King Stephen and Empress Maud in this 12th century English tale give the human interest story background, as do the descriptions of monastic life of the period. The judiciousness of Sheriff Hugh Berringar and wisdom of Brother Cadfael keep this story true to the spirit of the entire series, which never disappoints.
I love the brother Cadfael mysteries,
Love this whole Cadfael Series! Easy to read, great historical fiction., wonderful characters.
I love Ellis Peters. She never disappoints. Her books do not drag, they are fresh, fun to read, and not easy to resolve the answers.
I know professors, doctors, intelligent people who love this series after a full day’s work……….you will not be disappointed.
Richard Ludel, the lord of Eaton Manor dies. His son and heir is a ward of the Abby of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury. His grandmother wants him back home so she can marry him to control more lands. Abbott Radulfus refuses to discharge his own duties simply because Lord Ludel has died.
Drogo Bosiet and his groom arrive at the Abbey. They are looking for a villein named Brand who has fled their Northamptonshire manor. The only other newbies in the area are Cuthred, a hermit living in Eyton forest, and a boy who runs his messages.
After Drogo is found murdered, and Richard’s son goes missing from the Abbey, it is up to Brother Cadfael and Sheriff Hugh Beringar to solve these mysteries. A lovely farmer’s daughter plays a good role in this story.
This one I figured out before Ellis revealed all. I’m getting better at unraveling her mysteries.