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kukushka's review against another edition
5.0
Overall, I didn’t like it quite as much as A Morbid Taste for Bones. I think that Ellis Peters might just be one of those authors who is better suited for the longer narrative format. That being said, these stories were still great fun to read.
I love that Brother Cadfael doesn’t always wrap up his cases by catching the perpetrator and turning him/her over to the authorities. Sometimes, he decides that the crime is legitimate and helps the criminal escape. Sometimes, he doesn’t reveal who did it at all. In other words, he solves the mystery and makes things right, even if that means being on the wrong side of the power structure (and, sometimes, especially if it means going against the power structure). He’s a great character and far more complex than the usual detective who just wants to restore order, whatever the moral situation.
I had expected stories that showed Cadfael before he joined the monastic order. Instead, only one story fits that, and I found that the Cadfael character didn’t come through very clearly until the end of that story – once he had decided that he would join Shrewsbury Abbey. The rest of the short stories are like the novels, following an already established brother of the abbey. So we never get a good look at Cadfael in his previous life (in fact, I got more of a sense of that life by reading A Morbid Taste for Bones!) and we never get to see him learning about the abbey and trying to fit in. It’s a whole area that would have been great to read, so it’s a shame that it was skipped over.
Either way, these were great stories and I highly recommend them for any Brother Cadfael fan. I would also like to say that the illustrations in my copy are absolutely beautiful. They are drawn in the medieval style, but have something of the modern to them – it’s hard to describe. But they did add a great deal to my enjoyment of the book.
I love that Brother Cadfael doesn’t always wrap up his cases by catching the perpetrator and turning him/her over to the authorities. Sometimes, he decides that the crime is legitimate and helps the criminal escape. Sometimes, he doesn’t reveal who did it at all. In other words, he solves the mystery and makes things right, even if that means being on the wrong side of the power structure (and, sometimes, especially if it means going against the power structure). He’s a great character and far more complex than the usual detective who just wants to restore order, whatever the moral situation.
I had expected stories that showed Cadfael before he joined the monastic order. Instead, only one story fits that, and I found that the Cadfael character didn’t come through very clearly until the end of that story – once he had decided that he would join Shrewsbury Abbey. The rest of the short stories are like the novels, following an already established brother of the abbey. So we never get a good look at Cadfael in his previous life (in fact, I got more of a sense of that life by reading A Morbid Taste for Bones!) and we never get to see him learning about the abbey and trying to fit in. It’s a whole area that would have been great to read, so it’s a shame that it was skipped over.
Either way, these were great stories and I highly recommend them for any Brother Cadfael fan. I would also like to say that the illustrations in my copy are absolutely beautiful. They are drawn in the medieval style, but have something of the modern to them – it’s hard to describe. But they did add a great deal to my enjoyment of the book.
samphope's review against another edition
4.0
The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael is a beloved series of historical mysteries where we follow the investigations of a Benedictine monk, ex-crusader and well-versed herbologist. This collection of three short stories is a good introduction to the series.
The first story happens before Cadfael joins the order and is the only story that does so to my knowledge, whereas the second and third stories are more in the bent of the traditional lines providing very well written short mysteries set around Shrewsbury abbey with the lovingly applied historic detail that marks the rest of the series.
The first story is also the one that deviates the most from the standard narrative, and it can hardly be classed as a whodunnit or even a whydunnit it. It is more a short introduction to Cadfael's reasoning behind joining the order and provides a glimpse into the mind of our monk-to-be.
The two other stories are well-crafted mysteries that pack quite a punch.
Ellis Peters has a style that I personally adore when she describes the life and times of 12th century England and Wales, the prose is in perfect adequation with the world that it is describing.
The plot is well crafted as always, though if your enjoyment from crime novels is guessing who did it then you might find it lacking in that department, as in these stories as with the full-length novels the psychology and reasoning of the culprits are often more of interest than the pure mystery itself (not that they are badly written and easy to guess, however, it's just other factors tend to be in the foreground rather than pure investigation).
It's an excellent introduction to the Cadfael series, and a quick read, for those that want to dip their toes in and see if they like the style and epoch. For those that are already fans, well you probably don't need an excuse to read more about our sleuthing monk, though if you're looking for a book that dives deeply into his past before the Rule then I'm afraid you're out of luck.
The first story happens before Cadfael joins the order and is the only story that does so to my knowledge, whereas the second and third stories are more in the bent of the traditional lines providing very well written short mysteries set around Shrewsbury abbey with the lovingly applied historic detail that marks the rest of the series.
The first story is also the one that deviates the most from the standard narrative, and it can hardly be classed as a whodunnit or even a whydunnit it. It is more a short introduction to Cadfael's reasoning behind joining the order and provides a glimpse into the mind of our monk-to-be.
The two other stories are well-crafted mysteries that pack quite a punch.
Ellis Peters has a style that I personally adore when she describes the life and times of 12th century England and Wales, the prose is in perfect adequation with the world that it is describing.
The plot is well crafted as always, though if your enjoyment from crime novels is guessing who did it then you might find it lacking in that department, as in these stories as with the full-length novels the psychology and reasoning of the culprits are often more of interest than the pure mystery itself (not that they are badly written and easy to guess, however, it's just other factors tend to be in the foreground rather than pure investigation).
It's an excellent introduction to the Cadfael series, and a quick read, for those that want to dip their toes in and see if they like the style and epoch. For those that are already fans, well you probably don't need an excuse to read more about our sleuthing monk, though if you're looking for a book that dives deeply into his past before the Rule then I'm afraid you're out of luck.
thecirclek's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Three light, mostly engaging short stories starring Cadfael.
hcq's review against another edition
3.0
Rather charming, as mysteries go. Slight, of course, but since they're short stories that's not a real complaint.
I hadn't read any Brother Cadfael books before, so I read this to see if I wanted to read more--and I do.
I hadn't read any Brother Cadfael books before, so I read this to see if I wanted to read more--and I do.
sharon4d046's review against another edition
4.0
A perfect short read, 3 short stories featuring Brother Cadfael. A perfect read for a between larger books kind of read.
jennyanydots's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of 3 Brother Cadfael stories, including how he decided to join the monks. Not read any of these in years, and rather enjoyed it.
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute treat. With a prelude into how cadfael became a monk and little anecdotal mysteries to help flavour the tale. Love it
lnatal's review against another edition
4.0
'Brother Cadfael sprang to life suddenly and unexpectedly when he was already approaching sixty, mature, experienced, fully armed and seventeen years tonsures.'
pers's review against another edition
4.0
I first read the Cadfael books a dozen years or more ago, and I'm not at all sure that at that time I found this collection of tales which provide the proper introduction to Brother Cadfael. I'm glad that I found them this time.
lucyb's review against another edition
4.0
Three stories pre-dating the events of "A Morbid Taste for Bones," and in my view, they're among the most charming of Peters' remarkable Brother Cadfael series.
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