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eososray's review against another edition
4.0
The ramifications of the political drama of the times are played out at St. Peter's Fair when Cadfael tries to determine why a merchant was murdered.
lisajh5858's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mary846's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this mystery. The descriptions of medieval life are wonderful - and the three days of the fair were a good background to the murders. It was good to have the peaceful routines of the abbey contrasted with the hustle and bustle and violence at the fair.
I was eager to know what happened and it took me a while to work out who the villain was. The ending was all wrapped up a little too neatly. The humble working-class boy got the girl - who miraculously lived through a devastating fire - but I don’t want to be too nit-picky.
I was eager to know what happened and it took me a while to work out who the villain was. The ending was all wrapped up a little too neatly. The humble working-class boy got the girl - who miraculously lived through a devastating fire - but I don’t want to be too nit-picky.
jess64au's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
A perfectly good basic who done it.
kappafrog's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
My least favourite in the series so far. The Welshman who knows everything was a fun character but never ended up doing much except providing exposition. I really didn't like how the narrative at times treated Emma as a prize Philip deserved to win. The fair was a nice change of pace, though it was too bad none of the book took place in Wales. The book has most of the usual charms of the series but bored me at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent, Rape, War, and Sexual assault
crazygoangirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
In this fourth outing with Brother Cadfael, we are visiting the annual St. Peter’s Fair held on Abbey grounds. I loved Peters descriptions of the Fair - the preparations, the vibrancy of sounds and colours, and the merchants and their goods coming from all over England by road, horse and boat. She made it all come alive as she always does 😊
Murder seems to follow Cadfael around as do beautiful, young damsels in distress! It’s a running theme in the series! In this one, a merchant, Thomas of Bristol is found stabbed and his young niece Emma must deal from the fallout of his death. Once again, Peters’ heroine is young, beautiful, resourceful and fearless! Emma is under the protection of Hugh and Aline Beringar at the Abbey but danger often comes unexpected in safe places!
As always, Cadfael investigates but in this story, Hugh and the boy Phillip Corviser - young, rash but honest and steadfast, are major accomplices in the solving of this crime. Peters’ plots are detailed without being overwhelming. I love how she makes the detecting process feel contemporary even in the twelfth century, when methods are basic and often crude, Cadfael and Hugh get the job done with their keen observation and sharp deductions. I love that she gives her regular cast of characters believable arcs and realistic dreams and aspirations along with the willingness to pursue them. Even her new characters are well-fleshed and feel real! Ivo Corbiere and his party play vital roles in the matter and the climax once again showcases Emma’s determination and Phillip’s bravery.
I liked this one a little less than I did Monk’s Hood hence the slightly lower rating, but it was an engaging read all the same. Peters has the incredible ability to tell a rocking tale in a short time (most of her books are 250 pages or so), which just goes to show that in the hands of a skilful author, one doesn’t always need a tome to write an epic!
Unfortunately this is the last of the books available on Kindle Unlimited so far. The next two are available for free on Audible. I’ve been researching which editions of the series to collect and haven’t quite made up my mind. Physical copies are not easily available and are expensive when they are, but I MUST have them 😊
Murder seems to follow Cadfael around as do beautiful, young damsels in distress! It’s a running theme in the series! In this one, a merchant, Thomas of Bristol is found stabbed and his young niece Emma must deal from the fallout of his death. Once again, Peters’ heroine is young, beautiful, resourceful and fearless! Emma is under the protection of Hugh and Aline Beringar at the Abbey but danger often comes unexpected in safe places!
As always, Cadfael investigates but in this story, Hugh and the boy Phillip Corviser - young, rash but honest and steadfast, are major accomplices in the solving of this crime. Peters’ plots are detailed without being overwhelming. I love how she makes the detecting process feel contemporary even in the twelfth century, when methods are basic and often crude, Cadfael and Hugh get the job done with their keen observation and sharp deductions. I love that she gives her regular cast of characters believable arcs and realistic dreams and aspirations along with the willingness to pursue them. Even her new characters are well-fleshed and feel real! Ivo Corbiere and his party play vital roles in the matter and the climax once again showcases Emma’s determination and Phillip’s bravery.
I liked this one a little less than I did Monk’s Hood hence the slightly lower rating, but it was an engaging read all the same. Peters has the incredible ability to tell a rocking tale in a short time (most of her books are 250 pages or so), which just goes to show that in the hands of a skilful author, one doesn’t always need a tome to write an epic!
Unfortunately this is the last of the books available on Kindle Unlimited so far. The next two are available for free on Audible. I’ve been researching which editions of the series to collect and haven’t quite made up my mind. Physical copies are not easily available and are expensive when they are, but I MUST have them 😊
laurenmsilverman's review
Brother Cadfael is my comfort character :)
Honorable mention to Hugh Beringar for being a smitten, enamored wife guy but also getting serious when it's time to lay down the law.
Honorable mention to Hugh Beringar for being a smitten, enamored wife guy but also getting serious when it's time to lay down the law.
dominic_piacentini's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a riot. What begins as a municipal grievance over an infrastructure tax develops into a national skirmish between feuding factions of the English Anarchy. Caught up in it — again — is Brother Cadfael, master of Shrewsbury Abbey's herbarium. This time, though, he is granted by the newly installed Abbott the freedom to sleuth the murder of a wealthy merchant during all hours of his typical monastic temporality. After all, "there was no denying that the Benedictine round dutifully observed, did limit a man's mobility for a large part of the day."
I was glad to see Hugh and Aline Baringar return in this installment, and I hope that they maintain a role in the next mysteries. Ellis Peter's steamy, medieval descriptions of men return too. A standout here being, "Emma's arms easily spanned Ivo's slenderness, and the feel of his spare, strong body was warm and muscular and vital through the fine linen." Hot.
If I could give 3.5 stars I would.
I was glad to see Hugh and Aline Baringar return in this installment, and I hope that they maintain a role in the next mysteries. Ellis Peter's steamy, medieval descriptions of men return too. A standout here being, "Emma's arms easily spanned Ivo's slenderness, and the feel of his spare, strong body was warm and muscular and vital through the fine linen." Hot.
If I could give 3.5 stars I would.