Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I liked this book well enough but probably won't continue reading the series. Its strengths are its protagonist, the colorful crusader-turned-gardener monk, Cadfael, who gives the series its name. The writing is also personable and cozy as it describes a long ago setting that, while probably miserable to live in, seems comfortable as depicted by Ellis' prose.
Unfortunately the plot never really grabbed me. Cadfael's abbey wants saintly relics to boost pilgrimage. They decide to request the bones of a saint in a nearby Welsh town. Conflict arises when some villagers don't want to give up the saint, and that conflict leads to murder.
I guess the book never felt like a page-turner, and it isn't really the sort of mystery you could decipher yourself if you were only clever enough. Cadfael does very little detective work. Instead, he and his cohort ask questions and use psychological methods to reveal guilt and secrets. That's a fine basis for a murder mystery, but I'm not sure it's what I'm looking for, so I'll probably skip future installments.
Unfortunately the plot never really grabbed me. Cadfael's abbey wants saintly relics to boost pilgrimage. They decide to request the bones of a saint in a nearby Welsh town. Conflict arises when some villagers don't want to give up the saint, and that conflict leads to murder.
I guess the book never felt like a page-turner, and it isn't really the sort of mystery you could decipher yourself if you were only clever enough. Cadfael does very little detective work. Instead, he and his cohort ask questions and use psychological methods to reveal guilt and secrets. That's a fine basis for a murder mystery, but I'm not sure it's what I'm looking for, so I'll probably skip future installments.
12th century Shrewsbury and a Welsh monk.
Cadfael is often called an unusual monk as he came to the monastery late in life, after having led the life of a soldier (with all its trappings)! He is often depicted in support of young lovers - a useful, sympathetic, observant, clever detective!
I was first introduced to this world via the marvellous TV adaptations of the 90s.
But now, I have read this, the first book of the series. As is often the case, the book is, of course better.
A delightful, incredibly well-researched romp through all matters ecclesiastical. And with the appropriate amount of cynicism and humour. Amazing!
Cadfael is often called an unusual monk as he came to the monastery late in life, after having led the life of a soldier (with all its trappings)! He is often depicted in support of young lovers - a useful, sympathetic, observant, clever detective!
I was first introduced to this world via the marvellous TV adaptations of the 90s.
But now, I have read this, the first book of the series. As is often the case, the book is, of course better.
A delightful, incredibly well-researched romp through all matters ecclesiastical. And with the appropriate amount of cynicism and humour. Amazing!
DNF. I could not get past the language. I kept trying, and and trying, but it was staccato, and had absolutely no vibrancy that I could not get into this.
Als de stress tot aan het plafond zit, wil ik iets lezen waarin ik kan ontsnappen, zonder dat het me moeite kost.
Dan heb ik behoefte aan de wijsheid en de vriendelijkheid van broeder Cadfael, die in de 12 eeuw vanuit zijn kloostertuin allerlei misdaden oplost en nooit de menselijkheid uit het oog verliest.
(de serie met Derek Jacobi is ook geweldig, ik denk dat ik de komende tijd een dubbele dosis Cadfael nodig heb en zowel ga lezen als kijken!)
Dan heb ik behoefte aan de wijsheid en de vriendelijkheid van broeder Cadfael, die in de 12 eeuw vanuit zijn kloostertuin allerlei misdaden oplost en nooit de menselijkheid uit het oog verliest.
(de serie met Derek Jacobi is ook geweldig, ik denk dat ik de komende tijd een dubbele dosis Cadfael nodig heb en zowel ga lezen als kijken!)
I first read this while living in Britain in the early 1990s. I returned to it because I love Cadfael’s calm competence and wisdom, and I love the descriptions of medieval life in Shrewsbury and in Wales. Also it’s been long enough that I didn’t remember all the details of the murder until I had been charmed again by the many other characters in the story.
I suspect that historians find lots of errors in the detail, but I don’t know anything about the period so I neither notice or care about the inevitable anachronisms.
I suspect that historians find lots of errors in the detail, but I don’t know anything about the period so I neither notice or care about the inevitable anachronisms.
Nice little read.
It is all story, and no action. A good story but, took quite awhile to read. I will read another just not right now. I require action.
It is all story, and no action. A good story but, took quite awhile to read. I will read another just not right now. I require action.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm not sure why I picked up this book, it's certainly not my typical genre of reading. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This was a fun, easy little murder mystery that takes place in 12th century Wales. The local Welsh lord has been killed and all signs point to divine intervention. Brother Cadfael teams up with the lord's daughter to find the real killer.
I rarely read mysteries, but am glad this is a series because I would easily pick up another one for a change of pace.
I rarely read mysteries, but am glad this is a series because I would easily pick up another one for a change of pace.
I discovered Brother Cadfael through Derek Jacobi and I'm happy to report that I like the books as much, although I keep hearing Jacobi speak Brother Cadfael's words. This was a great start to the series, and I look forward to reading future books. They're fairly short, and each book completes the mystery so that you're not left hanging (at least from what I can tell). I discovered these books thanks to Goodreads and I'm thankful to friends here who recommended it. Definitely worth reading!