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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The prior of Shrewsbury Abbey, envious of other abbeys’ holy relics, embarks on a journey to Wales in the hope of procuring the remains of St Winifred. One of the brothers, Columbanus has a fit and claims to have had a vision from St Winifred, this is taken as a sign by Prior Robert for their quest. Brother Cadfael had been happily tending the Benedictine garden of the abbey but as a Welsh speaker he persuades the Prior to let him accompany the party to Wales to act as a translator, with his assistant Brother John, who could act as a groom to the party’s horses and mules. Despite having the approval of the Bishop of Bangor and the King of Gwynedd, the party from England are met with resistance by the Welsh locals, when it is understood they wish to take their Welsh saint’s remains back to England. One opponent, Rhisiart, proves especially stubborn and the Prior tries unsuccessfully to bribe him. A short while later, Rhisiart is found dead with an arrow sticking out of him. Suspicion falls first on an outlander, Engelard, a refugee from England, where he was wanted for poaching, he had motive, he wanted to marry Sioned, Rhisiart’s daughter but Rhisiart was opposed to her marrying outside the clan. Sioned and Cadfael aren’t convinced of Engelard’s guilt and start investigating.
The “Brother” of Brother Cadfael is dropped after page 41, I guess it sounded too laborious. although the title returns some way through chapter nine. The historical detail seems well researched and authentic and the mystery makes the book a page turner. It is easy to see how this book initiated a series of books using the same monk-detective.
The “Brother” of Brother Cadfael is dropped after page 41, I guess it sounded too laborious. although the title returns some way through chapter nine. The historical detail seems well researched and authentic and the mystery makes the book a page turner. It is easy to see how this book initiated a series of books using the same monk-detective.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A Benedictine monk, who once fought in the Crusades on both land and sea, now the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul of Shrewsbury's herbalist has added medieval era forensic sleuthing to his skill set. Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series is already a well-beloved as I read it many years ago and have watched the TV adaption of the series more than once. But, I hadn't experienced it on audio and its been years, so I happily settled in for a listen to the Recorded Books edition narrated by new to me narrator, Patrick Tull.
A Morbid Taste for Bones is the first full-length novel in the series (though for those who appreciate getting stories chronologically, there are three novellas that precede this and are gathered together under the title, A Rare Benedictine).
While Brother Cadfael oversees two of the brothers working in the abbey gardens, Prior Robert has been busily hunting far and wide for a stray saint the abbey could acquire to heighten his (ahem), that is the abbey's reputation as a source of religious wonder and power. Then, to everyone's astonishment, first Brother Jerome has a dream about St. Winifred of a Welsh extraction. But what cements the deal for Prior Robert is when another brother monk has a vision of her calling and saying she wishes her bones to come to Shrewsbury.
So, Abbot Hereford sends Prior Robert off with a retinue of five monks including Brother Cadfael (because he can translate Welsh/English) to bring St. Winifred back in a beautiful reliquary. Wales is unlike Norman England and Prior Robert hits a snag when the locals of Gwytherin like their local saint right where she is, thank you very much. Then, one of the local Welsh gentry is murdered and an 'outlander' not of the Benedictine party is thought to be the culprit though the visiting Benedictines have a huge motive, too.
Brother Cadfael along with the daughter of the murdered man think they need to look further afield for the culprit based on evidence that Cadfael turns up and her knowledge of the people involved.
I forgot how much I loved these stories and the characters led by the wry-humored, worldly-wise, and observant Cadfael. The mystery was good and I enjoyed the turns it took, but the interactions between the cast of characters was as entertaining as the mystery.
Patrick Tull took some adjusting for me (not on him- I'm the one who hears Sir Derek Jacobi's voice when I read the series, previously), but I ended up enjoying his voicing of the characters. He didn't try to falsetto the females or assume a Welsh accent though he did great at portraying personality quirks and status levels and he caught the tone and rhythm of the story so well. I will definitely look forward to more of his work.
All in all, a wonderful revisit and I look forward to more. Definitely recommend to those who like authentic historic details in their medieval-era historical mysteries.
A Morbid Taste for Bones is the first full-length novel in the series (though for those who appreciate getting stories chronologically, there are three novellas that precede this and are gathered together under the title, A Rare Benedictine).
While Brother Cadfael oversees two of the brothers working in the abbey gardens, Prior Robert has been busily hunting far and wide for a stray saint the abbey could acquire to heighten his (ahem), that is the abbey's reputation as a source of religious wonder and power. Then, to everyone's astonishment, first Brother Jerome has a dream about St. Winifred of a Welsh extraction. But what cements the deal for Prior Robert is when another brother monk has a vision of her calling and saying she wishes her bones to come to Shrewsbury.
So, Abbot Hereford sends Prior Robert off with a retinue of five monks including Brother Cadfael (because he can translate Welsh/English) to bring St. Winifred back in a beautiful reliquary. Wales is unlike Norman England and Prior Robert hits a snag when the locals of Gwytherin like their local saint right where she is, thank you very much. Then, one of the local Welsh gentry is murdered and an 'outlander' not of the Benedictine party is thought to be the culprit though the visiting Benedictines have a huge motive, too.
Brother Cadfael along with the daughter of the murdered man think they need to look further afield for the culprit based on evidence that Cadfael turns up and her knowledge of the people involved.
I forgot how much I loved these stories and the characters led by the wry-humored, worldly-wise, and observant Cadfael. The mystery was good and I enjoyed the turns it took, but the interactions between the cast of characters was as entertaining as the mystery.
Patrick Tull took some adjusting for me (not on him- I'm the one who hears Sir Derek Jacobi's voice when I read the series, previously), but I ended up enjoying his voicing of the characters. He didn't try to falsetto the females or assume a Welsh accent though he did great at portraying personality quirks and status levels and he caught the tone and rhythm of the story so well. I will definitely look forward to more of his work.
All in all, a wonderful revisit and I look forward to more. Definitely recommend to those who like authentic historic details in their medieval-era historical mysteries.
I'm not sure why I did not enjoy this as much as most reviewers.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Benedictine monk from Shrewsbury, Cadfael, goes on a quest to Wales with the prior, some other monks and an initiate to procure the remains of Saint Winifred for the glory of their abbey. In the course of retrieving her mortal remains, one of the local Welsh leaders is murdered.
I perceive this to be fairly accurate, historically speaking, and that does add charm.
On the other hand, it is pretty slow moving and leans toward the slightly boring and/or slow. As I have stated previously, I realize that the first books in any series (there are 20 books in this series) tend to be worse than later books, so I will move on to book 2.
I perceive this to be fairly accurate, historically speaking, and that does add charm.
On the other hand, it is pretty slow moving and leans toward the slightly boring and/or slow. As I have stated previously, I realize that the first books in any series (there are 20 books in this series) tend to be worse than later books, so I will move on to book 2.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced