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git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
I love going back in time and listening to a Brother Cadfael mystery. It's always more than just the mystery.
thecesspit's review against another edition
3.0
Much like previous books in the series, we have a an medieval monk solving crimes by a mixture of memory, medical knowledge and native cunning. These stories are well written, and move along at a reasonable pace but take interesting detours into the day-to-day lives of the people of Shrewsbury in 1200's. I assume it's well researched and we have some insight into the way people lived.
This mystery revolves around the theft of a bag of coins, a murder and using the church as a sanctuary. We get some details of how a tradesman household was organized. There's a love story, and the ever wise monk taking a worldly wise view of it all. The end feels much the same as another in the series (a flight and dramatic rescues, I think the Virgin in the Ice has a similar sequence), with Brother Cadfeal more a spectator in the denouement... his skills are the discovery not the arrest.
This mystery revolves around the theft of a bag of coins, a murder and using the church as a sanctuary. We get some details of how a tradesman household was organized. There's a love story, and the ever wise monk taking a worldly wise view of it all. The end feels much the same as another in the series (a flight and dramatic rescues, I think the Virgin in the Ice has a similar sequence), with Brother Cadfeal more a spectator in the denouement... his skills are the discovery not the arrest.
malus23's review against another edition
4.0
Also read this previously in the 90's somewhere, I'm sure. Another good Cadfael mystery. All the usual things.
sarahhamatera's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eososray's review against another edition
5.0
Brother Cadfael helps the most helpless victim yet. A young minstrel accused of burglary by a respected local merchant claims sanctuary.
The actual criminal is quite the surprise and the ending bittersweet.
The actual criminal is quite the surprise and the ending bittersweet.
dominic_piacentini's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
Not the most exciting entry. More predictable than most. Largely inoffensive. Little of note.
crazygoangirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
This is the seventh book in the Cadfael Chronivles by Ellis Peters. I read this physically and it was a huge improvement from the last two audiobooks I read.
In this one, we’re back at the Abbey. A young man, Liliwin (I don’t know where Peters came up with her names. Perhaps they’re Welsh?), a jongleur, badly beaten and pursued by an angry mob, escapes by the skin of his teeth and is granted sanctuary within the Abbey by Abbot Radulfus. He is accused of being a thief and a murderer and Cadfael must prove him otherwise. Hugh Beringar is deputy sheriff investigating on behalf of the law and I always enjoy his presence.
This story centres around the Aurifaber family, gold merchants by trade. They are greedy, miserly and mean. Dame Juliana, titular head of the family, old, cold and controlling; her son Walter, miserly and uncaring of everything except the treasure left him by the previous generations; her grandson Daniel, newly married and a philanderer; his wife Margery, deceptively cunning and surprisingly strong willed; his unmarried sister Susanna, who runs the household efficiently and prudently and gets no recognition nor appreciation for her efforts; and Rannilt, a young girl in their service. When their tenant and locksmith, Baldwin Peche is found dead in the river, Cadfael and Hugh must join forces to prove Liliwin’s innocence. The usual shenanigans that are a hallmark of Peters’ plots follow with dollops of romance and love thrown in. I thought she was pretty bold with them in this one!
This is a tragic story of how thwarted ambition and neglect can cause a blight of the human spirit and how desperation can change the course of a person’s destiny. Peters keeps the suspense going until the very end, although I could predict what was going to happen next. I thought the climax was a little too stretched out and could easily have been shortened but it was effective nonetheless.
Liked this one much better than the previous book and enjoyed the return to the Abbey setting. Unfortunately the next book is again an audiobook. I hope it’ll be better than the other two I’ve read 🤞🏼
In this one, we’re back at the Abbey. A young man, Liliwin (I don’t know where Peters came up with her names. Perhaps they’re Welsh?), a jongleur, badly beaten and pursued by an angry mob, escapes by the skin of his teeth and is granted sanctuary within the Abbey by Abbot Radulfus. He is accused of being a thief and a murderer and Cadfael must prove him otherwise. Hugh Beringar is deputy sheriff investigating on behalf of the law and I always enjoy his presence.
This story centres around the Aurifaber family, gold merchants by trade. They are greedy, miserly and mean. Dame Juliana, titular head of the family, old, cold and controlling; her son Walter, miserly and uncaring of everything except the treasure left him by the previous generations; her grandson Daniel, newly married and a philanderer; his wife Margery, deceptively cunning and surprisingly strong willed; his unmarried sister Susanna, who runs the household efficiently and prudently and gets no recognition nor appreciation for her efforts; and Rannilt, a young girl in their service. When their tenant and locksmith, Baldwin Peche is found dead in the river, Cadfael and Hugh must join forces to prove Liliwin’s innocence. The usual shenanigans that are a hallmark of Peters’ plots follow with dollops of romance and love thrown in. I thought she was pretty bold with them in this one!
This is a tragic story of how thwarted ambition and neglect can cause a blight of the human spirit and how desperation can change the course of a person’s destiny. Peters keeps the suspense going until the very end, although I could predict what was going to happen next. I thought the climax was a little too stretched out and could easily have been shortened but it was effective nonetheless.
Liked this one much better than the previous book and enjoyed the return to the Abbey setting. Unfortunately the next book is again an audiobook. I hope it’ll be better than the other two I’ve read 🤞🏼
the_weirdling's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that family is just a nasty brood of vipers!
varian_ross's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fun, bit the audio had some skips on weird apots