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margardenlady's review against another edition
5.0
Cadfael is dragged into a murder investigation and manhunt in this tale. Richard is a youth at the abbey school, when his father dies. His grandmother is hellbent on marrying this 10 year old off to the slightly older daughter of a neighboring property, in order to secure the property as part of her estate. And in the blink of an eye, visitors to the abbey go missing and one is found dead. Then the boy is also missing. Hugh has his hands full to get it all sorted appropriately.
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
Peters, nom de plume of Edith Pargeter, and also author of the Inspector Felse series, as well as some other historical novels, situates the Brother Cadfael series during the anarchic times of King Stephen in the early twelfth century.
Cadfael is a monk at the Benedictine Abbey of Shrewsbury. He came to the cowl rather late, after service in the crusades, so he often takes a more worldly and practical approach to solving riddles than his fellow monks. He and his friend, Hugh Beringer, the under-sheriff, work together to solve murders, of which there seem to be plenty. The victim in this novel is Richard, elevenyear- old son of a wealthy lord who dies and leaves all his property to Richard. Richard was being schooled at the abbey, and despite entreaties from the boy’s grandmother to return him to her, the abbot refuses, citing the importance of Richard’s father’s wish that the boy receive a good education. The grandmother, the lady Dionysia, wants Richard’s return so she can marry him off to an old woman (she’s twenty-two) and gain ownership of some contiguous lands. Richard, certainly sly for his age, watches bemused, but disappears in the forest following a series of mishaps predicted by a hermit, reputed to be holy, who has the ear of Lady Dionysia. Nothing is as it appears.
Soon Cadfael is forced to keep a secret from Hugh, something he is rarely called upon to do, in order to protect the lives of two others, one a murderer, the other, an escaped vassal. Typically, before the solution is discovered, the forest is littered with the bodies of murdered men. This is a good one.
Cadfael is a monk at the Benedictine Abbey of Shrewsbury. He came to the cowl rather late, after service in the crusades, so he often takes a more worldly and practical approach to solving riddles than his fellow monks. He and his friend, Hugh Beringer, the under-sheriff, work together to solve murders, of which there seem to be plenty. The victim in this novel is Richard, elevenyear- old son of a wealthy lord who dies and leaves all his property to Richard. Richard was being schooled at the abbey, and despite entreaties from the boy’s grandmother to return him to her, the abbot refuses, citing the importance of Richard’s father’s wish that the boy receive a good education. The grandmother, the lady Dionysia, wants Richard’s return so she can marry him off to an old woman (she’s twenty-two) and gain ownership of some contiguous lands. Richard, certainly sly for his age, watches bemused, but disappears in the forest following a series of mishaps predicted by a hermit, reputed to be holy, who has the ear of Lady Dionysia. Nothing is as it appears.
Soon Cadfael is forced to keep a secret from Hugh, something he is rarely called upon to do, in order to protect the lives of two others, one a murderer, the other, an escaped vassal. Typically, before the solution is discovered, the forest is littered with the bodies of murdered men. This is a good one.
thatrabbitgirl's review against another edition
4.0
This far along in the series, and I am starting to recognize patterns. In this book we have the lowly yet talented stranger who is falsely accused and falls in love (Sanctuary Sparrow), the boy who is lost/abducted that everyone has to look for (Virgin in the Ice), and the mysterious costumed stranger who is more than he seems (Leper of St Giles). Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable story.
cspiwak's review against another edition
3.0
predictable but fun. The plots always make sense and hold your interest. The characters are good and bad and mostly end up with their just rewards.
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
pers's review against another edition
4.0
Ugh! Cadfael is such a GOOD man. I wish there were more like him out in the world...
panxa's review against another edition
3.0
This one did a lot of meandering and didn't come together as well as some of the others, but was still mostly enjoyable.
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