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sewfarsewgood's review against another edition
3.0
A medieval Midsummer Murders a nice easy read with a interesting plot and it kept you guessing up until the end. Also only having this one and number 19 in the series it's good that they don't have to be read sequentially to make sense. P
newtdc's review against another edition
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
3.75
firerosearien's review
4.0
A fun read, with fairly well researched history outside of writing about language like the 12th century english people spoke modern English (it's super nit picky, I know)
The ending was a little far fetched, but on a day that I want to be able to enjoy a book without thinking too hard about it, I'd pick up another one in this series.
The ending was a little far fetched, but on a day that I want to be able to enjoy a book without thinking too hard about it, I'd pick up another one in this series.
zombeesknees's review against another edition
5.0
My love for this series never dims -- even in re-reads, I find myself giddy in love with Brother Cadfael, Hugh Beringar, and their cohorts. While the plot of this particular outing feels a bit thin and too stretched to carry itself in a truly compelling way, I still appreciate and admire Peters' way with descriptions and historical detail. Always diverting and perfect winter weather reads.
cleheny's review against another edition
2.0
This is a slow-moving Cadfael mystery, and the coincidences are particularly contrived. A woman's skeleton is discovered in a field recently acquired by the abbey, and the former tenant is now a monk at Shrewsbury. Brother Ruald abandoned his wife of many years without hesitation or remorse, and she, Generys, disappeared soon after. If not for all of the coincidences that drop in Cadfael's and Hugh's laps, this case would never have been solved.
The women are the most interesting characters. The romance is the standard love-at-first-sight between suspect and faithful adored one that Peters likes to use. Pernel would be more interesting if she didn't fall so obviously into the Peters' heroine mold. The lady Donata is the most interesting character, and, unfortunately, we don't see much of her until the end. Although we never meet Generys in life, she also is a strong character. Which, again, makes it so unfortunate that Peters spends so much time with Sulien and Ruald. Sulien is the standard young hero willing to sacrifice himself. And Ruald is a cypher. Which is a pity because his story--abandoning his wife of 15/20 years, and finding the resources to enter the monastery--could have been compelling. Instead, we are simply told that his calling is one of pure devotion that obscured all other ties. But that explanation itself requires further exploration--when did this devotion arise? why? if he had it all of his life, how and why did he marry?
The Potter's Field is a book with several interesting character ideas, and little development of them.
The women are the most interesting characters. The romance is the standard love-at-first-sight between suspect and faithful adored one that Peters likes to use. Pernel would be more interesting if she didn't fall so obviously into the Peters' heroine mold. The lady Donata is the most interesting character, and, unfortunately, we don't see much of her until the end. Although we never meet Generys in life, she also is a strong character. Which, again, makes it so unfortunate that Peters spends so much time with Sulien and Ruald. Sulien is the standard young hero willing to sacrifice himself. And Ruald is a cypher. Which is a pity because his story--abandoning his wife of 15/20 years, and finding the resources to enter the monastery--could have been compelling. Instead, we are simply told that his calling is one of pure devotion that obscured all other ties. But that explanation itself requires further exploration--when did this devotion arise? why? if he had it all of his life, how and why did he marry?
The Potter's Field is a book with several interesting character ideas, and little development of them.
whatandreawrote's review against another edition
2.0
Probably my least favorite so far, and that's saying something! Not a lot going on until right at the very end.