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sydsnot71 's review for:
A Morbid Taste for Bones
by Ellis Peters
This was a re-read. I read a chunk of the Cadfael books in my teenage years. This was a quick and enjoyable read. Cadfael is a great central character.
A Welshman, a Monk and a Detective. He has come late to the life of a Monk. He was a soldier and a sailor. He was a lover. He is, basically, not your typical Monk. He's also got a dry sense of humour and a solid awareness of Abbey politics whilst trying to get involved in them.
This story starts with a vision that Cadfael is a little suspicious of that leads the Monks of Shrewsbury Abbey to go to Wales where - apparently - Saint Winifred has called them. She's buried in a small Church there and claims to be neglected. The Monks, led by Prior Robert - who is determined to get some bones into Shrewsbury, turn up to take her away. Despite having the approval of the local Prince and Bishop a landlord, Rhisiart, stands against them. Prior Robert tries to bribe him, which goes down as well as you'd expect.
Rhisiart is murdered. But who is the killer? Could it be the Prior Robert himself. It seems that his colleague Jerome might be suspect. The locals certainly consider it a possibility. After all Prior Robert is a high handed Norman who has threatened them with curses for not letting Winifred leave Wales. Or is there a local suspect. It looks like it, but is everything as it seems.
Cadfael's investigation will find out.
It's rather a good introduction to the character, but I noticed that when they made the television version they waited until Season 2 before putting it on screen, which is interesting. Perhaps its overtly religious storyline isn't ideal. Plus they faffed around with it and made it much less interesting than the book. Although Derek Jacobi is perfectly cast as Cadfael imo.
Anyway. It was a nice palate cleanser before returning to more classic literary fare tomorrow.
A Welshman, a Monk and a Detective. He has come late to the life of a Monk. He was a soldier and a sailor. He was a lover. He is, basically, not your typical Monk. He's also got a dry sense of humour and a solid awareness of Abbey politics whilst trying to get involved in them.
This story starts with a vision that Cadfael is a little suspicious of that leads the Monks of Shrewsbury Abbey to go to Wales where - apparently - Saint Winifred has called them. She's buried in a small Church there and claims to be neglected. The Monks, led by Prior Robert - who is determined to get some bones into Shrewsbury, turn up to take her away. Despite having the approval of the local Prince and Bishop a landlord, Rhisiart, stands against them. Prior Robert tries to bribe him, which goes down as well as you'd expect.
Rhisiart is murdered. But who is the killer? Could it be the Prior Robert himself. It seems that his colleague Jerome might be suspect. The locals certainly consider it a possibility. After all Prior Robert is a high handed Norman who has threatened them with curses for not letting Winifred leave Wales. Or is there a local suspect. It looks like it, but is everything as it seems.
Cadfael's investigation will find out.
It's rather a good introduction to the character, but I noticed that when they made the television version they waited until Season 2 before putting it on screen, which is interesting. Perhaps its overtly religious storyline isn't ideal. Plus they faffed around with it and made it much less interesting than the book. Although Derek Jacobi is perfectly cast as Cadfael imo.
Anyway. It was a nice palate cleanser before returning to more classic literary fare tomorrow.