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Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #1-2
A Morbid Taste For Bones / One Corpse Too Many
Ellis Peters
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Ellis Peters
189 books1,182 followersA pseudonym used by Edith Pargeter.
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.
During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.
Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.
During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.
Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.
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August 8, 2026
The 1993 compilation The Benediction of Brother Cadfael contains the first two of Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael novels (A Morbid Taste for Bones and One Corpse too Many complete and unabridged) as well as excerpts from Robert Talbot and Robin Whiteman's 1990 Cadfael Country: Shropshire & The Welsh Border (with these parts also being accompanied by nicely atmospheric colour photographs, of landscapes, buildings and also of some of the plants Brother Cadfael uses for and in his cures). And yes, Talbot and Whiteman's excerpts from Cadfael Country: Shropshire & The Welsh Border are detailed but are at the same time also nicely readable summaries of the Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud (including the causes), the Benedictines, Mediaeval Shrewsbury (as well as a map) and Welsh Saint Winifred (who is the main topic of A Morbid Taste for Bones and later also somewhat in The Pilgrim of Hate), but sadly with no list of titles for further reading (although Cadfael Country: Shropshire & The Welsh Border does indeed contain a bibliography, so it is kind of annoying and frustrating that this list has not been included in The Benediction of Brother Cadfael). And while A Morbid Taste for Bones is in fact not at all one of my favourite Brother Cadfael novels, The Benediction of Brother Cadfael does provide a very decent introduction to Brother Cadfael (and to both Saint Winifred with A Morbid Taste for Bones and also to the Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud with One Corpse too Many).
A MORBID TASTE FOR BONES
While I generally speaking totally adore Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, I also must admit that I have NEVER really all that much either liked or even appreciated the first instalment of the series, that Peters' A Morbid Taste for Bones has always (and from day one so to speak) continually left me both cold and personally rather unsatisfied. And yes, when I first read A Morbid Taste for Bones in the early eighties (probably around 1983, when I was seventeen years of age), I actually almost decided NOT to continue with the series (which I thankfully did not do, as truly and in my opinion, ALL of the following Brother Cadfael series novels are at least in my humble opinion both vastly superior with regard to Ellis Peters' presented themes, her sense of time and place and also with regard to her general writing style and what she considers essential and necessary to describe and dissect in detail, and it certainly would have been a personal reading tragedy if I had not persevered and continued meeting up with Brother Cadfael and reading about his sleuthing and exploits simply because I had found the first novel, I had found A Morbid Taste for Bones not all that readable and relatable).
Now to and for me, my favourite parts of the Brother Cadfael series are and have always been how delightfully realistic and historically accurate Ellis Peters paints the 12th century A.D. British Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud (also known as Mathilda) and how Deputy Sheriff of Shropshire Hugh Beringar slowly but surely becomes Brother Cadfael's best friend and close confidant (and someone upon whom Brother Cadfael can also generally rely to be fair when trying to solve potential crimes and misdeeds). And since A Morbid Taste for Bones does NOT have either the 12th century British Civil War scenario or Hugh Beringar present (yet), I have indeed not ever really considered A Morbid Taste for Bones as all that enjoyable and pleasurable reading, finding the story rather tedious and personally dragging without in particular Hugh Beringar making even one appearance (and this especially since Ellis Peters renders the latter, renders Hugh as such a richly drawn and interesting character, so that one or rather so that I do totally and definitely miss and lament Hugh Beringar's non presence in A Morbid Taste for Bones).
And indeed, and in fact, without Hugh Beringar, I for one even tend to personally consider Brother Cadfael as not really being in any manner complete as a character, and yes, that without the Civil War historical background, the Brother Cadfael mysteries would to and for me always be at best a bit mundane and one-sidedly tedious (and which A Morbid Taste for Bones certainly does in my opinion amply show). And this of course and naturally is also why A Morbid Taste for Bones is one of the only (the very few) Brother Cadfael novels I have never in any manner actively enjoyed and appreciated (and have in fact disliked to such and extent that for me on a personal and emotional level, I also do not really even consider A Morbid Taste for Bones as the true beginning of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, that I do approach and have always approached the second novel One Corpse too Many as the actual and real Brother Cadfael series beginning (with its 12th century King Stephen and Empress Maud civil war conflict and the advent and introduction of Hugh Beringar as Brother Cadfael's foil and soon to be best friend and partner when it comes to solving crimes).
ONE CORPSE TOO MANY
What is there not for me to love about Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael series and in particular about the second novel of the series, about One Corpse too Many? It (and this is actually also the general case for the entire series) presents a wonderfully realistic sense of historic time and place (showing and telling readers both about Mediaeval England in general and specifically about the 12th century AD English Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud delightfully, enlighteningly but also engagingly and never ever pedantically, didactically), with Peters equally and indeed fortunately verbally presenting the action of the storylines without either the use of modern 20th century vernacular and slang or (and this even more importantly and appreciatively) without gratuitous violence, gruesomeness or horror visions (even when bodies are located and battle scenes etc. need to be described, showing that yes indeed, one can easily textually and narrationally depict even scenes of violence, of murder and mayhem without having to resort to wallowing in grief, terror and visions of disgustingness).
But of course for me personally, the best part of One Corpse too Many is how for one Brother Cadfael discovers that there is indeed an extra body amongst the battle dead (and that this individual had been murdered and hidden amongst the latter to cover up this crime) and for two how Brother Cadfael meets Hugh Beringar and how slowly they learn to work together, to trust each other and that their friendship is shown by Ellis Peters as developing slowly and not as some sudden deus ex machina revelation (for the development of Hugh and Cadfael's friendship is thankfully depicted and shown as realistic and as not something sudden and out of the blue so to speak, that both Cadfael and Hugh originally tread warily and at first also with a bit of distrust, even if Cadfael in the end does confide to Hugh that he never actually believed him to have been the villain, the murderer of Nicholas Faintree, but that he did have to make sure and test him even if he actually had basically no doubts as to Hugh's innocence in this regard). Five stars for One Corpse too Many (and indeed, for me, the true beginning, the true start of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series is NOT the fist novel, is NOT A Morbid Taste for Bones but is the second instalment of the series, is One Corpse too Many with its Civil War between Stephen and Maud setting and with the advent of Hugh Beringar to act as Brother Cadfael's foil and soon to be best friend).
A MORBID TASTE FOR BONES
While I generally speaking totally adore Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, I also must admit that I have NEVER really all that much either liked or even appreciated the first instalment of the series, that Peters' A Morbid Taste for Bones has always (and from day one so to speak) continually left me both cold and personally rather unsatisfied. And yes, when I first read A Morbid Taste for Bones in the early eighties (probably around 1983, when I was seventeen years of age), I actually almost decided NOT to continue with the series (which I thankfully did not do, as truly and in my opinion, ALL of the following Brother Cadfael series novels are at least in my humble opinion both vastly superior with regard to Ellis Peters' presented themes, her sense of time and place and also with regard to her general writing style and what she considers essential and necessary to describe and dissect in detail, and it certainly would have been a personal reading tragedy if I had not persevered and continued meeting up with Brother Cadfael and reading about his sleuthing and exploits simply because I had found the first novel, I had found A Morbid Taste for Bones not all that readable and relatable).
Now to and for me, my favourite parts of the Brother Cadfael series are and have always been how delightfully realistic and historically accurate Ellis Peters paints the 12th century A.D. British Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud (also known as Mathilda) and how Deputy Sheriff of Shropshire Hugh Beringar slowly but surely becomes Brother Cadfael's best friend and close confidant (and someone upon whom Brother Cadfael can also generally rely to be fair when trying to solve potential crimes and misdeeds). And since A Morbid Taste for Bones does NOT have either the 12th century British Civil War scenario or Hugh Beringar present (yet), I have indeed not ever really considered A Morbid Taste for Bones as all that enjoyable and pleasurable reading, finding the story rather tedious and personally dragging without in particular Hugh Beringar making even one appearance (and this especially since Ellis Peters renders the latter, renders Hugh as such a richly drawn and interesting character, so that one or rather so that I do totally and definitely miss and lament Hugh Beringar's non presence in A Morbid Taste for Bones).
And indeed, and in fact, without Hugh Beringar, I for one even tend to personally consider Brother Cadfael as not really being in any manner complete as a character, and yes, that without the Civil War historical background, the Brother Cadfael mysteries would to and for me always be at best a bit mundane and one-sidedly tedious (and which A Morbid Taste for Bones certainly does in my opinion amply show). And this of course and naturally is also why A Morbid Taste for Bones is one of the only (the very few) Brother Cadfael novels I have never in any manner actively enjoyed and appreciated (and have in fact disliked to such and extent that for me on a personal and emotional level, I also do not really even consider A Morbid Taste for Bones as the true beginning of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, that I do approach and have always approached the second novel One Corpse too Many as the actual and real Brother Cadfael series beginning (with its 12th century King Stephen and Empress Maud civil war conflict and the advent and introduction of Hugh Beringar as Brother Cadfael's foil and soon to be best friend and partner when it comes to solving crimes).
ONE CORPSE TOO MANY
What is there not for me to love about Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael series and in particular about the second novel of the series, about One Corpse too Many? It (and this is actually also the general case for the entire series) presents a wonderfully realistic sense of historic time and place (showing and telling readers both about Mediaeval England in general and specifically about the 12th century AD English Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud delightfully, enlighteningly but also engagingly and never ever pedantically, didactically), with Peters equally and indeed fortunately verbally presenting the action of the storylines without either the use of modern 20th century vernacular and slang or (and this even more importantly and appreciatively) without gratuitous violence, gruesomeness or horror visions (even when bodies are located and battle scenes etc. need to be described, showing that yes indeed, one can easily textually and narrationally depict even scenes of violence, of murder and mayhem without having to resort to wallowing in grief, terror and visions of disgustingness).
But of course for me personally, the best part of One Corpse too Many is how for one Brother Cadfael discovers that there is indeed an extra body amongst the battle dead (and that this individual had been murdered and hidden amongst the latter to cover up this crime) and for two how Brother Cadfael meets Hugh Beringar and how slowly they learn to work together, to trust each other and that their friendship is shown by Ellis Peters as developing slowly and not as some sudden deus ex machina revelation (for the development of Hugh and Cadfael's friendship is thankfully depicted and shown as realistic and as not something sudden and out of the blue so to speak, that both Cadfael and Hugh originally tread warily and at first also with a bit of distrust, even if Cadfael in the end does confide to Hugh that he never actually believed him to have been the villain, the murderer of Nicholas Faintree, but that he did have to make sure and test him even if he actually had basically no doubts as to Hugh's innocence in this regard). Five stars for One Corpse too Many (and indeed, for me, the true beginning, the true start of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series is NOT the fist novel, is NOT A Morbid Taste for Bones but is the second instalment of the series, is One Corpse too Many with its Civil War between Stephen and Maud setting and with the advent of Hugh Beringar to act as Brother Cadfael's foil and soon to be best friend).
July 28, 2024
I bought this book in Shrewsbury. It somehow seemed appropriate as in these twenty stories by Ellis Peters / Edith Pargeter, Brother Cadfael lives at Shrewsbury Abbey.
This is the first book in the series and I enjoyed it very much.
The ambitious head of Shrewsbury Abbey has decided that what the abbey really needs are the remains of a saint that pilgrims can come to the abbey to venerate. As luck would have it, the prior has heard that the remains of St Winifred are located in a Welsh village not too far away.
A party from the abbey heads to the village, but finds that there's a lot of local opposition to the prior removing the saint's bones to Shrewsbury. But then...the chief opponent of the move is found dead in a forest with an arrow in him. Thus begins Cadfael's detective role. He finds out that the arrow had been pushed into the man after he was dead and that the death was caused by stabbing.
There are two people to find and Cadfael follows the clues to unearth the identities of the two people. One vital clue leads to the murderer. He has significant help from the local people largely because Cadfael can speak Welsh whereas the rest of the Shrewsbury monks can't.
This is the first book in the series and I enjoyed it very much.
The ambitious head of Shrewsbury Abbey has decided that what the abbey really needs are the remains of a saint that pilgrims can come to the abbey to venerate. As luck would have it, the prior has heard that the remains of St Winifred are located in a Welsh village not too far away.
A party from the abbey heads to the village, but finds that there's a lot of local opposition to the prior removing the saint's bones to Shrewsbury. But then...the chief opponent of the move is found dead in a forest with an arrow in him. Thus begins Cadfael's detective role. He finds out that the arrow had been pushed into the man after he was dead and that the death was caused by stabbing.
There are two people to find and Cadfael follows the clues to unearth the identities of the two people. One vital clue leads to the murderer. He has significant help from the local people largely because Cadfael can speak Welsh whereas the rest of the Shrewsbury monks can't.
May 14, 2013
I'd never heard of Brother Cadfael until I saw this book in a stack my mother brought to trade at our local used bookstore. I pulled it out, noticed an inscription to my mother from my aunt, and asked her, "What's this?"
"Oh, it's the first two books of a mystery series set in medieval times that my sister gave me a long time ago."
"Is it any good?"
"I didn't really get into it."
But just because my mother has a hard time getting interested in a book doesn't mean I have the same problem. And it was from my aunt.
"Can I keep this?"
"Sure, honey!"
I was right; I did not have the same problem she did with this series. I liked it immediately just from the first few pages.
Brother Cadfael, we are told, was not always a monk. He spent nigh fifty years in the world, conquering Jerusalem during the Crusades, and then spending a large amount of time as a sailor, battling along the coast of Israel. He was world savvy, a soldier, a lover, and then one day, decided to become a monk. In the abbey, he refined his talents as an herbalist and reliable aid to the abbot.
The first book opens with a fellow monk claiming to have seen a vision of a saint calling them to come rescue her from obscurity in a seemingly ungrateful Welsh village. Peters seems to have a tongue in cheek attitude about such "miracles," but doesn't mock them unnecessarily. When a strong opponent to their mission turns up murdered, Brother Cadfael must use his powers of observation, deduction, and cunning to help the locals find the killer.
The second book focuses around a civil war in England, between Stephan and his cousin Maude. The bulk of the story takes place outside of the abbey, in an around the village of Shrewsbury, with ne'er a sign of visions and miracles. This proves that Peters could adeptly write in various environments, while keeping her characters consistent, especially when challenged with the unexpected. A man is found murdered and dumped with a pile of corpses fresh from the gallows, but this body does not show signs of being hanged. Instead, it shows signs of being strangled in close quarters. Brother Cadfael, not only an herbalist, but also a sort of healer, and thus the only kind of medical examiner available, discovers this corpse, and he begins a journey to find the killer, adopting a few strays along the way.
Brother Cadfael is always trustworthy and endearing to the characters that deserve it, and dangerous to the ones that don't, but himself never lifts a finger to do harm. Instead, he is crafty, clever, and patient, and often enlists the aid of those wronged.
It's a mystery series, and while not as riveting as some, I found it highly interesting because of the lack of technology (a la CSI or Bones). I recommend this series to those who like a good puzzle without gore or grisliness, and who have a penchant for the medieval period.
Support your local library!
"Oh, it's the first two books of a mystery series set in medieval times that my sister gave me a long time ago."
"Is it any good?"
"I didn't really get into it."
But just because my mother has a hard time getting interested in a book doesn't mean I have the same problem. And it was from my aunt.
"Can I keep this?"
"Sure, honey!"
I was right; I did not have the same problem she did with this series. I liked it immediately just from the first few pages.
Brother Cadfael, we are told, was not always a monk. He spent nigh fifty years in the world, conquering Jerusalem during the Crusades, and then spending a large amount of time as a sailor, battling along the coast of Israel. He was world savvy, a soldier, a lover, and then one day, decided to become a monk. In the abbey, he refined his talents as an herbalist and reliable aid to the abbot.
The first book opens with a fellow monk claiming to have seen a vision of a saint calling them to come rescue her from obscurity in a seemingly ungrateful Welsh village. Peters seems to have a tongue in cheek attitude about such "miracles," but doesn't mock them unnecessarily. When a strong opponent to their mission turns up murdered, Brother Cadfael must use his powers of observation, deduction, and cunning to help the locals find the killer.
The second book focuses around a civil war in England, between Stephan and his cousin Maude. The bulk of the story takes place outside of the abbey, in an around the village of Shrewsbury, with ne'er a sign of visions and miracles. This proves that Peters could adeptly write in various environments, while keeping her characters consistent, especially when challenged with the unexpected. A man is found murdered and dumped with a pile of corpses fresh from the gallows, but this body does not show signs of being hanged. Instead, it shows signs of being strangled in close quarters. Brother Cadfael, not only an herbalist, but also a sort of healer, and thus the only kind of medical examiner available, discovers this corpse, and he begins a journey to find the killer, adopting a few strays along the way.
Brother Cadfael is always trustworthy and endearing to the characters that deserve it, and dangerous to the ones that don't, but himself never lifts a finger to do harm. Instead, he is crafty, clever, and patient, and often enlists the aid of those wronged.
It's a mystery series, and while not as riveting as some, I found it highly interesting because of the lack of technology (a la CSI or Bones). I recommend this series to those who like a good puzzle without gore or grisliness, and who have a penchant for the medieval period.
Support your local library!
October 19, 2009
For anyone who loves Ellis Peters medieval monk/sleuth Brother Cadfael, this is a wonderful book. It contains the first two novels in the series -- A Morbid Taste for Bones and One Corpse Too Many -- separated by a lovely visit to Shrewsbury and the surrounding countryside, in which the stories are set. It made me want to visit Shrewsbury, so I did on a trip to England. And that visit made me convince friends going on subsequent trips to see the town as well. Charming place, charming books, and oh so charming detective!
March 9, 2015
What is not to like about Brother Cadfael? He is intelligent, canny, courageous, and faithful, a lover of God, his Abbey, and a student and lover of all kinds of people. I suppose there were many independent-minded monks in 12th century England, which is the period in which the B.C. mysteries occur, and we have Ms. Peters to thank for giving the past a kind of living voice.
The Benediction of Brother Cadfael consists of the first two novels in the B.C. mystery series as well as essays about the Benedictines, Shrewsbury and Shropshire, and the historical context of the books - the years-long war between two "successors" of Henry I - namely, King Stephen (Henry's cousin) and the Empress Maud (his daughter).
I will not give spoilers. After all, these books are crime mysteries. The first novel, A Morbid Taste for Bones, is an excellent introduction to the character of B.C. In the book, B.C.'s Abbey sends a delegation of monks to Wales to obtain the reputedly miraculous bones of Saint Winifred. E.P. very nicely portrays the medieval feeling for the preciousness of the physical relics of saints. This is something that the modern reader needs. She also nicely portrays the conflict between English and Welsh and the individual humor, arrogance, and smarminess of the company of monks. Of course, there is a murder to be solved. Of course, there are young lovers in difficulties who are a benchmark, I think, of the B.C. books. And E.P. portrays B.C. in his endearing roles as older mentor and affectionate friend to the young; and the young as stalwart, open, strong, troubled, courageous and respectful. The book ends with a humorous, ironic, and ingenious "translation" of the disputed relics out of Wales.
The second book is One Corpse Too Many. Its context is warfare, specifically the siege and capture of Shrewsbury in the war between Stephen and Maud. The siege ends with what we would call a horrendous war crime, but it is to E.P.'s credit that, although it is a sad and awful event, she portrays it as "business-as-usual" for the times. E.P. also introduces us to a trial by combat in which the fight to the death, on the part of one of the fighters, is an act of loving self-sacrifice as well as a bid for a subtle, hushed justice for one death in the guise of vindicating another. In this book, the mystery is complex. Again, B.C. is ingenious. Again, there are young lovers in peril. But also a large part of the book is about suspicion of one person developing into realization of truth and friendship.
The photographs are quite nice. They gave me an idea really how the area of Shropshire might have looked in the 12th century. This idea was developed also with E.P.'s verbal descriptions in the books and with my own memories of England which remains amazingly rural. I thought the essays were nice, but that the essays on Shrewsbury and the history of the period were a little too long. That's a very small fault. Also, one can fill in one's own context - as, there was no coffee in 12th century England, lots of people couldn't read, one had to walk places or, if lucky, ride a horse which had to be groomed and fed, etc.
One doesn't have to read every one of the Cadfael books. But I think that dipping into the series is rewarding.
The Benediction of Brother Cadfael consists of the first two novels in the B.C. mystery series as well as essays about the Benedictines, Shrewsbury and Shropshire, and the historical context of the books - the years-long war between two "successors" of Henry I - namely, King Stephen (Henry's cousin) and the Empress Maud (his daughter).
I will not give spoilers. After all, these books are crime mysteries. The first novel, A Morbid Taste for Bones, is an excellent introduction to the character of B.C. In the book, B.C.'s Abbey sends a delegation of monks to Wales to obtain the reputedly miraculous bones of Saint Winifred. E.P. very nicely portrays the medieval feeling for the preciousness of the physical relics of saints. This is something that the modern reader needs. She also nicely portrays the conflict between English and Welsh and the individual humor, arrogance, and smarminess of the company of monks. Of course, there is a murder to be solved. Of course, there are young lovers in difficulties who are a benchmark, I think, of the B.C. books. And E.P. portrays B.C. in his endearing roles as older mentor and affectionate friend to the young; and the young as stalwart, open, strong, troubled, courageous and respectful. The book ends with a humorous, ironic, and ingenious "translation" of the disputed relics out of Wales.
The second book is One Corpse Too Many. Its context is warfare, specifically the siege and capture of Shrewsbury in the war between Stephen and Maud. The siege ends with what we would call a horrendous war crime, but it is to E.P.'s credit that, although it is a sad and awful event, she portrays it as "business-as-usual" for the times. E.P. also introduces us to a trial by combat in which the fight to the death, on the part of one of the fighters, is an act of loving self-sacrifice as well as a bid for a subtle, hushed justice for one death in the guise of vindicating another. In this book, the mystery is complex. Again, B.C. is ingenious. Again, there are young lovers in peril. But also a large part of the book is about suspicion of one person developing into realization of truth and friendship.
The photographs are quite nice. They gave me an idea really how the area of Shropshire might have looked in the 12th century. This idea was developed also with E.P.'s verbal descriptions in the books and with my own memories of England which remains amazingly rural. I thought the essays were nice, but that the essays on Shrewsbury and the history of the period were a little too long. That's a very small fault. Also, one can fill in one's own context - as, there was no coffee in 12th century England, lots of people couldn't read, one had to walk places or, if lucky, ride a horse which had to be groomed and fed, etc.
One doesn't have to read every one of the Cadfael books. But I think that dipping into the series is rewarding.
August 9, 2022
Ellis Peters wrote a series of mystery novels centered on the medieval monk/sleuth Brother Cadfael, which are great fun. Just enough factual knowledge of herbal medicine, historical figures and places, to be interesting. The fictional characters are believable and add some humor, drama, and sometimes a hint of romance. A TV miniseries based on the books aired on PBS. This volume introduces a reader to the time and place with an illustrated set of essays, and includes the first two novels in the series. It would make a lovely gift!
April 19, 2024
A Morbid Taste for Bones is a great beginning for this series. The setting - Medieval England- is so well done. But people are people and it’s interesting to think that even though it was so long ago, many of the characters remind us of people we know.
I’ve read many of these, rarely in publication order, and know that I’ll always enjoy Brother Cadfael. The pace is not intense - it’s a pleasant, relaxing journey (unless you’re the murder victim).
I’ve read many of these, rarely in publication order, and know that I’ll always enjoy Brother Cadfael. The pace is not intense - it’s a pleasant, relaxing journey (unless you’re the murder victim).
January 26, 2026
A group of monks are sent to a small Welsh town to request the bones of a woman they think could be a saint and in the process stir up tensions and a murder. The only monk above it all emotionally and spiritually is Brother Cadfael who takes it upon himself to deduce the killer.
February 22, 2024
2.5 stars
The tale is actually pretty good, up to a point.
Then, when miracles need to happen, they happen. When miracles need to fail, they fail. When superstitions need to benefit the forces of good, they do. When superstitions need to fail against the cause of good, they fail. When the townspeople need to show innate "common sense" wisdom that overcomes religious faith, they do. When those same townspeople need to be cowed by the (suspect) power that the same religion is now "displaying," they are.
The finale is pretty much unbelievable, complete with dressing up a townsperson as a ghost to accuse the probable murderer of the crime and cause same person to confess. The "trap" that Brother Cadfael devises is so convoluted that I thought any moment Scooby Doo was going to pop up from the background, blink his eyes and waggle his head doing a triple take, and say "Sheeeeet!"
And the "coverup" that needs to be effected afterwards requires SO much work ALL during the cover of darkness AND in under a 6 hour time limit AND requiring blood not to have been spilt AND needs someone to show near superhuman strength at exact the right time AND asks for the "ghost's" wound to have been superficial AND needs the forces of good to be distracted at exactly the right time to allow the bad guy to escape AND . . . .
It just got to be too much.
2.5 stars.
The tale is actually pretty good, up to a point.
Then, when miracles need to happen, they happen. When miracles need to fail, they fail. When superstitions need to benefit the forces of good, they do. When superstitions need to fail against the cause of good, they fail. When the townspeople need to show innate "common sense" wisdom that overcomes religious faith, they do. When those same townspeople need to be cowed by the (suspect) power that the same religion is now "displaying," they are.
The finale is pretty much unbelievable, complete with dressing up a townsperson as a ghost to accuse the probable murderer of the crime and cause same person to confess. The "trap" that Brother Cadfael devises is so convoluted that I thought any moment Scooby Doo was going to pop up from the background, blink his eyes and waggle his head doing a triple take, and say "Sheeeeet!"
And the "coverup" that needs to be effected afterwards requires SO much work ALL during the cover of darkness AND in under a 6 hour time limit AND requiring blood not to have been spilt AND needs someone to show near superhuman strength at exact the right time AND asks for the "ghost's" wound to have been superficial AND needs the forces of good to be distracted at exactly the right time to allow the bad guy to escape AND . . . .
It just got to be too much.
2.5 stars.
June 19, 2013
This is a pretty good introduction to the Cadfael stories, I think. You get the first two Cadfael mysteries (A Morbid Taste for Bones & One Corpse Too Many), as well as "Cadfael Country', a sort of photo-essay thing about Cadfael's Shrewsbury (and surrounding environs).
A Morbid Taste is a good set-up for the future novels, and touches nicely on the inner politics of Cadfael's monastery without getting too dragged down into things. The mystery is pretty uninteresting and relies on a trope I don't particularly care for in its resolution, but it's alright overall.
I liked One Corpse much more, as its setting amidst the Anarchy makes the proceedings much more interesting, and Cadfael's string-pulling is much more enjoyable to read. The conclusion is a little pat for my tastes, but it's definitely the stronger of the two.
Cadfael Country is comprised mostly of extensive passages from the two stories already included and kind of muddies the waters a bit as to which parts of the stories are true and which are fiction. I don't feel particularly enriched for having read it.
I think I'll continue on with the Cadfael stories if I can find more - their formula seems pretty simple and might get repetitive, but they have a nice, simple feel to them, and despite being a sort of 2-dimensional character, Brother Cadfael is fun to follow.
A Morbid Taste is a good set-up for the future novels, and touches nicely on the inner politics of Cadfael's monastery without getting too dragged down into things. The mystery is pretty uninteresting and relies on a trope I don't particularly care for in its resolution, but it's alright overall.
I liked One Corpse much more, as its setting amidst the Anarchy makes the proceedings much more interesting, and Cadfael's string-pulling is much more enjoyable to read. The conclusion is a little pat for my tastes, but it's definitely the stronger of the two.
Cadfael Country is comprised mostly of extensive passages from the two stories already included and kind of muddies the waters a bit as to which parts of the stories are true and which are fiction. I don't feel particularly enriched for having read it.
I think I'll continue on with the Cadfael stories if I can find more - their formula seems pretty simple and might get repetitive, but they have a nice, simple feel to them, and despite being a sort of 2-dimensional character, Brother Cadfael is fun to follow.
April 2, 2014
The first two Brother Cadfael mysteries, A Morbid Taste for Bones and One Corpse Too Many, together in a single volume with a few essays on Cadfael and his England. I had already read A Morbid Taste for Bones. I enjoyed One Corpse Too Many, which introduces the major character Hugh Beringar in a thoroughly enjoyable way. The essays, I could take or leave.
February 18, 2009
At first I was actually quite annoyed at having to check this out of the library--,its large and heavy, and I wasn't crazy about hauling it to and from work. The library didn't have "One Corpse Too Many" on the shelf, as promised in the catalog, and I really wanted to get it on that trip to the library. I came across this, which contains the entire novel, plus the first novel in the series "A Morbid Taste for Bones." Sandwiched between the two is a neat section, with a few chapters on Cadfael's background, as well as some background info on the civil war between Stephen & Maud, history of Shrewsbury, the Welsh borderlands, the Benedictines, specifically at Shrewsbury, and Saint Winifred. It was actually pleasantly and surprisingly informative.
September 13, 2013
This is beautifully printed and composed book with several background essays and photos sandwiched by the first two novels in the series of twenty. The essays were not edited for inclusion in the volume as one of them has page references that do not match the volume. In addition, the essays refer to events in several books in the series, which might strictly speaking constitute small spoilers. Thus it's a compilation volume with beautiful photos of Shropshire and Shrewsbury. I am a fan of the series, even though in hindsight I do see that she has a formula going which is not so evident when you read one a year, as I did when they first came out. But thirty years later, I enjoyed rereading the opening pair.
November 9, 2009
Having started in the middle of the series, I circled back to read Mysteries #1 and #2. This edition (which is in our library) is a perfect beginner choice because it contains a "travel guide" section about the English/Welsh countrysid, historical facts, and information about the abbey where Brother Cadfael lives.
Having read three in the row, I see a certain formula emerging in the interplay of the characters (for example, there are always the young lovers whose story moves from tragic to fulfilled with the benevolent Cadfael's assistance). However, I never grow tired of Brother Cadfael himself!!!
Having read three in the row, I see a certain formula emerging in the interplay of the characters (for example, there are always the young lovers whose story moves from tragic to fulfilled with the benevolent Cadfael's assistance). However, I never grow tired of Brother Cadfael himself!!!
June 5, 2016
These are the first two books in the Brother Cadfael mysteries. I had previously read both but not in this format. The center pages are a pictorial description of the locations in the mysteries. Since my first love is history, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the places where all the action takes place and indulged is a little visitation wishing.
October 1, 2015
I swear I already wrote a review, but Brother Cadfael is basically the only character in this book. In the next there's some additional development, but everyone else is basically reduced to behaving as automatons, and the overall plot is rather formulaic.
October 29, 2023
The stories get a bit boring after a while. This one shares a lot of similarities with earlier stories. The murder is even identical as the Holy thief ( the book before this one ) But if you got this far it doesn't really matter. You'r in for the journey. ;)
April 4, 2014
Good, but as many mysteries do, becomes formulaic at times... not a page turner but delightful none the less and the time period is fun. Not much depth in there!
March 17, 2015
As a long time fan of the Brother Cadfael books, I really enjoyed the photographs and learning more about the historical context of the stories.
August 10, 2016
Gorgeous book! I had already read the 2 novels but I loved looking at all the pictures of the area & reading some of the actual background.
January 20, 2012
includes A Morbid Taste for Bones andOne Corpse Too Many
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