What do you think?
Rate this book
The Chronicles of Brother Hermitage #3.5
Brother Hermitage. The Shorts
Vignettes from the life of the most medieval detective of all, Brother Hermitage.
Rooting through the cast-off manuscripts of an accident in a parchment factory, Howard of Warwick has pieced together a remarkable tale. Several of them in fact.
These tales cast a new light on medieval investigation, but it's not a very bright light. They follow the comings and goings of Brother Hermitage, the monk who somehow resolved the mystery of The Heretics of De'Ath.The monk who stumbled though the murder of The Garderobe Of Death. The monk who wandered through The Tapestry of Death. And the monk who came out alive from Hermitage, Wat and Some Murder or Other.
Doing what no other storyteller of medieval murder would dare do, probably quite wisely, Howard of Warwick, takes us into the mind of Brother Hermitage. Here we find there is quite a lot of room, but most of it is full of books.
Read if your dare. Read if you must. Just don't take anything too seriously.
With 30,000 sales and 500 reviews, the most common description of the work of Howard of Warwick is funny. Very Funny. Hilarious. Laugh out loud. You get the picture.
The major tales now available in print with real paper.
Rooting through the cast-off manuscripts of an accident in a parchment factory, Howard of Warwick has pieced together a remarkable tale. Several of them in fact.
These tales cast a new light on medieval investigation, but it's not a very bright light. They follow the comings and goings of Brother Hermitage, the monk who somehow resolved the mystery of The Heretics of De'Ath.The monk who stumbled though the murder of The Garderobe Of Death. The monk who wandered through The Tapestry of Death. And the monk who came out alive from Hermitage, Wat and Some Murder or Other.
Doing what no other storyteller of medieval murder would dare do, probably quite wisely, Howard of Warwick, takes us into the mind of Brother Hermitage. Here we find there is quite a lot of room, but most of it is full of books.
Read if your dare. Read if you must. Just don't take anything too seriously.
With 30,000 sales and 500 reviews, the most common description of the work of Howard of Warwick is funny. Very Funny. Hilarious. Laugh out loud. You get the picture.
The major tales now available in print with real paper.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
73 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Howard of Warwick
52 books89 followersHoward of Warwick is but a humble chronicler with the blind luck to stumble upon manuscripts which describe the goings-on of Brother Hermitage and his companion Wat the weaver.
His work has been heard, seen and read, most of it accompanied by laughter and some of it by money. His peers have even seen fit to recognize his unworthy efforts with a prize for making up stories.
There are now eighteen - make that twenty - novels of Brother Hermitage, the most medieval of detectives, loose on the world and they have found considerable success with the buying public.
The most recent outpouring from the scriptorium is The King's Investigator Part II.
Tales of Hermitage continue to flow forth with few checks for accuracy. There are even short stories available for free.
There is a dedicated web page, HowardofWarwick.com.
Messages can be left care of Howard@howardofwarwick.com and Howardofwarwick can be followed on Twitter
There is even tweeting @HowardofWarwick
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 9, 2020
Some lovely dark humour exists within these pages.
I have read these short stories over time and found comic relief between some dreadful books I chose to read.
I have read these short stories over time and found comic relief between some dreadful books I chose to read.
January 20, 2018
The Shorts
is compilation of very individual Brother Hermitage tales that build a chronological profile of the serial-offending medieval amateur sleuth.
Each mini-sketch tells how he effortlessly attracts “the happening of bad things”. And those happenings pretty much sum up the story of Hermitage’s early life where he first channelled his inner Cadfael, only to discover that having a REALLY annoying inquisitive streak could seriously damage his judgement.
With fabulous gems like "Hermitage’s curiosity was like a second bladder, if it got too full he simply had to let some questions leak out no matter how embarrassing the result…” you can’t possibly go wrong if you follow the trials of an inoffensive monk with a gift for involuntarily offending everyone he meets, as he can’t quite kick the habit of opening his mouth.
This medieval parody provides non-stop amusement and a great way to spend an afternoon.
Each mini-sketch tells how he effortlessly attracts “the happening of bad things”. And those happenings pretty much sum up the story of Hermitage’s early life where he first channelled his inner Cadfael, only to discover that having a REALLY annoying inquisitive streak could seriously damage his judgement.
With fabulous gems like "Hermitage’s curiosity was like a second bladder, if it got too full he simply had to let some questions leak out no matter how embarrassing the result…” you can’t possibly go wrong if you follow the trials of an inoffensive monk with a gift for involuntarily offending everyone he meets, as he can’t quite kick the habit of opening his mouth.
This medieval parody provides non-stop amusement and a great way to spend an afternoon.
April 24, 2021
FUNNY....almost incomprehensibly hysterical!!!
Hard to explain...so truly laugh out loud funny I read it aloud to my husband and we laughed and laughed and giggled and laughed. And...some truly great writing. The vocabulary is challenging and the sentences are long but clearly understandable and soooo... Funny! We loved this and will now begin to read more of this series...a vacation from real life and puzzles to ponder in the middle of the night when our single or collective minds wake to try and figure out what really happened here. Highly recommended.
Hard to explain...so truly laugh out loud funny I read it aloud to my husband and we laughed and laughed and giggled and laughed. And...some truly great writing. The vocabulary is challenging and the sentences are long but clearly understandable and soooo... Funny! We loved this and will now begin to read more of this series...a vacation from real life and puzzles to ponder in the middle of the night when our single or collective minds wake to try and figure out what really happened here. Highly recommended.
October 1, 2025
I suppose it makes an effort, but not much of one.
Described as hilariously funny, but my guess is that it doesn't fit my personal sense of humour, as I was mostly just bored, despite the intriguing summary that got me to download it in the first place. Also, though the writer says he had an editor, I think he could do with a better one - speaking as a proof-reader and beta-reader myself, that is. I don't think the Brother Hermitage series will prove my thing, so I'm done. 1.5 stars (the half star for effort).
Described as hilariously funny, but my guess is that it doesn't fit my personal sense of humour, as I was mostly just bored, despite the intriguing summary that got me to download it in the first place. Also, though the writer says he had an editor, I think he could do with a better one - speaking as a proof-reader and beta-reader myself, that is. I don't think the Brother Hermitage series will prove my thing, so I'm done. 1.5 stars (the half star for effort).
December 4, 2017
Having seen this series on Kindle, I decided to try the Shorts just to see if I liked the character and stories.
The short answer is No.
Not for me I’m afraid - just couldn’t take to Hermitage at all.
The short answer is No.
Not for me I’m afraid - just couldn’t take to Hermitage at all.
January 1, 2022
Young overenthusiastic monks early days
Some short tales of our protagonist predating the histories already avaiable, detailing what occurred inbetween these narratives prior to 1066
Some short tales of our protagonist predating the histories already avaiable, detailing what occurred inbetween these narratives prior to 1066
May 23, 2019
It was OK. Not my favourite though.
May 8, 2020
Read as a preamble to the series
A.little disjointed but I feel that this is just a way to Introduce the main character time will tell as I start book one in the series
A.little disjointed but I feel that this is just a way to Introduce the main character time will tell as I start book one in the series
November 30, 2020
All of the Brother Hermitage books are wonderful!
September 18, 2024
Not expected
I was expecting something a good bit more serious. This was certainly not it. Odd to say the least. Not unpleasant, just very odd.
I was expecting something a good bit more serious. This was certainly not it. Odd to say the least. Not unpleasant, just very odd.
September 30, 2016
A series of 'excerpts' from the full novels of each. A teaser / tester if you will -to see if it's the reader's cuppa.
Can't see why not when the main character, a monk, his innocence and intelligence (of the era) made him look gormless yet fearless. Brother Hermitage escapades along with HoW's agent and critique(r) made the whole set up worthy of reading. Though I think HoW's agent didn't do a creditable job of editing. There were grammatical errors and misspelling in the MSs.
What? Too busy arguing with the scholar?
Can't see why not when the main character, a monk, his innocence and intelligence (of the era) made him look gormless yet fearless. Brother Hermitage escapades along with HoW's agent and critique(r) made the whole set up worthy of reading. Though I think HoW's agent didn't do a creditable job of editing. There were grammatical errors and misspelling in the MSs.
What? Too busy arguing with the scholar?
April 16, 2015
Despite this publication sneaking past me when I wasn't looking, I discovered its existence and settled to reading it immediately.
Another work of genius by Mr Of Warwick. Missed Wat but, otherwise loved it. On reflection I think Hermitage may remind me more of Piglet than Pooh with his air of bewilderment.
Another work of genius by Mr Of Warwick. Missed Wat but, otherwise loved it. On reflection I think Hermitage may remind me more of Piglet than Pooh with his air of bewilderment.
January 4, 2017
Interesting
This was a very insightful and humorous telling of medieval England through the eyes of an "intellectual" with little common sense.
This was a very insightful and humorous telling of medieval England through the eyes of an "intellectual" with little common sense.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews