Brother Cadfael: Monk's Hood / The Leper of St. Giles / The Sanctuary Sparrow / One Corpse Too Many

Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #3-5

by Ellis Peters, Derek Jacobi

Brother Cadfael is a 12th century Benedictine monk who lives in the abbey in Shrewsbury, England. Besides his role as the monastery's herbalist and healer, he solves murder mysteries. Thsi QPD edition features the 4 Brother Cadfael books adapted for TV and shown on PBS on 1995 as part of it "Mystery" series.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Crime

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

A 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.

Reviews

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just have one of these novels -- so far -- and it's a keeper. I was easily transported to medeval times, to Brother Cadfael's little Benedictine world. I stumbled only a little over the names. The map at the beginning of the book helped with locations.


Plot: Well-liked Abbot Heribert is getting on in years and so is sent away to be evaluated; Brother Jerome has his eye on the position. Gervase Bonel was poisoned by someone in Brother Cadfael's parish, in Shrewsbury. Who-don-it, and why? Richildis Bonel, his wife, was known to Brother Cadfael 40 years ago! But he had taken vows shortly afterward. Will he relinquish them now?

Edwin Gurney and Edwy Bellecote are boys that are similar ages. They have similar appearances. One of them is wanted by the police. BUT, Brother Cadfael (a Welshman) travels to Wales because their laws are different.

[Laurie Lemson · Rating 3 out of 5]

These tales are a delightful listen on Audible.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of four short novels that were originally published individually, THE LEPER OF SAINT GILES, MONK’S HOOD, THE SANCTUARY SPARROW and ONE CORPSE TOO MANY. Ellis Peters (the pen name of Edith Pargeter) does a great job of transporting the reader back to twelfth century England for these tales. Her protagonist, Brother Cadfael, has led a many faceted life, having been a soldier in the crusades and a sailor in the Mediterranean before returning to England and taking religious vows to become the herbalist/healer for the Abbey at Shrewsbury. Cadfael is a man who feels it is his duty to his fellow human beings and to his God to bring criminals to justice for their crimes, even if it means that he must put himself at risk. He is determined, intelligent and possesses Holmesian powers of observation and deduction. All of the above combine to make THE BROTHER CADFAEL MYSTERIES a fun read for anyone who likes historical fiction and mysteries.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the thing when you are in the mood for something to curl up and relax with. There is the puzzle of who-done-it and generally some romantic or other human situation set in a small village in the middle ages. The murderer generally doesn't go off to jail like in a modern mystery, but the situation always comes to a satisfactory conclusion. If you liked Agatha's Christie's Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, you'll like Brother Cadfael. One warning: it's easy to read this a few pages at a time, but you may find yourself staying up too late to finish. I intentionally set it aside after the 3rd book for a couple of busy months so I could enjoy the 4th book without guilt.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

own all the bboks in series, loved them all. 20 plus books in series

[Tinquerbelle]

1) The Leper of Saint Giles
2) Monk's Hood
3) The Sanctuary Sparrow
4) One Corpse Too Many

[Marilyn Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decided to break these four down into separate reads. Time to take a break and start my new book by Zafon.