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64th out of 786 books
—
1,639 voters
Monk's Hood (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #3)
by
Ellis Peters
When a visitor to the abbey dies, Brother Cadfael faces a personal drama. For not only was the man poisoned by monk's hood oil, made in Cadfael's own laboratory, the dead man's widow is also the woman to whom Cadfael was betrothed before he took his vows.
Mass Market Paperback, 224 pages
Published
November 1st 1992
by Mysterious Press
(first published 1980)
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Respite from the civil war between Maud and Stephen, however temporary, has been restored to Shrewsbury as Christmas approaches. Life in the abbey proceeds as usual when suddenly Brother Cadfael is called to the bedside of Gervase Bonel, who has recently nearly completed the process of turning over his lands to the abbey in return for a guaranteed living under its care. To make matters more interesting, Bonel's wife--to Cadfael's complete surprise ins none other than Cadfael's first love, Richil...more
I was intrigued about the idea of a murder mystery set in the 12th century. Having just listened to an audio book about the history of English crime fiction, whose author stated that crime fiction required a few things, one of which was an authority to resolve the crime. In this case, the sheriff provided that function, and I'm sure if I could recall the other criteria, Peters would also have placed them feasibly into this story.
Cadfael is a monk, contentedly providing medications to residents o...more
Cadfael is a monk, contentedly providing medications to residents o...more
This next wonderful offering in the Brother Cadfael series sees Cadfael encountering his past and also brings the culture of neighboring Wales--still a distinct country with its own laws, customs, and rulers--to the forefront.
Brother Cadfael (pronounced Cad-file) has definitely entered the ranks of great fiction detectives alongside Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Wimsey. But these stories are more than just murder mysteries in medieval drag. Ellis Peters actually lived in Shrewsbury, England, wh...more
Brother Cadfael (pronounced Cad-file) has definitely entered the ranks of great fiction detectives alongside Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Wimsey. But these stories are more than just murder mysteries in medieval drag. Ellis Peters actually lived in Shrewsbury, England, wh...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
From Amazon.com customer reviewer Steve Benner:
The tale this time involves the mysterious poisoning of a guest of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, by means, what's more, of one of Brother Cadfael's own healing concoctions. With his own - as well as the Abbey's - honour at stake, Cadfael refuses to let matters lie, especially when the sheriff's somewhat over-zealous sergeant appears to be rather hastily leaping to the wrong conclusion as to who is responsible for the dire deed. To...more
The tale this time involves the mysterious poisoning of a guest of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, by means, what's more, of one of Brother Cadfael's own healing concoctions. With his own - as well as the Abbey's - honour at stake, Cadfael refuses to let matters lie, especially when the sheriff's somewhat over-zealous sergeant appears to be rather hastily leaping to the wrong conclusion as to who is responsible for the dire deed. To...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The third in the Cadfael series. Once again a treat and a pleasure to read, even for someone who's familiar with the television series.
The books are more richly realized and the characters more well drawn. The plots are bit more complex with the televised version being simplified to fit in the available time-slot.
Once again the book contains characters that never made it to the TV program and this time was much funnier than the series ever was. This was mostly due to the younger age of the sus...more
The books are more richly realized and the characters more well drawn. The plots are bit more complex with the televised version being simplified to fit in the available time-slot.
Once again the book contains characters that never made it to the TV program and this time was much funnier than the series ever was. This was mostly due to the younger age of the sus...more
Brother Cadfael is, as aye, a splendid guide through mediaeval England on the Welsh borders. His wisdom and gentle spirit lead us here through a tangle of abbey and family relationships. Murder, middle age, and romance, set in Shrewsbury and Shropshire. This book will be finished all too soon, I fear!
[Later:] I stretched it out for a day or so.
An excellent mystery, with several likely candidates. And several minus one red herrings! I confess I picked the wrong one, until about a paragraph before...more
[Later:] I stretched it out for a day or so.
An excellent mystery, with several likely candidates. And several minus one red herrings! I confess I picked the wrong one, until about a paragraph before...more
Value background on just who Cadfael was/is and an excellent mystery.
Cadfael series: excellent historical fiction. Ellis Peters draws the reader into the twelfth century with modern story telling but holds us there with a richness of detail which evokes a time and place which might as well be mythic. Though the foreground of each chronicle is a murder mystery, behind it a nation and a culture are woven in a wondrous tapestry.
Cadfael series: excellent historical fiction. Ellis Peters draws the reader into the twelfth century with modern story telling but holds us there with a richness of detail which evokes a time and place which might as well be mythic. Though the foreground of each chronicle is a murder mystery, behind it a nation and a culture are woven in a wondrous tapestry.
This is my first Brother Cadfael mystery and I was absolutely charmed by Cadfael. Unlike Hercule Poirot or even Miss Marple, whose adventures I've been following lately, Brother Cadfael is warm and compassionate and not completely jaded about his fellow man.
The mystery itself was interesting, but didn't amaze me, as Agatha Christie mysteries sometimes do, when they come together. Cadfael is hampered by living in a time when one couldn't dust for finger prints or analyze evidence under a microsc...more
The mystery itself was interesting, but didn't amaze me, as Agatha Christie mysteries sometimes do, when they come together. Cadfael is hampered by living in a time when one couldn't dust for finger prints or analyze evidence under a microsc...more
Cadfael is called to the bedside of Gervase Bonel, newly arrived to take up residence in one of the abbey's guesthouses, when that gentleman is taken suddenly ill. When Cadfael arrives, he discovers that Bonel has been poisoned, and the poison is of Cadfael's own making, a concoction of monks-hood oil used for rubbing sore joints. The sheriff's men suspect Bonel's stepson, Edwin Gurney, but Cadfael doesn't believe it, perhaps because Edwin's mother Richildis was once betrothed to Cadfael...
As a...more
As a...more
Apr 29, 2013
Valerie
added it
As with most Brother Cadfael books, this one starts with a date: December, 1138. And with a major shock: the gentle and elderly Abbot Heribert is called away to account for his abbacy with a reformer sent by the Pope (Innocent III). While he's gone, Prior Robert is left in charge. And though Heribert was quite willing to let Cadfael out of standard duties to investigate matters beyond the abbott's technical competence, Prior Robert is too prone to accept the obvious solution, in hopes of restori...more
I first fell in love with the Brother Cadfael mysteries in the late 90's after I graduated from High School. That was when I was interested in studying Feudal English history, and it played well into that area. The story is based on a brother of the Benidictine order who was once a Crusader in Jerusalem. He then becomes a detective in various mysteries, because of his feeling of God's desire for justice in this world.
The characters are endearing, the references are excellent. The historical lang...more
The characters are endearing, the references are excellent. The historical lang...more
Still enjoying this series a lot. I love the way the Welsh/English issues are woven in. This one is less political than the previous book, but it's still fully grounded in its historical setting. If you're looking for books that go straight to the mystery, it isn't these.
One thing I'm appreciating a lot, though, is that from the very first page, I'm trying to figure out what the crime will be, and who the suspects could be. I've mostly got it right, even from early on, but it's lovely to read on...more
One thing I'm appreciating a lot, though, is that from the very first page, I'm trying to figure out what the crime will be, and who the suspects could be. I've mostly got it right, even from early on, but it's lovely to read on...more
Gervase Bonel and his wife Richildis have just moved into property owned by the monks at Shrewsbury and turned over their income to the monastery (although not signed any papers yet.) The first evening they are there, Gervase is poisoned and dies after a medicinal preparation for sore muscles is put in his food. Ger-vase's step son is suspected, but Brother Cadfael is convinced he is innocent. An interesting side light is that Richildis had promised to marry Cadfael when he came back from the Cr...more
(Original Review http://hill-kleerup.org/blog/2009/10/...)
I’ll confess to a weakness for Peters’ Brother Cadfael mysteries. The twenty novels in the series, telling the tale of a Welsh Benedictine monk — and crime-solver — in 12th Century England — are charming, educational, thought-provoking, exciting, and contemplative. (That they were made a faboo TV series starring Derek Jacobi doesn’t hurt).
I’m rereading this series now, and just finished enjoying this particular twisted tale of marriage,...more
I’ll confess to a weakness for Peters’ Brother Cadfael mysteries. The twenty novels in the series, telling the tale of a Welsh Benedictine monk — and crime-solver — in 12th Century England — are charming, educational, thought-provoking, exciting, and contemplative. (That they were made a faboo TV series starring Derek Jacobi doesn’t hurt).
I’m rereading this series now, and just finished enjoying this particular twisted tale of marriage,...more
Brother Cadfael is called upon to help a poisoned guest at the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. Upon reaching the dying man's side, Cadfael discovers two very disturbing things: the poison was taken from Cadfael's own workshop, and the dead man's widow is Cadfael's former fiance. Cadfael feels that it is his responsibility to find the guilty man and to prove the widow's son innocent of the murder of his stepfather. I found it especially interesting as it gave a rare glimpse into the past of our...more
May 30, 2013
Chrissie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Chrissie by:
Gundula
I really, really liked the book, but I LOVE Cadfael. Cadfael gets ten stars. These books may be classified as stand-alones,but I believe you should read them in order, starting with the second book. Why? Because it is important to know who each one of the characters really is, their souls, what makes them tick, how they think and behave. In book two I came to understand who Beringar was. Book three has now taught me, showed me, who Cadfael is. I have seen the choices he makes, and I absolutely l...more
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My favorite of the first three Brother Cadfael books, though when I started this one before I'd read the first two in the series, couldn't get into it. Obviously the series builds on each preceding book and Brother Cadfael becomes a more interesting character as the series progresses.
Monk's Hood involves murder by poisoning over an inheritance or lack thereof, a woman from Cadfael's past, and another visit to Wales. Minor mentions of the political climate of 1138 in England....more
Monk's Hood involves murder by poisoning over an inheritance or lack thereof, a woman from Cadfael's past, and another visit to Wales. Minor mentions of the political climate of 1138 in England....more
Premise: Cadfael finds himself drawn into a new mystery when a man is murdered on the grounds of the monastery. Gervase Bonel had been in the process of deeding his property to the abbey, after a row with his step-son. Many stand to gain at Bonel's death, and many stand to lose. It's up to Brother Cadfael to determine the truth, especially since the poison that killed the man was stolen from Cadfael's own medical supplies!
This is another solid entry in the Cadfael series. It is notable both for...more
This is another solid entry in the Cadfael series. It is notable both for...more
Nov 2010 - From my Audible (audiobook) review:
In Monk's Hood, someone is poisoned by the misuse of one of Brother Cadfael’s preparations, so our medieval detective is well-motivated to find out who. Cadfael is a bit handicapped by not having Hugh Beringar in charge of the investigation, by Prior Robert being in charge of the abbey in the abbot's absence, and we get to enjoy the fun, including listening to one of Brother Jerome’s smarmiest, most unctuous little speeches, this time directed toward...more
In Monk's Hood, someone is poisoned by the misuse of one of Brother Cadfael’s preparations, so our medieval detective is well-motivated to find out who. Cadfael is a bit handicapped by not having Hugh Beringar in charge of the investigation, by Prior Robert being in charge of the abbey in the abbot's absence, and we get to enjoy the fun, including listening to one of Brother Jerome’s smarmiest, most unctuous little speeches, this time directed toward...more
I first came across Cadfael many years ago through the ITV series starring Derek Jacobi. Normally I don’t mention the tv shows or movies that inspired me to read a book as it doesn’t seem relevant to my reviews. In this case I happened to get an audiobook version which was read by Derek and while I loved the book, the fact that the audio version brought back great memories of the show is not to be denied.
Abbot Heribert is called away to account for his management of the abbey. In his absence a r...more
Abbot Heribert is called away to account for his management of the abbey. In his absence a r...more
Brother Cadfael is called to the home of Gervase Bonel and his wife because Gervase has taken suddenly ill and medical attention is needed. They are living in the shelter of the Abbey because Gervase has willed his manor to the Abbey in exchange for food and shelter the rest of his days. Cadfael goes and attempts to help but the poison has already had too much of a headstart. Gervase's widow is Richildis, a love of Cadfael's before the Crusades. Gervase's son from a previous marriage is accused...more
1st recorded reading: August 1, 2002
I finished reading this Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael’s adventures this afternoon as we drove toward Monroe, Louisiana from Vicksburg, Mississippi, on our eventual way home. And another good adventure it was; even with having read the tale before some years ago, I had forgotten much.
The book begins in December 1138; one Gervase Bonel has given over – or will give over, once the paperwork is finished – his manor to the Abbey, in exchange for one of the Ab...more
I finished reading this Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael’s adventures this afternoon as we drove toward Monroe, Louisiana from Vicksburg, Mississippi, on our eventual way home. And another good adventure it was; even with having read the tale before some years ago, I had forgotten much.
The book begins in December 1138; one Gervase Bonel has given over – or will give over, once the paperwork is finished – his manor to the Abbey, in exchange for one of the Ab...more
Sep 03, 2008
Ryan Patrick
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
murder mystery lovers
Recommended to Ryan Patrick by:
Watched the PBS movies
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
fiction-2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Now that I've finished Monk's Hood, I have found a new appreciation for Ellis Peters' work. After one death too many, I was expecting a rather static setting that would seem to change, but in truth, it would really change from book to book. I am definitely the product of watching too many American sitcoms and am glad my expectation was not met.
The story begins with Father Abbot Heribert leaving Shrewsbury to a council being held to reassess the leadership of the Church in England. He believes is...more
The story begins with Father Abbot Heribert leaving Shrewsbury to a council being held to reassess the leadership of the Church in England. He believes is...more
Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series - set around 1000/1100, a Welsh man who had been with the Crusades, soldier/sailor, loved women etc settles down to retirement as a Benedictine monk, working as an apothecary within the abbey and the community, and assisting the sheriff with mysteries. He's a really wholesome character who understands people and life, not at all narrow and irritating. There is also a series of movies made based on these books with Derek Jacobi playing Brother Cadfael
I recently watched the Cadfael series and thoroughly enjoyed them. Last night I went to my public library"s website and found the audiobook, read by Derek Jacoby, who starred as Cadfael. It was good enough that I listened straight through, getting immersed in the medieval monastic world of Cadfael and Berengar, as they practiced sn old fashioned and gentle means of detecting without fingerprints or biochemistry, but just as gripping or exciting as any modern crime show.
Yet another solid and quality installment in the Cadfael series, with loveable scamps and tortured murderers driven to acts outside their nature. Cadfael himself is as delightful as always, a monk more hippie with his modern views on love, justice, and living morally. The historical detail rings authentic as always; Peters' research and flair for recreating the long past is impressive. This is a series that delights no matter how many times I read it.
so, maybe it usually would only get a 3.5, but I've been going through a string of stories with long plots littered with annoying elements and disturbingly inspire me to beg for someone to kill the main character against the author's wishes. This was a short pleasant read where things felt much more right in the world-- and most importantly ended without me wishing for a random bolder to fall from the sky and kill the main character.
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A pseudonym used by Edith Pargeter.
Edith Mary Pargeter, BEM (September 28, 1913 in Horsehay, Shropshire, England –October 14, 1995) 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...more
More about Ellis Peters...
Edith Mary Pargeter, BEM (September 28, 1913 in Horsehay, Shropshire, England –October 14, 1995) 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...more
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“Don't reach for the halo too soon. You have plenty of time to enjoy yourself, even a little maliciously sometimes, before you settle down to being a saint.”
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