One Corpse Too Many (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #2)

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One Corpse Too Many (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #2)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 4,279 ratings · 179 reviews

An ingenious killer disposes of a strangled corpse on a battlefield. Brother Cadfael discovers the body, and must then piece together disparate clues--including a girl in boy's clothing, a missing treasure and a single flower--to expose a murderer's black heart.

Paperback, 214 pages

Published March 1st 1994 by Grand Central Publishing (first published 1979)

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Feb 14, 2009 Jon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: Ron Andrea

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, read-in-my-40s

3.5 stars

Brother Cadfael is thrust into the heart of political intrigue via his herb garden. Or rather, an unlikely new addition to the herb garden - a lay servant of youthful boyish appearance. Cadfael soon realizes his new assistant's secret, and agrees to lend aid as he is able.

It is the time of King Stephen's war upon the Empress Maude, granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Lines are drawn and England is divided. Stephen, also a grandson of William, has laid siege to Shrewsbury, on his wa...more

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Sep 15, 2008 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

First story in the Main Sequence of Cadfael stories. Suggest you read "A Morbid taste for Bones" or "A Rare Benedictine" first, but you'll not be disappointed if you start here.

History, in the personage of King Stephen of England comes crashing into twelfth century Shrewsbury and Brother Cadfael's life will never be the same. But wait, there's one too many bodies. How do we know and what does it mean? And is Hugh Beringer a friend or foe? Got to read it find out. Enjoy.

Cadfael series: excellent...more

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May 06, 2013 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Second book in the series, and yet another one that I remembered fairly well from the TV episode based on it. Actually, aside from giving us the marvelous Sean Pertwee as Hugh Beringar (and who will always be my personal image of Hugh, for all that the show replaced him at least twice with actors that weren't nearly as successful at capturing the sharp-witted sheriff), I wasn't terribly thrilled with this episode. It seemed to throw us too much into the middle of things, without enough time actu...more

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Nov 11, 2010 Cecily Felber rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

This second Brother Cadfael story is set against the backdrop of the siege of Shrewsbury Castle in 1138 during a nineteen-year conflict between two royal cousins, Stephen and Maud, for the throne of England. Cadfael tries to do the right thing amid the conflicting loyalties of the time--and find out who used the executions ordered by the King as cover for their crime. This story also introduces the enduring character of Hugh Beringar, who will enable Cadfael's participation in many future invest...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Sarai rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical

Shrewsbury Castle falls under siege during the battle between King Stephen and Empress Maud, and when Cadfael comes to help take care of the bodies he discovers one corpse too many among the dead and sets about to find the murderer. Along the way, he crosses paths with the mysterious Hugh Beringer, a man his equal in wit - but is Hugh the villain he seeks?

This is the second in the Cadfael series, which I came across after catching part of an episode on PBS, starring Sir Derek Jacobi. I was intri...more

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Oct 18, 2009 LJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1100s, female_author, england, historical, middle_ages_5th_cent-1558, mystery, traditional_mystery, mysterybookclub

First Sentence: Brother Cadfael was working in the small kitchen garden by the abbot’s fishponds when the boy was first brought to him.

There is civil war in England as King Stephen and Empress Maud fight for the throne. A young man, who is not, has been brought to the abbey and placed in Cadfael’s care. Shrewsbury Castle falls to the forces of Stephen leaving 94 men to the hangman. Brother Cadfael, having been a soldier in the first crusade and seeing much worse, offers to care for and bury the...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Valerie added it

Most books in this series start with a year and season. This one starts in late summer of 1138. Frankly, I've learned more about the Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud from these books than from almost any other source. But there are bits that aren't explained. For example, it's never explained how Henry II's sons were drowned. It would be helpful if notes or glossaries were provided, along with the maps.

I should say that many of the names are taken from the Domesday Book, or so...more Most books in this series start with a year and season. This one starts in late summer of 1138. Frankly, I've learned more about the Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud from these books than from almost any other source. But there are bits that aren't explained. For example, it's never explained how Henry II's sons were drowned. It would be helpful if notes or glossaries were provided, along with the maps.

I should say that many of the names are taken from the Domesday Book, or so I conclude. The man named "Arnulf de Hesdin" in this book is also found in the Domesday Book (though the forename is spelt 'Ernulf' therein). But it's probably not the same guy. His son, maybe? Because the man killed in this book was only about in his sixties in 1138.

I have to say that I don't accept the parsing that makes 94 deaths tragic but incontestable, but the 95th unacceptable to Stephen. Peters argues that both Stephen and Maud were flawed in ways that infuriated their most ardent supporters. But she doesn't seem to argue that when people are given unacceptable orders, they have an obligation to refuse them. And early on in the book, Stephen is urged to be LESS merciful, though the rationalizations aren't very sensible.

This book introduces Hugh Beringar, who will be very important in the later books. He's a fairly ambiguous character, at first, but this seems to be mostly because the locals don't know him. Which is odd, since he grew up in the neighborhood. But after all, in a later book a man whose daughter is being fostered among her cousins sees her only about once a week, even though she lives only a few miles out of town. We tend to take rapid transit so for granted that we forget that this is a recent phenomenon.

Other secondary characters are quite interesting as well. I particularly like the isolated lay brothers who are almost bored out of their minds in their forest clearing station, and who welcome any diversion, especially a chance at conspiracy in the service of other members of the abbey. And also the conscientious beggar, who worries that he might have unintentionally death-wished someone.

One thing I should put down while I remember it. I have difficulty with the prevalence of Death in these books, but I suppose it's not surprising. The real plagues didn't hit until the fourteenth century, but life was an unchancy thing even before that. But one thing I DO like (and I think Peters did, too, though she had her characters grumble at it sometimes) is that there's still some darkness in these times. I've lived too little of my life in places where there's any darkness left. In our times you'll meet nobody in a dark alley: there aren't any.

But in these books, people are allowed to develop their night eyes. They don't see as clearly as in daytime, and mistakes are made. But they CAN see, even on a moonless night, once their eyes adjust. As someone who can recognize a cat on just such a night (I used to really annoy my aunt's cats by calling them by name in such situations), I appreciate stories about people who have not had their night vision dazzled away.

Fair warning: This book has a sweaty and bloody trial by combat at the end, with every blow precisely described. Those who find such things disturbing should take heed.

There's also an indication of Cadfael's somewhat eccentric (for the time, especially) attitude toward vengeance and blood-feud. At one point he argues that he will spare at least a few prayers for the soul of the murderer because "Is justice due only to the blameless?", and adds, at the end, that wherever retribution can reach, so can grace. (less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Cris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries, historical-mystery, british

After finishing One Corpse Too Many I'm impressed by how well they captured the book in the television adaptation starring Derek Jacobi. If you've seen and enjoyed the adaptation, you'll enjoy the original book by Peters.

I didn't realize this was the second in the series until I added this title to my Goodreads page. Readers can join this series here at One Corpse Too Many and not suffer for neglecting the first book.

I liked the mixture of history and action. Peters evokes the time and place wi...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second in the Brother Cadfael Chronicles and the first in the series that I've read.

The year is 1138, and war rages between the forces of King Stephen and those of Empress Maud. At Shrewesbury, where Brother Cadfael is living out his vocation is a Benedictine monk and tending to the gardens and herbarium of Shrewesbury Abbey, King Stephen has given the order to hang a number of men who have been condemned to death as traitors.

Brother Cadfael has taken on the task of perparing the bod...more

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Dec 13, 2010 Catherine Thompson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After King Stephen ousts Empress Maud's supporters from Shrewsbury Castle, Brother Cadfael, in helping prepare the dead for burial, discovers that there are 95 corpses, not the 94 he was led to expect. The last dead man wasn't a victim of the hangman's rope, either. Cadfael determines to learn the dead man's identity, and find his murderer.

Set in the late summer of 1138, *One Corpse Too Many* brings the civil war between the two claimants to the English throne to quiet little Shrewsbury. Cadfael...more

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Oct 04, 2009 Megan Larson rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like to read. :)

Recommended to Megan by: Karen Hull

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction, medieval-to-early-rennaisance

Reading this book was my rebellious way of escaping from my middle ages "reading list" without wholly leaving the middle ages, and I am heartily glad for it. It really was excellent--the only complaint I had was that it was a little hard to get into, because it was so historically dense and unassuming in tone--it didn't exactly start with a "bang"--and the font was miniscule! Perhaps I was expecting this book to be as undemanding to read as many mystery novels are--even by great authors like Aga...more

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Jan 24, 2009 Peter rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sitting on my bedside shelf since I bought it (Vancouver, 4/1986!) this one finally appealed for a one-nighter. 2.5-3 hours is about right.
I liked the medieval, if psychologically anachronistic atmosphere, and the backdrop factoids, the character-twists, and rattle-along-nicely pace.
Its bloody outset moves into a slightly gentler, but still ominous mood, with a mix of interesting secondary characters circling around Brother C. He's the only one with much depth, but other characters are nicely...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got this out of the library and when I started it...I realized I'd read it some time ago (I suppose that doesn't speak too well for it as I had to start it to remember, but then I'm not a mystery fan).

The Brother Cadfael books/mysteries are all reliably good reads (though at times a bit depressing). Ms. Peters (Edith Mary Pargeter) is not afraid to include a downer element to a story but she weaves a tale that will draw you in. The stories can move just a bit slowly at times but they tend to h...more

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Aug 04, 2010 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction-alternatehistory, mystery, crime

I love that -- so far at least -- these books aren't just historical fiction with a touch of mystery, or mystery with a touch of historical fiction, but solidly grounded in both. The political situation is inextricably linked with the mystery, too, even though the mystery is not vitally important to the political situation. It's lovely.

The characters are fun, too. Cadfael, of course, is clever and good, but I rather liked the background characters, particularly Hugh and Aline. The ending made me...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Catherine Mustread rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1100s, england, fiction, historical, mystery

Second of theChronicles of Brother Cadfaeland a better appreciated book on my part. The political mysteryinvolving Stephen, King of Englandis set in the summer of 1138 in Shrewsbury, depicting Stephen's dispute with Empress Matilda, daughter and heir of King Henry I. Though 94 "traitors" to King Stephen are executed, Brother Cadfael finds there are 95 corpses to be prepared for burial, thus creating the mystery, not to mention the missing treasure. Slight romantic twists involving a "boy" who ha...more

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May 04, 2013 Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I do like the Brother Cadfael mysteries. This was the summer of 1138, the war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. It's hard to fool Cadfael who discovers an extra corpse following a military firing squad exercise. Lots of interesting names: Torold, Codith, Fulke, Aline (a good "A" name).
Cadfael has his usual good advice: "Your thoughts are safe in your head, best keep them there." "All questions get their answers if you wait long enough." "So it always is, he thought, to relieve another...more

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Jul 15, 2011 PenNPaper52 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I didn't even know this was a book. I used to watch this television show called Cadfael and loved the idea of a monk detective. So when I came across this book, curiosity took over and made me download the book. One Corpse is set during an actual British historical event. King Stephen took over Shrewsbury Castle during the civil war of 1135-1154. Some of the characters are also based on real ppl like Fitz Alan, Abbot Heribert, Prior Pennant etc. The story is basically about a corpse that is plac...more

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Jan 03, 2012 M Christopher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

The long "read" time on this book is in no way a comment on its worth. I simply decided after reading the first chapter that I wasn't in the mood for a mystery and read a couple of other things first. And, truth be told, this second installment in the Cadfael Chronicles does seem to start a little slowly. But once all the dramatis personae are in place, it's a compelling story of murder and love and medieval politics.

Besides the love stories of the two young couples caught up in a murder during...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

I recently read A Morbid Taste For Bones, and while I enjoyed it greatly I did wonder if I would find two Cadfael books in a row to be too much. I thought the setting, characters, and plots wouldn't have enough room for variation. So I was pleasantly surprised by One Corpse Too Many, which I found to be equally enjoyable but quite different from the first book.

I enjoy the Cadfael character, and again the book was fleshed out with other protagonists who were captivating and had multifaceted perso...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Oscar Climent rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.75, but let's round it to four stars!
Not as impressive as the first novel in the series (which I highly recommend) this second adventure of brother Cadfael is still a great read. The story happens mostly outdoors, in the area surrounding the abbey, which allows the reader to familiarize themselves with both the abbey itself and the area around Shrewsbury. This is perfect for those who will continue the series.
The setting of the story is also quite interesting. A war of succession and the death...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Alexandra Butcher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, crime, challenge, historical, mystery, re-read

The second Cadfael mystery, and quite a cracker. This one introduces Hugh Beringar, who will feature quite heavily later on, plus the real impact of the war between King Stephen and Empress Maud, vying for the English throne. Amongst the upheaval of war a body is found, where it should not be and Cadfael must seek justice for the victim, whilst party to secrets which could put him and his charges in danger.

Although this was a re-read for me so the outcome was not a surprise the first time the "r...more

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Apr 08, 2009 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set in medieval England Brother Cadfael, a soldier who has retired to become a monk, solves mysteries.

In this book, after the siege of the local town by the would-be-king a group of men are put to death. When Brother Cadfael comes to prepare the bodies for burial he realizes that there is one more body than there should be, and sets off to figure out who murdered the extra man. Along the way he has to hide the daughter of one of the local nobles from the would-be-king, who says he wants to hold...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Willa Jean rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good read. I think a little more background on the war between the supporters of Steven and Maude would be helpful here, but then, she's not writing a history book. She's included enough that the story makes sense, but I don't think that the abject terror of the period comes through ... the mouth-full-of-adrenaline, skin-crawling, knee-buckling fear of being forced to take a side in a war you don't want, knowing that any change in the tide of war may mean the end of you and everyone you care a...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Luann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, 2011, adult

If I didn't know after reading the first Brother Cadfael, A Morbid Taste for Bones, that I wanted to read ALL of the Brother Cadfael books, I definitely know it now after reading book two! Brother Cadfael is such a smart, interesting, capable, and overall cool character! He is exactly what I look for in a mystery protagonist. And, as in book one, I loved the cast of characters surrounding Brother Cadfael as well.

Ellis Peters does a wonderful job of building the medieval world her characters liv...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Daniel Ribera rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review

In One Corpse Too Many, we are introduced to the contest for the throne in 12th century England. "The civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud is a constant background to the series."

I was introduced to what some call the "Mystorical" genre, that is, a suspense novel or mystery set in historical times. I am sure this was true in the first chronicle, A Morbid Taste for Bones, but it really come to the fore in One Corpse because the civil war comes to Shrewsbury and the castle is besieged...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Alex added it · review of another edition

The second book the Elli Peters' Cadfael series is fairly entertaining, although I did not find it to be as instantly engaging as the first novel. The problem seemed to me to that what should have been the main plot line, that of 'One Corpse Too Many' was pushed to the back burner for a large part of the book while the fate of Godith is resolved.

By the time the death of the extra corpse is dealt with to its conclusion then it seems a bit rushed. The crucial evidence is stumbled across in a vague...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Doug rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: english, crap, detective, misogynistic

when i saw this book, saw that it was written by a fellow salopian, and was set in shrewsbury, my initial thoughts were not particularly wild. i came to this with low expectations, many of which were met, but was surprised to find that ms pargeter (or peters) actually had a very crisp writing style that, had i been reading a work of non-fiction by her, would have been pleasant to read.

unfortunately, this was not non-fiction (although it was built around a real event, which was well-researched) a...more when i saw this book, saw that it was written by a fellow salopian, and was set in shrewsbury, my initial thoughts were not particularly wild. i came to this with low expectations, many of which were met, but was surprised to find that ms pargeter (or peters) actually had a very crisp writing style that, had i been reading a work of non-fiction by her, would have been pleasant to read.

unfortunately, this was not non-fiction (although it was built around a real event, which was well-researched) and pargeter's biggest problem is in writing characters. you get the impression she's spent too much time writing biographies and is used to summing up the measure of a person by taking into account all the facts she knows of their lives, to write pert paragraphs at the conclusion of various texts. unfortunately, what works in non-fiction doesn't always work in fiction (and vice versa). her obsession with revealing character traits through the narrative rather than by actions or even dialogue just made her characters flat and uninspiring. i didn't even like brother cadfael or the shameless way she dropped in his nationality. "i'm as welsh as dewi sant." it didn't even affect the plot, it was just a personal vanity that was poorly covered-up (from what i've read, pargeter prided herself on her welsh heritage).

on the one hand, i was impressed that some effort was made to put a bit of spirit into aline and godith and subvert traditional gender expectations (particularly as this book is set in the 12th century and written in the 70s), but was sorely disappointed by the romeo & juliet bullshit she pulled. i don't believe in love at first sight, i believe in physical attraction, and rushing into a marriage after knowing someone only a few days, 9/10 will end disastrously. so when they both started spouting nonsense about loving their respective partners (whom they had both known for very short periods of time), you couldn't help but feel disappointed. frankly, 192 pages is not long enough to do in-depth justice to the fairly large cast of characters in this book. the fact that she tried to cram them all in and flesh them out with her wise-old-owl-sees-everything '___ was so kind, like, you could look at her/his face and see no evil there because he/she was like, always good. always. and always fair. and always young and attractive and clever' style, just irritated me. clearly someone never learnt about showing not telling in creative writing classes. maybe she learnt more about writing realistic people as she wrote more, i don't know, but i do know that all the characters in this were boring as all hell. (less)

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Jan 30, 2012 Kelanth, numquam risit ubi dracones vivunt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller-medievale

Secondo libro della saga, mi sembra siano venti i libri che la completano, con protagonista fratello Cafael, monaco, ex crociato ed investigatore a tempo perso, personaggio semplice, simpatico, che risulta un stereotipo ormai abusato (ma la Peters scrisse questo libro negli anni ottanta) ma riesce comunque a conquistare le simpatie dei lettori.

Questa saga, così longeva e apprezzata dal pubblico, che viene continuamente ristampata è un classico dei gialli medioevali, ricordiamo anche che è stata...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, time-medieval

2010 review: As I continue to read further Brother Cadfael mysteries, this one remains my favorite and the one that hooked me. The premise of the mystery is clever and unique, and the story contains several twists and turns. Hugh Beringar is an ambiguous foe, and I really enjoyed that.

December 2011 review: This volume sets the timeline for the Brother Cadfael series, taking place during King Stephen's siege of Shrewsbury in the summer of 1138. (view spoiler)...more

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May 13, 2013 Chrissie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, great-britain, hf, series, alt, favorites, love

This was wonderful. I was thinking all through it that I would be giving it four stars because I really have to save the very best books for five star class winners, but then came the end which I adored. So yep, another five star book. This is as good as The Leper of Saint Giles, and that I gave five stars. With that one I was shocked that I could love a book of a mystery series. It astounded me. Now I am beginning to expect Ellis Peters to perform as one of the best of the best, and she pulled...more

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About Ellis Peters

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

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Books by Ellis Peters

A Morbid Taste for Bones (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #1)

The Leper of Saint Giles (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #5)

Monk's Hood (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #3)

St. Peter's Fair (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #4)

The Virgin in the Ice (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #6)

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“All the things of the wild have their proper uses. Only misuse makes them evil.” — 5 people liked it

“The trouble with me, he thought unhappily, is that I have been about the world long enough to know that God's plans for us, however infallibly good, may not take the form we expect and demand.” — 3 people liked it

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One Corpse Too Many (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #2)

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