book data
444 ratings, 4.02 average rating, 23 reviews
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published
1995
by Little Brown and Company
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 254 pages
isbn
0751511021
(isbn13: 9780751511024)
description
MysteryLarge Print EditionEach addition to the series is a joy. Long may the chronicles continue. USA Today* A Mystery Guild Alternate Selection In th...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 534)
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.
...more
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.
...more
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Murder by war: It's the time when King Stephen of England is battling for control of the country against his cousin ,rightful and legal heiress, the Empress Maud. Stephen's forces have laid seige to Shrewsbury castle and ,after defeating the occupants,have obeyed his orders to show no mercy and to hang the remaining 94 soldiers from the wall. Brother Cadfael from the nearby abbey, is allotted the sorry task of preparing the bodies for burial and counts 95 bodies..one too many. He is aided in thi...more
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Read in November, 2005
With the second book of the series, I found a book different from the first though still engaging and maintaining the central character of Brother Cadael. The book is centered around Shrewsbury this time. The contest of sucession between Maud and Stephen helps drive the story, but it does not overshadow the story or the character. It is certainly a part of the story, masterfully intertwined.
In the story, Brother Cadael has the daughter of a noted noble put under his charge. As the story prog...more
In the story, Brother Cadael has the daughter of a noted noble put under his charge. As the story prog...more
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A great read!: Ellis Peters has written another excellent book. This one follows on from 'A morbid taste for bones' and although (I feel) it isn't quite as good a mystery, it's an excellent story.
King Stephen is attempting to secure land and money in his fight against the Empress Maud. The current stage is Shrewsbury and a successful attack leaves few survivors of the defending garrison. King Stephen condemns them to death and upon Cadfaels arrival to bury the dead in a Christian manner, find...more
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Read in July, 2002
recommended to Julie by:
Dadrecommends it for: mystery lovers, medieval period lovers
Brother Cadfael, a Benedictine monk who came late to the cloister, uses his knowledge of herbs and of people to solve mysteries. These books are set in medieval England, during the period in which the Empress Maud and King Stephen were vying for the throne. In the midst of this turbulent time, Brother Cadfael works quietly in his herb garden, making medicines and enjoying the peaceful abbey life after being abroad in the world for a great number of years. When a mystery is at hand, he uses his d...more
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Read in October, 2006
One of her Brother Cadfael mysteries, featuring the 12th century Benedictine monk who solves crimes. I think it would be just about impossible to dislike Cadfael as a character – he’s extremely likeable without the likeability being overdone. In this case Brother Cadfael is attending to the burial of 94 prisoners massacred after the capture of Shrewsbury by King Stephen, and finds to his alarm that there is one body too many. He’s also sheltering a young noblewoman who has been forced ...more
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As with all the Cadfael mysteries, I loved this book with two plots intertwining with each other. Two important new characters are introduced that greatly influence the implacable Cadfael.
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A great mystery with real, sympathetic characters. Central to the plot is the war between Empress Maude and King Steven--a conflict that will weave through further Cadfael stories. Here the war and the tension are real. The characters who do and do not survive kept me reading and wanting more.
Finally, I loved the key point in this book: the one corpse too many. Cadfael pursues a mystery others disregard--that really got me.
Finally, I loved the key point in this book: the one corpse too many. Cadfael pursues a mystery others disregard--that really got me.
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Read in January, 1986
recommends it for:
everyone who likes historical mysteries
The Brother Cadfael series has to be one of, if not the best historical mystery series of all time. Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters is a pseudonym) wrote history and translated Czech classics, so her historical fiction is smart and enlightening. BTW, if you have seen the BBC series, please know that the written Cadfael is much better.
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I really find that reading them in order is the best way so you can follow the evolving relationship of Cadfael and Hugh. In this book Hugh and Cadfael have met for the first time and play a deadly serious game of wits, each thinking the other the enemy which is wonderfully executed. Another top-notch mystery.
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I loved these books. I enjoy a good mystery now and again and have always liked Historical Fiction, put em together and I really enjoyed the whole series. I was somewhat surprised at how solid the whole 20 books series was, usually any series that long has some really bad bits.
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Read in January, 2002
I've been re-reading the Cadfael Chronicles - Simple, classic mysteries set in the twelfth century with a very human touch. Great for gardeners, romance lovers, history buffs and murder mystery fans alike.
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Read in October, 2008
This was a pleasant surprise. I'll probably go back and read some more Brother Cadfael stories.
I did recently receive The Brother Cadfael Collection DVDs and I'm really enjoying those as well.
I did recently receive The Brother Cadfael Collection DVDs and I'm really enjoying those as well.
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Read in April, 2007
A good Bro. Caedfel book. Her second. Less religion than the first one, which works better for her. I don't know that I would read all of them, but she is as good as any of the mystery writers.
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Read in August, 2008
jeepers - why haven't I come across these stories before?
The answer is that, for the most, I must have my head in the sand.
Needless to say I will be hunting down more of this ilk.
The answer is that, for the most, I must have my head in the sand.
Needless to say I will be hunting down more of this ilk.
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All the Brother Cadfael books run together for me. They are the kind of thing I'd pick up in an airport or a train station to read. One Corpse Too Many is the second in the series.
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Read in January, 1993
I should have named my one and only son Cadfael! This first book is a fav and you should also check out Virgin in the Ice. I love watching them on PBS mystery.
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Read in January, 2007
WOW!!! this book is an amazing murder mystery...You never would have guessed who was the murderer...
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This was a pretty good Gothic mystery though it's the only one in the series I've read.
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Read in May, 2008
An action-packed book that is restful, thanks to Brother Cadfael's way. I'm hooked!
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currently-reading (on 13 people's shelves)
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