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Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #4-6
The Second Cadfael Omnibus: Saint Peter's Fair / The Leper of Saint Giles / The Virgin in the Ice
This volume contains three of Brother Cadfael's Chronicles: ST PETER'S FAR. An unseemly quarrel between the local burghers and the monks from the Benedictine monastery in Shrewsbury over who shall benefit from the levies on Shrewsbury's annual Fair leaves a merchant dead, and Cadfael is summoned from the peace of his herb garden to practice his skills as a detective. THE LEPER OF ST GILES. Outside the walls of Shrewsbury is St Giles, a sanctuary for the sick, but also a possible refuge for a wanted man. When a member of a wedding party is savagely murdered, Brother Cadfael finds himself at St Giles as herbalist and as detective in search of the killer. THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE. In the winter of 1139 civil war brings refugees to Shrewsbury in search of sanctuary. But two orphans and their companion, a nun, don't arrive from Worcester, and Cadfael is despatched from the Abbey to try and locate them in the harsh winter landscape of frost and snow.
560 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
5 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Ellis Peters
208 books1,148 followersA 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2020
I planned to read one story, then shift to another book before returning to story two, then repeat the process for story three. However, I could not stop reading the book! I was completely and happily absorbed from the first page to the last.
favorite passages:
"Cadfael's fragrant domain, dewy from the dawn and already warming into drunken sweetness in the rising sun ...." page 10
"Under the eaves of the workshop the dangling bunches of dried leafage rustled and chirped like nests of singing birds in waves of warmed air ...." page 175
favorite passages:
"Cadfael's fragrant domain, dewy from the dawn and already warming into drunken sweetness in the rising sun ...." page 10
"Under the eaves of the workshop the dangling bunches of dried leafage rustled and chirped like nests of singing birds in waves of warmed air ...." page 175
March 4, 2022
Really enjoyed. Three more great stories, beautifully written with gorgeous old language and insightful observations about people, behaviour and the human mind. The author is clearly into horses as she writes them so beautifully, and describes people well too, as well as the scenery and paints a word picture so you can see what is happening. I’m interested in the herbalism too.
St Peter’s Fair
With the power struggle between King Stephen and Empress Maud still raging, people have got to be careful who they talk to, even in the festive fair outside the monastery in Shrewsbury. A wealthy merchant from Bristol arrive at the fair and his beautiful niece are wooed by a gentleman, and the niece is taken by his good looks and charm, and romance is in the air. Meanwhile, stores are being robbed and murder is afoot. Thankfully Cadfael, Berringer and his wife,
The Leper of St Giles
A young woman is to be “sold” in marriage to an odious old man who seems like he will be cruel, only because her guardians are making money from her. Her father a hero of the Crusades died abroad, so she is alone but for a Page of her betrothed who adores her. A stranger, leper, comes to St Giles the leper hospital outside Shrewsbury and gets involved in the story unexpectedly, along with Cadfael when he realises the young couple are in danger. A story that could be set in modern times, full of lies, theft, murder, jealously greed and rage … friendships made and broken … really well written and gripping right to the end.
Virgin in the Ice
More of an epic than the TV episode showed, where bandits are terrorising the lands around Shrewsbury and Cadfael had to go to a nearby monetary to tend to an injured monk who was badly beaten by them. Homesteads are being looted and demolished, no one safe on the roads. Cadfael is also aware of two noble young people who have gone missing, and the search is on to find them. Can Cadfael and Berringer, deputy Sherif, find the runaways, identify a dead lady in a frozen lake, find the lair of the bandits, find the lady’s killer, find out what happened to the injured monk AND save the villagers?
Throughout the stories we learn more about Cadfael and his past, through reminiscences, old friends who appear and also in conversation when people ask about his calling to “the cloth” and he shares he wasn’t always cloistered. His sharp wits, experience and knowledge are used well, as he had experience with dead bodies on the field of battle, and so can perform simple autopsies but you don’t feel his knowledge is contrived for the plot - as in many TV procedurals. I like how he respected the “Saracens” in the Middle East, found them trustworthy and good people, loyal and full of honour, rather than speaking ill of them, and I really enjoy his kindly and caring faith, forgiving and fair.
St Peter’s Fair
With the power struggle between King Stephen and Empress Maud still raging, people have got to be careful who they talk to, even in the festive fair outside the monastery in Shrewsbury. A wealthy merchant from Bristol arrive at the fair and his beautiful niece are wooed by a gentleman, and the niece is taken by his good looks and charm, and romance is in the air. Meanwhile, stores are being robbed and murder is afoot. Thankfully Cadfael, Berringer and his wife,
The Leper of St Giles
A young woman is to be “sold” in marriage to an odious old man who seems like he will be cruel, only because her guardians are making money from her. Her father a hero of the Crusades died abroad, so she is alone but for a Page of her betrothed who adores her. A stranger, leper, comes to St Giles the leper hospital outside Shrewsbury and gets involved in the story unexpectedly, along with Cadfael when he realises the young couple are in danger. A story that could be set in modern times, full of lies, theft, murder, jealously greed and rage … friendships made and broken … really well written and gripping right to the end.
Virgin in the Ice
More of an epic than the TV episode showed, where bandits are terrorising the lands around Shrewsbury and Cadfael had to go to a nearby monetary to tend to an injured monk who was badly beaten by them. Homesteads are being looted and demolished, no one safe on the roads. Cadfael is also aware of two noble young people who have gone missing, and the search is on to find them. Can Cadfael and Berringer, deputy Sherif, find the runaways, identify a dead lady in a frozen lake, find the lair of the bandits, find the lady’s killer, find out what happened to the injured monk AND save the villagers?
Throughout the stories we learn more about Cadfael and his past, through reminiscences, old friends who appear and also in conversation when people ask about his calling to “the cloth” and he shares he wasn’t always cloistered. His sharp wits, experience and knowledge are used well, as he had experience with dead bodies on the field of battle, and so can perform simple autopsies but you don’t feel his knowledge is contrived for the plot - as in many TV procedurals. I like how he respected the “Saracens” in the Middle East, found them trustworthy and good people, loyal and full of honour, rather than speaking ill of them, and I really enjoy his kindly and caring faith, forgiving and fair.
November 8, 2017
Ramping up the tension as the characters become more familiar and the civil war rumbles along fruitlessly behind the plots of the main mysteries.
St. Peter's Fair: A thriller of civil war betrayal and an examinations of the motivations of the merchant class. An especially dark murder.
The Leper of St. Giles: a really interesting portrayal of disability amongst the previously physically strong, and recovery amongst the long-term sick. Brother Mark's starring moment. It's a shame the young male co-protagonist with Cadfael is extremely annoying.
The Virgin In The Ice: One of the best Cadfael books. Filled with genuine peril for two children lost in the civil war, held together by the appearance of Cadfael's beautiful son Olivier, a Syrian Galahad. Some deeply sad reflection on the vulnerability of children, women, and the mind.
St. Peter's Fair: A thriller of civil war betrayal and an examinations of the motivations of the merchant class. An especially dark murder.
The Leper of St. Giles: a really interesting portrayal of disability amongst the previously physically strong, and recovery amongst the long-term sick. Brother Mark's starring moment. It's a shame the young male co-protagonist with Cadfael is extremely annoying.
The Virgin In The Ice: One of the best Cadfael books. Filled with genuine peril for two children lost in the civil war, held together by the appearance of Cadfael's beautiful son Olivier, a Syrian Galahad. Some deeply sad reflection on the vulnerability of children, women, and the mind.
April 15, 2017
Just found this author and I love her. When I open these books I am immediately transported to the 12th century. 'It must be a pleasant thing, to be so made as to give pleasure to those who behold you. Do you suppose he realizes his blessings?' Brother Cadfael is an interesting character and many of the best characters follow throughout the books. The mysteries are very different and Peters obviously researched well. If you can find these they are entertaining.
May 23, 2012
I really liked having an Omnibus (in part), so as I ended one Cadfael story, I could head into the next, and realize how much (or little) time has elapsed between the stories.
February 12, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. Pleasant stories; just lovely!
March 12, 2013
Three more great stories in one book, which is convenient, as these three take place one after the other. Once again, Ellis Peters creates interesting plot lines, great characters, and is well researched. I really enjoy this series and I'll be sure to add more Cadfael books to my bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews