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Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #7
The Sanctuary Sparrow
Medieval monk Brother Cadfael races to save a young man he believes is falsely accused of robbery—in the Silver Dagger Award–winning mystery series.
In the gentle Shrewsbury spring of 1140, the midnight matins at the Benedictine abbey suddenly reverberate with an unholy sound—a hunt in full cry. Pursued by a drunken mob, the quarry is running for its life. When the frantic creature bursts into the nave to claim sanctuary, Brother Cadfael finds himself fighting off armed townsmen to save a terrified young man.
Liliwin, a wandering minstrel who performed at the wedding of a local goldsmith’s son, has been accused of robbery and murder. The cold light of morning, however, will show his supposed victim, the miserly craftsman, still lives, although a strongbox lies empty. Brother Cadfael believes Liliwin is innocent, but finding the truth and the treasure before Liliwin’s respite in sanctuary runs out may uncover a deadlier sin than thievery—a desperate love that nothing, not even the threat of hanging, can stop.
In the gentle Shrewsbury spring of 1140, the midnight matins at the Benedictine abbey suddenly reverberate with an unholy sound—a hunt in full cry. Pursued by a drunken mob, the quarry is running for its life. When the frantic creature bursts into the nave to claim sanctuary, Brother Cadfael finds himself fighting off armed townsmen to save a terrified young man.
Liliwin, a wandering minstrel who performed at the wedding of a local goldsmith’s son, has been accused of robbery and murder. The cold light of morning, however, will show his supposed victim, the miserly craftsman, still lives, although a strongbox lies empty. Brother Cadfael believes Liliwin is innocent, but finding the truth and the treasure before Liliwin’s respite in sanctuary runs out may uncover a deadlier sin than thievery—a desperate love that nothing, not even the threat of hanging, can stop.
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
1345 people are currently reading
2383 people want to read
About the author
Ellis Peters
207 books1,146 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 - 30 of 473 reviews
December 4, 2019
Brother Cadfael, a former crusader now turned Benedictine monk, is a thoughtful investigator. He dislikes injustice especially when the poor and the weak are wrongly accused.
The wrong man
When Liliwin, a poor birdlike minstrel, reaches the monastery only a few steps ahead of a wildly angry mob, the brother monks offer him forty days sanctuary. Then Brother Cadfael learns that Liliwin's accusers want to hang him for a crime he swears he never committed . . and Cadfael begins to investigate.
The challenge. Who will try the accused and who will protect him?
“I will hear you,” said Radulfus with a snap, “by daylight, when you come with sheriff or sergeant to discuss this matter calmly, and in proper form. But I warn you, this man has claimed sanctuary, and the rights of sanctuary are his, according to custom, and neither you nor any other shall force him away out of these walls until the time of his respite is over.”
“And I warn you, my lord,” flared the youth, blazing red, “that should he venture a step outside, we shall be waiting for him, and what falls out of your lordship’s lordship will be no concern of yours, or the church’s.” Yes, unquestionably he was moderately drunk, or he would never have gone so far, an ordinary young burgess of the town, if a wealthy one. Even with an evening’s wine in him, he blenched at his own daring, and shuffled back a pace or two.
“Or God’s?” said the abbot coldly. “Go hence in peace, before his bolt strike you.”
The kitchen maid - the girlfriend
“Is it true?” she asked, low and urgently. “He’s safe, there in the church? And you’ll protect him? You won’t let them fetch him away?”
“He’s with us, and safe enough,” said Cadfael. “No one dare touch him now.”
“And they haven’t hurt him?” she questioned earnestly.
“No worse than will mend now, in peace. No need to fret for a while. He has forty days grace. I think,” he said, studying the thin face, the delicate, staring cheekbones under the wide-set eyes, “you like this young man.”
“He made such lovely music,” said the child wistfully. “And he spoke me gently, and was glad of being with me in the kitchen. It was the best hour I ever spent. And now I’m frightened for him. What will happen to him when the forty days are up?”
“Why, if it goes so far—for forty days is time enough to change many things—but even if it goes so far, and he must come forth, it will be into the hands of the law, not into the hands of his accusers. Law is grim enough, but tries to be fair. And by then those who accuse him will have forgotten their zeal, but even if they have not, they cannot touch him. If you want to help him, keep eyes and ears open, and if you learn of anything to the purpose, then speak out.” Clearly the very thought terrified her. Who ever listened to anything she might say?
With little proof but much faith on his side the kindly Cadfael is determined to solve this delightfully twisted mystery.
Enjoy!
The wrong man
When Liliwin, a poor birdlike minstrel, reaches the monastery only a few steps ahead of a wildly angry mob, the brother monks offer him forty days sanctuary. Then Brother Cadfael learns that Liliwin's accusers want to hang him for a crime he swears he never committed . . and Cadfael begins to investigate.
The challenge. Who will try the accused and who will protect him?
“I will hear you,” said Radulfus with a snap, “by daylight, when you come with sheriff or sergeant to discuss this matter calmly, and in proper form. But I warn you, this man has claimed sanctuary, and the rights of sanctuary are his, according to custom, and neither you nor any other shall force him away out of these walls until the time of his respite is over.”
“And I warn you, my lord,” flared the youth, blazing red, “that should he venture a step outside, we shall be waiting for him, and what falls out of your lordship’s lordship will be no concern of yours, or the church’s.” Yes, unquestionably he was moderately drunk, or he would never have gone so far, an ordinary young burgess of the town, if a wealthy one. Even with an evening’s wine in him, he blenched at his own daring, and shuffled back a pace or two.
“Or God’s?” said the abbot coldly. “Go hence in peace, before his bolt strike you.”
The kitchen maid - the girlfriend
“Is it true?” she asked, low and urgently. “He’s safe, there in the church? And you’ll protect him? You won’t let them fetch him away?”
“He’s with us, and safe enough,” said Cadfael. “No one dare touch him now.”
“And they haven’t hurt him?” she questioned earnestly.
“No worse than will mend now, in peace. No need to fret for a while. He has forty days grace. I think,” he said, studying the thin face, the delicate, staring cheekbones under the wide-set eyes, “you like this young man.”
“He made such lovely music,” said the child wistfully. “And he spoke me gently, and was glad of being with me in the kitchen. It was the best hour I ever spent. And now I’m frightened for him. What will happen to him when the forty days are up?”
“Why, if it goes so far—for forty days is time enough to change many things—but even if it goes so far, and he must come forth, it will be into the hands of the law, not into the hands of his accusers. Law is grim enough, but tries to be fair. And by then those who accuse him will have forgotten their zeal, but even if they have not, they cannot touch him. If you want to help him, keep eyes and ears open, and if you learn of anything to the purpose, then speak out.” Clearly the very thought terrified her. Who ever listened to anything she might say?
With little proof but much faith on his side the kindly Cadfael is determined to solve this delightfully twisted mystery.
Enjoy!
August 5, 2020
I read Ellis Peters when I want to be reminded of goodness and kindness, of intelligence and commitment. These are strange things to say about a medieval mystery, but true. This does not mean that all of the characters in Sanctuary Sparrow are kind and gentle, but the center of this story is peopled by those with a moral core (both secular and religious people, powerful and not).
The two of them were unlikely to agree on any subject under the sun, but for all that they respected each other. Even this avaricious, formidable old woman, tyrant of her family and terror of her servants, had certain virtues of courage, spirit and honesty that were not to be despised. (p. 42)
I haven't looked systematically at Peters' themes, but she seems to address many gendered problems. A woman's place in this world can be a powerful one, but it can also be precarious. Ellis views these situations compassionately, but recognizes the irony embedded in them. Who is good and who is evil? Unfortunately, good is too often identified as powerful – unless Brother Cadfael has something to say about this: “Whatever she did of worst,” said Cadfael soberly, “came of that in her that might have been best, if it had not been maimed. She was much wronged” (p. 278).
I also love Peters' language, which stays on my tongue, requiring that I think, consider. Peters is not a writer who I skim looking only for plot. Her metaphors should be savored as much as her recognition of her characters' humanity.
Her long life, longer than any woman should be called upon to sustain, trailed behind her like a heavy bridal train dragging at the shoulders of a child bride, holding her back, weighing her down, making every step a burden. (pp. 176-177)
Peters' mysteries are comfort food, but not like Quaker Quick Oats, but like Bob's Red Mill's Thick Oats: tasty, complex, filling.
(I swear, I'm not hungry, although perhaps because Sanctuary Sparrow still lingers.)
The two of them were unlikely to agree on any subject under the sun, but for all that they respected each other. Even this avaricious, formidable old woman, tyrant of her family and terror of her servants, had certain virtues of courage, spirit and honesty that were not to be despised. (p. 42)
I haven't looked systematically at Peters' themes, but she seems to address many gendered problems. A woman's place in this world can be a powerful one, but it can also be precarious. Ellis views these situations compassionately, but recognizes the irony embedded in them. Who is good and who is evil? Unfortunately, good is too often identified as powerful – unless Brother Cadfael has something to say about this: “Whatever she did of worst,” said Cadfael soberly, “came of that in her that might have been best, if it had not been maimed. She was much wronged” (p. 278).
I also love Peters' language, which stays on my tongue, requiring that I think, consider. Peters is not a writer who I skim looking only for plot. Her metaphors should be savored as much as her recognition of her characters' humanity.
Her long life, longer than any woman should be called upon to sustain, trailed behind her like a heavy bridal train dragging at the shoulders of a child bride, holding her back, weighing her down, making every step a burden. (pp. 176-177)
Peters' mysteries are comfort food, but not like Quaker Quick Oats, but like Bob's Red Mill's Thick Oats: tasty, complex, filling.
(I swear, I'm not hungry, although perhaps because Sanctuary Sparrow still lingers.)
August 18, 2024
I always love to sneak a Brother Cadfael book between more serious reads. He is a character I do not tire of, and it feels somewhat like having a time out for coffee with a friend. This one was particularly well-done, I thought.
Also, I cannot help thinking about my husband, Matt, when I read these books. We watched the Derek Jacobi series together way back in the 90s and loved every minute of it. Maybe that is another reason I hold Cadfael a bit close to my heart.
Also, I cannot help thinking about my husband, Matt, when I read these books. We watched the Derek Jacobi series together way back in the 90s and loved every minute of it. Maybe that is another reason I hold Cadfael a bit close to my heart.
July 9, 2025
The seventh chronicle of Brother Cadfael is one of the best-written mysteries of the series. The story begins with the medieval custom of the accused's right to claim sanctuary in the church against persecution and arrest. The accused is given a forty-day reprieve, and Cadfael teams up with the deputy sheriff, Hugh Beringar, to investigate the accusation of robbery and willful wounding. Another murder complicates the investigation, and Cadfael and Beringar must run against time to clear the accused whom they believe innocent and apprehend the true culprit.
As I have mentioned at the start, The Sanctuary Sparrow is a well-done story: better-written and better-plotted. It flows smoothly and neatly, not giving away so much as a hint. The final revelation came as a shock. For the first time in the Cadfael series, I felt sorry for the criminal. Although the cold-blooded murder cannot be condoned, the motive that led to the crime was humane, which called for the readers' sympathy.
However, despite its fine execution, I found the story too slow for my taste. The initial high excitement with which the story began fell into a slow, dull pace. Only the last three chapters managed to restore the initial excitement. I also felt a tonal change in Ellis Peters' writing here, like she was struggling with her prose to match the 12th-century setting. And one or two events described had a bit of a modern touch to suit the medieval times. Nevertheless, if one is looking for a solid mystery, The Sanctuary Sparrow is yet a worthy read.
More of my reviews can be found at http://piyangiejay.com/
As I have mentioned at the start, The Sanctuary Sparrow is a well-done story: better-written and better-plotted. It flows smoothly and neatly, not giving away so much as a hint. The final revelation came as a shock. For the first time in the Cadfael series, I felt sorry for the criminal. Although the cold-blooded murder cannot be condoned, the motive that led to the crime was humane, which called for the readers' sympathy.
However, despite its fine execution, I found the story too slow for my taste. The initial high excitement with which the story began fell into a slow, dull pace. Only the last three chapters managed to restore the initial excitement. I also felt a tonal change in Ellis Peters' writing here, like she was struggling with her prose to match the 12th-century setting. And one or two events described had a bit of a modern touch to suit the medieval times. Nevertheless, if one is looking for a solid mystery, The Sanctuary Sparrow is yet a worthy read.
More of my reviews can be found at http://piyangiejay.com/
August 26, 2021
Let’s get this out right at the start. I am a fan…a fan of Ellis Peters/Edith Pargeter…a fan of The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael. So take any extravagant praise in that context.
I have read these books before (but never written a review of The Sanctuary Sparrow) and enjoyed how Derek Jacobi played Cadfael in the British series.
Brother Cadfael is monk ensconced in the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury, England of the 13th century. He is a former crusader who has found his peace as a botanist and herbalist for these Brothers. Yet, from time to time a crime comes his way and he uses his knowledge and unique skills to help solve it. By this book he is in his 60s and life at the monastery has a certain rhythm. There is a tentative partnership between church (Cadfael) and state (deputy sheriff Hugh Beringar) that will grow. “…an odd pair to move so congenially side by side, the monk squat and square and sturdy, rolling in his gait like a seaman, and well launched into his sixtieth year, the sheriff’s deputy more than thirty year younger and half a head taller, but still a small man, of graceful, nimble movements and darkly saturnine features. Cadfael had seen this young man win his appointment fairly, and a wife to go with it, and had witnessed the christening of their first son only a few months ago."
It is a domestic tale that gives Peters the opportunity to relate how a 13th century small town functioned with its various crafts and skills as well as the domestic life of a household. For me, this is as interesting as the mystery of who whacked the goldsmith over the head and stole much of his stored wealth.
The prime suspect is a young vagabond entertainer (singer, juggler, musician) who was entertaining the guests at the wedding of the goldsmith’s son. We learn much about him and his sordid life early in the story and it is clear that Cadfael is inclined to look elsewhere while this “sanctuary sparrow” resides in the monastery temporarily safe from the angry townsfolk who want to see him punished.
The following will illustrate Cadfael’s approach to a post-mortem examination:
"He inserted his fingers between the parted lips, and showed the teeth also parted, as if in a grimace of pain or a cry. Carefully he drew them wider. Tendrils of crowfoot clung in the large, crooked teeth. Those peering close could see that the mouth within was clogged completely with the debris of the river.
“Give me a small bowl,” said Cadfael, intent, and Hugh was before Madog in obeying. There was a silver saucer under the unlighted lamp on the altar, the nearest receptacle, and Abbot Radulfus made no move to demur. Cadfael eased the stiffening jaw wider, and with a probing finger drew out into the bowl a thick wad of mud and gravel, tinted with minute fragments of vegetation.
“Having drawn in this, he could not draw in water. No wonder I got none out of him.” He felt gently about the dead mouth, probing out the last threads of crowfoot, fine as hairs, and set the bowl aside.
“What you are saying,” said Hugh, closely following, “is that he did not drown.”
“No, he did not drown.”"
But what charms me most is Peters deepest dive into domestic life, teasing out the details of family “arrangements” and duties and conflicts. For the mystery fan, there is a more than adequate plot. However, it may be that you are not as beguiled by the context as I have been. This is one of the best of the series because Peters elevates and illuminates the commonplace.
Additional quotations:
"The old woman’s live eyes in her dead carcase clung to Cadfael’s face, yet not, he thought, trying to convey to him anything but her defiant reliance on her own resources….Even with the priest she did not speak again. She bore with his urgings, and made the effort to respond with her eyelids when he made his required probings into her sense of sin and need and hope for absolution. She died as soon as he had pronounced it, or only moments later."
"The lofty timbers of the roof soared above them into deep darkness. The three women, two living and one dead, were drawn together into a close, mute intimacy, for these few hours islanded from the world."
I have read these books before (but never written a review of The Sanctuary Sparrow) and enjoyed how Derek Jacobi played Cadfael in the British series.
Brother Cadfael is monk ensconced in the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury, England of the 13th century. He is a former crusader who has found his peace as a botanist and herbalist for these Brothers. Yet, from time to time a crime comes his way and he uses his knowledge and unique skills to help solve it. By this book he is in his 60s and life at the monastery has a certain rhythm. There is a tentative partnership between church (Cadfael) and state (deputy sheriff Hugh Beringar) that will grow. “…an odd pair to move so congenially side by side, the monk squat and square and sturdy, rolling in his gait like a seaman, and well launched into his sixtieth year, the sheriff’s deputy more than thirty year younger and half a head taller, but still a small man, of graceful, nimble movements and darkly saturnine features. Cadfael had seen this young man win his appointment fairly, and a wife to go with it, and had witnessed the christening of their first son only a few months ago."
It is a domestic tale that gives Peters the opportunity to relate how a 13th century small town functioned with its various crafts and skills as well as the domestic life of a household. For me, this is as interesting as the mystery of who whacked the goldsmith over the head and stole much of his stored wealth.
The prime suspect is a young vagabond entertainer (singer, juggler, musician) who was entertaining the guests at the wedding of the goldsmith’s son. We learn much about him and his sordid life early in the story and it is clear that Cadfael is inclined to look elsewhere while this “sanctuary sparrow” resides in the monastery temporarily safe from the angry townsfolk who want to see him punished.
The following will illustrate Cadfael’s approach to a post-mortem examination:
"He inserted his fingers between the parted lips, and showed the teeth also parted, as if in a grimace of pain or a cry. Carefully he drew them wider. Tendrils of crowfoot clung in the large, crooked teeth. Those peering close could see that the mouth within was clogged completely with the debris of the river.
“Give me a small bowl,” said Cadfael, intent, and Hugh was before Madog in obeying. There was a silver saucer under the unlighted lamp on the altar, the nearest receptacle, and Abbot Radulfus made no move to demur. Cadfael eased the stiffening jaw wider, and with a probing finger drew out into the bowl a thick wad of mud and gravel, tinted with minute fragments of vegetation.
“Having drawn in this, he could not draw in water. No wonder I got none out of him.” He felt gently about the dead mouth, probing out the last threads of crowfoot, fine as hairs, and set the bowl aside.
“What you are saying,” said Hugh, closely following, “is that he did not drown.”
“No, he did not drown.”"
But what charms me most is Peters deepest dive into domestic life, teasing out the details of family “arrangements” and duties and conflicts. For the mystery fan, there is a more than adequate plot. However, it may be that you are not as beguiled by the context as I have been. This is one of the best of the series because Peters elevates and illuminates the commonplace.
Additional quotations:
"The old woman’s live eyes in her dead carcase clung to Cadfael’s face, yet not, he thought, trying to convey to him anything but her defiant reliance on her own resources….Even with the priest she did not speak again. She bore with his urgings, and made the effort to respond with her eyelids when he made his required probings into her sense of sin and need and hope for absolution. She died as soon as he had pronounced it, or only moments later."
"The lofty timbers of the roof soared above them into deep darkness. The three women, two living and one dead, were drawn together into a close, mute intimacy, for these few hours islanded from the world."
January 31, 2022
Another VERY good one in this excellent cozy mysteries series set in Medieval England, in Shrewsbury near the border to Wales. My next one will be Monk's Hood. It feels repetitive to write another review, please see instead these two reviews:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44... for "The Leper of Saint Giles" and
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... for St. Peter's Fair
I highly recommend the series. They do NOT have to be read in order, except 6 and 10 have to be read before 20, say my friends. The first one is not one of the best, so beware. Don't be put off if you insist on starting there. You get delightful writing and a clear mystery that is fun to follow and filled with action. The monks are great characters, each with their own particular idiosyncrasies. They become real people because in all the books their character doesn't change; so the more you read, the more you enjoy going back to meet them again. Some are nicer than others, so don't think this is totally unrealistic. These characters are more than nice versus bad, they are unique individuals: one LOVES anything to do with music, another has a good heart but always breaks things and makes messes, and then of course there is Brother Cadfael (pronounced Cad-file). He is Welsh, worldly, has fought in wars, been to the Holy Lands and now has returned and fills out his monastical duties working in the Abby's herbarium and solving crimes. Oh, I forgot. I was going to keep this very short.
My advice, don't start with book one. Start with my favorite so far, "The Leper of St. Giles". "The Sanctuary Sparrow" is almost as good but the mystery was a teeny bit harder to follow. As usual, all the threads tie up nicely. As usual, Brother Cadfael explains how he thinks for us, the Deputy Sheriff, Hugh Beringar, and the Abbot. As usual, the writing is NOT salacious, but lovely. As usual the crime gets solved and each get their fair due, in one way or another. You recognize a lovely constancy to how the stories unfold and are resolved. Lovely series. I just couldn't keep my mouth shut, could I?!
The narration of the audiobook by Vanessa Benjamin was absolutely wonderful. No complaints whatsoever.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44... for "The Leper of Saint Giles" and
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... for St. Peter's Fair
I highly recommend the series. They do NOT have to be read in order, except 6 and 10 have to be read before 20, say my friends. The first one is not one of the best, so beware. Don't be put off if you insist on starting there. You get delightful writing and a clear mystery that is fun to follow and filled with action. The monks are great characters, each with their own particular idiosyncrasies. They become real people because in all the books their character doesn't change; so the more you read, the more you enjoy going back to meet them again. Some are nicer than others, so don't think this is totally unrealistic. These characters are more than nice versus bad, they are unique individuals: one LOVES anything to do with music, another has a good heart but always breaks things and makes messes, and then of course there is Brother Cadfael (pronounced Cad-file). He is Welsh, worldly, has fought in wars, been to the Holy Lands and now has returned and fills out his monastical duties working in the Abby's herbarium and solving crimes. Oh, I forgot. I was going to keep this very short.
My advice, don't start with book one. Start with my favorite so far, "The Leper of St. Giles". "The Sanctuary Sparrow" is almost as good but the mystery was a teeny bit harder to follow. As usual, all the threads tie up nicely. As usual, Brother Cadfael explains how he thinks for us, the Deputy Sheriff, Hugh Beringar, and the Abbot. As usual, the writing is NOT salacious, but lovely. As usual the crime gets solved and each get their fair due, in one way or another. You recognize a lovely constancy to how the stories unfold and are resolved. Lovely series. I just couldn't keep my mouth shut, could I?!
The narration of the audiobook by Vanessa Benjamin was absolutely wonderful. No complaints whatsoever.
July 27, 2025
we've come out of the winter of the previous book, into spring 🙂
a young man pursued by a mob seeks sanctuary in the church...
Cadfael's current apprentice brother Oswin (who's come a long way since first appearing in the series) helps him attend to the young man overnight in the church...
elsewhere, a young man Griffin is waking and working, finds a silver disk lodged between the boards of the well bucket. his master the locksmith appreciates the coin...
the goldsmith, and a silversmith too - lots of smiths 😉
it was at and after the goldsmiths family's wedding party that the ruckus happened - the young jongleur accused of damage & thrown out with a fraction of his fee, and a later attack and theft...
🎭🎻🌿💒🌿💰🥇
I especially enjoyed...
😆😉 the occasional subtle pokes at prior Robert 😉
😁 that reference to foxes seemed a regular motif in the early part of this novel 😁🦊
🎭🎻🌿💒🌿💰🥇
as it drew to its close, the novel had contained...
🙂😯🙃 alot of family dynamics and politics...
😯😢 and a dramatic, and sad (but solved), hostage and siege situation.
this saddened the end abit, despite the wedding and optimism amongst the young couple, but not I think out of character/keeping - sometimes a contemplative and sober ending is appropriate 🙂
🌟 🌟 🌟. 5+
accessed initially as a library audiobook read by Vanessa Benjamin, but I didn't much like the reader.
switched early in to an RNIB talking book, well read by George Hagan 🙂
a young man pursued by a mob seeks sanctuary in the church...
Cadfael's current apprentice brother Oswin (who's come a long way since first appearing in the series) helps him attend to the young man overnight in the church...
elsewhere, a young man Griffin is waking and working, finds a silver disk lodged between the boards of the well bucket. his master the locksmith appreciates the coin...
the goldsmith, and a silversmith too - lots of smiths 😉
it was at and after the goldsmiths family's wedding party that the ruckus happened - the young jongleur accused of damage & thrown out with a fraction of his fee, and a later attack and theft...
🎭🎻🌿💒🌿💰🥇
I especially enjoyed...
😆😉 the occasional subtle pokes at prior Robert 😉
😁 that reference to foxes seemed a regular motif in the early part of this novel 😁🦊
🎭🎻🌿💒🌿💰🥇
as it drew to its close, the novel had contained...
🙂😯🙃 alot of family dynamics and politics...
😯😢 and a dramatic, and sad (but solved), hostage and siege situation.
this saddened the end abit, despite the wedding and optimism amongst the young couple, but not I think out of character/keeping - sometimes a contemplative and sober ending is appropriate 🙂
🌟 🌟 🌟. 5+
accessed initially as a library audiobook read by Vanessa Benjamin, but I didn't much like the reader.
switched early in to an RNIB talking book, well read by George Hagan 🙂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2018
In this, the seventh of the Brother Cadfael mysteries, one night during Matins a young boy quite literally bursts into the chapel, and in pursuit is a mob from the village convinced that the boy, a musician and entertainer, has committed robbery and nearly murdered someone. Abbot Radulfus is happy to give him sanctuary and Brother Cadfael who is soon convinced of the boy Liliwin’s innocence has forty days on hand to clear his name. But the case is far more complex than a robbery in a house, where a wedding celebration (of Daniel Aurifaber) was underway. Things in the Aurifaber household are far from simple, and there is plenty of tension in the air aside from the added problems the robbery and attack on Walter Aurifaber have brought about. The matter becomes even more complicated when the Aurifaber’s rather nosy tenant who is concerned much more with others’ business than his own is found murdered, obviously connected with the original robbery and attack.
Brother Cadfael find himself having to wade through many complex relationships, secrets, and tensions in reaching the solution to this one. I enjoyed the atmosphere as always and the “feel” of the times, as always. But more than the mystery itself, it was interesting to see things play out in the Aurifaber household―the new bride trying to get a foothold in “her” home, Daniel Aurifaber, the handsome young heir juggling more than he can handle, and his spinster sister Susanna finding that she might be ousted from the only position she had, managing the household while Walter, their father is only concerned with the loss of his wealth and the old matriarch, Juliana, now over eighty still struggles with her temper. One gets caught up in their stories, wanting to see how things will turn out for each of them since all those who have a grievance genuinely do have a point, and if one person “wins”, the other will have to “lose”. Meanwhile Liliwin’s name must be cleared, and while some abbey members (Brother Anslem among them, who is happy to coach the young performer) are welcoming, Brother Robert the prior can’t wait to get rid of him. The denouement was quite a surprise, though the how the person turned out at the end was to me more a surprise than the who or why. Another engrossing read.
Brother Cadfael find himself having to wade through many complex relationships, secrets, and tensions in reaching the solution to this one. I enjoyed the atmosphere as always and the “feel” of the times, as always. But more than the mystery itself, it was interesting to see things play out in the Aurifaber household―the new bride trying to get a foothold in “her” home, Daniel Aurifaber, the handsome young heir juggling more than he can handle, and his spinster sister Susanna finding that she might be ousted from the only position she had, managing the household while Walter, their father is only concerned with the loss of his wealth and the old matriarch, Juliana, now over eighty still struggles with her temper. One gets caught up in their stories, wanting to see how things will turn out for each of them since all those who have a grievance genuinely do have a point, and if one person “wins”, the other will have to “lose”. Meanwhile Liliwin’s name must be cleared, and while some abbey members (Brother Anslem among them, who is happy to coach the young performer) are welcoming, Brother Robert the prior can’t wait to get rid of him. The denouement was quite a surprise, though the how the person turned out at the end was to me more a surprise than the who or why. Another engrossing read.
December 20, 2016
(after fourth reading, June 2016)
“You must not attribute evil to what is natural misfortune.”
Unlike many Cadfael mysteries, this book exists in a temporal vacuum. Set in 1140, it makes no reference to its historical situation. For that reason, lovers of mystery may prefer it while lovers of historical fiction may be less enthralled.
“No man can be wise for another.”
The team of Cadfael and Hugh ferret robbers and murderers, protect the innocent, and occasionally sit down to a cup of wine in the monastic’s herbarium. Several strong female characters, each with her own burden and little love shared.
“No need to despise the gifts of this world when they come honestly.”
Not the best mystery, but all are gentle and entertaining. Almost medieval cozies.
“God’s reach had better be longer than man’s, otherwise we are all lost.”
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 fictional. Though the foreground of each chronicle is a murder mystery, behind it a nation and a culture are woven in a wondrous tapestry.
“You must not attribute evil to what is natural misfortune.”
Unlike many Cadfael mysteries, this book exists in a temporal vacuum. Set in 1140, it makes no reference to its historical situation. For that reason, lovers of mystery may prefer it while lovers of historical fiction may be less enthralled.
“No man can be wise for another.”
The team of Cadfael and Hugh ferret robbers and murderers, protect the innocent, and occasionally sit down to a cup of wine in the monastic’s herbarium. Several strong female characters, each with her own burden and little love shared.
“No need to despise the gifts of this world when they come honestly.”
Not the best mystery, but all are gentle and entertaining. Almost medieval cozies.
“God’s reach had better be longer than man’s, otherwise we are all lost.”
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 fictional. Though the foreground of each chronicle is a murder mystery, behind it a nation and a culture are woven in a wondrous tapestry.
Read
March 8, 2022U velikom sam iskušenju da nadalje za sve romane o Kadfaelu koje budem iščitavala pišem samo "ista meta, isto odstojanje" - ne znam nijedan drugi serijal koji je od početka tako jasno omeđio svoj teren i onda ga se pošteno držao. Ako se ovaj po nečemu izdvaja, onda možda po za nijansu tužnijem završetku, ali i dalje unutar granica cosy mystery žanra.
July 9, 2022
Святые угодники, к эротическим сценам в Кадфаэле я была не готова.
February 19, 2020
It’s been quite a while since I visited Brother Cadfael and perhaps because of that time lapse, I really enjoyed this novel. There truly aren’t too many options for murder in the 12th century, so one story is very like the last. I would classify these books as “cozy mysteries,” and it surprises me how much I like them, not usually being a fan of the cozy. I think it’s the historical nature of the tales that grabs me. It’s like learning history by osmosis while enjoying a good story.
Probably it also helped that I felt like I was getting away with something! I have a stack of previously signed out library books and theoretically this one should have waited until I made some progress on them. Instead, I plunged into this one right away and finished it in only an evening.
Peters does such a wonderful job of populating the abbey with the full spectrum of human frailties! The arrogant, the snob, the teacher, the compassionate, the seeker of justice, everybody is present and we get to observe their interactions. Her grasp of human behaviour is so accurate!
The result may not be tremendously surprising, but the journey is always enjoyable.
Probably it also helped that I felt like I was getting away with something! I have a stack of previously signed out library books and theoretically this one should have waited until I made some progress on them. Instead, I plunged into this one right away and finished it in only an evening.
Peters does such a wonderful job of populating the abbey with the full spectrum of human frailties! The arrogant, the snob, the teacher, the compassionate, the seeker of justice, everybody is present and we get to observe their interactions. Her grasp of human behaviour is so accurate!
The result may not be tremendously surprising, but the journey is always enjoyable.
August 28, 2024
(2019 review, revised in 2024)
“Fear for yourself crushes and compresses you from without, but fear for another is a monster, a ravenous rat gnawing within, eating out your heart.”
Who belongs, and why do they belong? Or not? Among Peters’ better Cadfael tales. Medieval enough to be other; modern enough to be understandable. Lots of misdirection, even Cadfael is occasionally befuddled.
“Young things are easily moved to generous indignation and sympathy. The old have no such grace.”
As in modern mysteries—and maybe real life—officialdom tends to follow the obvious and easy clues. The mob even more so.
“I would have taken her barefoot in her shift!”
Peters has a penchant for star-crossed lovers. Occasionally even … oops, that would be telling.
“And now, I suppose, you will tell me roundly that God’s reach is longer than man’s.” “It had better be, otherwise we are all lost.”
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 fictional. Though the foreground of each chronicle is a murder mystery, behind it a nation and a culture are woven in a wondrous tapestry.
“Fear for yourself crushes and compresses you from without, but fear for another is a monster, a ravenous rat gnawing within, eating out your heart.”
Who belongs, and why do they belong? Or not? Among Peters’ better Cadfael tales. Medieval enough to be other; modern enough to be understandable. Lots of misdirection, even Cadfael is occasionally befuddled.
“Young things are easily moved to generous indignation and sympathy. The old have no such grace.”
As in modern mysteries—and maybe real life—officialdom tends to follow the obvious and easy clues. The mob even more so.
“I would have taken her barefoot in her shift!”
Peters has a penchant for star-crossed lovers. Occasionally even … oops, that would be telling.
“And now, I suppose, you will tell me roundly that God’s reach is longer than man’s.” “It had better be, otherwise we are all lost.”
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 fictional. Though the foreground of each chronicle is a murder mystery, behind it a nation and a culture are woven in a wondrous tapestry.
March 30, 2017
These are wonderful cozy mysteries with a great cast of characters and a wonderful setting. They are even better when listened to as an audiobook.
January 22, 2024
Yet another Cadfael book imported from Shelfari with no review, and it didn't make it to LibraryThing, either, so whatever I thought when I first read this, other than I gave it 4 stars, is gone. I can't have been the March 31, 2016 date listed on GR since it was imported to LibraryThing with my initial export in January of that year.
A young minstrel races into the sanctuary and grabs the cloth on the altar to escape the mob chasing him, certain without proof that he has committed murder and theft. The abbot stops the mob from beating him to death and gets them to leave. A rather action packed start to a Brother Cadfael book, but rest assured, it's another gem in this series. He has a legal right to 40 days of sanctuary before he has to be handed over to the authorities, providing he doesn't leave the compound, and--I know you'll be shocked--Brother Cadfael investigates, along with Hugh Beringer with the help of others. Yes, of course there is a romance as a side part of this, or it wouldn't belong in this series, would it?
A young minstrel races into the sanctuary and grabs the cloth on the altar to escape the mob chasing him, certain without proof that he has committed murder and theft. The abbot stops the mob from beating him to death and gets them to leave. A rather action packed start to a Brother Cadfael book, but rest assured, it's another gem in this series. He has a legal right to 40 days of sanctuary before he has to be handed over to the authorities, providing he doesn't leave the compound, and--I know you'll be shocked--Brother Cadfael investigates, along with Hugh Beringer with the help of others. Yes, of course there is a romance as a side part of this, or it wouldn't belong in this series, would it?
January 30, 2024
Per la festa di nozze del giovane figlio di un mastro orefice molto taccagno con una donna insignificante ma dalla dote cospicua viene ingaggiato un giocoliere/contorsionista/musicista di strada che più tardi viene accusato di aver aggredito il padrone di casa e aver rubato il contenuto della cassaforte.
Per non essere linciato, il giovane Liliwin chiede rifugio nella chiesa dell'abbazia, dove ogni volenza è proibita. Intanto Cadfael, convinto della sua sincerità e della sua innocenza, decide di indgare per scoprire cosa sia successo in realtà nel corso dei quaranta giorni di immunità che spettano al giovane musico che, nelle poche ore di presenza in casa dell'orefice, ha conquistato la sguattera di cucina Rannilt.
Un romanzo che fa riflettere molto sulla situazione delle donne nel medioevo, sulla loro impossibilità di scegliere del proprio destino, assoggettate a padri, mariti o fratelli e gettate via quando diventano "inutili".
Per non essere linciato, il giovane Liliwin chiede rifugio nella chiesa dell'abbazia, dove ogni volenza è proibita. Intanto Cadfael, convinto della sua sincerità e della sua innocenza, decide di indgare per scoprire cosa sia successo in realtà nel corso dei quaranta giorni di immunità che spettano al giovane musico che, nelle poche ore di presenza in casa dell'orefice, ha conquistato la sguattera di cucina Rannilt.
Un romanzo che fa riflettere molto sulla situazione delle donne nel medioevo, sulla loro impossibilità di scegliere del proprio destino, assoggettate a padri, mariti o fratelli e gettate via quando diventano "inutili".
December 27, 2025
The Brother Cadfael mysteries are so well-done - the details of time and place seem right, while Peters avoids any turgid info-dumps. This was a good read over Christmas, opening with a minstrel fleeing into the abbey seeking sanctuary, pursued by an angry mob convinced that he attacked and robbed the master of the house after performing at a wedding. The young man is entitled to forty days’ sanctuary, and Brother Cadfael soon sets about observing the players and drawing conclusions. It’s not much of a whodunnit, the solution to tbemystery itself being as plain as the nose on your face, but it all made for very good reading. 3.5.
January 30, 2022
This is my fourth Brother Cadfael and I enjoyed this one very much. I thought the descriptions and characters were easy to visualize, the characters were well drawn and I liked the mystery's resolution. While I didn't completely understand the motivations of one character, it made sufficient enough sense for me to appreciate the overall story.
June 14, 2021
This book confirms that Brother Cadfael is best on audiobooks for me. Actually reading the mystery just wasn't as fun as the others I've heard to this point. It was a very creditable mystery with the young man who claims sanctuary and his sweetheart forming the sweetest part of the story.
Although Peters managed to have more suspects than usual, as well as more murders, I still figured it out fairly early on. That's not a problem as that is frequent for me in this series. I'm here for the rest of the story. This time around it kind of reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie with the miserly father and grandmother, the long-suffering daughter, the cad of a son and his new wife. And on that basis it was enjoyably cozy in a medieval way.
Although Peters managed to have more suspects than usual, as well as more murders, I still figured it out fairly early on. That's not a problem as that is frequent for me in this series. I'm here for the rest of the story. This time around it kind of reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie with the miserly father and grandmother, the long-suffering daughter, the cad of a son and his new wife. And on that basis it was enjoyably cozy in a medieval way.
April 11, 2018
A sympathetic criminal
By Charles van Buren on April 10, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
In this Brother Cadfael novel, Ellis Peters presents us with a criminal for whom most will feel varying degrees of sympathy. Only at the very end does Peters introduce some elements which make it hard to continue to sympathize. Even so, many will still feel that all guilty parties are not punished.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
By Charles van Buren on April 10, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
In this Brother Cadfael novel, Ellis Peters presents us with a criminal for whom most will feel varying degrees of sympathy. Only at the very end does Peters introduce some elements which make it hard to continue to sympathize. Even so, many will still feel that all guilty parties are not punished.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
March 11, 2019
Liliwin, the jongleur, must be the most piteous, heart-wrenching of all Cadfael's protegés. I was so glad to see him and his girl Rannilt go on their way rejoicing.
I felt empathy for the real culprits, too.
Also one of my Cadfael favourites.
I felt empathy for the real culprits, too.
Also one of my Cadfael favourites.
March 28, 2023
Coincidences, but fewer of them than usual, or perhaps I’m just getting too used to them. No history, but a mildly interesting portrait of a merchant household (dysfunctional, of course). This installment just didn’t grab me in any way, in spite of having such a tragic perp.
October 19, 2021
In the previous entries in Ellis Peters’ Cadfael Chronicles, much of the focus lies on the contest between King Stephen (1096-1154) and his cousin Empress Maud (1102-67) over the English crown. The warring cousins crowd the background. But the seventh book, The Sanctuary Sparrow, resembles a cozy mystery confined to a small community and oblivious to outside influence. A young traveling minstrel is accused of murder and theft in the town of Shrewsbury, both capital offenses in 12th-century England.
The story is set in the year 1140. Brother Cadfael, the shrewd amateur detective who is the protagonist of the series, has his doubts from the first. Resisting pressure both from the town and his superior, Prior Robert, he doggedly pursues a series of small clues to uncover the truth. And that truth is no less than explosive when it finally emerges.
UNFAMILIAR LANGUAGE THAT CONVEYS THE PACE OF THE TIMES
When reading the Cadfael Chronicles, what’s most likely to jump out at you is the archaic syntax and sometimes unfamiliar language. Peters doesn’t, and couldn’t, accurately reproduce the language actually spoken in southwestern England in those years. It wasn’t English. Instead, it was a precursor known as Middle English, which we today can’t read without intensive study and couldn’t possibly speak. We can’t listen to those who did. But the effect the author creates suggests the pace and temper of the times.
WHEN FRENCH INVADED THE OLD ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Keep in mind that the setting of this novel was in the mid-12th century, just decades after the Norman Invasion of 1066. The French rule England. King Stephen is also the Duke of Normandy. Maud, or Matilda, was also the Holy Roman Empress. With the French in command, the Saxon inhabitants of the country had become second-class citizens. And their language was fast evolving as terms from the Continent continued to gain traction in everyday life.
To read The Sanctuary Sparrow closely, it’s best either to view it online (with direct access to a historical dictionary and Wikipedia) or have at hand an edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Also useful is A Glossary of Medieval Terms used in the series. Otherwise, you may well stumble over such words as rebec (a bowed stringed instrument), burgage (a rental property in a town owned by a lord), brychans (a blanket made of homespun wool), and orts (a scrap of food from a meal). Reading this novel, and using one of these sources, will persuade you just how unfamiliar was the language in 12th-century England.
A COZY MYSTERY IN A FAMILIAR SETTING
“A poor vagrant jongleur” named Liliwin has been hired to entertain at the wedding of the goldsmith’s son, Daniel. Late in the celebration, Daniel’s drunken friends knock him over. In falling, the minstrel breaks a valuable vase belonging to the goldsmith’s notoriously intemperate mother. She forces him to leave with only a fraction of his pay. Soon afterwards, Liliwin shows up panting at Shrewsbury Abbey, pursued by a mob led by Daniel. They demand his release to them so he can pay for his crime. He has murdered the goldsmith and stolen his accumulated wealth, they insist. Though the language is unfamiliar, their fury comes through clearly. But Daniel has gained sanctuary for forty days in the monastery, and Abbot Radulfus forbids them to touch him on pain of god’s retribution. The Abbot calls on Brother Cadfael to take charge of the unfortunate lad.
It soon develops that it seems impossible for Liliwin to have committed the crime. And, in fact, the goldsmith was never murdered. Someone struck him over the head, and he remains groggy and uncommunicative for days. But he lives. Liliwin might hang, anyway, for theft is also a hanging offense. But Cadfael has gotten the scent of a crime that can only be explained if someone else was the culprit. Together with the sheriff’s trusted deputy, Hugh Beringar, Cadfael sets out on an investigation in hopes to finding the true offender before the forty days are up.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellis Peters (1913-85) was the best-known of several pen-names used by Edith Pargeter, an English author who wrote scores of novels and short stories, mostly historical fiction, as well as nonfiction, primarily history. She also became well known for her translations of works from Czech, a language she learned after a visit to the country in 1947. Her Welsh ancestry is reflected in the character of Brother Cadfael as well as many of her other works. Self-taught, she never attended university.
The story is set in the year 1140. Brother Cadfael, the shrewd amateur detective who is the protagonist of the series, has his doubts from the first. Resisting pressure both from the town and his superior, Prior Robert, he doggedly pursues a series of small clues to uncover the truth. And that truth is no less than explosive when it finally emerges.
UNFAMILIAR LANGUAGE THAT CONVEYS THE PACE OF THE TIMES
When reading the Cadfael Chronicles, what’s most likely to jump out at you is the archaic syntax and sometimes unfamiliar language. Peters doesn’t, and couldn’t, accurately reproduce the language actually spoken in southwestern England in those years. It wasn’t English. Instead, it was a precursor known as Middle English, which we today can’t read without intensive study and couldn’t possibly speak. We can’t listen to those who did. But the effect the author creates suggests the pace and temper of the times.
WHEN FRENCH INVADED THE OLD ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Keep in mind that the setting of this novel was in the mid-12th century, just decades after the Norman Invasion of 1066. The French rule England. King Stephen is also the Duke of Normandy. Maud, or Matilda, was also the Holy Roman Empress. With the French in command, the Saxon inhabitants of the country had become second-class citizens. And their language was fast evolving as terms from the Continent continued to gain traction in everyday life.
To read The Sanctuary Sparrow closely, it’s best either to view it online (with direct access to a historical dictionary and Wikipedia) or have at hand an edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Also useful is A Glossary of Medieval Terms used in the series. Otherwise, you may well stumble over such words as rebec (a bowed stringed instrument), burgage (a rental property in a town owned by a lord), brychans (a blanket made of homespun wool), and orts (a scrap of food from a meal). Reading this novel, and using one of these sources, will persuade you just how unfamiliar was the language in 12th-century England.
A COZY MYSTERY IN A FAMILIAR SETTING
“A poor vagrant jongleur” named Liliwin has been hired to entertain at the wedding of the goldsmith’s son, Daniel. Late in the celebration, Daniel’s drunken friends knock him over. In falling, the minstrel breaks a valuable vase belonging to the goldsmith’s notoriously intemperate mother. She forces him to leave with only a fraction of his pay. Soon afterwards, Liliwin shows up panting at Shrewsbury Abbey, pursued by a mob led by Daniel. They demand his release to them so he can pay for his crime. He has murdered the goldsmith and stolen his accumulated wealth, they insist. Though the language is unfamiliar, their fury comes through clearly. But Daniel has gained sanctuary for forty days in the monastery, and Abbot Radulfus forbids them to touch him on pain of god’s retribution. The Abbot calls on Brother Cadfael to take charge of the unfortunate lad.
It soon develops that it seems impossible for Liliwin to have committed the crime. And, in fact, the goldsmith was never murdered. Someone struck him over the head, and he remains groggy and uncommunicative for days. But he lives. Liliwin might hang, anyway, for theft is also a hanging offense. But Cadfael has gotten the scent of a crime that can only be explained if someone else was the culprit. Together with the sheriff’s trusted deputy, Hugh Beringar, Cadfael sets out on an investigation in hopes to finding the true offender before the forty days are up.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellis Peters (1913-85) was the best-known of several pen-names used by Edith Pargeter, an English author who wrote scores of novels and short stories, mostly historical fiction, as well as nonfiction, primarily history. She also became well known for her translations of works from Czech, a language she learned after a visit to the country in 1947. Her Welsh ancestry is reflected in the character of Brother Cadfael as well as many of her other works. Self-taught, she never attended university.
September 26, 2021
I always find such comfort and solace in a Brother Cadfael novel. They aren't quite stand-outs as far as the mystery element goes, but are excellent in terms of the world and character building. This time around Liliwin, itinerant juggler and musician, is accused of robbery and assault, and Cadfael has 40 days while the youth is under sanctuary within the abbey, to determine his guilt or innocence. But when several deaths occur that seemed interconnected with the initial crime, the timeframe to find the culprit gets shorter and shorter. There was a slow start to the narrative, but once it ramped up, it was a real page turner, and I finished half of the book in one sitting. I would highly recommend the series as a whole, and The Sanctuary Sparrow is a strong offering in the bunch.
November 11, 2010
In this, one of my favorite Brother Cadfael stories (and also the first one I read long ago on a trip to Britain), attention again returns to the roles and lives of medieval women, but this time the focus is on the middle and lower classes. From the dramatic opening when the peace of the monks' nightly office is shattered by a mob from the town pursuing a ragged traveling entertainer accused of murder to the even more dramatic climax, this Brother Cadfael will keep you turning the pages and then being sorry when it's done and wanting 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, where Cadfael's monastery of St. Peter and Paul can still be visited. Her knowledge of the land and people and history permeates her work and gives her the incredible gift of transporting her reader into the past. You really do feel as though you are in that long-lost world lit only by fire, where it's quiet and green and life moves at a pace most people can be happy in.
Cadfael is a suitably complex man. He's from Wales, but now living in England (though Wales is not very far away). He was once a soldier, but now he's a monk. He's lived a full life, now he wants to be quiet. But he also has a strong sense of right and justice and refuses to compromise on these things, even when it means getting himself in trouble. He's also picked up a lot of knowledge, especially of herbology and medicine and (somehow for the time) logical analysis that stands him in good stead as a solver of mysteries.
Another charming step along the journey of Cadfael!
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, where Cadfael's monastery of St. Peter and Paul can still be visited. Her knowledge of the land and people and history permeates her work and gives her the incredible gift of transporting her reader into the past. You really do feel as though you are in that long-lost world lit only by fire, where it's quiet and green and life moves at a pace most people can be happy in.
Cadfael is a suitably complex man. He's from Wales, but now living in England (though Wales is not very far away). He was once a soldier, but now he's a monk. He's lived a full life, now he wants to be quiet. But he also has a strong sense of right and justice and refuses to compromise on these things, even when it means getting himself in trouble. He's also picked up a lot of knowledge, especially of herbology and medicine and (somehow for the time) logical analysis that stands him in good stead as a solver of mysteries.
Another charming step along the journey of Cadfael!
August 26, 2018
Spring 1140 in Shrewsbury is a lovely time of year; peaceful and calm at the Abbey, all is well.
That peace and quiet is broken late one night by the desperate arrival of a young man who is being chased by a mob right into the church during the midnight ritual of Matins. Abbot Radulphus moves quickly to protect the victim and quell the mob. The mob's leader calls the sanctuary seeker a thief and murderer--serious charges, if true.
And thus begins Brother Cadfael's new investigation. This is a tale of a parsimonious goldsmith (who wasn't murdered after all), and his highly dysfunctional family. Lots and lots of domestic drama. But a real murder does occur--the goldsmith's neighbor is found dead on the riverbank of the Abbey's field, a day or so after the theft and attack at the goldsmith's. Did the gossip loving locksmith drown after falling from his small fishing boat? Cadfael certainly doesn't think so.
Interwoven with the mysteries is a sweet love story involving our 'sanctuary sparrow' and the young serving maid in the goldsmith's house. As the story reaches its harrowing climax a second love story comes to light, with no good outcome possible.
Long time readers of the series will find much to enjoy--our favorite deputy sheriff, Hugh Beringar, is on hand to help in the investigation. And our favorite troublemaker, Brother Jerome, is in fine form with Prior Robert, who does not approve of our sanctuary seeker at all, lending him support. It was fun to see those two in action again. Cadfael is wonderful and wise, as always, and leaves the reader with hope for the future.
That peace and quiet is broken late one night by the desperate arrival of a young man who is being chased by a mob right into the church during the midnight ritual of Matins. Abbot Radulphus moves quickly to protect the victim and quell the mob. The mob's leader calls the sanctuary seeker a thief and murderer--serious charges, if true.
And thus begins Brother Cadfael's new investigation. This is a tale of a parsimonious goldsmith (who wasn't murdered after all), and his highly dysfunctional family. Lots and lots of domestic drama. But a real murder does occur--the goldsmith's neighbor is found dead on the riverbank of the Abbey's field, a day or so after the theft and attack at the goldsmith's. Did the gossip loving locksmith drown after falling from his small fishing boat? Cadfael certainly doesn't think so.
Interwoven with the mysteries is a sweet love story involving our 'sanctuary sparrow' and the young serving maid in the goldsmith's house. As the story reaches its harrowing climax a second love story comes to light, with no good outcome possible.
Long time readers of the series will find much to enjoy--our favorite deputy sheriff, Hugh Beringar, is on hand to help in the investigation. And our favorite troublemaker, Brother Jerome, is in fine form with Prior Robert, who does not approve of our sanctuary seeker at all, lending him support. It was fun to see those two in action again. Cadfael is wonderful and wise, as always, and leaves the reader with hope for the future.
December 28, 2017
I've come late to the Cadfael series, having first watched the television adaptations starring the magnificent Sir Derek Jacobi. Though this is the seventh in the Cadfael series, it was the first I read, since this particular adaptation was probably my favourite.
Peters has an amazing eye for historical detail, and her knowledge of such varied things as botany, criminology, psychology and the human heart is as impressive as it is extensive. Brother Cadfael is a medieval Gil Grissom in a habit, but with more humanity and emotion than that modern counterpart.
The religious aspect of the novel is never heavy-handed or overpowering, every character -- even the minors -- is three dimensional and believable, and the love stories at the heart of the mystery will pull at your heartstrings in an entirely sincere fashion.
A wonderful read for anyone who's interested in history, Medieval Britain, mystery, and the television adaptations.
A+ in my book, Ms. Peters. Brava.
Peters has an amazing eye for historical detail, and her knowledge of such varied things as botany, criminology, psychology and the human heart is as impressive as it is extensive. Brother Cadfael is a medieval Gil Grissom in a habit, but with more humanity and emotion than that modern counterpart.
The religious aspect of the novel is never heavy-handed or overpowering, every character -- even the minors -- is three dimensional and believable, and the love stories at the heart of the mystery will pull at your heartstrings in an entirely sincere fashion.
A wonderful read for anyone who's interested in history, Medieval Britain, mystery, and the television adaptations.
A+ in my book, Ms. Peters. Brava.
July 14, 2016
Re-read of an old favourite. Excellent plotting.
February 20, 2017
Character List
May 5, 2017
I've never been much for mysteries, but Peters is a delightful discovery. This is nicely done historical fiction -- and well sited in both time and space, being on the Welsh marches during the Anarchy, so there's lots of room for a bit of excitement. What's more, it's nicely done fiction, period. Peters is a fantastic writer and this reads better than a number of litfic books I've walked away from over the years.
I did gloat inwardly a little when I read a small urchin utter the line, "I'm not afeared of all the town hobbledehoys." While hobbledehoys is a great word, it didn't sound period to my ear. It's not, it's from the 16th century. But that got me thinking about historical fiction generally, and of course Peters is trying to evoke a certain period, not write her sentences as though she lives in it. If that were the game, I couldn't get a page in without an annotated guide. Even so, I'm on to you, hobbledehoys.
Also, as an inveterate numismatist, I was beyond excited to see mention of a moneyer in the book, a certain Godesbrond -- because coins play a small role in the course of events, it turns out. I checked and Peters has done her homework. Godesbrond was a moneyer (or minting authority) in the town of Shrewsbury during the reign of Harold II. So awesome! Peters +100.
I did gloat inwardly a little when I read a small urchin utter the line, "I'm not afeared of all the town hobbledehoys." While hobbledehoys is a great word, it didn't sound period to my ear. It's not, it's from the 16th century. But that got me thinking about historical fiction generally, and of course Peters is trying to evoke a certain period, not write her sentences as though she lives in it. If that were the game, I couldn't get a page in without an annotated guide. Even so, I'm on to you, hobbledehoys.
Also, as an inveterate numismatist, I was beyond excited to see mention of a moneyer in the book, a certain Godesbrond -- because coins play a small role in the course of events, it turns out. I checked and Peters has done her homework. Godesbrond was a moneyer (or minting authority) in the town of Shrewsbury during the reign of Harold II. So awesome! Peters +100.
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