From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
*
White Nights by Ann Cleeves (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views
last updated Sep 04, 2025 12:17PM
showing 3 of 3 topics
view all »
Other topics mentioning this book

By Judy · 4475 posts · 483 views
last updated May 21, 2019 12:15PM
What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread, 2019-2020
By Judy · 1516 posts · 212 views
By Judy · 1516 posts · 212 views
last updated Oct 02, 2020 11:38PM
The Carter of 'La Providence' (Inspector Maigret #2) by Georges Simenon (Nov/Dec 21)
By Susan · 19 posts · 17 views
By Susan · 19 posts · 17 views
last updated Nov 22, 2021 12:07PM
What Members Thought

Still a four star read for me, even after all these years! I loved Cadfael when I first read this series back in the 1980s, and saw Derek Jacobi bring the Benedictine to life for the BBC(?), and he’s still wonderful!
In this second entry in the series, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud has come to Shrewsbury. After the castle is besieged and overrun by Stephen’s troops, the traitors are hastily and viciously dispatched by hanging. Kind-hearted Abbott Heribert feels compelled to ...more
In this second entry in the series, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud has come to Shrewsbury. After the castle is besieged and overrun by Stephen’s troops, the traitors are hastily and viciously dispatched by hanging. Kind-hearted Abbott Heribert feels compelled to ...more

All the elements that make Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries so appealing are found in this one. Some of these ingredients include her ability to make the reader at home in the 15th century, a love story that should be trite but is instead moving and charming, a good whodunnit, and a window into the vast knowledge of herbs and medicinal preparations that a few learned people possessed.
...more

This is a great series, and this book is the perfect one to start with. Unlike book 1, here we meet Cadfael in his normal setting, the Shrewsbury Abbey, surrounded by his gardens, fellow monks, and the townspeople we'll get to know as the series progresses. Best of all, here we meet (view spoiler) This book also explains the basics of the war between Stephen and Maud which will continue throughout England, and the series.
There are seve ...more
There are seve ...more

I give this book 5 stars because it actually introduces the 'Brother Cadfael' milieu better than Book 1 in the series. And, oh brother, if I could describe a setting as well as Ellis Peters does ...!
...more





Jul 05, 2018
Janet
marked it as to-read

Aug 12, 2018
Peggy
added it

Dec 07, 2020
Ellen
added it