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

Ellis Peters

Start date: December 13, 2019

Finish date: January 8, 2019

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Members enjoyed the first in this historical mystery series, so now we are going on to read the second bo…more
[close] Members enjoyed the first in this historical mystery series, so now we are going on to read the second book.

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What Members Thought

Dec 23, 2019 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the second Brother Cadfael mystery, which is set during the summer of 1138, and takes place in Shrewsbury, so sees Cadfael at home - tending his herbs and potions in the Abbey gardens. This is a time of turmoil, with war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. Choosing sides causes discord and violence and Shrewsbury Castle is besieged. The upheaval brings a young helper, Godric, to the Abbey, who Cadfael willingly takes as a helper, before realising the young man is really a young gi ...more

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Feb 18, 2019 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, series, history, ellis-peters, murder

Book 2 of the Brother Cadfael series, which is one I’ve been reading in no particular order. The series is set in 12th Century England where a civil war is raging between cousins King Stephen and Empress Maud, both claimants to the throne. People support one or the other as per their beliefs (and opportunity too), but when the other party is in the ascendant, their very lives are in danger. In this one, King Stephen has made some advances and reached Shrewsbury, where the Castle supports Empress Book 2 of the Brother Cadfael series, which is one I’ve been reading in no particular order. The series is set in 12th Century England where a civil war is raging between cousins King Stephen and Empress Maud, both claimants to the throne. People support one or the other as per their beliefs (and opportunity too), but when the other party is in the ascendant, their very lives are in danger. In this one, King Stephen has made some advances and reached Shrewsbury, where the Castle supports Empress Maud, who is still in Normandy. Stephen manages to overthrow them and the ninety-four men who are captured are put to death. The Abbey wishes to give these brave men a suitable burial and Brother Cadfael is put in charge. But when he gets there, there aren’t ninety-four bodies as he was given to expect but ninety-five, and that one additional man was not hanged as the others but murdered. Meanwhile, a young potential novice, Godric, is brought to the Abbey and placed as Cadfael’s assistant, who Cadfael soon finds has a secret of his own. Cadfael has to both solve the mystery and help Godric before danger catches up with them.

I enjoy this series largely because of its setting in a period of history I knew next to nothing about, and also for Brother Cadfael’s character, who is very likeable indeed. This book introduces one character who becomes a regular in the series, but on our initial introduction we do not really know what to make of that person. The character and Brother Cadfael have a battle of wits which was enjoyable to watch unfold. Both the female characters we follow are courageous and spunky, which and don’t allow their allegiances to overtake their personal judgment. All the characters we meet in this book have their backstories, problems, but while interesting, they didn’t seem as complex as characters in some of the later books in the series. The mystery again wasn’t terribly complicated (in fact fairly straightforward) but at the same time, the explanation definitely had aspects I didn’t catch on to though the background was set for it right from the start. Still as part of the series, this was an enjoyable read for me (despite the sombre themes—war and death), especially seeing how characters who were familiar to me from later books entered the scene.
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Apr 04, 2017 Damaskcat rated it really liked it

Brother Cadfael has acquired an unexpected apprentice in this entertaining crime story set in 1138 at the height of Stephen's battle against Matilda for the throne of England. Shrewsbury has fallen to Stephen and many have been executed.

Cadfael is asked to lay out the bodies and organise the claiming of the bodies by relatives. But there is one more body than he was told and he realises that this extra body has been murdered rather than being a judicial killing.

I am getting to like Cadfael as a ...more

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Apr 27, 2021 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, mysteries, historical-fiction

3.5*
I was surprised by the adversarial relations between Cadfael & Beringer, having had them firmly fixed in my mind as allies from the PBS TV series! Good mystery despite my 'pre-knowledge' due to seeing the TV adaptation. ...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Lemar rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, brit-lit

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

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Dec 13, 2019 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: ellis-peters

I did enjoy this book, more than I thought I would at first. I do like Peter's way of giving us information about the medieval time, and the way of life, without making it seem dry and boring.I absorbed the information, without really knowing. I had the feeling of actually being there and looking on at the action, also of the reliance of herbs and spices for healing and well-being of this time, and every day life when the throne of the country was in question. There were in fact two romances goi ...more

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