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Dead Man's Ransom (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #9)

Ellis Peters

Start date: December 11, 2021

Finish date: January 8, 2022

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in our series of Brother Cadfael buddy reads.
[close] Next in our series of Brother Cadfael buddy reads.

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What Members Thought

Apr 04, 2008 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, kindle, audiobook, want-to-reread

Really enjoyed this reread- anytime a Cadfael plot gets involved in the civil war between Stephen and Maud I get confused about who is on which side, and where the Welsh fit in! The plot is explained in the summary above - our favorite monk gets involved in brokering a hostage swap because he speaks Welsh. He also tries to help not just one, but two sets of star-crossed lovers.

The swapped English hostage is delivered badly injured but alive - but found dead shortly after in the abbey’s infirmar Really enjoyed this reread- anytime a Cadfael plot gets involved in the civil war between Stephen and Maud I get confused about who is on which side, and where the Welsh fit in! The plot is explained in the summary above - our favorite monk gets involved in brokering a hostage swap because he speaks Welsh. He also tries to help not just one, but two sets of star-crossed lovers.

The swapped English hostage is delivered badly injured but alive - but found dead shortly after in the abbey’s infirmary. There are a couple likely suspects among the other patients, let alone further afield. Cadfael and Hugh must find the killer, because Hugh has to get back to protecting the shire from raiding parties from Wales.

We are treated to a return visit from the delightful Avice, now Sister Magdalen (see previous series entry The Leper of St. Giles), a very wise, sensible, pragmatic woman - and apparently very much a twin force at her convent, to Cadfael’s role at Shrewsbury! Both came late to the monastic life, after full lives of varied experience. I would love to have seen Peters build a series around Sister Magdalen! It’s not that she and Cadfael break the rules on purpose, it’s that their long lives outside the cloister have familiarized them with a wide array of people and circumstances. As Cadfael explains about Welsh law, it’s not black and white, like in England - steal bread, punishment is always severe. In Wales, there are shadings to the law - was the person starving, did they have a family to feed? I love that life has taught subtlety and nuance to both Magdalen and Cadfael.

I love this series, the way Peters writes her characters, the beauty of her natural descriptions, the continuity of life following the liturgical calendar and the natural seasons. I find the books restful and restorative especially among our unsettled times. A good reminder that we humans have endured and weathered much worse over the centuries! We may not learn from it as we should, but Cadfael teaches us to be kind to ourselves, and others, and to hope. ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Carolien rated it liked it

Shelves: 2022, 2014, english-mystery, history-mystery

3.5 stars. A battle involving Welsh raiders and a battle between King Stephen and Queen Maud's forces near Chester results in the Shropshire Sheriff being taken hostage by the Welsh. Cadfael must negotiate a prisoner exchange with a locally held Welsh boy. Well-written and a focus on the politics of the moment. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2021 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, brit-trip, read-as-an-audiobook

This series is consistently wonderful. Normally I'm annoyed at the bigger picture problems of the world at large in this series but this time they were so integral to the plot that I had no complaints. Seeing Avis again as a nun was *chef's kiss* to an already splendid book. ...more

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Jul 27, 2013 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-and-ancient-mystries

A young Welch lord captured by the English and an English sheriff captured by Welch soldiers have Brother Cadfael using his language and negotiation skills to do an exchange. When, the English Sheriff is murdered and it is up to Brother Cadfael to solve the mystery. A little different than the usual Brother Cadfael since it mostly takes place in his homeland. As I expect from Ms. Peter’s a good story and fun read, just right to relax with in the summer’s heat. If you like Ellis Peter’s Brother C ...more

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Jun 19, 2020 Jinx marked it as abandoned

I finally have figured out what I don't like about this series - it's the never ending star crossed lovers that appear in each. I can't stand them. I love Brother Cadfael and the other monks, but not enough to keep on reading this series. ...more

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