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The Hermit of Eyton Forest (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #14)

Ellis Peters

Start date: March 15, 2023

Finish date: April 7, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

May 18, 2019 Christine PNW rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This series is so comforting to me. Given my current level of rage over the forced-birthers passing laws to turn women into breeding machines, hanging out with Brother Cadfael in 11th Century Wales is basically a great choice.

Brother Cadfael respected women. It's really sad when I have to turn to a fictitious 11th century monk for comfort. ...more

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

Shelves: want-to-reread, currently-re-reading, tbr-with-gr-groups, audiobook, favorites

A visit with Cadfael is always a treat - he and his fellow religious are great characters, the writing of both the spiritual and natural worlds are lovely, there are the requisite subplots of young lovers, murders rooted in greed, and even a connection to the ongoing civil war between King Stephen and his cousin, Empress Maud. It’s a busy autumn in Shrewsbury for Cadfael!

The book opens with war news - a messenger sent out of Oxford by Maud, just as Stephen tightened his grip on the besieged town A visit with Cadfael is always a treat - he and his fellow religious are great characters, the writing of both the spiritual and natural worlds are lovely, there are the requisite subplots of young lovers, murders rooted in greed, and even a connection to the ongoing civil war between King Stephen and his cousin, Empress Maud. It’s a busy autumn in Shrewsbury for Cadfael!

The book opens with war news - a messenger sent out of Oxford by Maud, just as Stephen tightened his grip on the besieged town, has disappeared, no sign of the messages or valuables he was carrying. His horse was found wandering in the woods, just a bloody saddle, no sign of the emissary.

Closer to home, the father of a young student at the abbey has died. The sickly father had made Abbot Radulfus the boy’s legal guardian, and declared his wish that the boy remain to be educated until he was of age. But at the funeral, the imperious grandmother makes it clear she wants the child returned to his manor, under her care. She wants to marry him off to the daughter of a neighbor in exchange for coveted land, and declares it his duty to obey.

Meanwhile, the grandmother has installed a holy hermit in the forest, where suspicious accidents begin to occur, damaging the abbey’s lands.

All three disparate threads come together with the delightfully curious Cadfael investigating the obscure connections. He spends a lot of time traveling on horseback, riding through the surrounding forest helping Hugh, caring for the injured abbey forester, and providing the reader with some lovely descriptions of the beautiful, mild autumn weather!

When all of the mysteries are finally resolved, Cadfael and Hugh Beringar, sheriff and his dear friend, end as always, sitting in the lovely autumn garden, discussing the case and Cadfael resolving to pay his penance for all his wandering by staying put, and tending to his herbal remedies, which will soon be in demand when the cold November weather finally sets in.

Late November would soon be tearing away with frost and gales the rest of the quivering leaves. The deserted hermitage in the woods of Eyton would provide winter cover for the small beasts of the forest, and the garden, running wild again, would shelter the slumbering urchins in their nests through the winter sleep. Doubtful if Dame Dionisia would ever set up another hermit in that cell. The wild things would occupy it in innocence.

I am so enjoying rereading this lovely series with the Reading the Detectives group. It started my love for historical mystery series decades ago, when I first saw the PBS Masterpiece Mystery series with Derek Jacobi playing Cadfael, then tracked down the books. I always find them peaceful, entertaining and enjoyable. Highly recommend the audiobooks, narrated by Patrick Tull. ...more

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Feb 22, 2023 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: jill-s-ninth-year-challenge, ellis-peters

A young boy is a resident pupil at Shrewsbury. He was left there by his father asking that if anything was to happen to himself, his son would learn there until he was a man able to take over as Lord of Eyton. When the father dies the boys grandmother thinks that the boy should by returned to her. Her idea being that the boy should be married off to a neighbours son , thereby acquiring more land to add to his own.. The ten year old boy does not want to marry and prefers to stay with the monks. T ...more

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Sep 14, 2015 Teri-K rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, senior-citizen-mcs, mystery, zz-2023-my-book-club

An excellent entry into the series. Peters is very good at weaving what look like separate threads together and her mysteries always prove puzzling and satisfying. I also love the relationship between Brother Cadfael and Hugh Beringar, the sheriff. And her descriptions of the surroundings make you feel like you're there. Throw in the unfolding history of the war between Stephen and Maud, and you have books that are rich, indeed.

NB - These books can be read in any order, though it's satisfying to ...more

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