Buddy Read for The Leper of St Giles

[Janice, Moderator]

Judy and I are going to read The Leper of Saint Giles this week. If anyone would like to join us, you are more than welcome!

[[deleted user]]

Brother Cadfael books are all pretty good. This is one that runs the whole range of emotion and does it really well.

[Janice, Moderator]

This will be my first book in the series. I heard that it is one of the best.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm a slow-poke, Judy. I'm not all that far into the book yet.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm about half way in and enjoying it so far. I had a hard time getting started but that wasn't the book's fault. It's been crazy for me lately.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished the book last night. What did you think of it Judy?

I enjoyed it enough. It seemed quite simplistic, but then it is a cosy mystery. I far preferred Mistress of the Art of Death.

Did you figure out who the leper of St. Giles was? I was very close in my suspicions. I was so focused on Lazarus though, the real murderer snuck in and surprised me greatly!

[[deleted user]]

Glad you enjoyed it, Janice. Not sure cosy is the word I'd use. It might end neatly, but Cadfael's a bit of a subversive - he's not on the side of authority and the law. He was created because she needed an outsider to investigate and Cadfael's an outsider on two counts; as a Welshman, he's not naturally submissive to the Norman overlords and as a Monk he's outside the concerns of man (although he clearly isn't - that's a recurring theme). They're not gritty and hard hitting, but they're not an idyllic image either.

[Janice, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it, Janice. Not sure cosy is the word I'd use. It might end neatly, but Cadfael's a bit of a subversive - he's not on the side of authority and the law. He was created because she ..."

I was going more by the definition of cosy mystery which is a mystery solved by an amateur sleuth. Usually that sleuth is a woman. Sex and violence are downplayed or treated humourously.

I like your assessment of Cadfael. I thought Brother Mark at the leper hospital was very similar in that he didn't turn Joss in to the authorities.

[Janice, Moderator]

Judy wrote: "I don't want to brag :-) but I did figure out whodunnit and although I didn't peg Lazarus exactly right I did figure out he must be (view spoiler)."

I was so focused on Lazarus being the killer, that I didn't look elsewhere. I kept trying to figure out how he did it. The red herrings were well placed.

You and I were on the same page as to his true identity.

[[deleted user]]

Janice wrote: "I was going more by the definition of cosy mystery which is a mystery solved by an amateur sleuth. Usually that sleuth is a woman. Sex and violence are downplayed or treated humourously. "

Oh, yes, it certainly fits that description. I first read these in my early teens and there was certainly nothing shocking in them. Often you'd find a new book with 2 bookmarks in it, as Mum & I were both trying to read it at once!

Mark first appears in an earlier book and is a frightened young teen at first - he gains confidence and blossoms under Cadfael's attention & training, absorbing his master's thinking - so is very much made in Cadfael's image.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm wondering if starting mid-series had an impact. We missed the development of Cadfael and possibly others like Brother Mark.

[[deleted user]]

They were never intended as a series. She wanted to write a novel based on the Siege of Shrewsbury, and needed an impartial investigator - hence Cadfael. However, after leaving him for a few years, she started comming across situations where he'd be perfect, and so the series developed. Cadfael himself springs fully formed in late adulthood, but his relationships (particularly that with Hugh) has evolved by the time you get to this one.

[Janice, Moderator]

You're such a good source of information on this series, Helen. Thanks! :)

[[deleted user]]

I've read the lot, many many times! I first read them as a teen when they came out, often with Mum & I both having bookmarks in the same book.
There's a very interesting little book of short stories that Ellis Peters wrote that fill in some of Cadfael's backstory and also explain how he came to be. However I completely can't remember the title!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I got stuck at my Mum's today (long story) so found this book to start it and see how far I got as I knew you were buddy reading it this week. After I located the right omnibus I managed to read 2 pages.

I enjoyed those! Hehe