There are 20 full-length novels, three short stories and a series of television adaptations of Brother Cadfael. In order to give this fine series the attention it deserves I decided to break it down into four sections starting with the earliest incarnations of Brother Cadfael and concluding with the last story written. This is the second part of the mysteries. You can find the first part here.
The name "Ellis Peters" was adopted by Edith Pargeter to clearly mark a division between her mystery stories and her other work. Her brother was Ellis and Petra was a friend from Czechoslovakia. A frequent visitor to the country, Edith Pargeter had begun her association and deep interest in their culture after meeting Czechoslovakian soldiers during the war. This was to lead to her learning the language and translating several books into English.
The character of Cadfael himself is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey, in western England, in the first half of the 12th century. The historically accurate stories are set between about 1135 and about 1145, during "The Anarchy", the destructive contest for the crown of England between King Stephen and Empress Maud.
As a character, Cadfael "combines the curious mind of a scientist/pharmacist with a knight-errant", entering the cloister in his forties after being both a soldier and a sailor, this experience gives him an array of talents and skills useful in monastic life. He is a skillful observer of human nature, inquisitive by nature, energetic, a talented herbalist (work he learned in the Holy Lands), and has an innate, although modern, sense of justice and fair play. Abbots call upon him as a medical examiner, detective, doctor, and diplomat. His worldly knowledge, although useful, gets him in trouble with the more doctrinaire characters of the series, and the seeming contradiction between the secular and the spiritual worlds forms a central and continuing theme of the stories.
Shropshire lies at the heart of the Welsh Marches and has a legacy of centuries of border conflict. Local castles date back to Norman times when William the Conqueror shared out his border territory amongst his barons. These great Marcher Lords, who dominated Shropshire for 400 years, fought not only the Welsh but also each other. This conflict was probably at its height during the chaotic reign of Stephen when Empress Matilda fought in vain for nine years for the English crown.
The Virgin in the Ice: This book is one of the best of the series. The civil war flares again. The town of Worcester has been attacked. Prior Leonard of Bromfield asks that Brother Cadfael come to them because they have a patient that may die without help more skillful then their own. At the same time Brother Herward of Worcester is asking for help in finding two young noblemen’s wards Yves and Ermina Hugonin along with their companion Sister Hilaria. The Sheriff of Shrewsbury, Gilbert Prestcote, refuses to allow the children’s Uncle Laurence d’Angers leave to search for the children because he supports the Empress Maude. Deputy Sheriff Hugh Berringer is assigned to look for them. Brother Cadfael on his way to the abbey at Bromfield meets with the 13 year old Yves. On the way to the abbey he discovers the body of a young woman buried in an icy stream. At the abbey he discovers the badly beaten Brother Elyas whom Yves recognizes as the monk who tried to help them. It turns out that Ermina had taken off with her lover, Yves had tried to follow her, and Sister Hilaria had left with Brother Elyas. Brother Elyas had been savagely beaten by robbers and Sister Hilaria had been killed and buried in the ice. The countryside is being plagued by a murderous robber gang who have taken advantage of the warfare to pillage the countryside. Brother Cadfael’s experience as a soldier comes in handy as Hugh Berringer tries to capture this gang. The story is a rich one and has two children lost and found and maturing. Brother Cadfael continues to refuse to help either side use the innocent as hostages. The young people have a mysterious benefactor in the person of Olivier de Bretagne.
The Sanctuary Sparrow: While the abbey was celebrating the midnight Matins the service is suddenly disturbed by a howling mob chasing a young man into the church. The mob is after blood and claimed that the man has murdered and robbed the goldsmith in town. The Abbot grants the young man sanctuary. He turns out to be an itinerant entertainer Liliwin who had been hired to entertain at the wedding of the goldsmith’s son. Things become complicated when the goldsmith Aurifaber turns out to be alive. Soon there is a genuine death as the goldsmith’s mother is found at the bottom of steep stairs. His daughter Susanna’s help is suspect as she is embittered by the fact that after serving the house faithfully since the death of her mother she is expected to give up everything to her ne'er-do-well brother’s new bride. Cadfael is called on by Hugh Berringer to help solve the problem after a neighbor who isn't above blackmail is found dead. The book has young and not so young lovers and clearly shows that women were little more than chattel at that time.
The Devil's Novice: A new novice named Meriet comes to the abbey asking to be become a monk as quickly as possible. While during the day he is dutiful at night he is plagued by horrible nightmares. The other young novices become afraid of him feeling he is possessed. The Abbot asks Cadfael to investigate and see what is causing the nightmares. Brother Cadfael finds the boy’s father the Lord of Aspley to be very cold towards the younger son. In the meantime an emissary of the Bishop is missing and found murdered. Meriet claims he is responsible but Cadfael doesn't believe him. Cadfael investigates and meet Isouda, a young lady who has been raised by Lord Aspley. She is very much in love with Meriet and wants to help prove his innocence. He also meets Meriet’s perfect brother Nigel and his flirtatious fiancée Roswitha. Meriet is in love with the lady who is engaged to his brother. What follows is an effort to find the truth before this young man is hanged as a murderer. The story touches on love, betrayal, and a father’s blindness towards his own son. It is a very touching story as Cadfael tries to solve all the problems and save a stubborn young man’s life.
Dead Man's Ransom: The war between King Stephen and the Empress Maude heats up. An army from Shrewsbury heads north to try and stop the defection of two allies to the King. The battle goes wrong for the men from Shrewsbury and the King is taken hostage as well as Sheriff Gilbert Prestcote who is captured by Welsh raiders. A young Welsh nobleman names Ellis is captured by the Assistant sheriff Hugh Berringer and a trade is arranged to exchange him for the Sheriff. Ellis in the meantime has met Prestcote’s daughter Melicent and the two fall in love. Their love is threatened when Prestcote is found murdered. The story brings in the third element in the fighting between Steven and Maude for the throne of England and that is the uneasy peace that reigns in the bordering Wales. Cadfael as a Welshman is put in a position of trying to broker peace between the two countries. While is Wales he has to try and bring a second pair of young lovers dreams to fruition. Cadfael has his hands full trying to help the two pair of young lovers, to find the real murderer, and to see that justice is served as well as compassion.
The Pilgrim of Hate: The Abbey of St. Peter and Paul is getting ready for a celebration of its patron Saint Winifred. In the war between Empress Maude and King Stephen the Empress is currently in the ascendant. In the large crowd awaiting the celebration are many crippled people as well as con men preying on the pilgrims. Cadfael notices three sets of people. The one is a set of merchants who may not be what they seem. The second set has Cirian a supposed penitent who claims to be dieing and on a barefoot pilgrimage and his companion Matthew. The third set contains two poor siblings Rhun with a deformed leg and his sister Melangell. The death of one of the Empresses men casts a pall on the celebration but reunites Cadfael with Olivier de Bretagne. Cadfael has very little time to try and find the murderer as the prime suspects will be leaving with close of the Fair. As always Cadfael is dealing with young lovers who seem destined to be torn apart.
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