Monk's-Hood [Paperback]

Ellis Peters (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sphere (2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0751543772
• ISBN-13: 978-0751543773
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly paced tale of mediaeval intrigue, May 28, 2001

By 

Steve Benner "Stonegnome" (Lancaster, UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monk's Hood: The Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael (Mass Market Paperback)

"Monk's-Hood" is Ellis Peters' third Brother Cadfael mystery, following nicely on from "One Corpse Too Many". It is set at the close of the year 1138. Almost six months have elapsed since King Stephen's army laid siege to and finally took the English town of Shrewsbury. But, whilst the King may have withdrawn his forces, and departed the town to impress his claim to the English throne on other areas of the Kingdom, murderous deeds are still afoot on the Welsh Marches. And, once again, Brother Cadfael finds himself firmly in the midst of it all.

The tale this time involves the mysterious poisoning of a guest of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, by means, what's more, of one of Brother Cadfael's own healing concoctions. With his own - as well as the Abbey's - honour at stake, Cadfael refuses to let matters lie, especially when the sheriff's somewhat over-zealous sergeant appears to be rather hastily leaping to the wrong conclusion as to who is responsible for the dire deed. To add further complications to the task before our mediaeval sleuth, Cadfael suddenly finds himself confined to the Abbey precincts by a more than usually overweening Prior Robert. As always, though, Cadfael's greater humility and wit (aided somewhat by divine providence) win out in the end, with our hero triumphing over arrogant authority of both secular and cloistered varieties.

Ellis Peters uses her own flawless wit and easy flowing prose to spin an enchanting and compulsive story around the central mystery, although the book is not really of the classic whodunnit mould. Her ingenious tale of family intrigue unfolds at a wonderfully leisurely pace, with the reader following a tantalising breadcrumb trail of snippets of information, released at just the right rate to ensure that the reader does not solve the mystery before Cadfael himself. Along the way, we learn something of the complex political and social webs common to Mediaeval life on the English/Welsh borders, as well as much more about the past life of the book's central character. As ever, attention to historical detail is meticulous.

Whether you read this book in sequence or not depends on how much of a purist you are. Reading later volumes before this one will give away something of the book's very ending, though not so much that it will in any way be spoiled. Reading this (or any later ones) before the first two would be a mistake, though, as that undermines some aspects of the first volumes' mysteries. There is no need to have read any earlier volumes, though, if you just want to pick this one up and enjoy it!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Ellis Peter's best!, May 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Monk's Hood: The Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael (Mass Market Paperback)

Brother Cadfael is called upon to help a poisoned guest at the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. Upon reaching the dying man's side, Cadfael discovers two very disturbing things: the poison was taken from Cadfael's own workshop, and the dead man's widow is Cadfael's former fiance. Cadfael feels that it is his responsibility to find the guilty man and to prove the widow's son innocent of the murder of his stepfather. I found it especially interesting as it gave a rare glimpse into the past of our Crusader-turned-monk.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars POISONED PARTRIDGE, LOST LOVE, AND AMBITION IN THE ABBEY, September 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Monk's Hood: The Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael (Mass Market Paperback)

Ellis Peters has done it again in this, her third Brother Cadfael novel. She provides us with a delectable murder mystery, served up on a platter of Cadfael's private memories, garnished with monastic disorder. Abbot Heribert suddenly relinquishes the reins of abbatial power to the serenely capable hands of Prior Robert, acting Abbot. You can be sure that the Rule will be strictly enforced at last!

The first novel, A MORBID TASTE FOR BONES, presents Cadfael's devotion to his beloved Saint Winifrid (also of Wales). The second novel, ONE CORPSE TOO MANY, chronicles his friendship with the new deputy, Hugh Beringar, a King's man. Here in #3 we enjoy a private glimpse into his amorous (pre- Benedictine) past, as he encounters his secret fiance, Richildis Vaughn--two husbands later. Still slightly susceptible to feminine charm despite long years waring the cowl, Cadfael debates visitng her one last time before she moves to a distant manor. Will our favorite Brother of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul have something to Confess--to her or in the cloister?

An aging man with a feisty nature is viciously poisoned after eating a partridge sent as a gift, prepared by the Abbot's cook. Cadfael discovers that the murder weapon was none other than oil of monk's hood, disguised in the sauce; this oil was prepared by his own hand, to relieve the aches of old bones and sore muscles. Shocked that a soothing salve to reduce stress has actually caused death, Cadfael undertakes the investigation personally--as far as his snooty superiors permit. He is aided by his young, loyal assistant in the herb garden, Brother Mark--an eager sidekick to search for clues. Eventually Hugh returns to take up the case, but can they all prove that Richildis' young son is innocent?

I personally prefer the Peters' mysteries which provide insight into the personality, past and motivation of her protagonist--novels which offer more than admittendly excellent plot delineation. I can't get enough of Cadfael, an aging ex-Crusader turned monk/sleuth in 12th century Shrewsbury. Here he emerges as brave, compassionate, and slightly worldly, but above all a shrewd observer of human nature--both clerical as well as secular. There are always hidden literary and historical treasures to be found in Peter's Cadfael novels, just waiting to be unearthed and savored by observant readers. Amatuer sleuths and gardeners--Beware! Know thy herbs (appearance, scent and uses) but drink no sauces flavored with oil of MONK'S HOOD!