Customer Reviews

A Morbid Taste for Bones

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Ellis Peter's first Cadfael murder mystery takes as its setting the events surrounding the translation of the holy relics of Saint Winifred from the remote Welsh village of Gwytherin to the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury in 1138. Taking this real event as her starting point, Peters weaves an enchanting if rather overly romanticised tale of mediaeval rural and monastic life. Naturally, the practical common sense and basic human decency of her very worldy central character, Brother Cadfael, win out in the end. Here, he neatly side-steps all of many power-struggles - secular, political and ecclesiastical - going on around him, to provide everyone with their heart's desire and solve the inevitable murder mystery into the bargain! Ellis Peters' writing style is so wonderfully erudite that one can always forgive her the occasional lapse into stereotypical characterisation or silliness of plot which tend to pepper her novels. "A Morbid Taste for Bones" is no exception in this regard, and whilst the story's central murder mystery is not at all hard for the reader to solve, the telling of it is so captivating that the book is hard to put down until it's finished!

Incidentally, I would recommend reading this book before any others in the series, because otherwise you will know which of the main suspects can be eliminated immediately! Of course, if you've seen the TV dramatisation, you'll know the main outcome already, but even then, the book is sufficiently different to still make it well worth reading. Recommended.

A Morbid Taste For Bones is the start of a 20-book series about Brother Cadfael. The Cadfael books are absorbing reads, as others here have stated. I would like to add that you will enjoy the series so much more if you read the books in order. They chronicle the decade of civil war in England, between the factions of King Stephen and the Empress Maud. The books always have the ongoing story of this, in a little history lesson, usually at the beginning of the book. It can be complicated history for those coming to it, as I did, uninformed. But we are taken through the war years with these stories, and in chronological order, they tell the story of the civil war, along with the mystery of each book.

Also, the characters and their relationships develop along the way. Hugh Beringer comes into the picture early in the series and eventually becomes deputy to the sheriff, who is loyal to King Stephen. Hugh and Brother Cadfael begin their relationship with suspicion, but they come to respect each other for the intelligence and integrity each has. Hugh meets and marries Aileen, has a baby boy, and, around the ninth book, becomes the sheriff of Shrewsbury. By this time Cadfael and Hugh are fast friends.

Cadfael has his own secrets, little episodes of his life in the Crusades, that catch up with him during the series...but not right away. Later in the series, Cadfael confides in his dear friend Hugh, also relating the secret of this first book, Morbid Taste For Bones, which Hugh had not been privy to before.

I just loved this series, and I tend to think of it as one *really big* book! So do read all 20, and read them in order. They are all available, and all except one (The Hermit of Eyton Forest, no. 14) tell which number it is in the order, right on the front cover. Brother Cadfael is one of the most endearing characters ever created. Lose yourself with him in 12th century England when you need a break from the 20th or 21st century.

I have read the first ten books in this series (mostly) in order, and would recommend doing so. Otherwise, you'll miss referneces to previous incidents of importance, and also lose a sense of continuity. Reading the series in order also allows you to enjoy the development of Cadfael's character and other characters who continue to appear throughout the series. Be advised, however, that most of those characters don't make their appearances until later books.

This first mystery serves as an excellent introduction to Cadfael himself, the historical backdrop of medieval England and Wales, and the general literary pattern of the Cadfael stories. It is a pleasant and enjoyable read for those who don't necessarily need their mysteries to be of the noir persuasion and who have a love of history. The title is a little bit deceiving, tempting you to think the story is more violent than it is - though there is certainly a murder to be solved

Read it, and begin a pleasant and long-standing association with Brother Cadfael.

My girlfriend has a huge stack of these books on the bookcase, so I decided to take a gander at them. After consulting her which was first (I did not realize they were labeled), I dived into the first book.

As the story unfolded, I found myself introduced to an interesting cast of characters. Some likeable. Some not. Detail varies depending on how central they are to the story. Nevertheless, I did not feel that any of them were bland. Cadfael is a curious rogue of a character who has his elder years to temper him. John is mischievous and good intentioned. Robert is pompous, well composed and intelligent, while having good qualities such as being charitable and forgiving (most of the time). Peters is able to characterize in broad strokes or narrow detail as necessary. I was duly impressed.

Now the core of the mystery is the murder, and I found that did not happen until halfway through the book. I did not find myself lacking for it though. There is enough going on that you are curious about the plotting and the discoveries that take place.

Peters' setting is fantastic. Yes, she is drawing upon the historical past, and in a way, it is already made for her. However, she is good at communicating it to us without loosing us in the language. Neither does the language sound modern. She meets us in a middle ground with emphasizes the style of the setting while not loosing us along the way.

The book is very good, and I look forward to picking up the next. It is also brief. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in any manner of fiction. It would appeal to mystery readers, those interested in speculative settings or even someone who does not lean toward any genre. The book should appeal to all.

In a number of visions, a young monk of the Benedictine abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Shrewsbury believes he has encounters with St. Winifred, in her earthly life a girl from a remote Welsh village decapitated by an evil-spirited nobleman. The saint, Brother Columbanus claims, tells him she is unhappy with the lack of care and dedication her grave receives from the local village folk, and wishes to be relocated nowhere else but to Saint Peter and Saint Paul. After a heated discussion over the appropriateness and dangers of such an excursion, the monks decide to mount an expedition to Wales to save the maiden saint's bones.

Thus begins the first of what would ultimately come to be twenty Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, former crusader turned herbalist monk living in the 12th century world of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Predictably, the monks are anything but welcome in Wales - not only are they emissaries from an English abbey, which in itself would be bad enough already; they also seek to take what village folk consider their greatest treasure and, more importantly, the village's holy protectress. When wealthy squire Lord Rhysart, who has led the village in opposing the monks' mission, is found murdered, the monks quickly find themselves implicated. ...Cadfael, of Welsh descendance himself but now part of a mission from an English abbey, finds himself between all lines of allegiance in trying to find Rhysart's murderer; but find the murderer he must, to ensure the success of his brothers' mission and their safe return home. And it will take all his world-wisdom *and* all his understanding of the divine to unravel the mystery.

Like the nineteen Chronicles that would follow it, "A Morbid Taste for Bones" is rich in plot lines and subplots and demands the full attention of any reader intent on solving the mystery together with Brother Cadfael. Set in the time of the civil war between Empress Maud and King Stephen for the throne of England, Ellis Peters's acclaimed series vividly and with great care for detail portrays medieval monastery life, as well as a society caught in the middle of a civil war, with shifting allegiances, intrigue, favoritism and again and again, the innocent victims caught between the front lines. More than once, the story lines also return to the animosities between Welsh and English that are at the center of this first Chronicle. In Brother Cadfael, Ms. Peters (a/k/a Edith Pargeter) created one of the most engaging detectives in literary history. His experiences as a crusader have left him with a keen sense of reality, a certain element of world-weariness and a deep sense of morality, not only understanding the letter of the law (both divine and worldly) but more importantly, the deeper implications of the same, thus enabling Cadfael to apply the church's teachings in a truly Solomonic manner, always coming to solutions which are as just as they are compassionate and pragmatic.

To the novice who has just recently discovered the series, it probably makes sense to read the Chronicles in order, because they contain a number of cross-references and the cast of recurring characters is successively enlarged - Under-Sheriff Hugh Beringar for example, Cadfael's trusted worldly sidekick, is not introduced until the second Chronicle, "One Corpse Too Many." But even for those who are coming to "A Morbid Taste for Bones" only after already having read one or more of the other Chronicles there is plenty to enjoy, and it is sure to be fun to discover how it all began.

Also recommended:

A Rare Benedictine

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Monk's Hood: The Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Leper of Saint Giles (Brother Cadfael Mysteries)

The Virgin in the Ice (Brother Cadfael Mysteries)

Brother Cadfael's Penance (Brother Cadfael Mysteries)

The Cadfael Collection

A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury

Any Brother Cadfael mystery is a treat--even a privilege to read. This medieval monk solves murders, thefts, and resolves deceptions and missing persons cases--using his wits, his wordly experience, plus his vast knowledge of medicinal herbs and human nature. The tales are set in late 12th century Enlgand not far from the Welsh border. Sturdy Welshman himself, our cowled protagonist is a former Crusader who discovered "in the middle of the road of life" his calling to the monastic community; that he could best serve his fellow man by seriving God first. In this case in the Benedictine order, at the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury (a real place).

In this debut novel (read in my case after # 6-21) we find a somewhat secular Cadfael, which jars my conception of him as revealed in Peters' subsequent works. (I understand that she did not originally envision an entire series.) He indulges freely in the cameraderie of the wine jug, recalls w! ith fondness a long list of satisfied women, and openly admires an attractive Welsh girl. Fortunately his secular tendencies mellow out during the six months that pass (murderless, we assume) between novels. (I wonder if he ever noticed that fatal pattern...)

This story concerns the long-interred bones of a maiden saint named Winifrid of Gwytherin, Wales. The message may be: Let Sleeping Saints Lie, but the vaulting ambition of Prior Robert ruthlessly tramples common courtesy and decency. Aided by his staunch toady, Brother Jerome, and an ardent young novice, Brother Columbanus who experiences episodes of religious zeal and ecstacy, Robert insists that Winifrid's remains be transported to England--a country and tongue alien to her in life--to serve as a beacon for pilgrims. For the renown and coffers of the Abbey of course... although he will gladly accept any reflected glory for his humble efforts, which just might advance his career.

But what is the will of the peo! ple of Gwytherin, this peaceful hamlet in Wales--until the ! Benedictines laid seige to the bones of their patroness? And more to the point, what is the will of the saint herself: will she choose a champion to speak for her? Cadfael is caught in the middle of these delicate negociations--brought along as interpreter of his native, Welsh tongue. He must outwardly support the efforts to remove the saint from her people, yet he privately believes that the martyred girl deserves to rest in her native land. Can mere mortals manipulate miracles for their own--selfish or benevolent--ends? Cadfael takes a hand in balancing the scales of spiritual justice. An excellent premier novel for a fabulous series!

I had read other Cadfael mysteries before finding this one. It made me appreciate only too well the slightly rebellious Cadfael in this first book.

His attitude toward Prior Robert and prissy, self-righteous prig Brother Jerome is only what I had been thinking the entire time. Of course, Cadfael will later control these rebellious thoughts but, oh, they are a joy to read after the others.

I found a Morbid Taste for Bones a great book. It is very enjoyable and the ultimate secret act of rebellion (but never fear-it is just) that Cadfael commits towards the end is the crowning point, the punch line, to an enjoyable read. Peters injects the book with great humor and mystery and Cadfael's secret affords the biggest laugh of them all.

This book was a great addition to the A&E Cadfael TV series.

This novel is one of two by Ellis Peters about the medieval detective Cadfael that I've now read. But I'm hooked! In this first volume of the extensive Brother Cadfael series, the medieval crime sleuth is part of a quest of monks pursuing the bones of saint Winifred from Welsh soil, a quest commissioned by the blessed lady herself in an apparent vision to Brother Columbanus. But the town which houses Winifred's body doesn't want to give up her blessed bones so easily, and the peaceful mission is soon disturbed by the murder of the leader of the town. Suspects abound, including two suitors to his beautiful daughter, both of whom could benefit from his murder. Is the arrow in his body really from the daughter's true love, or has the other suitor tried to frame him? And are all the monks themselves beyond suspicion? Only Cadfael with his humble yet brilliant mind can unravel the truth, and come with a remarkable solution that ties up all the loose ends. The twists of the story-line are so ingenious they rival and perhaps surpass the efforts of most best-selling thrillers today.

Peters' command of the English language is outstanding, as is her precise portrait of medieval times. Although the religious aspect forms the fabric on which the novel is painted, the real concern is with characterization and intrigue. The tale is cloaked in constant talk of the supernatural, but Peters actually offers a novel that is more psychological than religious, and it is by applying the principles of reason rather than religion that Cadfael discovers the truth. The intriguing element of mystery that makes detective Cadfael's presence essential to the plot clinches this novel as a romping success. If you enjoy mystery, as well as a writer's ability to make excellent use of the English language with colourful descriptions, you are sure to enjoy this book. And chances are, like me you won't be able to stop after reading volume 1!

Brother Cadfael introduced to us by Ellis Peters in a Morbid Taste for Bones is a brother at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Benedictine abbey in Shrewsbury. Cadfael has seen his share of the world before entering abbey life. He fought in the crusades and has known his share of women. Cadfael knows what he gives up by joining the abbey and what he has to gain.

Ellis Peters offers us a completely likable sleuth, with Brother Cadfaiel and educates the reader about the time in England when Maud and Stephen fight for the throne. She presents characters with the human frailties familiar to the modern reader, but puts them in a twelfth century setting. We are able to learn the tension which exists between the Welsh and the English at the time.

The mystery involves the death of an opponent to the moving of Saint Winifred from her home in Wales to Shrewsbury. The mystery itself is intriguing, but not mind boggling. It is the characters and the setting that draws the reader. We become involved in the politics of the abbey with monks vying for top position.

This is an interesting and entertaining start of a series. Medieval fans should be delighted. For those who love cozies this is a good series to entertain and educate.

"Brother Cadfael had long been up before Prime, pricking out cabbage seedlings before the day was aired, and his thoughts were all on birth, growth, and fertility, not at all on graves and reliquaries and violent deaths...." Thus we meet Ellis Peters' inimitable monk in the initial episode of her long-running Brother Cadfael series. "A Morbid Taste for Bones" begins a series that has collected untold readers who feel that the series is also a crusade for themselves!

It is the twelfth century and throughout Britain, thoughts are on the civil war that is going on between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, twelve years of internecine struggle that, as civil wars are wont to do, has deeply divided the people.

And at the Benedictine monastery in Shrewsbury, Cadfael has settled down to a life of monastic devotion, following a career as a crusader to the Holy Land. His is a past that at first seems incongruent with the life of a monk, but God works His

wonders in many ways, and, as no sinner is beyond God's mercy, as Cadfael likes to say, he has now found his place on earth. "(He) himself found nothing strange in his wide-ranging career, and had forgotten nothing and regretted nothing. He saw no contradiction in the delight he had taken in battle and adventure, and the keen pleasure he now found in quietude."

He is a specialist in medicinal herbs and is in charge of the herbarium; he is a man of God gifted in logic and fair-play; he is a man of great understanding and compassion; and he is no fool. In "A Morbid Taste for Bones," Cadfael is assigned by his prior to lead a delegation to a small village in Wales to acquire the bones of their patron saint, Saint Winifred. As Cadfael was born in Wales and naturally speaks the language, he is the top choice of the priory. But retrieving the relics is no simple task, as Peters displays, and before long a murder is discovered. Cadfael's expertise comes in handy, as "his skills as a herbalist are matched by his prowess as a detective." And with Peters' abilities as a Grade A novelist, the reader is kept spell-bound until the final pages of this medieval thriller, a story well-developed and strongly-paced. It is a literary journey well worth the price!

The author is the recipient of the Crime Writers' Association/Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for her Cadfael books, and has written a number of other works, including her Inspector Felse series.

Billyjhobbs@tyler.net