The Raven in the Foregate (Brother Cadfael Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ellis Peters (Author)

Book Description

Series: Brother Cadfael Mysteries | Publication Date: November 1, 1997

It is Christmas, A.D. 1141, Abbot Radulfus returns from London, bringing with him a priest for the vacant living of Holy Cross, also known as the Foregate. The new priest is a man of presence, learning, and discipline, but he lacks humility and the common touch. When he is found drowned in the millpond, suspicion is cast upon a young man who arrived with the priest's train and was sent to work in Brother Cadfael's garden. Indeed, he is soon discovered to be an impostor. To Brother Cadfael, now falls the familiar task of sorting out the complicated strands of innocence and guilt.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Enchanting . . . Medieval England comes marvelously alive.'' --Washington Post

''A spirited and engrossing mystery . . . Lush, evocative descriptions bring medieval England brilliantly to life.'' --Publishers Weekly

''Absorbing . . . A source of far more pleasure than The Name of the Rose . . . Brother Cadfael's Aristotelian eye is, as usual, tempered by an instinctive knowledge of the human soul.'' --Detroit News

''Miss Peters is a beguiling writer.'' --Daily Telegraph

''A spirited and engrossing mystery . . . Lush, evocative descriptions bring medieval England brilliantly to life.'' --Publishers Weekly

''Absorbing . . . A source of far more pleasure than The Name of the Rose . . . Brother Cadfael's Aristotelian eye is, as usual, tempered by an instinctive knowledge of the human soul.'' --Detroit News

''Miss Peters is a beguiling writer.'' --Daily Telegrapn --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

ELLIS PETERS (1913-1995) was the pen name of English novelist Edith Pargeter, author of scores of books under her own name. She was a recipient of the Silver Dagger Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, conferred by the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain, as well as the coveted Edgar, awarded by the Mystery Writers of America. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Mysterious Press (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446405345
• ISBN-13: 978-0446405348
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.6 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cat among the pigeons, March 3, 2006

By 

Beverley Strong (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Raven in the Foregate (Brother Cadfael Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Just prior to Christmas,1141, a new priest is appointed to the parish church of Holy Cross...also known as the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul. Father Adam, the easy going, genial and forgiving priest who had cared for his flock for many years, has died and the charge of filling his shoes falls to the brothers of the Abbey. The Abbot has selected a well educated, former secretary to the Papal legate as a worthy candidate, not realising that an able administrator does not necessarily make a compassionate and understanding priest. Father Ailnoth immediately alienates his parishioners with his harsh, unforgiving rule, severely ruffling the feathers of servants and free men alike, so when his body is found, floating in the river, Sheriff Hugh Beringar finds a wall of silence surrounding the apparent murder. Suspicion falls on Cadfael's new garden helper, Benet who came to the town as a nephew to Father Ailnoth's housekeeper. As usual, Cadfael and Hugh solve the not so difficult mystery and, as usual, the setting for the story is what makes it so appealing. Despite the changes in the surroundings and circumstances of today, the people of nine centuries past, are just the same as the people of today, with their jealousies, faults and squabbles.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The canon keeps on keeping on, December 28, 2008

By 

David Wilkin (La Habra Heights, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Raven in the Foregate (Brother Cadfael Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

The prose of Ellis Peters is phenomenal in it's own way. This time out the mystery has clues and red herrings a plenty, with the background of the civil war still thrown in to keep us entertained. A much better addition to the canon then some of the other previous ones of late.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mystery at Holy Cross, May 20, 2005

By 

R. Chaffey "beckahi" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Raven in the Foregate (Brother Cadfael Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book that I have read of the Brother Cadfael Mysteries. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the world of medieval England that Peters brings to life. "The Raven in the Foregate" is a quick read, entertaining and mysterious to the fact that there is not much mystery to the case at hand.

As usual, Brother Cadfael is drawn into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the newly instituted priest of Holy Cross, Father Ailnoth. While he was alive, Ailnoth was quick to make enemies in the church and in the community; many are glad to see him dead, and many are content to hold their tongues as to the truth of what caused his death on Christmas Eve. Complicating matters are the search for a French renegade who was undercover at Holy Cross in the guise of the nephew of Father Ailnoth's housekeeper. Brother Cadfael must piece together the scant clues and abounding rumors to uncover the truth of Ailnoth's death.

"The Raven in the Foregate" is a well-written mystery, although at times too tidy and predictable. It was a true delight to enter into the world of Holy Cross and medieval England that Peters has crafted throughout her Cadfael mystery series. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.