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The Rose Rent: The Thirteenth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

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If you're interested in an audio edition, check that you're getting the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne. If you're interested in the Derek Jacobi video, I warn you that the BBC rewrote the backstory of both Judith and Niall to make them more melodramatic; as compensation, they came up with one additional clever ploy on the part of the murderer that's worth seeing.

This May of 1142, spring has begun late; winter's prolonged grip has been reflected in human affairs. King Stephen, freed by a prisoner exchange after _The Pilgrim of Hate_, raised the Empress' hopes by falling ill, but her move to Oxford was premature; he's now in fine fettle, picking off the empress' outposts. While these events, and the war at large, have little effect on this story, they'll be relevant in the next book, _The Hermit of Eyton Forest_. Cadfael's worries are more immediate, but easing now that the crops have finally been sown and it looks as though the roses will be out by the 22nd of June, the feast of St. Winifred's translation.

The Widow Perle - 25-year-old Judith Vestier that was - lost her husband to a terrible fever four years ago, despite everything Cadfael could do, then lost her only child in miscarriage shortly thereafter. In the depths of her grief, she couldn't bear to stay in the house where they'd been happy, so she deeded the place to the abbey in exchange for an annual rent of one white rose from her favorite rosebush, to be paid into her hand each June 22nd. (As heiress to the Vestier clothier business, Judith has ample property even without the house; she moved in 'over her shop', as it were, with her widowed aunt and her cousin Miles.)

Since it pays for the lighting of Mary's altar all year around, brother Eluric - the altar's custodian - has always delivered the rent, but this year brings a small crisis. Eluric, given as an oblate to the abbey as a young child, grew up in the cloister; his annual meetings with Judith have been his first prolonged exposure to any woman. Despite his overly sensitive conscience, the inevitable happened, and he's asked Radulfus to relieve him of the duty since he can't help worshipping Judith from afar. Radulfus, not wanting to embarrass the boy publicly or to have a repetition in a few years' time, consults Cadfael and Anselm; Cadfael suggests that the abbey's tenant, Niall Bronzesmith, deliver the rent directly. After all, he's a widower and a decent man...

Unfortunately, other men of Shrewsbury aren't as innocent as Eluric or as decent as Niall, and seek Judith's hand in marriage for mercenary purposes. Godfrey Fuller, whose business complements Judith's very well, proposes marriage as a business proposition. Her chief weaver, Bertred, has an eye out for advancement. Even ne'er-do-well Vivian Hynde is trying to turn his charm into a soft spot for life. Small wonder that Judith has thoughts of the cloister - or that her aunt is gently nudging her in that direction. Both Cadfael and Sister Magdalen advise Judith against it, although from rather different points of view. :)

Then Brother Eluric is found dead in Niall's garden - not a suicide, as the brothers at first fear, but murdered, stabbed by someone who tried and failed to cut the rosebush down with a hatchet. Judith, calling on Niall to pick up a belt buckle he'd repaired for her, stumbles upon the scene - and when Cadfael tells her why Eluric crept out to see the rosebush one last time, she feels guilty that he suffered so much and she never noticed. Turning it over in her mind, she resolves to go to the abbey in the morning and make the house an outright gift - but the word gets out from her servants' gossip, and the next morning she's kidnapped, by someone who'd rather take a chance on forcing her into a marriage and getting *all* her property instead of only half. (Her cousin Miles is beside himself - getting a new boss like *that* isn't something anyone would want, even without a cousin's safety to worry about.)

My compliments to any reader who deduces what happened to Judith before Peters reveals the solution. Eluric's murder - and another later on - are fair puzzles. (Ever the forensics expert, Cadfael takes a wax impression of a distinctive footprint from the damp earth beside the rosebush, to give the town cobblers a chance of catching Eluric's murderer by the heel, for instance.) Niall Bronzesmith, quiet as he is, has problems of his own; after his wife's death in childbirth, he fostered their daughter with his sister Cecily's cheerful family outside town, since he couldn't take care of a small baby alone, although he loves her very much. She's too little to understand why he only comes for frequent visits, and he needs to arrange to bring her back to live with him before she starts thinking he doesn't want her.

Lovely story.

THE ROSE RENT is the thirteenth book in the Brother Cadfael series. As such, it is much like the others in a general way. That is, the mystery isn't difficult to see through, so you'll probably have figured out "whodunit" before the solution is entirely revealed, and twelfth century living conditions are probably a bit idealized. On the other hand, the historical events are "right on", the prose is elegant, and the characterization is outstanding. Indeed, for those who have read most, or all, of the preceeding books in the series, Brother Cadfael and the other Shrewsbury regulars are like old friends.

The Brother Cadfael mysteries aren't (in my opinion, at least) the most intricate or baffling of mysteries, but they work so well on other levels that they're a pleasure to read just the same. An editorial quote on the back cover of THE ROSE RENT mentions the "lively characterization" and "graceful, literate prose". I think that sums these books up pretty well. I have read them all up through this one and I plan on reading the rest, so it's safe to conclude I'm enjoying them. I recommend this one along with all the others. I also recommend reading them more or less in order from the beginning, as later books sometimes refer to earlier ones and personal histories build from book to book.

You know how when you read a series of books the plots begin to run together ... not with Ellis Peters. Although I recommend reading each of the books in the Brother Cadfael series in order, this is my favorite.

In many ways the plot is actually quite trite, female widow needs husband who's not interested in her money. But the way Peters puts her elements together is unique to her and our hero. Her stories are just a way to convey her love of history, not only the factual information but also the mood and atmosphere. It is the latter part that she does so well.

Brother Cadfael is one of those people who seems to exist out of time. He's smart, sensitive and quite a liberal little priest. He shines in this mystery. And though most of the mysteries in the series are easy to figure out, the pleasure comes as much from where the narrative takes you as from figuring out "whodunit" before the last chapter. Go ahead, you want to read it. You know you do.

Ellis Peters is not only a great writer but was first a historian, and that knowledge shows through in her writing. I was enterested to see how acurate her descriptions of the early/mid part of the second century was that I did a little research of my own and she is right on. I enjoyed "The Rose Rent" so much that it is now packed in my bag that I will take to the hospital when I deliver my baby.

The tenancy of a substantial house near the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul in Shrewsbury, has been given to the Abbey by it's owner, young widow, Judith, who asks in return that a token, single, white rose should be given to her each year, on the feast day of St.Winifred. This is purely a sentimental gesture on her part as the married years that she spent in the house were so happy that she wanted to be reminded of them. The present tenant, Niall Bronzesmith, a widower with a small child, finds the rose bush chopped up in an attempt to kill it, but manages to rescue the main portion of it. Unfortunately, the murdered body of a young monk from the Abbey is found next to the bush, evidently having died in its defence. Two days before the rose rent is due, Judith is kidnapped, forcing Sheriff Hugh Beringar to send his men and the townsfolk scouring the buildings and outbuildings of the town in search of her. That same day, the body of a young man who is employed as a weaver, by Judith, is found on the bank of the river with the mark of a blow to his head. Brother Cadfael, who has taken a very keen interest in all of these doings, takes a wax inpression of a heel mark, left in the rose garden, and is trying to tie together all of the clues available to help to resolve all of these connected incidents. Again, the mystery is easy to solve for the reader but the surroundings, the customs of the age and the very people themselves, make this a very pleasurable read, especially for one who is as hooked on Cadfael stories as I am.

THE ROSE RENT is the thirteenth book in the Brother Cadfael series. As such, it is much like the others in a general way. That is, the mystery isn't difficult to see through, so you'll probably have figured out "whodunit" before the solution is entirely revealed, and twelfth century living conditions are probably a bit idealized. On the other hand, the historical events are "right on", the prose is elegant, and the characterization is outstanding. Indeed, for those who have read most, or all, of the preceeding books in the series, Brother Cadfael and the other Shrewsbury regulars are like old friends.

The Brother Cadfael mysteries aren't (in my opinion, at least) the most intricate or baffling of mysteries, but they work so well on other levels that they're a pleasure to read just the same. An editorial quote on the back cover of THE ROSE RENT mentions the "lively characterization" and "graceful, literate prose". I think that sums these books up pretty well. I have read them all up through this one and I plan on reading the rest, so it's safe to conclude I'm enjoying them. I recommend this one along with all the others. I also recommend reading them more or less in order from the beginning, as later books sometimes refer to earlier ones and personal histories build from book to book.

You know how when you read a series of books the plots begin to run together ... not with Ellis Peters. Although I recommend reading each of the books in the Brother Cadfael series in order, this is my favorite.

In many ways the plot is actually quite trite, female widow needs husband who's not interested in her money. But the way Peters puts her elements together is unique to her and our hero.

One of Ellis Peter's best, this is the sweetest of her mysteries. It is also one of her most complicated. The herbalist-brother must work hard to solve both the puzzle and the lives of the characters touched by the story.

The Rose Rent, Ellis Peters

There was a cold spring in May 1142. There was a war between King Stephen and Empress Maud. Late planting may result in a thin crop. Widow Perle thinks about joining a convent. Every year the monk must pay a white rose as rent for Widow Perle's house, garden, and field. The body of a young monk is found next to that white rose bush. A hatchet was used to cut down the bush, someone carried it away. "How could this happen?" Later they learn that Judith Perle is missing. Was this connected to the destruction of the rose bush? Who would benefit? Cadfael searched and found a clue by the river. The search of town and country found nothing. A search of the river revealed a missing boat. But one man has a clue to where Judith is kept prisoner (Chapter 7). [Which of the characters had a moral flaw?]

Chapter 8 explains what happened to Judith. Cadfael finds another body, Judith's foreman weaver. Then he looks at the boots; it matched the footprint by the rose bush. They followed the trail (Chapter 10). That unused storeroom is empty, dust on the floor. On returning home from a visit Niall the bronzesmith sees a horse with two riders and follows them. Niall rescues a young woman (Chapter 11). Judith will keep her promise (Chapter 12). The Sheriff is told of the trouble. Cadfael reviews the known facts (Chapter 13). Cadfael wonders about common wear patterns on shoes. Would another attempt be made on the rose bush in the dark? Who really owned that worn boot? Did he have a motive for murder? The last chapter has the end of the story.

Setting a murder mystery in the 12th century is one way to teach about life in those times, if done right. These books could use a glossary for the ancient words, and a cast of characters for reference. Introductory pages could better explain that era. Why would a widow donate property to a monastery? Could it be for atonement of past sins? Today donations to charity have a tax advantage to the donor, a modern form of atonement. Donations to a charity can also be used to reduce taxation yet retain control of the charitable institution to advance the donor's policies.

Even if you didn't read the information on the cover you could tell from the writing that the author had a feminine outlook. Does the personality of the heroines reflect the author's own outlook? You can also judge her politics from her description of the gentry and her words about "masterless men". Feudalism occurred when the aristocracy expropriated lands belonging to the people and then forced them to work for the benefit of the new owners. Being serfs they could not migrate for better opportunities. Monasteries and convents provided a refuge for those weary of the outside world ("three hots and a cot").