About this title: An ingenious killer disposes of a strangled corpse on a battlefield. Brother Cadfael discovers the body, and must then piece together disparate clues--including a girl in boy's clothing, a missing treasure and a single flower--to expose a murderer's black heart.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780446400510ISBN:0446400513
Description: Very Good in None as Issued jacket. 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches. Light wear to spine edge. Cover bright and clean. Interior yellowing but no writing. Review "Gripping and knowledgable'-THE SPECTATOR Product Description When Shrewsbury Castle falls during a war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Brother Caedfael makes another grim discovery--a strangled corpse lying among the dead--and vows to find the murderer. read more
Binding: MASS MARKET PAPERBACK
Publisher: Mysterious Press
ISBN-13:9780446400510ISBN:0446400513
Description: Very Good. 0446400513 Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light curve to the spine / light reading creases to the covers. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780446400510ISBN:0446400513
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. book in excellent condition w/o spine creasing and only minor edgewear to cover. original pricetag on back cover. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 224 p. Brother Cadfael Mysteries. Audience: General/trade. read more
Edition: First Paperback Printing
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Mysterious Press, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780446400510ISBN:0446400513
Description: Good. Brief summary of content available upon request by e-mail. read more
"Reading this book was my rebellious way of escaping from my middle ages "reading list" without wholly leaving the middle ages, and I am heartily glad for it. It really was excellent--the only complaint I had was that it was a little hard to get into, because it was so historically dense and unassuming in tone--it didn't exactly start with a "bang"--and the font was miniscule! Perhaps I was expecting this book to be as undemanding to read as many mystery novels are--even by great authors like Agatha Christie and Elizabeth Peters. It wasn't, but the complexities it contained were rich and rewarding historically, emotionally, and even spiritually. As far as the "whodunnit" aspect, it was well crafted and well resolved, and Ms. Peters even made room for some very sweet romance. Her characters were real, which is hard to do with overlapping genres like period fiction plus mystery plus romance, and I am as eager to get to know Brother Cadfael and Hugh Beringar better as I am to see Prior Robert and that brown-noser Brother Jerome be humbled a few times over. I am so glad I was advised to begin at the beginning of this series (although the library didn't have book one), since I was prepared to pick up book 20, which had the highest rating. What a tragedy that would have been, because I assuredly would have realized I ought to have read the whole series, and I would have spoiled the ending for myself. Looking forward to more from Ellis Peters, here are two favorite quotes from this book:
"It takes half a lifetime to reach the spot where eternity is always visible, and the crude injustice of the hour shrivels out of sight."
"God disposes all. From the highest to the lowest extreme of a man's scope, wherever justice and retribution can reach him, so can grace.""
"This is a fine entry for the series of medieval whodunit. This was a pleasant read, albeit somewhat slow. The suspense in this novel is lackadaisical, but, alike the predecessor, the story is beautifully written."
"These suspenseful stories include pinches of romance, devotion, and humor, as well as truly unique characters. The mysteries use as background superb portrayals of 12th Century England. The author is a noted Medieval scholar. Positive. Caution: the series is aimed at adults, not adolescents. Many themes of these mystery novels are ADULT themes, including rape, abuse of various sorts, etc. They are all positive, ultimately."
"I have to admit: a sleuthing monk in the Middle Ages sounded like a total yawnfest. But Brother Cadfael kicks some serious ass. He's one mystery-solving BAMF. I will read more of these with my face."
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