May I Suggest ... ?'

Favorite Books and Authors

Ellis Peters

The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael

Ms. Peters has developed a delightful series of mysteries set in medieval England. Brother Cadfael is a worldwise monk who has settled into his life of service as a Benedictine Monk with great contentment as a herbalist and healer. The stories presented have fascinating twists as Brother Cadfael solves mystery after mystery with an undeniably canny instinct of the nature of man and an unfailing faith in God.

The following titles are in the order the author wrote them.

A Rare Benedictine

Search for this title at Barnes and Noble
Check for locations near you if you don't want to buy online.
Search for this title on Amazon.com
Online Book Store
Search for this title on Books.com
Online Book Store
Search for this title on Bibliofind
"Eight million old, used and rare books offered here for sale by about thirty-five hundred booksellers around the world ... " from introduction on Bibliofind.

A Morbid Taste for Bones

This premier mystery of the Brother Cadfael Chronicles opens the world of medieval England to the mind of the mystery lover.
The search for the relics of saints is prominent in this age following the crusades. Some of the monks of the Abbey of Shrewsbury are not immune to the desires of having such holiness resting within their walls. One of the brothers begins having convulsions and is then healed. This healing begins the process of obtaining the relics of Saint Winifred, the Welsh Saint believed to be responsible for this miracle. Brother Cadfael, born in Wales is sent with the party as a translator. Thus he becomes deeply involved in solving the mystery of a death ... a death said to be sanctioned by Saint Winifred.
Was it?

One Corpse Too Many

England is torn by war and the conflict arrives outside the gates of the Abbey. Stephens siege of the town creates many refuges and in the midst of the turmoil, Brother Cadfael gets a new assistant to help in the herb garden. He quickly spots something unusual about his new assistant and promptly takes quiet and appropriate action. It is not surprising when siege of the town ends and Stephen orders the execution of the one leader and 93 followers captured. Brother Cadfael is appointed to organize the preparation of the bodies for identification and burial. The problem arises when there are 95 bodies instead of 94. Brother Cadfael sets off to solve the mystery of One Corpse Too Many.

Monkshood

Amongst the politics and upheavals in medieval England, there is a murder leaving an unsettled estate involving the abbey. Brother Cadfael sets his feet and nose upon the trail to save the young fifteen year old would-be heir who appears to be the culprit. Brother Cadfael's involvement is due in no little part to the fact that HE prepared the murder weapon.

Saint Peter's Fair

The Leper of Saint Giles

The Abbey of Shrewsbury prepares for a wedding. Everyone, including the lepers living and dieing at Saint Giles are in a pleasant frenzy as curiosity abounds about the soon-to-be-wed couple. When the wedding parties finally arrive, it is apparent to many, including Cadfael that this isn't a love match. Then, there is a murder of a member of the wedding party and Brother Cadfael must find the truth to bring the murderer to justice.

The Virgin in the Ice

This tale is a chilling winter mystery with outlaws taking advantage of the strife between King Stephen and Empress Maud. The Abbey of Shrewsbury becomes a sanctuary for refugees of the violence common to war and receives word of the disappearance of three such escapees. Brother Cadfael becomes involved when his extensive skills are required to aid a Benedictine Brother apparently stripped, severely battered and left for dead by the murderous outlaw marauders. This particular mystery has many unexpected twists and turns as Cadfael seeks answers and uncovers a story that provides Brother Cadfael with a secret he will hold close to his heart.

The Sanctuary Sparrow

The peaceful functions of Abbey of Shrewsbury is disrupted when an angry crowd chases a young man into the Sanctuary of the church. The Abbot extends the protection of the church for 40 days while the accusations of theft and murder are examined closely by Brother Cadfael. Once again, not all is what it appears to be as the Benedictine Monk delves into the dark secrets held by one wealthy family of the community.

The Devil's Novice

Brother Cadfael becomes concerned about a new novice. The novice is unusually fierce in his determination to take his vows. This determination is but one indication the new novice has no vocation within the cloisters of the abbey. Then, there is the news of a Benedictine messenger that disappears. The messenger just happened to be a cousin to the new novice. ... And this same cousin spent a restful night in the home of his uncle before continuing on his apparently ill-fated mission. Was there some connection to the disappearance of the Benedictine messenger and the request of the young novice's entrance into the Abbey on what turns out to be the very next day?
Will Brother Cadfael find a connection?

Dead Man's Ransom

The Pilgrim of Hate

An Excellent Mystery

The Raven in the Foregate

The Rose Rend

The Hermit of Eyton Forest

The Confession of Brother Haluin

The Heretics Apprentice

The Potters Field

The Summer of the Danes

The Holy Thief

Brother Cadfael's Penance
This is the final book of the Cadfael Chronicles.
England has been in Civil War for eight years. Empress Maud and King Stephen continue their unending power struggle at the cost of a war weary England. Brother Cadfael receives word his son has been taken captive. At the same time he is told of a meeting at Coventry called by the church in an attempt to end the war. The Abbot grants him permission to go to Coventry with Hugh Beringar, but he must return to the Abbey with Hugh, or be Apostate. Cadfael must make a decision and take action in some form. What will his decision be. The consequences can be the end of his service as a monk, the most satisfying and fulfilling part of his life. The severance would be devastating. Just how important is Olivier to Cadfael?

Books related to Brother Cadfael stories

Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden : An Illustrated Companion to Medieval Plants and Their Uses
by Robin Whiteman, Rob Talbot, Ellis Peters.

A Rare Benedictine
by Ellis Peters
This set of short stories is actually the story of the transition of Cadfael from a soldier of the Crusades to service as a Benedictine Monk at Shrewsbury. It is not a part of the regular Chronicles and is included in this section instead of the rest of the Cadfael tales.