Brother Cadfael Mystery Series

Medieval Mysteries

I recently saw where the Brother Cadfael mysteries series has been released on DVD.  After watching the series on TV I read and loved all of the Brother Cadfael books.  The books were written by Ellis Peters.  Some of the books are still in print but other are only available used.

Brother Cadfael is a monk in 12^th century England.  He came to the monastery late in life.  He was a soldier in the Crusades, has traveled the world and there have been women he loved in his life.  As a monk his spends his time growing herbs and treating the sick and injured.  Because of his background he is more in touch with the problems of the people outside the monastery and is quick to offer his help, sometimes to a couple in love and sometimes to solve a murder.

The books have a great cast of characters.  Cadfael is assisted by a novice Oswin, hindered by his abbey’s prior, and often assists the local sheriff, Hugh Beringar.  They also offer a look at life in a time very different from our own.

I have always enjoyed mysteries set in medieval times.  Reading the article about Brother Cadfael sent me to the library looking for other mysteries set in this time period.  Watch for my next three post to see what I found.

The Brother Cadfael Books in order of Publication are:

A Morbid Taste for Bones One Corpse Too Many Monk's Hood St. Peter's Fair The Leper of St. Giles The Virgin in the Ice The Sanctuary Sparrow The Devil's Novice Dead Man's Ransom The Pilgrim of Hate An Excellent Mystery The Raven in the Foregate The Rose Rent The Hermit of Eyton Forest The Confession of Brother Haluin The Heretic's Apprentice A Rare Benedectine The Potter's Field The Summer of the Danes The Holy Thief Brother Cadfael's Penance