Rating: 
Summary: Good, but as sparse as a monk's diet.
Review: These three short stories that make up the book are good, but lack the intrigue of the novels. The first story, A Light on the Road to Woodstock, is particularly interesting in that it tells how Bro. Cadfael came to the cowl. Because it is such a quick read, devoted Cadfael fans will want to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: LIGHT UP YOUR MYSTERY READING
Review: This book consists of three novelettes (about 50 pages each) complemented by curious, eye-catching b/w sketches by Clifford Harper. Peters' 1988 Introduction provides brief glimpses into her favorite monastic's rare name, worldly career and personality. His personal, secular philosophy includes wry but compassionate acceptance of human foibles with our capacity for deception and depravity. No mention is made of his special patroness, Saint Winifrid--also Welsh--but his devoted admirers will revel in any literary work which fills in the gaps about our cowled Crusader. The cover is a colorful triptych representing all three tales. Hint to meticulous readers: focus on the Eyes of the characters--at whom or what are they really looking? If you are a fan of Brother Cadfael, and have read all 20 of his full-length mysteries, you will be delighted to find one last chance to admire him in action. If you have not yet been introduced to Ellis Peters' medieval sleuth, this Prequel Trio may whet your appetite. Here we have the Advent of Brother Cadfael, as he survives his blessedly brief Midlife Crisis--a truly rare and human Benedictine, content (most of the time) to seek the peace within the pale. Herbalist, private philosopher, paramedic and detective, he has a nose for the truth and an eye for suspicious behavior. This is one Brother who will light up your mystery reading! You may even learn something about the Middle Ages if you don't watch out...
Rating:
Summary: LIGHT UP YOUR MYSTERY READING
Review: This book consists of three novelettes (about 50 pages each) complemented by curious, eye-catching b/w sketches by Clifford Harper. Peters' 1988 Introduction provides brief glimpses into her favorite monastic's rare name, worldly career and personality. His personal, secular philosophy includes wry but compassionate acceptance of human foibles with our capacity for deception and depravity. No mention is made of his special patroness, Saint Winifrid--also Welsh--but his devoted admirers will revel in any literary work which fills in the gaps about our cowled Crusader. The cover is a colorful triptych representing all three tales. Hint to meticulous readers: focus on the Eyes of the characters--at whom or what are they really looking? If you are a fan of Brother Cadfael, and have read all 20 of his full-length mysteries, you will be delighted to find one last chance to admire him in action. If you have not yet been introduced to Ellis Peters' medieval sleuth, this Prequel Trio may whet your appetite. Here we have the Advent of Brother Cadfael, as he survives his blessedly brief Midlife Crisis--a truly rare and human Benedictine, content (most of the time) to seek the peace within the pale. Herbalist, private philosopher, paramedic and detective, he has a nose for the truth and an eye for suspicious behavior. This is one Brother who will light up your mystery reading! You may even learn something about the Middle Ages if you don't watch out...
Rating: 
Summary: AT LAST
Review: Those of you who are Brother Cadfael fans will certainly enjoy this tale. Our monastic sleuth has solved innumerable mysteries but he, himself has been a mystery. We never knew about his origins or how he became a monk. His advent is certainly a good read as we learn about the life of Brother Cadfael the former mercenary and wanderer. Three brief stories are given in this volume. The first deals with Cadfael's origins, the second follows up on a mystery of stolen silver candlesticks and the third tale regales us with the theft of the Abbey's rent. All three taken together presents us with a rare insight on how Brother Cadfael's mind and curiousity works in solving a mystery. This was a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: AT LAST
Review: Those of you who are Brother Cadfael fans will certainly enjoy this tale. Our monastic sleuth has solved innumerable mysteries but he, himself has been a mystery. We never knew about his origins or how he became a monk. His advent is certainly a good read as we learn about the life of Brother Cadfael the former mercenary and wanderer. Three brief stories are given in this volume. The first deals with Cadfael's origins, the second follows up on a mystery of stolen silver candlesticks and the third tale regales us with the theft of the Abbey's rent. All three taken together presents us with a rare insight on how Brother Cadfael's mind and curiousity works in solving a mystery. This was a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of Brother Cadfael.
Review: Though written after several of the novels were in print and quite successful, these short stories include the tale of Cadfael's decision to give up the life of a wandering mercenary and take up the life of a Benedictine. It also includes to shorter works that describe brief adventures after Cadfael took the hood.
I am a Cadfael fan in all his incarnations, including Sir Derek Jacobi's interpretation for the BBC/PBS Mystery series, so I am a little biased. If you are familiar with the series of novels, you will find a welcome 'more of the same' here. If you're not, realize that Cadfael is a 12th century English Benedictine monk who gave up the life of an adventurer for the life of the cloister. He has become an expert in herbal medicine, and seems drawn to mysteries, especially murders. HOWEVER - let me hasten to add there is no hoaky "Murder She Wrote" air about this. The 12th century was a rough time. Travellers dead on the road were not uncommon, yet murder was still a crime. The characters are engaging and believable, and the setting is at once alien and familiar, much like good Tolkienesque fantasy.
My only complaint about this collection is the "origin" story itself. There seems no telling incident, no epiphany that took Cadfael from one life to another. At some point in his life, it seems, he simply decided to retire. It may well be that, were the man to be among the living, that's what would have happened, but in fiction one looks for more plot twists.
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