Rating: 
Summary: an absorbing tale...I'm looking forward to the rest
Review: Life is full of twists and turns...and so is "A Morbid Taste for Bones." This "First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael" is the first book in a long series of mysteries set in medieval England and Wales.I came to this book via Eugene Peterson's recommendation of the series in his book (actually a prolonged and annotated reading list) "Take and Read." Peterson has rarely let me down, and did not do so here...this is a delightful book. "A Morbid Taste for Bones" is a cut above most of the other mysteries I have read. It not only keeps the reader guessing until the end, but it also has passages that reflect a keen insight into human nature. More than that, it well written (a lot of mysteries feel so mass-produced and sketchy). The characters here are well formed and eloquent. All of this is done without the usual gratuitous gore so often found in such books. One of the more interesting subtexts to watch for are the different conceptions of forgiveness that the characters hold; these conceptions largely determine the actions of each one...something to ponder in real life. I recommend "A Morbid Taste for Bones" to all those who enjoy absorbing and well written mysteries. I look forward to the other Chronicles of Brother Cadfael.
Rating: 
Summary: A promising start...
Review: Since I like to start long-running series at the beginning so I can observe character development over time, I had never read a Brother Cadfael novel. I thought the first half of the book started out rather slowly and the characters were rather formulaic. There is a great deal of description of scene, setting, physical descriptions of people but no real speculations on their inner lives. Since the story is told from the point-of-view of Cadfael, this seems apt when he meets someone new but characters he is supposed to have known for some time are treated rather shallowly. One hopes for more as the series progresses. Good use of historical detail, particularly on the uses of poppy oil and medieval superstitions about touching the dead. Part of the ultimate solution to the mystery was apparent to me early on; clues were laid on rather heavy-handedly. Overall a promising start, but in my opinion, only that, a start.
Rating:
Summary: A great start to a very interesting character in any century
Review: This first book in the Brother Cadfael Chronicles is interesting for its history, fascinating for its characters and consuming for its mystery. The clues are all there and in the end it is a nice, neat story. Brother Cadfael thinks the conclusion is very good and so will the reader!
Rating:
Summary: My First Taste of the Series
Review: This is the first book I've read by Ellis Peters, but I'm glad to say that it delighted me enough to go on and buy the second. Cadfael is an excellently drawn character, irreverent and witty and sharp. Peters spends a good amount of time in the book setting up the situation, but he does such a good job of drawing the rival characters, the landscapes, and issues of saints and religion that the book grips you all the way through. Once the mystery element does arrive, the tension heightens exponentially. Peters does an excellent job of providing the reader with many viable murderers, thereby always keeping you guessing. That builds to a truly masterful climax where Peters uses elements we've been seeing throughout the book to reveal the killer in a totally unique way. To sum up, great book that held me all the way through and is making me look forward to reading the next.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic medieval whodunnit with a brilliant crime puzzle.
Review: This novel is one of two by Ellis Peters about the medieval detective Cadfael that I've now read. But I'm hooked! In this first volume of the extensive Brother Cadfael series, the medieval crime sleuth is part of a quest of monks pursuing the bones of saint Winifred from Welsh soil, a quest commissioned by the blessed lady herself in an apparent vision to Brother Columbanus. But the town which houses Winifred's body doesn't want to give up her blessed bones so easily, and the peaceful mission is soon disturbed by the murder of the leader of the town. Suspects abound, including two suitors to his beautiful daughter, both of whom could benefit from his murder. Is the arrow in his body really from the daughter's true love, or has the other suitor tried to frame him? And are all the monks themselves beyond suspicion? Only Cadfael with his humble yet brilliant mind can unravel the truth, and come with a remarkable solution that ties up all the loose ends. The twists of the story-line are so ingenious they rival and perhaps surpass the efforts of most best-selling thrillers today. Peters' command of the English language is outstanding, as is her precise portrait of medieval times. Although the religious aspect forms the fabric on which the novel is painted, the real concern is with characterization and intrigue. The tale is cloaked in constant talk of the supernatural, but Peters actually offers a novel that is more psychological than religious, and it is by applying the principles of reason rather than religion that Cadfael discovers the truth. The intriguing element of mystery that makes detective Cadfael's presence essential to the plot clinches this novel as a romping success. If you enjoy mystery, as well as a writer's ability to make excellent use of the English language with colourful descriptions, you are sure to enjoy this book. And chances are, like me you won't be able to stop after reading volume 1!
Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC MEDIEVAL WHODUNNIT
Review: This novel is one of two by Ellis Peters that I've now read. But I'm hooked! Although I've only read a couple of this series about the medieval detective Cadfael, my appetite has been whetted, and I'm certain to read more! Peters' command of the English language is outstanding, as is her precise portrait of medieval times. The intriguing element of mystery that makes detective Cadfael's presence essential to the plot clinches this novel as a romping success. If you enjoy mystery, as well as a writer's ability to make excellent use of the English language with colourful descriptions, you are sure to enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for insomniacs... will put you to sleep.
Review: This story starts out pretty successfully. We are shown the life of the brothers in the abbey and their daily routines. This seems to set the tone for a dull plot. Then, the reader experiences the sickness of a brother of the abbey and the mood of the story changes from the placidity of the abbey life to the chaos of trying to help the brother. This livens the book up some, but not enough. Very few exciting events happen between that point until the death of Rhisiart. After Rhsisiart's death, we are thrown back into that state of low-action; only this time, with the added commotion of trying to figure out the murderer's identity. The ending wasn't a huge shocker. It was almost too predictable from the beginning. So, all in all, I would not recommend this book unless you wanted to be easily put to sleep.
Rating:
Summary: Medieval murder, monastic setting
Review: This story takes place in Britain toward the middle of the 12the century, less than a hundred years after the Norman Conquest, so the several groups involved have not had time or chance to assimilate into what we know as the British People. Right from the first few pages the reader is captivated by the author's character description and analysis in terms of ethnic origin. The Welsh are innocent, hard-working and faithful. Normans are arrogant, duplicitous, cunning and effete. Saxons are sober, vigorous, reflective and intelligent. Seeking to improve its status among the faithful and fill its coffers, an English Benedictine monastery sends a delegation of monks to a Welsh village to bring back the bones of Saint Winifred. Her relics are sure to turn the monastery into a center of pilgrimage. But the villagers are not anxious to relinquish the bones of the maiden saint who has protected them for so long. The leader of the opposition is murdered while the monks are still in the village trying to convince them. Most the the remainder of the plot is occupied with solving the crime and restoring peace to the village. Brother Cadfael, the level-headed monk who accumulated plenty of worldly experience before entering monastic life, is the Benedictine who functions as detective. This book can be recommended to just about anyone, but especially to those who enjoy stories set in the Middle Ages.
Rating:
Summary: I discern no love of the subject
Review: Though this
story was set during mediaeval
times, in an atmosphere involving
Benedictine monks and Christian
liturgical practice, I detected no love on the author's
part of the subject matter at all.
She merely used it as a background setting for
a mystery.
Thus it was a chore to plod through
the book, as meanwhile the author
is seemingly snickering at these
"backward" ignorant monks.
All except the hero, of course, who magically
just turns out to be modern-minded
and liberal, (very similar to the character
Brother William, that Umberto Eco
used in The Name of The Rose,
to ridicule mediaeval thought).
In other words it is a dead giveaway: straight
out of the 20th century. Such an incongruity
between the atmosphere and the main character
became a constant distraction and irritation.
I do not recommend this book,
nor am I moved to read her
other works in this series.
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