≫ Libro One Corpse Too Many Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Ellis Peters 9780446400510 Books

One Corpse Too Many Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Ellis Peters 9780446400510 Books

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One Corpse Too Many Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Ellis Peters 9780446400510 Books

This 12th century mystery series by Ellis Peters take place in a fog of civil war, where the English and Welsh were raiding each other’s borders and supporting one or another claimant to the English throne: Empress Maud or King Stephen. In spite of the ongoing violence, the author suffuses her novels with a deep sense of peace and contentment in the monastic life. A monk from the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael, the ex-Crusader-turned-herbalist is her solver of murders and mysteries of the heart. Ellis weaves a rich tapestry of his daily life on the war-torn Welsh border.

In this second novel of a series of 21 mysteries, "One Corpse Too Many," Brother Cadfael must deal with the aftermath of a mass hanging. In the summer of 1138, King Stephen has retaken Shrewsbury from the supporters of Empress Maud, and orders her 94 remaining soldiers hung from the city walls. Brother Cadfael is part of a contingent of monks and civilian volunteers who are tasked with preparing the dead for burial, and much to his dismay he finds a 95th corpse among the hanged men. This particular young man has had his throat slashed. When our Benedictine detective confronts King Stephen with the extra corpse and asks for justice, the King agrees:

"Well, you may pursue such enquiries as can be made into this matter, if that’s your wish, and call upon my sheriff to do justice if the murderer can be found. He knows my will. I do not like being made use of to shield so mean a crime.”

Brother Cadfael must not only identify the murdered man and find his slayer in the midst of a civil war, he must also rescue two young supporters of the Empress, who have fallen in love with each other.

"One Corpse Too Many" also introduces us to the couple who will become Cadfael's dearest friends in succeeding novels: Hugh Beringer and his future wife, Aline Siward. This mystery has everything: memorable characters; a great whodunit; a judicious dollop of romance; and even a trial-by-combat that had me right on the edge of my favorite reading chair.

Once I started reading the Brother Cadfael mysteries I was hooked on the whole series, and both my husband, a medieval history major, and I have read and reread the Cadfael books many times.


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One Corpse Too Many Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Ellis Peters 9780446400510 Books Reviews

Ellis Peters (actually Edith Mary Pargeter) created a delightful medieval mystery series centered on Cadfael. The second in this series, The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, is "One Corpse Too Many." Years ago, I enjoyed the PBS series (with Derek Jacobi as Cadfael); years later, it is now time to read some of the novels. Brother Cadfael is revealed as an middle-aged monk (a former veteran soldier) who works with plants and so is well-versed in herbs. He is a member of the Benedictine order in Shrewsberry, England, in the 1100's. I enjoy historical mysteries, so if you do too, you may want to add this book. and perhaps series, to your reading list.

In 1138, a Civil War has broken out between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. Various nobles throughout the land have taken sides; siding with the Empress, Shrewsbury Castle falls, leaving its ninety-four defenders to hang as traitors from the castle walls. With a heavy heart, Brother Cadfael, who agrees to bury the dead, makes a grisly discovery 94 were hanged, but there are 95 corpses. Now, the mystery really beings!

Peters has a good sense of time and place, as well as the religious order. The plot was nicely planned, especially with some twists and surprises which kept the reader guessing. I did not sense who the killer was until near the end. "One Corpse Too Many" is a enjoyable and intriguing read. I would recommend "One Corpse Too Many" to anyone who is a mystery reader, but especially an historical mystery reader.
Like many others, I became entranced with Brother Cadfael watching the excellent 13-part TV miniseries on PBS's Mystery back in the mid-'90s starring Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael, then turned to the series of novels by Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter). As is to be expected, the novels are richer and more detailed than the TV adaptations and contain a wonderful array of flesh and blood characters. I read several of the books back then, but I haven't read any more for several years.

Then when the Ellis Peters listserv was going to be shut down recently because of lack of activity, we all came back to life and decided to keep it going. I got interested all over again, and started by buying the complete TV series in a very nice set here on , then discovered all 21 novels are now available as ebooks. I decided to read the books in order, starting with A Morbid Taste for Bones and continuing with One Corpse Too Many, then watch the corresponding TV version. The Mystery series starts with One Corpse Too Many and doesn't get around to A Morbid Taste for Bones until #8.

Ellis Peters's writing is vivid and beautifully crafted in all her novels and on full display in One Corpse Too Many. One thing I especially noted in the first two books in the series is the presence in each of a pair of strong, beautiful, and feisty women. In this book, it's Godith and Aline, in A Morbid Taste for Bones it's Sioned and Annest.

Sample of prose/poetry from One Corpse Too Many "They had entered the walled garden, and were suddenly engulfed and drowned in all those sun- drenched fragrances, rosemary, thyme, fennel, dill, sage, lavender, a whole world of secret sweetness. The heat of the sun lingered, heady with scent, even into the cool of the evening. Over their heads swifts wheeled and screamed in ecstasy." These books aren't exactly page-turners, though they can be at times; they are books full of passages to savor, ideas to ponder, characters to wonder at.
This 12th century mystery series by Ellis Peters take place in a fog of civil war, where the English and Welsh were raiding each other’s borders and supporting one or another claimant to the English throne Empress Maud or King Stephen. In spite of the ongoing violence, the author suffuses her novels with a deep sense of peace and contentment in the monastic life. A monk from the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael, the ex-Crusader-turned-herbalist is her solver of murders and mysteries of the heart. Ellis weaves a rich tapestry of his daily life on the war-torn Welsh border.

In this second novel of a series of 21 mysteries, "One Corpse Too Many," Brother Cadfael must deal with the aftermath of a mass hanging. In the summer of 1138, King Stephen has retaken Shrewsbury from the supporters of Empress Maud, and orders her 94 remaining soldiers hung from the city walls. Brother Cadfael is part of a contingent of monks and civilian volunteers who are tasked with preparing the dead for burial, and much to his dismay he finds a 95th corpse among the hanged men. This particular young man has had his throat slashed. When our Benedictine detective confronts King Stephen with the extra corpse and asks for justice, the King agrees

"Well, you may pursue such enquiries as can be made into this matter, if that’s your wish, and call upon my sheriff to do justice if the murderer can be found. He knows my will. I do not like being made use of to shield so mean a crime.”

Brother Cadfael must not only identify the murdered man and find his slayer in the midst of a civil war, he must also rescue two young supporters of the Empress, who have fallen in love with each other.

"One Corpse Too Many" also introduces us to the couple who will become Cadfael's dearest friends in succeeding novels Hugh Beringer and his future wife, Aline Siward. This mystery has everything memorable characters; a great whodunit; a judicious dollop of romance; and even a trial-by-combat that had me right on the edge of my favorite reading chair.

Once I started reading the Brother Cadfael mysteries I was hooked on the whole series, and both my husband, a medieval history major, and I have read and reread the Cadfael books many times.