Since I've been enjoying the Brother Cadfael (medieval suspense) books, I've been having trouble keeping up with my "Recently Read" list. So here, cribbed from (http://cadfael.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Cadfael_Books) is the full list of Cadfael mysteries:
1. A Morbid Taste for Bones (written in 1977, set in 1137)X
2. One Corpse Too Many (1979, set in August 1138)X
3. Monk's Hood (1980, set in December 1138)X
4. Saint Peter's Fair (1981, set in July 1139)X
5. The Leper of Saint Giles (1981, set in October 1139)X
6. The Virgin in the Ice (1982, set in November 1139)X
7. The Sanctuary Sparrow (1983, set in the Spring of 1140)X
8. The Devil's Novice (1983, set in September 1140)X
9. Dead Man's Ransom (1984, set in February 1141) X
10. The Pilgrim of Hate (1984, set in May 1141) X
11. An Excellent Mystery (1985, set in August 1141) X
12. The Raven in the Foregate (1986, set in December 1141) X
13. The Rose Rent (1986, set in June 1142) X
14. The Hermit of Eyton Forest (1988, set in October 1142)
15. The Confession of Brother Haluin (1988, set in December 1142)
16. The Heretic's Apprentice (1990, set in June 1143)X
17. The Potter's Field (1990, set in August 1143)
18. The Summer of the Danes (1991, set in April 1144)
19. The Holy Thief (1992, set in August 1144)X
20. Brother Cadfael's Penance (1994, set in November 1145)
I'll mark an X after I've read each.
Why do I enjoy them? Enjoyable plots and primary characters, a slightly romantic tone, and the author's excellent vocabulary! I love her word use, the historical setting is pleasantly accurate (I suspect there are small discrepancies here and there (I know, for instance, that there was mention of the harmony of a composer who lived long after Cadfael would've) but they don't distract from the perceived period authenticity) and the puzzles are nicely crafted.
More than being about the puzzle, though, these novels are more about the interactions between Cadfael and his community with the people, the time and troubles that sweep over them.
UPDATE, April 12, 2013:
Just finished Raven in the Foregate yesterday, my least favorite of the series (so far). I think it's time for a break from Peters & Cadfael.
No comments:
Post a Comment