Monk's-Hood: 3 (Cadfael Chronicles) Paperback – 1 April 2010

Excellent mediaeval whodunit

Brother Cadfael comes face to face with the love of his life in this well written and intriguing mystery. A guest at the Abbey is taken ill and Brother Cadfael is sent to try and treat him. The sick man's wife - Richildis - was once betrothed to Cadfael before he went off to the Crusades. She did not wait for him to return and married another. Now her husband has been poisoned with something which could have come from Cadfael's stores.Cadfael finds himself facing suspicion of murder when the man dies as well as trying to defend Richildis' son, Edwin against similar suspicions. This is a fast paces story with plenty of action and some clever reasoning from Cadfael which almost leads him into mortal peril.This is the third book I've read in this series and it is growing on me. I love Cadfael - he is a marvellous character - wise and humorous and totally suited to his calling. He sees further through a brick wall than most. Because of his life before the cloister he is wise in the ways of the world as well as in the ways of God. I am looking forward to reading the fourth book in the series.

Now got it in my Kindle library so I can reread it any time - and it doesn't take up space on a shelf!!!

Ellis Peters' characters are well drawn and her knowledge of the history of the 12th century gives an interesting background to this murder mystery series. This book brings in the differences between English and Welsh law and customs as an additional twist to the plot. A very enjoyable, if undemanding, read.

I love cadfael books and even though born hundred of years later in Shrewsbury I can invisage how it was then sometimes in my time but I love all our names in my town the abbey which it's known as was my church and some relics stand opposite on the other side of the road cadfael is a likeable man who many of us I think would have liked to have met this book sums up both joy and I think regret real life like today I hope if you are reading our thoughts you will read it another enjoyable book like all in the series

This is the third instalment of the Cadfael series, written in 1980. It's now December 1138 and we swap the besieged town of Shrewsbury that was the centre of action in `One Corpse Too Many' for a Shrewsbury in peacetime. "It was a better world than it had looked in the spring, and an ending that improves on its beginning is always good news."Monk's-hood is a poison, otherwise known as wolfsbane, which hints at the type of murder involved in this instalment. Without giving too much of the plot away, circumstances point to the murderer being a fourteen-year-old boy, but Cadfael considers that, "A hot-tempered, proud, affronted boy seemed to him a possible suspect had Bonel [the victim] been struck down with a fist or even dagger, but a very unlikely poisoner"; a poisoner's temperament is "secret, dark and bitter."This Cadfael tale also has interesting complications arising when English and Welsh law meet over the question of inheritance.As usual, Ellis Peters guides the narrative well in a good naturalistic style and natural justice runs its course at the end.

I am re-reading the Cadfael novels and I find them more interesting the second time around. Great characters, great plots, an all round great read.

Brilliantly written with interesting historical details which helped the story and characters come alive on the pages. I'm truly hooked now, so will have to read the whole series.

Now having finished book 3 in this outstanding series, I can only say reading each Cadfael book is delightful and cozy. Brother Cadfael has the warmth, wisdom, and moral compass that all in advisory positions should have. I marvel at how beautifully Ellis Peters expresses herself and how perfect is her understanding of characters' feelings and motives. This is a superlative series that makes me smile, highlight especially well-written sentences, and happy that there are many more books in this lovely series to which to look forward. (I did find Cadfael's resolution of the punishment of the murderer a bit of a moral hiccup, but I guess it will all turn out to have been for the best.)

Mystery set in the middle ages England. Cadfael is full of life experiences. Travelled to the middle east on the crusades, liberating the Holy City. He has loved women but then he foreswore secular life and entered a Benedictine Monastery. Life is now prayers and the production of herbal remedies from his beloved herb garden. One of his concoctions is made from Monkshood roots. Very beneficial to rheums and achy joints but deadly if ingested. Some of his lotion goes astray and he meets a former sweetheart from many years ago. How will all this turn out?

Such a pleasure to reread Brother Cadfael! At one point I had read all of this series but that was a long time ago. Ellis Peters has such an understanding of the time, the law, the history and the language! Obviously she can't write or have the characters speak as they would have then. Not many people today can read Chaucer in the original after all.However, she doesn't write in today's parlance either. The cadence of the sentences and some of the words are medieval.Brother Cadfael fits into that world perfectly.All his mysteries are both simple and complex.Absolutely great read.

Good old-fashioned detective story.

Another interesting, entertaining book in the Cadfael series and a good mystery, although the perpetrator became obvious a little earlier on than in the past books in this series. Through the book’s pages, we continue to learn about monastic and lay life in the 12th century. The aging abbot of the monastery may be replaced; the elegant but scheming Prior Robert readies himself to step into that position of power. Characters we have come to know continue to interact with Cadfael in expected ways, and new characters are introduced and fleshed out. Woven throughout, we see Cadfael’s wisdom and humanity; we appreciate his musings and observations about his fellow man, and we savor the descriptions of England and Wales and life at that time. If you have an interest in becoming immersed in the daily life of the early 1100s, then you will truly enjoy this series.