The Holy Thief - Brother Cadfael, Bk 19 Author:Ellis Peters In the chill, rainy autumn of 1144, two groups of visitors seek the hospitality of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, and Brother Cadfael fears trouble has come in with them. Among the first arrivals is Brother Tutilo, a young Benedictine with a guileless face and -- to Brother Cadfael's shrewd eyes -- a mischievous intelligence. The secon... more »d group, a ribald French troubadour, his servant, and a girl with the voice of an angel, seems to Brother Cadfael a catalyst for disaster.
All of Cadfael's fears become manifest as rising flood waters endanger the abbey's most sacred relic, the remains of Saint Winifred. When the bones disappear and a dead body is found, Brother Cadfael knows carnal and spiritual intrigues are afoot. Now, in a world that believes in signs and miracles, Brother Cadfael needs his prayers answered -- as well as some heavenly guidance to crucial clues -- to catch a killer hell-bent on murder.« less
If you haven't read about Brother Cadfael's medieval detective work this one would make a good start. A young, seemingly naive monk, a ribald French troubadour, a girl with a beautiful singing voice, rising flood waters, the disappearance of the abbey's beloved relics, and murder all mix together to make holy mayhem.
Brother Cadfael is at it again. One unjustly accused man, another dead, and more hiding secrets. Surprise twists and turns. You never know till the end with his books! I love the series.
Mary Anne M. reviewed The Holy Thief (Brother Cadfael, Bk 19) on
Ellis Peters is one of the finest writers ever. Her imagery of medieval England, and her character development are not to be found very often today. I find all of the Brother Cadfael books to be excellent.
"Twelfth-century Shropshire comes vividly alive when peopled with Peter's aristocratic ladies, sturdy lawmen, eager squires, and above all, devout
& devious monks, " states Publisher's Weekly. "The remarkable Peters... continues to charm her leigon of loyal reader with her serie featuring Brother Cadfael, the medieval monk who wears the cowl of a Benedictine monk, but who would be equally at ease in Holmes'deerstalker cap," says the Buffalo News. While the Los Angeles Daily News reports, "These are full-bodied novels that capture not just the spirit of the age, but also the temperments of a widely diverse cast of characters. And it is all done within the contx of a good mystery plot."
Ah, the adventures of Brother Cadfael continue as he encounters a French troubadour and a girl whose voice is so pure it compared to an angel. Then a flood threatens the bones of the Saint Winifred. Of course, there is a murder and the bones of the saint disappear. Are the two incidents connected? It's up to Brother Cadfael to investigate both and find out. Can the murderer be apprehended and the bones recovered? This is another delightful adventurous mystery with Brother Cadfael who has the where with all to solve it all. A delightful read.
