Monk’s Hood

Monk’s Hood (1980) Ellis Peters

Set in England in 1138.

When a man is murdered, and one of Brother Cadfael’s potions is the cause of death, Brother Cadfael is determined to seek out the person who so misused his medicine.

There are some interesting points of law here, a reminder of how much things have changed, as well as how different things could be from one country to another.

Not even the church would argue a bastard’s right to inherit, while the state would deny it even where marriage of the parents, every way legal, followed the birth.

Another interesting sub-plot was the uproar in the Abbey as the abbot is sent to London, and Prior Robert assumes that he will become the abbot in his stead. Which would be bad not just for Brother Cadfeal, but for all the brothers.

Although there were some slow parts, I did enjoy this mystery.
Rating: 8/10

Published by MysteriousPress

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