The Virgin in the Ice

The Virgin in the Ice (1982) Ellis Peters

Set in England in 1139.

It is winter, and along the border with Wales, this time can be deadly, especially for the poor or travelers caught unaware.

When bandits leave a Benedictine brother for dead in the cold, Brother Cadfael is called to come help, due to his experience during the Crusades. Before he leaves, a request comes from Worcester for help in searching for two siblings and a nun who went missing during the attack by Maud’s forces. The guardian of the two is a supporter of Maud, and so is banned from searching himself, upon penalty of arrest.

As always, the mystery takes various twists and turns, never going quite where you expect it, but always Brother Cadfael does what he believes is just and moral.

And leaves you with things to ponder.

To accuse oneself of falling short of infallibility is to arrogate to oneself the godhead thus implied.

What you yourself did, that you may rue, and confess, and do penance for, to your soul’s content, but you may not lift another man’s sins from his shoulders, or usurp God’s right to be the only judge.

Now I’m in a quandary, because there are larger gaps in the books I have, and I have to either skip books, or wait until they go on sale again.

I wonder if Grandmom read this series, because I know she would have enjoyed it.
Rating: 8/10

Published by MysteriousPress

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