An Excellent Mystery

An Excellent Mystery (1985) Ellis Peters

Set in England in 1141.

The town of Winchester has been destroyed in the war between Maud and Stephen, and the people–as well as the Benedictine brothers and nuns–have scattered across the country to wherever they can find refuge. Two monks arrive at the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul asking to be taken in. The older monk, Brother Humilis, is drawn and ill, and it is around him that this mystery circles.

I do love the character of Cadfael.

Cadfael’s warrior blood, long since abjured, had a way of coming to the boil when he heard steel in the offing. His chief uneasiness was that he could not be truly penitent about it. His king was not of this world, but in this world he could not help having a preference.

There is, as in all the books, of theme of forgiveness, but in this mystery especially, things are not as they theme, and even in figuring out the mystery, there was still a joy in seeing how things would be resolved.
Rating: 8/10

Published by MysteriousPress

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