A MORBID TASTE FOR BONES. In 1137 the head of Shrewsbury Abbey decided to acquire the remains of St Winifred. Brother Cadfael is part of the expedition sent to her final resting place in Wales and they find the villagers passionately divided by the Benedictines' offer for the saint's relics. Canny, wise and all too worldly, Cadfael isn't surprised when this taste for bones leads to bloody murder. ONE CORPSE TOO MANY. In 1138, war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud takes Brother Cadfael from the quiet world of his garden to the bloody battlefield. Not far from the safety of the Abbey walls, Shrewsbury Castle falls, leaving its ninety-four defenders loyal to the Empress to hang as traitors. With a heavy heart, Brother Cadfael agrees to bury the dead, but discovers ninety-five bodies awaiting his attention. MONK'S-HOOD. Brother Cadfael's herb garden is flourishing under his care, then a local dignitary is poisoned with one of the herbalist's own concoctions and Cadfael finds he has to defend himself and another suspect whom he is sure is innocent.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0751504769
ISBN13:9780751504767
Release Date:January 1995
Publisher:Little Brown and Company
Length:544 Pages
Weight:1.51 lbs.
Dimensions:1.4" x 6.1" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Ellis Peters at her best
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
It took quite some time for the author to get round to him, but the Brother Cadfael mysteries were a winner from the start. The mixture of medieval atmosphere, strong characters and intrigue keep us reading, but it's the honest, intelligent, sympathetic, fair-minded and occasionally grumpy Cadfael himself who makes these books so memorable.
the first few Cadfaels are the best ones
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
If you are unfamiliar with Brother Cadfael, buy this book and read the second story, "One Corpse Too Many," first. IMHO, it's the best of the whole series. You can go back and read "A Morbid Taste for Bones" later. Not counting "Bones" (which is a sort of "prequel" like the Hobbit is to the Rings saga), the 17-story series follows a tight chronology, pacing a real civil war that plagued England for several years beginning in about 1137 (which ended in a stalemate, where both claimants to the throne agreed to support their mutual nephew, Henry Plantagenet as king). The first three or four stories should be read in order, so while you're at it, buy the Second Cadfael Omnibus too. These set the scene and the characters. They're also the best -- the later 12 stories are quite readable, but only intermittently excellent, and often recycle plot devices from the first few. But, heck. Do what you want, as long as you read "One Corpse Too Many."
1st Cadfael Omnibus
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
These are the books contained in this Omnibus: A Morbid Taste for Bones, One Corpse Too Many, Monks-Hood
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
