One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael | Ellis Peters

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael | Ellis Peters | Surprise and Delight

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One Corpse Too Man...

	One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael Ellis Peters Mysterious Press, 1994 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 27 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

When Shrewsbury Castle falls during a war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Brother Caedfael makes another grim discovery--a strangled corpse lying among the dead--and vows to find the murderer. Reprint. PW.

Grusome tale without all the gory details

Ellis Peters has long been in my favorite author category. Having read most of her books 15 years ago I went back and started reading them again. Her style is still fresh. She's able to convey a story without dragging my head into the foul - foul language, foul thought, foul deed. Instead she writes about the vagaries of human nature as they confront the unthinkable.

The English/Welsh landscape is truly delightful - and in this "hobby" historian's mind - a fairly accurate portrayal of the time period.

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Surprise and Delight

This is the Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael and the author is still introducing the continuing cast of characters. As usual, a murder is discovered early on and eventually solved by Brother Cadfael's patient detective work, but the real interest here is less the crime than the character development. The redoubtable Hugh Beringar makes his appearance in this episode, and his complex and interesting personality is slowly and painstakingly revealed. While it is a good idea to read this series in order, this one will surprise and delight on a second reading after the reader has gotten to know the dramatis personae.

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This being the second chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Cadfael had answered the Crusader call when a young man. He had spent many years traveling the world, having adventures and learning many things but as he grew older he decided to return to England and become a Benedictine monk. Unfortunately the troubles of the world have followed him to quiet little Shrewsbury. The succession to the throne is in doubt, the country in tottering on the brink of civil war as the factions supporting Stephen battle those supporting Maud. The local castle is seized by King Stephen, executing the soldiers left behind to defend it.

When the good brothers went to bury the men though they discovered that there was one too many corpses, a discovery that Cadfael was not content to ignore. In his quest to discover the identity of the unknown man Cadfael uncovered a murder, missing treasure, betrayals and not one but two sets of star crossed lovers.

This is a charming blend of mystery, romance and history and does a creditable job of all three. The mystery will keep the reader guessing on at least some of the details. The romantic aspect is charming, although predictable and the history is woven into the story with skill. Peters brings the medieval society to life without turning the novel into a history lesson.

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Better than the first book in the series

I was disappointed with the first book in the Cadfael series, but there was just barely enough good in the first book to make me give the second a try. It was a good thing I did. One Corpse Too Many is more entertaining, more complex and more surprising than a Morbid Taste for Bones. While it reads more like a nice piece of historical fiction than a "whodunit", you will find yourself surprised and anxious to learn what happens next.

Cadfael series

I have just started the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters. It is a very enjoyable read. Perhaps the publisher has not chosen the best combination of font and typeface, but some chapters are visually a bit unclear. Stories are great.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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