Well, we're into the final days / hours of Donald J. T***p's presidency. Let's hope the inauguration on Wednesday goes safely. Too bad the Covid pandemic has spoiled the opportunity for a big party.
I finished my 5th book of 2021 last night, a nice cozy mystery. I'll provide my review of that book and the synopsis of the next book I'm starting. I'll also continue with my look at my favorite authors, this one an excellent historical mystery series.
Just Finished
"Simon Brett is an expert at cozy, entertaining mysteries. I'd previously read the 3rd book in his Melita Pargeter mystery series and was glad to finally get a chance to read the first, A Nice Class of Corpse. This was a great intro to a wonderful character. Mrs Pargeter is a widow whose husband seemed to live on the edge of the law. (he remains an enigmatic character, with only clues to what he was like when he lived.)
This first story finds Mrs. Pargeter moving to the coastal town of Littlehampton to a small hotel whose residents also live a retired life under the care of house manager Mrs. Naismith. Mrs. Pargeter immediately rubs Mrs. Naismith the wrong way as she seems to be a bit of a 'live wire', who might disturb Naismith's sedate hotel style.
Things pick up almost immediately with the death ('murder') of one of the residents, Mrs. Selby is found dead the next morning. Mrs. Pargeter's interest is piqued immediately as she thinks something suspicious is going on. Using tools and techniques taught her by her dead husband (well, taught while he was still alive, of course), Melita brings her lock picks, gloves, etc to her investigation and will also eventually request the assistance of old associates of her husband.
It's an entertaining mystery. There will be other deaths. We'll be introduced to the murderer... indirectly. Mrs. Pargeter is a fascinating character; down to earth, with an inquisitive mind and a blunt approach to investigating. The hotel is peopled with interesting characters (read 'suspects') and the mystery is well-developed and presented. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, it took a little unsuspected twist that I didn't see. Looking forward to finding the 2nd story now (3.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Actor Charles Paris features in a fringe show at the Edinburgh Festival, with a murder to challenge him in So Much Blood. Edinburgh and the Festival are background and foreground with Charles, flitting between a re-visualized Midsummer Night's Dream, a mixed-media satire, a late-night revue, and his own one-man show on Thomas Hood. Charles copes splendidly with the Festival, the girl with the navy eyes, and with a complex murder investigation."
My Favorite Authors - Ellis Peters
Edith Mary Pargeter was born in England in 1913 and died in 1995. She was a prolific writer and wrote historical fiction, mysteries, etc under various names; Edith Pargeter, Ellis Peters, John Redfern & Jolyon Carr, etc. I'm focused on her excellent historical mystery series featuring a monk by the name of Cadfael. She wrote 21 novels in the series and it was also turned into an excellent TV series starring Derek Jacobi as the erstwhile monk. I've read 12 of the books so far and hope to make more progress on the series this year. I'll highlight the six books I've read most recently. (Ed. Note: I was briefly confused when I started writing about Peters because I suddenly thought I had the wrong author. Note that my review book this morning featured Simon Brett's sleuth, Mrs. Pargeter. Then I look up Ellis Peters and find her real name is Edith Pargeter... Well, you can see my confusion... RIGHT!)
Ellis Peters
"Another excellent Cadfael mystery, this finds one of Cadfael's potions used by someone else to poison Gervase Bonel, a wealthy man who is in the process of leaving his manor to the Abbey in Shrewsbury; that abbey which Cadfael calls home. Cadfael and his novice assistant, Brother Mark, must try to solve the murder. Added to the story-line, the wife of the dead man was once betrothed to Cadfael many years ago, during a time before Cadfael became a Benedictine monk. As well, the old Prior of the Shrewsbury monastery has been called to London by King Stephen to review whether he is still capable to run the monastery. Interesting times and an interesting story. (3 stars)"
"Another readable, interesting book (7th) in the Cadfael series. I've read 8 now and have enjoyed every one. There isn't necessarily a lot of detail about the time the books are set in, more like general references - at least in this one). It's more about the 3. people and the mystery. Cadfael works with Hugh Berenger, the Deputy Provost, to solve the robbery of the goldsmith and the follow-on murder of his tenant. Cadfael becomes involved because the suspect is chased to the Abbey by a crowd and throws himself on the mercy of the Abbot. Suspecting the young man might be innocent, Cadfael becomes involved. The story moved along very nicely, develops the people involved and associated with the crimes just enough to make them interesting and resolves the story nicely. Most enjoyable. Moving back to Book # 6 for my next Cadfael, The Virgin in the Ice. I don't know how I missed that I hadn't read it yet.. I recommend this series to anyone who likes historical mysteries. (3 stars)"
"Definitely my favourite Cadfael so far, mind you that could just be because it's the freshest in my mind. A different sort of Cadfael which finds our intrepid monk heading off to Ludlow to assist the Prior there. While there he becomes involved with a beaten monk, Elyas who has come to the priory injured from an attack. He also finds himself trying to help a young prince and his sister and also to assist Hugh Beringar, the constable find and catch up with a group of raiders who are laying waste to the local area. There is also the murder of a nun to try and sort out. Ellis Peters moves the story along very quickly and nicely, the mysteries are interesting and draw you in. Excellent story with a very nice little twist at the end involving Cadfael's past as a soldier in the Middle East. I enjoyed this story very much; Ellis Peters never lets you down with her telling of Cadfael's adventures. (4 stars)"
"The Pilgrim Of Hate is the 10th book in the Cadfael historical / mystery series by Ellis Peters. If you've not ever tried one, it was also a very successful, popular TV series starring Derek Jacoby. (Excellent books and TV series)
Cadfael is a Benedictine monk, ex soldier in the Crusades who came back to find a new life in the Abbey in Shrewsbury during the wars of succession between Empress Maud and King Stephen. Cadfael is responsible for growing and making medicines for the monks and for people visiting the Abbey.
In this story, the Abbey is preparing for the anniversary of the translation of the bones of Saint Winifred (the recovery of her bones from Wales is part of a previous story) from her place of rest to the Abbey. Pilgrims from all over England are coming for the celebration in the hope of a miracle.
Coincident with this celebration, is the murder of a knight in Winchester, during meetings there to try and stop the civil war.
As always, the story is interesting, giving an excellent picture of life during the 12th Century. Cadfael is a very sympathetic, interesting character and the mystery of the murder is developed very nicely in the context of the story of the celebration. While I had an idea of of who was who and how the mystery might resolve itself, there were still some surprises (especially the last sentence) and it's just a gentle, fun read. I always enjoy entering this series and wandering around in the 12th Century. (3.5 stars)"
"Having now read An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters, I've completed 12 books in the Cadfael historical mystery series and as always, have found the story to be entertaining and engrossing. Cadfael is an ex-Crusader, now a Benedictine monk who acts as herbalist / sometimes medical assistant at the Benedictine monastery at Shrewsbury. This 11th book in the Cadfael takes place in 1141, during the continuing struggles for the English throne between Empress Maud and King Stephen.
The battles themselves take place a distance from Shrewsbury in this story but one of the results is to bring two monks seeking refuge from the battles around Winchester. Brothers Humilis and Fidelus arrive and are given sanctuary at the monastery. Humilis is another old Crusader, who was injured seriously in the Crusades. Fidelus is a mute who has attached himself to Humilis as his care taker. Humilis's injuries are aggravated by the journey to Shrewsbury and it's evident to Cadfael and the Edmund who is basically the monastery doctor, that Humilis has not long to live and they want only to keep him in comfort.
Arriving also at the Monastery is Nicholas, a knight who has been participating in the battles, and was previously Humilis's squire. Due to his injuries, Humilis had called off an arranged marriage 3 years previously. Nicholas wishes Humilis's permission to ask for the lady's hand in marriage and it is granted.
This is the crux of the story, with Nicholas's journey first to ask her hand in marriage and then when it's evident she has disappeared, purportedly to become a nun, to find her. It's an interesting story all-around. Cadfael plays a relatively minor role through the first part as it involves Nicholas's quest, but as the story builds, he plays a more important role, especially when it actually comes down to solving the mystery. There is a side-story involving some other brothers, which could have been left out, I think, but it doesn't hurt the story to have it there.
The final twist, although I sort of had it figured out, was very interesting and different. One of my favorite Cadfael books so far and I'm glad I still have a few left on my book shelf to enjoy. (4 stars)"
"I've always enjoyed Ellis Peters's Cadfael mystery series. The 13th book in the series, The Rose Rent was no exception. Cadfael is one of a few historical mystery series that I have particularly enjoyed; e.g. The Mistress of the Art of Death and also the Matthew Shardlake books. Cadfael is set the earliest I think. This story takes place in May 1142 in the town of Shrewsbury mainly at the Abbey where Cadfael works as a monk. The story is set during the battles between King Stephen and Queen Maud for overall rule of England. While some of the other stories use these wars as key aspects to the stories, it plays relatively no role in this particularly story.
A wealthy widow, Judith Perle, has rented her manor to the Abbey. With the deaths of her husband and child she no longer needs the house and instead lives in the home attached to her factory. In the garden of the manor is a rose bush. On the day of St Winifred's holiday, the abbey were to give Judith one rose from the bush as the annual rent. Currently living in the manor is a widower, a craftsman.
The rose is normally given by a young trainee monk who finds himself attracted to Judith. He asks to be taken off the duty. After this preamble to introduce the plot, the young monk is found dead at the base of the rose bush, which has been chopped but not destroyed. Various reasons are provided for this action. If the rose bush is destroyed, the arrangement Judith has with the monastery would become nul and void. A number of wealthy merchants in the town want to marry her to gain access to her properties.
Cadfael and Hugh (the sheriff of Shrewsbury) begin to investigate the murder. Other events take place that will add to the tension and the urgency of solving the crime(s). It's an interesting story. You will be lead down paths to various possible solutions and then (I hope) to a nice surprise and ultimately satisfying ending. Cadfael is always an interesting, a down-to-earth ex-soldier who found the monk hood late in life. He is always thoughtful and has a nice knack for working through the clues to solve crimes (probably pretty useful when it comes to crime solving, eh?) The stories never disappoint (3.5 stars)"
So there you go, a taste of the Cadfael adventures. The complete listing of Ellis Peters' books can be found at this link. Enjoy your week. Stay safe. 😷
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