Jump to content

Cadfael stories by Ellis Peters


timebug

Recommended Posts

Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter)

I know these have been around for a while now, and I remember my

eldest son suggesting I would like them, when he read them way back.

I have never got around to them until a couple of weeks ago,when I got

the whole series as ebooks!

Loving them,and about to start reading the seventh. There are twenty

actual novels, and then one 'prequel' book, which contains three short

stories,and chronologically, should be read first; so I read it first!

Easy reading, good plots that offer a mystery, without having to analyse

every word or action of individual characters. Edith Pargeter wrote these

as well as other series of modern day crime novels, and I am finding them

a refreshing change from car chase/gun fight/ drug addict crime stories.

As complex as you want them to be, depending what you read into them

and how you interpret the tales. Otherwise, simply good simple crime stories,

well written and well told. I must admit that at this stage, I am a fan!

Edited by timebug
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've also had  these for years, in paperback, and have never got round to reading them, although I loved the TV series.  I like historical crime, as you say it's a change from guns and drugs etc although they had their own vices then!  Thanks for the hint about the short story collection, I'll read that first.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife's a big fan, and in a similar vein has just discovered the books of Mel Starr - similar period murder mystery stuff. I think some say its very similar to Cadfael. In any case she discovered and devoured all 8 books of his very quickly! Might also be worth investigating to see if you like them too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Susanna Gregory's series about Matthew Bartholomew, a physician, and his friend Michael, a Benedictine monk, is also worth a look in this genre, it's set slightly later than Cadfael in 13th century Cambridge  and has a fair bit of humour in it, and isn't too gruesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Well I am currently almost at the end of the seventeenth of

these, and still loving them every bit as much as when I read

the first one (which was in fact the 'prequel' written much later

but chronologically, the first few things that Cadfael solved!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I bought the entire series when they came up on special offer a few years ago, and although I have only read the first, I was captivated by Cadfael. It is so good to read that you enjoyed all of them so much and that their appeal does not diminish.  :smile:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As an additional goodie, I recently came into possession of the

entire TV shows for the Cadfael series, 13 episodes only, spread

over four 'series' and (of course) not filmed in the same order as

the books! (are they ever?)

But so far, I have watched three episodes, and while they are  sort

of condensed, by cutting out lots of side issues that are mentioned

in the books, I am still recognising the stories, and enjoying them!

I know this forum is not to discuss TV or films, but I thought it was

a happy accident, that I got hold of the films, just after reading the

books!

Edited by timebug
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...