The Potter's Field

It's been a long time since I watched this episode of the Brother Cadfael series on Masterpiece Theater so I was surprised at the end. Hoodwinked again! This whole series brings me so much joy. A body was found buried in a potter's field. There didn't appear to be any foul play, but it was clear she must have been murdered otherwise she would have been given a proper Christian funeral. Brother Cadfael and Hugh Berringer must figure out who the woman is and who killed her there. There are lots of men who look guilty, so the pair will have to use all their cunning to uncover their truth. Give me more!

St. Peter's Fair

Derek Jacobi could read a phone book for all I care and I will still love it. As a child I watched Brother Cadfael with my mother and I am so glad to finally be reading the books that the PBS masterpiece theater series was based off of. Brother Cadfael is a medieval monk who always seems to stumble upon a mystery, during the annual fair a merchant is found murdered in the river, his valuables abandoned. Is this just a random act of thievery or is there something more sinister afoot? Wonderfully narrated by Derek Jacobi, this medieval murder mystery is damn good and keeps you guessing. Give me more!

Dead Man's Ransom

When I was younger my mother got me hooked on the Masterpiece Theater Cadfael Mysteries. We watched the crud out of them and they hold such a soft place in my heart now that my mom has passed. I am slowly trying to work my way through the whole series (not in any order). The audiobook is good, but I do wish Derek Jacobi was narrating it. This series is about a Benedictine monk who solves murders in the 12th century. Dead Man's Ransom is about a sheriff who arrives ill but alive, in a ransom transfer. He is soon found dead and no one is above suspicion. The trade is off until they can find out who killed the sheriff. Even though it's a murder mystery it's like a warm cozy read. Loved it.

One Corpse Too Many

As an avid fan of the Masterpiece Theater series, I was excited to finally read this bad boy. This was always my favorite episode because it introduced my man, Hugh Beringer. There is something soothing wholesome and educational about medieval mysteries and this series is the best of the best. Brother Cadfael used to be a man about the world and served in the crusades, but these days he's much more content in his herb garden. Things in the world are more hectic than ever and the battle between Queen Maude and King Stephen as they fight for the throne is literally outside the gates. When Kind Stephen takes over he kills all the rebels, but when the monks go to give the poor traitors a christian burial they discover one extra body among the hanged. Who killed him and why? Brother Cadfael takes it upon himself to avenge this poor wretch whose death was not ordered by the king. Fabulous storytelling and an amazing setting!

A Morbid Taste for Bones

The first book in the compelling Brother Cadfael series, this medieval murder mystery is sure to attract a wide variety of readers. Filled with monastic customs, medieval life, murder, and intrigue this mystery is a great introduction to the rest of the books in the series. Even though this one isn't my favorite (it takes place away from their monastery) it's still damn good and that speaks volumes about this series. Narrated brilliantly by Derek Jacobi who plays Brother Cadfael in the TV show, the audiobook is well worth a listen. I can't wait to work my way though this series!

The Virgin in the Ice

My pleasure was immense at finding this audiobook narrated by Brother Cadfael himself, Derek Jacobi. I grew up loving the show and have yet to read the books they are based off of. I was insanely happy to find that some of the audiobooks were narrated by the lead of the show because it takes me back, plus Jacobi is an excellent narrator. This is book six in the Brother Cadfael series but honestly you can read any of these books out of order. Brother Cadfael is a benedictine monk during the middle ages that helps solve murder mysteries. In The Virgin in the Ice two high ranking children are lost, a monk found beaten nearly to death, and a nun murdered. Cadfael and the local sheriff, Hugh Berringer work together to unravel what has happened. An excellent read and the TV shows follows the story-line to a T.