Reading the Detectives discussion

A Morbid Taste for Bones is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters. It is the first novel in The Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1977.

In 1137, the Abbot of Shrewsbury decides 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.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

I finished reading this last night and was pleased how well the author wound everything up. Everything was explained and the cleverness of Cadfael was demonstrated admirably!

I have never watched the series, but know it is very popular. I did like this book, and was glad I started with the first in the series, as it did outline some of Cadfael's past before becoming a monk. As I expected, none of the monks are as pious as maybe I feel they should have been. Cadfael obviously likes the life he has chosen, and is not interested in the competition for power as others are. This made it easier for his sense of humour to show through, which I liked. As an interpreter, he was able to put his own slant on conversations he was used for, so that was as far as his power was used, cleverly without others knowledge.
The plot, I felt was pretty straightforward, so I could see what was happening, so maybe it was that made me not like it as much as I expected.

I posted my review of this (for me) reread in the other thread, but I will add that I agree with Mark, the ending was satisfying and I enjoyed it! And Jill points to one of my favorite features of this series- Cadfael is not as ambitious as others among his fellow religious, but his extensive and unusual life experiences allow him to see their impiety and ambitions in a humorous and forgiving light. Cadfael is very human and comfortable in his own skin, and that humor and generosity of spirit comes through, and makes him an enjoyable protagonist - and a rather formidable detective! He’s “been there, done that”, and is not easily fooled or surprised.

You’re reminding me of why I enjoyed this series so much the first time around, Susan!

Abigail wrote: "You’re reminding me of why I enjoyed this series so much the first time around, Susan!"

;)

I thought Cadfael's the arrangement of the empty clothes was just great, especially topped off with the flower petals. And then to be able to explain the heaviness of the bones on the spur of the moment. A wonderful character.

I was a bit surprised that there so much more happened after the discovery of the killer, but the swapping over of the bones and the corpse was certainly clever, and I must agree the arrangement of the clothes was great.

I did just wonder though if Cadfael, as a holy man, would really be happy to see pilgrims and sick people praying at the site where the murderer was buried?! Fortunately it seems as if the bogus saint's grave still has a miraculous effect, if not as much as the real one!

I don't think of Cadfael as a holy man in he sense of one who believes in the miraculous power of relics. He seems more like a man who has sought a place to alight and has found a certain level of spiritual peace there. He seems perhaps modern (or perhaps part of the silent minority in his day?) in thinking that the miraculous power comes from the minds of the faithful who visit the site, not from the bones themselves. But I like that he's never quite sure . . .

Abigail wrote: "I don't think of Cadfael as a holy man in he sense of one who believes in the miraculous power of relics. He seems more like a man who has sought a place to alight and has found a certain level of ..."

Yes, I agree - I thought he was more skewering the impiety and hypocrisy of those religious using the relics to feed their own ambitions by manipulating the belief of the truly faithful. I think that’s why I so enjoy Cadfael - it’s centuries later, but we still have the strong manipulating and struggling for the chance to control the weak and feed their own ambitions - his struggles for justice and truth are timeless. And as Abigail so wisely puts it, I like that he’s never quite sure!

Prior Robert is definitely manipulating people, and arranging "miracles" to suit his own needs!

Something I found rather disturbing at times was the way Columbanus' epilepsy is portrayed - there seems to be a suggestion that he is "weak" and an "idiot". (I'm sure this attitude is historically accurate, but that doesn't make it easy to read now!)

On his seizures, I think we are probably to take it that he is putting them on, together with his bogus visions of the saint, as part of his attempt to grab attention and win promotion?

I definitely thought Columbanus was doing it for his own ends.

I thought so, too.

I found it interesting that, while here didn't seem to be much interest nor miracles at Winifred's grave before the Shrewsbury people came to collect her, afterward, they did happen! Probably due to the fact that the villagers now bothered to worship her and maintain the grave.

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I found it interesting that, while here didn't seem to be much interest nor miracles at Winifred's grave before the Shrewsbury people came to collect her, afterward, they did happen! Probably due t..."

And the power of suggestion heightened by others valuing her bones.

That's a good point - so, in the long run, the monks' disruptive visit did have some positive effects for the Welsh village.

Judy wrote: "That's a good point - so, in the long run, the monks' disruptive visit did have some positive effects for the Welsh village."

If nothing else, they got a strong and enthusiastic new blacksmith-in-training! I was very relieved about that, much more fitting than a cloistered life for that character - but I know Cadfael will miss his humor and common sense (if not his enthusiasm among the more delicate plants...) ;)

Finished a few days ago. I enjoyed it this time around, but found some of the sensibilities a bit facile and dated. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Great review, Abigail, thank you for posting. I like the fact that Cadfael has a relatively secular worldview, as you say. I am looking forward to reading on with this series.

I was amused to read the Wikipedia entry on St Winifred - the bones of the story are there, including the " manuscript life in the Bodleian Library, generally believed to have been compiled (1130) by Robert, prior of Shrewsbury". It sets the date for this story in 1138.

Thank you very much for the Wikipedia link, Rosina - I had no idea that so much of this story was based on historic fact, and I hadn't realised that Robert was the real prior of Shrewsbury!

I see an entry near the bottom of the page gives away a plot twist in this book, so I'm glad to have seen it after reading the story.

At least I posted it in the spoiler thread!

And the Welsh got their revenge, in the form of that part-Welshman, Henry VIII!

Thanks, Judy, for the kind words, and Rosina for that link! I had no idea it was so rooted in historical fact.

Rosina, meant to say, I also liked your comment, "the bones of the story are there." :)

I am about halfway through re-reading this now, but feel secure enough in my memory to post in the spoiler thread.

I was wondering how many historical mysteries there were at the time? I think I read, and enjoyed them, when they were first published and I think they were very unusual at that time, as I recall.

Rosina, please don't remind me about Henry VIII - my daughter is going to be doing the Tudors this year in history and I can't think how often I have had to help with homework about that period of history. That and 1066 I now know backwards!

This isn't my favorite of the series, but is certainly a solid start. I think its necessary for Cadfael to have a life and adventure prior to joining the monastery. It gives him a better insight into society that those who have only led a cloistered life do not have. Couple that with his extensive knowledge of herbs and their medicinal (and deathly) uses also is an important element in him working so well as a detective.

I wonder if having a monk (or a novice) as a killer was controversial when the book was released? I would think so, especially from the establishment.

If I recall correctly, the series was popular when it first came out.

Tara wrote: "I wonder if having a monk (or a novice) as a killer was controversial when the book was released? I would think so, especially from the establishment."

I don't think 'the establishment' in the UK, back in the 70s, took any view on the religion of villains in popular fiction. I don't remember any controversy about this aspect, when I read them at that time. They were, as Susan said, popular, and recommended for historical accuracy.

Judy wrote: "I did just wonder though if Cadfael, as a holy man, would really be happy to see pilgrims and sick people praying at the site where the murderer was buried?!"

I seem to recall that that's actually addressed in a later book.

Rosina wrote: "Tara wrote: "I wonder if having a monk (or a novice) as a killer was controversial when the book was released? I would think so, especially from the establishment."

I don't think 'the establishmen..."

I meant more so the church establishment rather than the secular one, but perhaps we are a bit more puritanical in the US.

Tara wrote: "I meant more so the church establishment rather than the secular one, but perhaps we are a bit more puritanical in the US."

The Church Establishment in the UK is not the Catholic Church, and really is not at all puritanical (we managed to persuade the Puritans to emigrate to America ...). I can't see them demanding the banning of books for being nasty about 13th century monks, or Knights of St John, or for featuring boy wizards.

What an ending. Everybody is satisfied!

Bicky wrote: "What an ending. Everybody is satisfied!"

Yes, I’ve read this book a few times and always end up with a smile on my face!

My question (from the No Spoiler comment): John's decision to tackle the tall Welsh chaser was a bit impetuous wasn't?