Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our Dec/Jan buddy read of Dead Man's Ransom

This is the ninth book in the Cadfael series, first published in 1984.

In the battle of Lincoln, 1141, the Sheriff of Shropshire is captured by the Welsh forces of the Empress Maud. The county proposes to exchange him for a young Welsh nobleman. But when the Sheriff is murdered only Brother Cadfael can save the captive from retaliation.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

This one had young lovers, as Cadfael often finds himself involved with, but in this case a love triangle, then actually two sets of young lovers - which I didn’t realize until Cadfael did! And I really felt the tragedy of this one - it almost felt, read with modern eyes, that Peters was setting up the one serious young man (forget names already), as being in love with the more carefree hostage. How ahead of her time, I thought! Then realized the reality of the love triangle (well, the carefree guy wasn’t in love with the young Welsh woman, it was arranged), but still, complications as usual.

It was heartbreaking that the carefree young man unknowingly inspired such crazed devotion. All four young people did a lot of growing up, and with a young adult son going through a lot of painful stages right now, I felt this from their point of view. And once again realized, despite the aches and losses of middle age, I wouldn’t want to be that age again!

There is a romance in this story, there is also the love of two cousins, brought up together as brothers. As usual Cadfael can't help taking up the romance in an effort to bring two people together, but this really is secondary to the war that is raging between the English and Welsh. The book informs us of the politics and methods this war is taking. During battle a young Welsh man is seriously injured and taken prisoner, while in another part of this region a sheriff of the county is also taken prisoner by the Welsh. It is arranged that the two prisoners should be exchanged, however the process goes badly, plus a murder is committed. A breakaway section of the Welsh members are plundering the area around Shrewsbury, and Hugh Beringar finds himself as sheriff and protector of the borders, putting him in a very difficult position.
I did enjoy the insight into the conditions that the people of this period in time were experiencing, as well as continuing my journey with Cadfael.

I've finished this now. I didn't guess the killer, as I have done in some of the other Cadfael books, and was a bit shocked when it was revealed.

I'm also rather shocked that nearly everyone, including Cadfael, is so ready to let the killer off completely, apart from what he has already suffered.

I think Hugh is right that the killer's love troubles are no excuse for killing an old, sick man lying in bed, so to me it goes against the grain for him to get a happy ending. I suppose the only alternative would be the death penalty, and it's understandable that no one wants him to face that, but I would have preferred him to be sent into exile or something like that, maybe.

Judy wrote: "I've finished this now. I didn't guess the killer, as I have done in some of the other Cadfael books, and was a bit shocked when it was revealed.

I'm also rather shocked that nearly everyone, inc..."

I agree with Hugh, but I got the impression the people familiar with the killer felt his conscience would ensure his act would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Cadfael may have gone along with his escape because he had seen death during his war years and sided with youth and love. As Susan in NC says, his conscience could be punishment enough, and he wasn't likely to be a repeat offender.

Sandy wrote: "Cadfael may have gone along with his escape because he had seen death during his war years and sided with youth and love."

That's an interesting thought, Sandy - he definitely sides with young love. Well, it was a different twist on the young lovers theme, anyway - I'd been assuming they would always be innocent, and had my eye on the victim's wife as a likely possessor of the elaborate cloth!

I finally read this, and found it one of the best, though the mystery is a bit in the background. The end is rather tragic, but I rooted for Eliud (though I normally don´t like killers to get away, as Christie does in several of her mysteries).

Peters certainly did what she could to show that Eluid was a very decent person, putting his own life at risk 3 times throughout the novel to save his cousin, Elis. Our victim, Gilbert Prestcote, doesn't seem to be liked by many, although he is a fair, if harsh, arbiter of justice.
Normally I am not one to root for the killer, but in a circumstance that in today's terms would have been considered manslaughter, or 2nd or 3rd degree murder, the death penalty seems to be unduly harsh, and as Melicent said, would not bring her father back.

I thought too that today it would be considered differently in today´s criminal law.