I always enjoy a Brother Cadfael story. This book was no exception. Despite the murders depicted, Peters writes a comforting sort of mystery which centers on the calm routine of the monastery and the competence of Brother Cadfael.
If I have any criticism of the series, it's that the crimes of the Medieval period are rather repetitive. There are the aforementioned murders, runaway villeins, disguised criminals, cruel lords, and the occasional kidnapping. In this, the 14th book of the series, I could see most of the plot points coming. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to get to those points and there was one twist that delighted me.
I felt for Brother Cadfael at the end, who admits to his friend the sheriff that he enjoys his extra-monastic activities far too much. He confesses that he extends his time outside the monastery and does not regret it. In fact he doubts he could stick to the religious life without his excursions into crime investigation with Hugh. Cadfael was a Crusader after all—once a man of action, always a man of action? It just felt so real, something that has always lurked in the back of my mind.
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