This is the last in the 20-volume Brother Cadfael series, and the second in the series that I've read. (I previously read #11).
I'd sort of expect any writer to be getting a bit weary of a scenario or character after 20 installments, however nothing of the kind came through for me. I thought this was a quite well-written book, not too bogged down by tropes of the mystery genre, with a nice mix of politicking and family drama. I found it to be more convincing and believable than many medieval mysteries, as well.
I feel rather sad to come to the last of the Brother Cadfael Chronicles, published the year before Ellis Peters died. It's a fitting but frustrating end, as one feels there could be so much more ground to explore beyond this. Cadfael breaks his monastic vows of obedience to rescue his captive son, who we met a few volumes back. It's been so long since I visited this world, it took me awhile to get my bearings around the 12th century politics, but once the good brother takes off to find his son the story trots along on a good pace. Cadfael's son finally comes to know his father by the end, but although the story reaches a satisying conclusion, fans of the series can't help but feel saddened that there will be no further exploration of that relationship.
a wonderful story to end the brother cadfael series. anyone who has read brother cadfael books must read the last.
A 12th century monk with a mystery on his hands
A classic, Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael mysteries are set in medieval times.
