This particular Cadfael novel is a little slow to get going, with an unusual lack of mysterious corpses or sinister characters to investigate. Two monks fleeing the massacre at Winchester arrive at Shrewsbury, one maimed in the Crusades and a younger, silent companion tirelessly caring for him. As well as tending to the elder’s wounds, Cadfael wonders about the past of the silent young monk devoted to the welfare of his patient, and tries to discover what bond it is that keeps them so strongly linked.
The pace
increases later in the story, and the ending is, if anything, more poignant for
being more of a contemplative tale than usual. As always with Ellis Peters, the
historical detail is vivid and ever-present without being intrusive, and Cadfael’s attitude of
open-minded acceptance means that the fact that he’s a monk doesn’t force
religious doctrine onto the reader.
An Excellent Mystery is a particularly
complex story where morality is concerned, and touches on issues such as
homosexuality and arranged marriage with a sense of compassion and
understanding. All in all, not the most action-packed and exciting of Cadfael’s
adventures, but one that leaves you thinking for some time afterwards.
Next up: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
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