Books › One Corpse too Many
One Corpse too Many
First published 1979 · 373 pages
A comforting yet suspenseful medieval mystery where worldly wisdom and quiet observation triumph over the chaos of civil war.
What it feels like
Reading this historical mystery feels like stepping into the quiet, herb-scented sanctuary of a twelfth-century abbey while a brutal civil war rages just outside the walls. The pace is steady and methodical, mirroring the deliberate, observant nature of its monk-detective protagonist. It balances the grim realities of medieval warfare with a deeply comforting, almost cozy atmosphere rooted in compassion and moral clarity. The prose is richly textured, grounding you in the earthy realities of the period without ever becoming bogged down in dry history. It is a perfect read for those who delight in clever, character-driven sleuthing, where justice is achieved not through modern forensics, but through a deep, worldly understanding of human nature and a quiet, unyielding sense of duty.
- Mood
- earthy
- cloistered
- suspenseful
- autumnal
- Tone
- compassionate
- observant
- pragmatic
- atmospheric
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- justice amidst chaos · sanctuary vs brutality · moral duty · hidden identities
- The writing
- Richly descriptive and gently archaic, weaving period-accurate details into smooth, engaging sentences.
- The arc
- Begins with the grim sorrow of wartime casualties and builds toward a satisfying, morally grounded restoration of justice.
- Who it's for
- Fans of historical mysteries who prefer their sleuths to be wise, worldly, and armed with deep empathy rather than modern forensics.
Content notes
- wartime violence
- mass execution
- murder
About the book
The year is 1138. King Stephen and his cousin the Empress Maud are caught in a bitter struggle for the British crown. When Stephen finally captures the castle of Shrewsbury, one of Maud's few remaining hold-outs, his victory is a bloody one. Ninety-four prisoners, the surviving defenders of the Empress's castle, are taken. And ninety-four are hanged.
Brother Cadfael of the nearby Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul is called upon to give a decent burial to the dead. But before they can reach their final resting place, Cadfael discovers an extra corpse. This is no soldier- the ninety-fifth body is that of a youth, killed by a knife to his pale young throat.
An amateur detective with no small share of courage, Cadfael is determined to identify the young man- and his murderer. For help he has a lovely young fugitive with her won supply of bravery, and together they set out to solve this charming and suspenseful mystery.
"You'll love Brother Cadfael, wily veteran of the Crusades....this was England before the age of tea and crumpets." Los Angeles Times Book Review
Taken directly off the back of the 1990 American version of the book
Description from Open Library.
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