Monk’s Hood is “The Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael, of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at Shrewsbury.” Although there is some continuity in this cozy-historical mystery series, so far, at least, it seems that any one of these books can be read without the benefit of having read those preceding it.

It is close to Christmas in 1138, and a family has moved into a house on the abbey property. At that time in history, one could turn over one’s estate to monasteries or convents in exchange for room and board until death. Thus a Master Bonel and his wife and stepson begin to occupy the house.

Brother Cadfael, who is a monk come late to the cloistered life after a checkered career and stint in the Crusades, is now in charge of herbs and remedies at the Abbey. He is called to Master Bonel’s house when the latter is taken ill. As Cadfael tries to treat Master Bonel (to no avail, since he has been poisoned by a mixture of herbs containing monk’s-hood), he recognizes in Bonel’s wife his fiancé of forty years ago, Richildis. Richildis married someone else when Cadfael took too long to return from the Crusades. Bonel is her second husband, and now he is dead. Her fourteen year old son Edwin is accused of the murder, and she begs Cadfael for his help.

Cadfael is convinced of Edwin’s innocence as well, and resolves to help them by finding the real murderer. He is aided by his young assistant in the herbarium, Brother Mark. Cadfael likes Edwin very much, and ponders what it would have been like to have married Richildis and had children:

"Brother Cadfael heaved a deep sigh that might have been of regret, but might equally well have been of relief.”

He solves the mystery and even dispenses justice, using his talent for detective work, his knowledge of the ways of men, his generosity of spirit, and his trademark senses of humor and justice.

Evaluation: This cozy-historical mystery is short and engaging, and a pleasant way to pass the time. The “mystery” is not so well-hidden that you can’t figure it out, but the pleasure is in seeing how Brother Cadfael, a very likeable character, goes about it. ( )

Again Ellis Peters weaves a tale of murder and intrigue into the fabric of medieval culture and customs in this third chronicle of Brother Cadfael of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury. In this episode we are introduced to Richildis, the long-ago love of Brother Cadfael, affianced when they were 17 but until now, separated when Brother Cadfael left on the Crusades. While living in a grace house at the Abbey, the present husband of Richildis is murdered with the blame placed upon Richildis' son. Brother Cadfael, resident herbalist and sleuth at the Abbey, recognizes the poison, Monk's Hood, as being the means of the murder and sets out to find the truth wherever it leads him. The author has a gift for imagery as when she describes thusly the sounds of pneumonia in a monk, "He has it hard Cadfael, you hear the leaves of his heart rustling as he breathes, like a man's feet in the woods in autumn." Another fine addition to this immensely popular and acclaimed series. ( )

The lord of a manor has promised to leave the manor to Shrewsbury Abbey in exchange for retirement benefits. He is poisoned before the deal is completed and the most likely suspect is his stepson, whose mother turns out to be an old flame of Cadfael's.

Enjoyable story. There were a couple of places where I wondered what language the characters were speaking. I think this is a recurring problem in the books that Peters doesn't do enough to address. Did Cadfael do the right thing with the murderer? We've got no way of knowing, we just have to trust in his judge of character. ( )

In general I'm not a big fan of detection/murder mystery novels and haven't read much in the genre, but I found this to be very well-written, with great characters and a well-realized historical setting. I will be reading more in this series. ( )

I love the Cadfael chronicles.
This is one of my fave stories. I also like the series.
Cadfael meets Rischildies. They would have been married if he came back earlier from the crusades. Now, Brother Cadfael must help her find her husbands murderer and bring them to justice. ( )