The Cadfael stories are medieval mysteries set in England in the mid 12th century. Brother Cadfael, a Benedictine Welsh monk, is the central character. Before entering the life of a monk in his 40s he was a soldier and a sailor, lived in Palestine, had relationships with several women, and had a wide range of experiences from his travels. When he entered the monastery and became a herbalist, having learned the trade in the Middle East.
As a monk, we often does not strictly observe the rules, but he has a strong sense of empathy and justice. His superiors acknowledge his experience and keen mind so he ends up taking on the roles of detective, diplomat, and counselor. He sometimes pushes the limits and has to be held to account.
There are 21 books in the Cadfael series, written between 1977 and 1994. All of the books are rich in historical detail and insights into medieval life. Sometimes the mystery takes the forefront in the story and sometimes it is a tapestry of life, with a mystery as part of the plot.
St. Peter’s Fair is the fourth book in the series. There is a murder and Cadfael is caught up in both the investigation, but also in protecting the innocents. The mystery is not all that intriguing, but we can enjoy the the details of the medieval fair and its merchants. All of the stories take place during a time of strife in England and the Church inevitably is caught up in the power struggles of the time.
For all of the Cadfael stories the mysteries are well crafted, the historical details make a richer story, and Cadfael himself is someone we would choose to follow.
My rating – 4.4 out of 5.0 stars
The excellent Cadfael TV series was aired on ITV from 1994 – 1998, then was broadcast on PBS. All are fine detective stories. Some of them can be seen on YouTube:
