A Morbid Taste for Bones

by Ellis Peters

This is the first book in the Cadfael Series. It was also a BBC television series.

Brother Cadfael is a Benedictine Monk who came late to his vocation after thirty years fighting in the holy land. He is worldly wise and intelligent. He does now enjoy his roll as the herbalist and pharmacist in the Monastery of St. Peter and Paul.

The monks of Shrewsbury Abbey need to have the relics of a saint that will bring pilgrims to the Abbey. They have not been lucky in their search. However, a young monk, Columbanus, has a fit that left him dazed for weeks. In his delirium he came upon a vision of a pilgrimage into Wales to see a Saint Winifred. He goes and upon return he tells the brothers that St Winifred spoke to him and asked that they go to Wales and bring back her remains.

Brother Cadfael is sceptical, but as he is Welsh, he is required to go. They arrive in the town of Gwythern and find Winifred’s grave. They go to the church in the town and tell them they will be taking the remains of Winifred. However, the town is against this and this tension leads to the murder of the man who stood in the way of the monks acquiring their relics. Cadfael suspects that Columbanus and Abbot Heribert, in their desire for a patron saint, have not been totally honest in terms of the miracles and visions Columbanus has experienced. But they would not stoop to murder. Brother Cadfael is challanged to find the murderer. In this process, he uncovers Columbanus’ deception, but he is not the murderer.

This is an entertaining book. Cadfael is brilliant, worldly and wise. He is too smart for the Abbot, however, he never lets on what he knows. He manages to finagle curcumstances in such a way that everyone feels that they have what they want.