Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters

Silver Dagger Award Winner: In this medieval mystery, Brother Cadfael faces suspicion when one of his herbal ingredients is used to kill a man. Gervase Bonel is a guest of Shrewsbury Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul when he suddenly takes ill. Luckily, the abbey boasts the services of the clever and kindly Brother Cadfael, a skilled herbalist. Cadfael hurries to the man’s bedside, only to be confronted with two surprises: In Master Bonel’s wife, the good monk recognizes Richildis, whom he loved before he took his vows—and Master Bonel has been fatally poisoned by monk’s-hood oil from Cadfael’s stores. The sheriff is convinced that the murderer is Richildis’s son, Edwin, who hated his stepfather. But Cadfael, guided in part by his concern for a woman to whom he was once betrothed, is certain of her son’s innocence. Using his knowledge of both herbs and the human heart, Cadfael deciphers a deadly recipe for murder.

I didn't know what to expect from a Medieval cozy, but I was pleasantly surprised. The setting was enveloping. The characters were interesting. And the mystery was solvable from the 1100s. It was nice.

No one will miss him
tempting estate up for grabs
one less spiteful lord.

In Monk's Hood, the third book in Ellis Peters' beloved Brother Cadfael's medieval mystery series, the herbalist monk once again finds himself untangling the threads of a devilishly complex crime. The year is 1138 and the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud rages on, providing the tumultuous political backdrop for the story.

When Cadfael takes in a wounded young man, he doesn't expect it to lead to a twisted tale of love, betrayal, and murderous vengeance. The victim is Liliwin, a member of a prominent family caught in the heart of the royal conflict. As Cadfael tends to the innocent man's injuries, he must also deal with the dead body of a missing monk discovered in the abbey garden, dressed in a wealthy knight's habits.

With her customary skill, Peters transports the reader to 12th-century Shrewsbury, vividly evoking the sights, sounds and social tensions of the era. Her characters come alive, from the caring yet canny Cadfael to the cavalcade of knights, nobles, and clergymen embroiled in the tangled web.

While the mystery itself is intricate and clever, propelling you towards the dramatic finale, it's Peters' depiction of Cadfael's world that makes Monk's Hood such a treat. A potent blend of suspense, historical detail, and wry humour, this entry is sure to delight longstanding fans of the series as well as newcomers alike. My only quibble is that the ultimate culprit's motivations felt slightly underdeveloped compared to some prior books.

For those who savour intelligent historical mysteries steeped in ambience and monastic herblore, Monk's Hood makes for a deeply satisfying read. Ellis Peters' skill at Renaissance-era storytelling shines through on every page.