Publication
Blackstone Audio, Inc. (2012)
Original publication date
1982
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Description
Brother Cadfael sets out on a dangerous quest to find a trio of missing travelers The winter of 1139 will disrupt Brother Cadfael's tranquil life in Shrewsbury with the most disturbing of events. Raging civil war has sent refugees fleeing north from Worcester. Among them are two orphans from a noble family, a boy of thirteen and an eighteen-year-old girl of great beauty, and their companion, a young Benedictine nun. The trio never reaches Shrewsbury, having disappeared somewhere in the wild countryside. Cadfael is afraid for these three lost lambs, but another call for help sends him to the church of Saint Mary. A wounded monk, found naked and bleeding by the roadside, will surely die without Cadfael's healing arts. Why this holy man has been attacked and what his fevered ravings reveal soon give Brother Cadfael a clue to the fate of the missing travelers. Now Cadfael sets out on a dangerous quest to find them. The road will lead him to a chill and terrible murder and a tale of passion gone awry. And at journey's end awaits a vision of what is best, and worst, in humankind.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: Comforting consistency characterizes Cadfael's culprit catching.
Extended review:
The Sixth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael, of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at Shrewsbury, is a little more complex than its predecessors and hence more interesting.
The spirited
Ample description also contributes to atmosphere and to a sense of vivid presence. The deep wintry setting of this episode raises gusts of frosty chill from the page.
In the course of the unfolding of a plot from the point of view of a medieval monastic, the author creates opportunities for fitting interludes of reflection and contemplation. These add depth to the storytelling as well as to the character. For example, this rumination in the thoughts of Brother Cadfael (page 90):
=====(Excerpt begins)
Well, they happen, the lightning-strokes of God, the gifted or misfortunates who are born into a world where they nowhere belong, the saints and scholars who come to manhood unrecognized, guarding the swine in the forest pastures among the beechmast, the warrior princes villein-born and youngest in a starving clan, set to scare the crows away from the furrow. Just as hollow slave-rearlings are cradled in the palaces of kings, and come to rule, however ineptly, over men a thousand times their worth.
=====(Excerpt ends)
This novel was published only thirty-one years ago. To me its style gives it a timeless feel. I'm glad I still have another fourteen to look forward to in the series.
Extended review:
The Sixth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael, of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at Shrewsbury, is a little more complex than its predecessors and hence more interesting.
The spirited
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young woman, her bold, handsome champion, one or more menacing malefactors, and at least one duplicitous transgressor are becoming familiar staples of the plot. This particular entry also affords us a very young hero-in-the-making, a tormented soul who counts himself among the lost, and a battle scene with considerably more sword action than we usually find in stories of men of the cloister. The plot skillfully evades predictability while still remaining solidly anchored in the physical and sociopolitical landscape of twelfth-century England.Ample description also contributes to atmosphere and to a sense of vivid presence. The deep wintry setting of this episode raises gusts of frosty chill from the page.
In the course of the unfolding of a plot from the point of view of a medieval monastic, the author creates opportunities for fitting interludes of reflection and contemplation. These add depth to the storytelling as well as to the character. For example, this rumination in the thoughts of Brother Cadfael (page 90):
=====(Excerpt begins)
Well, they happen, the lightning-strokes of God, the gifted or misfortunates who are born into a world where they nowhere belong, the saints and scholars who come to manhood unrecognized, guarding the swine in the forest pastures among the beechmast, the warrior princes villein-born and youngest in a starving clan, set to scare the crows away from the furrow. Just as hollow slave-rearlings are cradled in the palaces of kings, and come to rule, however ineptly, over men a thousand times their worth.
=====(Excerpt ends)
This novel was published only thirty-one years ago. To me its style gives it a timeless feel. I'm glad I still have another fourteen to look forward to in the series.
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LibraryThing member chrissie3
I have to be honest. Throughout most of the book I thought it was just OK, two stars, even though from the very beginning I did really like the atmosphere of the cold and snowy winter; it was perfectly depicted. It wasn't until the last chapter that I understood the importance of this book. It too
I do not agree with those who say this series need not be read in order. Maybe you do not need to, but that is how you will get the most out of them. However start with book two and read the rest in order. Throw in book one when you want to fill in lost details. The more you read, the more you will fall in love with the different monks and other influential characters. They grow; you learn who they are. Each action builds upon another.
This book, book 6, isn't wow until the end, and then you realize its importance. I am not saying it is bad, it is just not one of the best, but it must be read!
Narration by Vanessa Benjamin was in my view not as good as narration by Johanna Ward (alias Kate Reading) or Stephen Thorne.
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BEFORE READING:
Previously, I have listened to the abridged version at BBC and disliked it, but since I know now I like the series, I will listen instead to the unabridged audiobook. It is not abridged and not destroyed by BBC dramatization!
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is a must read! These books hold together; to get the most from them they must be read as a group. Each builds upon the other, and in a beautiful way! Ellis writes beautifully, with humor, descriptive ability and with plot content carefully planned. You effortlessly learn about a past era. I do not agree with those who say this series need not be read in order. Maybe you do not need to, but that is how you will get the most out of them. However start with book two and read the rest in order. Throw in book one when you want to fill in lost details. The more you read, the more you will fall in love with the different monks and other influential characters. They grow; you learn who they are. Each action builds upon another.
This book, book 6, isn't wow until the end, and then you realize its importance. I am not saying it is bad, it is just not one of the best, but it must be read!
Narration by Vanessa Benjamin was in my view not as good as narration by Johanna Ward (alias Kate Reading) or Stephen Thorne.
*********************
BEFORE READING:
Previously, I have listened to the abridged version at BBC and disliked it, but since I know now I like the series, I will listen instead to the unabridged audiobook. It is not abridged and not destroyed by BBC dramatization!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Joycepa
No. 6 in the Brother Caedfel series.
In the late fall of 1139, the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maude for the throne of England flares up and engulfs the city of Worcester which lies close to the Welsh border and not far south of Shrewsbury. As a result, a tide of refugees washes
Brother Caedfel becomes involved when he is summoned to the abbey at Bromfeld, where a monk, who has been beaten nearly to death by brigands, turns out to have a connection with the sought-for Hugonins.
In one of the more complicated and excellent plots of the series, Peters, through the eyes of Brother Caedfel and his efforts to both heal the wounded and rescue the Hugonins, describes the human cost of the civil war: missing relatives, bandits who take advantage of the civil chaos, murder, rape—and the poignant human tragedy of families split asunder by differing allegiances.
One of the best in the series. Highly recommended.
In the late fall of 1139, the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maude for the throne of England flares up and engulfs the city of Worcester which lies close to the Welsh border and not far south of Shrewsbury. As a result, a tide of refugees washes
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over Shrewsbury Abbey and the town itself. To the abbey comes a messenger from a brother house in Worcester, seeking the whereabouts of two children of a noble family, Ermina and her younger brother Yves Hugonin. Part of the refugee crowd, they were making their way north to Shrewsbury accompanied by a Benedictine nun, Sister Hilaria. But they have disappeared, and their uncle, newly returned from Jerusalem, is frantically seeking them. Brother Caedfel becomes involved when he is summoned to the abbey at Bromfeld, where a monk, who has been beaten nearly to death by brigands, turns out to have a connection with the sought-for Hugonins.
In one of the more complicated and excellent plots of the series, Peters, through the eyes of Brother Caedfel and his efforts to both heal the wounded and rescue the Hugonins, describes the human cost of the civil war: missing relatives, bandits who take advantage of the civil chaos, murder, rape—and the poignant human tragedy of families split asunder by differing allegiances.
One of the best in the series. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member seoulful
In this sixth book in the Brother Cadfael medieval mystery series, we experience a moving juxtaposition of birth and death during a bitter cold Christmastime. Brother Cadfael, who took orders late in life and entered the Abbey at Shrewsbury, England, spent his early years in the world and most
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notably on Crusades in the service of Robert of Normandy. He now lives simply at the Abbey as herbalist, but brings from those years of violence an observant eye, a depth of knowledge and highly honed skills in criminology. All of these attributes are needed as he wades into a complex situation during the time of another disruptive battle between The Empress Maud and King Stephen. Two children of noble parentage are lost amongst the refugees fleeing from the sacking of Worcester. The young girl makes willful, unwise choices leading to dangerous circumstances for both her and her brother. Their guardian sends a trusted warrior to help find them, leading to an astounding revelation in the final pages. Hugh Beringar, able under-sheriff of the shire, also joins the hunt, immediately following the birth of his first child. He brings to Cadfael, who is in the midst of caring for a badly beaten Brother and pondering the mystery of a dead woman found encased in ice, this joyous news of his son's birth plus the birth of a son to a refugee couple from Worcester living with the Beringars. After the successful solving of the young woman's murder, there is a poignant exchange between Cadfael and Hugh as they make their way back to Shrewsbury, to Hugh's new son and to the imminent Christmas feast. Not only Hugh and the couple from Worcester have new sons, but to Cadfael, himself, has been revealed the existence of a son he never knew existed. He muses, "A time of births, of triumphant begettings, and this year how richly celebrated--the son of the young woman from Worcester, the son of Aline and Hugh, the son of Mariam {Cadfael's long ago mistress in Antioch}, the Son of Man..." Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
My pleasure was immense at finding this audiobook narrated by Brother Cadfael himself, Derek Jacobi. I grew up loving the show and have yet to read the books they are based off of. I was insanely happy to find that some of the audiobooks were narrated by the lead of the show because it takes me
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back, plus Jacobi is an excellent narrator. This is book six in the Brother Cadfael series but honestly you can read any of these books out of order. Brother Cadfael is a benedictine monk during the middle ages that helps solve murder mysteries. In The Virgin in the Ice two high ranking children are lost, a monk found beaten nearly to death, and a nun murdered. Cadfael and the local sheriff, Hugh Berringer work together to unravel what has happened. An excellent read and the TV shows follows the story-line to a T. Show Less
LibraryThing member Othemts
Upon reading the previous chronicle of Brother Cadfael, I commented that the novels were getting formulaic. While some of those comments hold true, Ellis Peters really breaks the mold in this sixth adventure. Instead of a simple murder mystery, Cadfael finds himself in the midst of a land where
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civil war has prompted a band of outlaws to terrorize the country. Several crimes must be solved and missing persons found, which Cadfael does in good time, but for once the whodunit? is not the focus of the book. Instead, this novel focus more on the adventure, the alliances formed and broken, and the mysteries of human behavior. It is almost like a war novel in that sense. Peters also has been building up to a revelation for sometime in these books - silly as it seems - that Cadfael has a son, daring and intelligent as he. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
When the city of Worcester is attacked, a teenage brother and sister manage to escape with a young nun as their escort. They are headed for the abbey at Shrewsbury, but they never arrive. When word of the missing refugees reaches the abbey, Brother Cadfael is sent on a mission to find the
This installment in the Cadfael series is more an adventure novel than a murder mystery. Cadfael didn't have many chances to use his knowledge of healing and herbal remedies. Consequently, I didn't like this book as well as most of the others I've read in this series. Quite a bit of the action takes place outdoors as various characters battle the winter elements. It will probably appeal to readers who enjoy action and adventure stories.
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travelers. The weather has turned bitterly cold. Snow and ice make travel dangerous for the unprepared young people and add urgency to Cadfael's mission. Sadly, not all of the travelers will reach safety, but the weather isn't to blame. A murderer lurks somewhere in the winter storm.This installment in the Cadfael series is more an adventure novel than a murder mystery. Cadfael didn't have many chances to use his knowledge of healing and herbal remedies. Consequently, I didn't like this book as well as most of the others I've read in this series. Quite a bit of the action takes place outdoors as various characters battle the winter elements. It will probably appeal to readers who enjoy action and adventure stories.
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LibraryThing member JulesJones
BBC Radio 4 full cast dramatisation starring Philip Madoc as Brother Cadfael, in five episodes on two CDs. This is an excellent adaptation of the sixth novel in the Brother Cadfael series, and I think would work well even for those not already familiar with the novel.
LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
Oooh, so *that's* who Oliver is. :D This edition had more typos than a self-published ebook, but the story is great (if a little reminiscent of some of the earlier Cadfaels).
LibraryThing member amelish
swashbuckling, to the max!
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
My favourite Cadfel, a nice mix of external catastrophe, revelation of human depravity, and a love story. What's not to like? Our detective brought face -to-face with his own past, and an interesting level of police procedure, circa 1139.
LibraryThing member Helenliz
A re-read for the umpteenth time.
Brother Cadfael is a Welsh man who, after a prolonged career as sailor and crusader has found his niche as herbalist in Shrewsbury Abbey. And he does a sideline in solving crimes. this is the 6th in the series and is, I think, one of the best.
Set during the first
the ending, as ever with Cadfael books, is satisfying. there's a touch of the underdog gets his way and there's a promise of future romance. This one, however really ends in the most uplifting way (which I won't spoil) and it makes my heart rise each time.
A feel good book to escape the world just a bit.
Brother Cadfael is a Welsh man who, after a prolonged career as sailor and crusader has found his niche as herbalist in Shrewsbury Abbey. And he does a sideline in solving crimes. this is the 6th in the series and is, I think, one of the best.
Set during the first
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English Civil war, Worcester has been sacked and the refugees arrive in Shrewsbury. Sought amongst them in a group of 3, a young lady and her younger brother, accompanied by a young nun who was her tutor. And so the book revolves around the search for these three and the scrapes they get into. the ending, as ever with Cadfael books, is satisfying. there's a touch of the underdog gets his way and there's a promise of future romance. This one, however really ends in the most uplifting way (which I won't spoil) and it makes my heart rise each time.
A feel good book to escape the world just a bit.
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LibraryThing member devafagan
[re-read 2012]
Continuing my re-read of the series with one of my absolute favorites. I appreciate that this book provides not only another engaging mystery, endearing characters, and a fully realized, lovingly detailed setting, but also deeper revelations of Brother Cadfael's personal arc and his
Continuing my re-read of the series with one of my absolute favorites. I appreciate that this book provides not only another engaging mystery, endearing characters, and a fully realized, lovingly detailed setting, but also deeper revelations of Brother Cadfael's personal arc and his
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past as a crusader. Show Less
LibraryThing member pennsylady
4 ★
...Winter of 1139 will disrupt Brother Cadfael’s tranquil life in Shrewsbury ....historical mystery....a wounded Benedictine monk and three missing refuges....#6
...Winter of 1139 will disrupt Brother Cadfael’s tranquil life in Shrewsbury ....historical mystery....a wounded Benedictine monk and three missing refuges....#6
LibraryThing member hopeevey
This was another excellent Brother Caedfael mystery! I read a couple of the later stories out of order, so I had a couple hints about this story - but the spoiler didn't diminish my enjoyment of this one at all. As always, the plot is tight, the characters are delightful, and the writing is very,
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very engaging. I stayed up very late to finish reading it. Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
I have vaguely bad mem,ories of this as being oo grim for my taste,. Cadfael finds a girl frozen in ice.
LibraryThing member MarysGirl
I enjoyed this one more than the other two I've read, but I still guessed the murderer and surprise ending well in advance of the reveals. I've just read too much. What I did enjoy was the "voice" of the book, the dialog, and the beautiful descriptions of the countryside under snow. I find myself
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getting these books as a palette cleanser. They are fun, fast reads and this one does not disappoint. Show Less
LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
Brother Cadfael finds himself immersed in another mystery; this time he is looking for 2 lost children, Ermina, 18 and Yves Hugonin. When summoned to a nearby monastery to help a fellow monk, he finds himself face to face with the unexpected - 2 missing children whose uncle, newly returned from the
A wonderfully written, engaged novel written in such a way that you feel that you are in the Middle Ages. When Cadfael encounters Olivier de Bretagne, rescuer of Yves from the bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside, he realizes that Olivier is his son, yet chooses not to let him know this.
Excellent.
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Crusades, is looking for but is unable to personally do so because he sides with Empress Maud over the rule of England and the area the kids are lost in is in King Stephen's domain. A wonderfully written, engaged novel written in such a way that you feel that you are in the Middle Ages. When Cadfael encounters Olivier de Bretagne, rescuer of Yves from the bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside, he realizes that Olivier is his son, yet chooses not to let him know this.
Excellent.
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LibraryThing member fuzzi
Another good comfy mystery with Brother Cadfael, taking place in the winter of 1139. I appreciate how the author weaves history and culture of the time into the story without being obvious. This particular entry into the series was a tad better than the last, with the murderer not being obvious
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until revealed, which I appreciated. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
The three quarters of the Cadfael novels are so slow, and the last quarter moves so quickly! Ellis wraps up all the lingering questions the reader has and one shuts the book (or closes the Kindle app) happy to have reached the denouement, once again.
LibraryThing member smik
If you've not yet embarked on these historical mysteries, take my advice and read them as far as possible in publication order. That way you will be aware of political developments on the larger canvas of the Maude/Stephen civil war, and also of character development within the novels themselves.
A
A
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group of three has disappeared on the way from Worcester to Shrewsbury and there is an alert out for them. To make matters worse the weather is getting cold and the snows are coming. Bands of brigands are roaming the countryside, and travellers are not safe. Show Less
LibraryThing member fdholt
Wars still rage in King Stephen's England and the latest to suffer is Worchester. Two children accompanied by a nun are fleeing from the disaster and possible heading for Shrewsbury. Add a wounded monk and Brother Cadfael's 6th book is underway in The virgin in the ice. The red herrings are there
There is no map in this volume - strangely it is in the 7th volume (and not relevant that volume which takes place in the Abbey and town of Shrewsbury). It is also helpful to use the maps in previous volumes.
Recommended as a fine addition to the rest of the Cadfael chronicles.
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but, in the end, it's all sorted out.There is no map in this volume - strangely it is in the 7th volume (and not relevant that volume which takes place in the Abbey and town of Shrewsbury). It is also helpful to use the maps in previous volumes.
Recommended as a fine addition to the rest of the Cadfael chronicles.
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LibraryThing member murderbydeath
Not the best Brother Cadfael I’ve read, but Hugh was back and that was worth 1/2 a star. I might just even be in a grumpy reading mood, because, really, the mystery was crafted well enough, if the resolution was a tad weak. The murderer had very little in the way of evidence against him, and yet
Mostly, I disliked the protracted capture and battle scenes, especially as the captured was a 12 year old boy. A different time and place, to be sure, but still not my cup of tea to read about the torture of children.
The ending was rather sweet though.
This was my third Christmas mystery in a row, and I’m beginning to feel like I should put a tree up.
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Brother Cadfael and Hugh were quick to be certain.Mostly, I disliked the protracted capture and battle scenes, especially as the captured was a 12 year old boy. A different time and place, to be sure, but still not my cup of tea to read about the torture of children.
The ending was rather sweet though.
This was my third Christmas mystery in a row, and I’m beginning to feel like I should put a tree up.
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LibraryThing member kaida46
Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters (4 stars)
A Morbid Taste for Bones (#1) / The Virgin in the Ice (#6)
These books are part of a 21-book series about a 12th century Monk named Brother Cadfael, who has a talent for solving murder mysteries. There is also a PBS series about Brother Cadfael
Morbid Taste for Bones: The monastery where Cadfael lives is looking to gain more notoriety by beefing up their collection of relics from Saints, so one of the brothers has a miraculous vision showing him where to find some relics to take back to his monastery, it just so happens the relics are in Wales and the people of the town are not so convinced they need to give them up to these English Monks….
The Virgin in the Ice: The story begins with the historical sacking of Worcester in 1139, historical information is revealed, including a good inside look at English society in the middle ages and Cadfael sets out to look for a pair of royal youths who have been missing since the battle and solving murders along the way.
A Morbid Taste for Bones (#1) / The Virgin in the Ice (#6)
These books are part of a 21-book series about a 12th century Monk named Brother Cadfael, who has a talent for solving murder mysteries. There is also a PBS series about Brother Cadfael
Show More
starring Derrik Jacobi as the monk. I have seen a few of these shows so I decided to give the books a try as I was sampling different types of mystery stories. Cadfael is an interesting character, having been a crusading soldier in his younger days he is, you might say, a bit unconventional as a monk. He has a long colorful history behind him and there is a lot of pretty accurate historical fact thrown in with the novels as well keeping them entertaining and figuring out the ‘who done it’ portion with Brother Cadfael.Morbid Taste for Bones: The monastery where Cadfael lives is looking to gain more notoriety by beefing up their collection of relics from Saints, so one of the brothers has a miraculous vision showing him where to find some relics to take back to his monastery, it just so happens the relics are in Wales and the people of the town are not so convinced they need to give them up to these English Monks….
The Virgin in the Ice: The story begins with the historical sacking of Worcester in 1139, historical information is revealed, including a good inside look at English society in the middle ages and Cadfael sets out to look for a pair of royal youths who have been missing since the battle and solving murders along the way.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This is the first Brother Cadfael book I ever read. Nowadays people have been exposed to the series through the PBS TV programs but when they first came out Ellis Peters was not well known. It is more common now to have mysteries set in long ago times but I suspect Ellis Peters was the first one to
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do it and she did it marvelously. A real gem. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Other editions
The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters (CD audiobook)
The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters (Paperback)