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Cover of A Morbid Taste for Bones

Historical Fiction · 2014 · G

A Morbid Taste for Bones

by Ellis Peters

12th-century Wales. A monk who can't stop asking questions. And a body that shouldn't be there.

The “irresistible” and “compelling” first novel in the historical mystery series featuring a Welsh Benedictine monk in the twelfth century (The Washington Post). A Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey in western England, Brother Cadfael spends much of his time tending the herbs and vegetables in the garden—but now there’s a more pressing matter. Cadfael is to serve as translator for a group of monks heading to the town of Gwytherin in Wales. The team’s goal is to collect the holy remains of Saint Winifred, which Prior Robert hopes will boost the abbey’s reputation, as well as his

For12+GenreHistorical FictionLength208 pagesRead time~5.8 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

A murder — the death is central to the plot; handled with period realism rather than graphic content

Language

None

Literate historical prose; clean language

Sexual Content

None

No sexual content

Substance Use

None

No substance use — a monastic setting

Emotional Intensity

Barely any

Very low — the gentle humanity of Brother Cadfael pervades the narrative

What this book is about

In 1137, Brother Cadfael of Shrewsbury Abbey joins a delegation to acquire the bones of a Welsh saint — and finds himself investigating a murder in the village that has everything to lose and everything to gain from the enterprise. The debut of the beloved Cadfael Chronicles: warm, historically meticulous, and centered on a monk whose faith and humanity make him one of fiction's great detectives.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

A medieval murder mystery appropriate for most readers

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