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Title details for The Hermit of Eyton Forest by Ellis Peters - Available

The Hermit of Eyton Forest

#14 in series

by Ellis Peters
Roe Kendall
Audiobook
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The year is 1142. England is in the iron grip of civil war, and within the sheltered cloisters of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, there begins a chain of events no less momentous than the upheavals of the outside world.

First, there is the sad demise of the Lord of Eaton, whose ten-year-old son and heir, the young Richard, is a pupil at the abbey. The boy refuses to surrender his new powers to his formidable grandmother, Dionysia. Then there is the arrival of the hermit Cuthred, who enjoys the protection of Lady Dionysia, and whose young companion, Hyacinth, befriends Richard. Despite his reputation for holiness, Cuthred's arrival heralds a series of mishaps for the monks. When Richard disappears and a corpse is found in Eyton Forest, Brother Cadfael is once more forced to leave the tranquility of his herb garden and devote his knowledge of human nature to tracking down a ruthless murderer.

  • Creators

  • Series

    The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 16, 2010

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781481560849
      • File size: 224760 KB
      • Duration: 07:48:14

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      March 1, 1988
      Brother Cadfael, the 11th century Benedictine monk who functions admirably as healer, matchmaker and sleuth, marshals his considerable talents to solve two murders in this well-plotted but somewhat slick mystery. Ten-year-old Richard Ludel, a bright and independent student entrusted to the abbey's care by his father, has just inherited a large estate upon his father's death. His formidable grandmother, Dame Dionisia, insists that the unwilling boy be returned home and marry the heiress to the adjoining property. Two mysterious tenants on Dame Dionisia's land, a devout hermit, Cuthred, and his young aid, Hyacinth, are in league wtih the domineering dowager, who is unaware that Hyacinth is actually a runaway villein and that Cuthred's background is particularly heinous. When Richard disappears from the abbey, Dame Dionisia is immediately suspect. Other ominous events follow rapidly: an inquisitive nobleman is murdered in the forest; Hyacinth vanishes; and Cuthred is stabbed to death. Brother Cadfael must summon all his talents to solve the crimes, simultaneously playing matchmaker, doctor and high political games. Unfortunately, most of the characters are glibly superficial: lovers are fair and pure; villains cruel and swarthy. In his 14th appearance, however, Brother Cadfael remains as shrewd and unpredictable as ever.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      For those of us who are used to Brother Cadfael read by Stephen Thorne and liking it that way, I can only say: Give this narrator a chance--you won't regret it. Roe Kendall brings a different depth to Brother Cadfael, a more measured tread, and a more considered rhythm. The year is 1142, and England is caught up in a civil war as two factions battle for the Crown, and turmoil eventually spills over into quiet and happy Shrewsbury. When people begin to die shortly after the appearance of a strange holy man, the Hermit Cuthred, Cadfael must work fast to keep his quiet hamlet safe. Ellis Peters does her usual neat job of history-cum-entertainment, and Roe Kendall does an equally neat job of delivery. Her take on Hugh, the sheriff, is a new one as well, and overall her presentation has a lyric, musical quality that is quite charming. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      A funeral, a runaway villain, a murder, and an abduction give Brother Cadfael plenty of opportunities to puzzle his way through combined events and reach a satisfactory conclusion. Patrick Tull easily transports us back to the twelfth century and Shrewsbury Abbey, but this is a story that needs an attentive listener. Because of the voices and different accents used by Tull, it's easy to miss some of the dialogue, especially Cadfael's Welsh overtones. The language used is appropriate to the time, and descriptions of the area are lyrical and evocative. Once one becomes accustomed to the accents, the book is a delight! D.M.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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