The Devil's Novice

by Ellis Peters
Category: "Fiction - Mystery"
Pages:192
Year of Publication:1983
Date Added:10/22/2006
Date Read:10/20/2006
Notes:The eighth book in the Brother Cadfael series.

In the autumn of 1140, a young man named Meriet Aspley enters the abbey in Shrewsbury hoping to become a brother. But his strange behavior causes discension — he has a strange aversion to blood, he has haunting nightmares, and he carries a lock of hair.

When Cadfael discovers that an envoy from King Stephen disappeared shortly before Meriet's arrival (after a night spent at the Aspley's) he becomes suspicious. Meriet's guilt seems proven when he leads a group to the envoy's grave and confesses to the crime, but Cadfael doesn't believe him. He thinks Meriet is covering for someone else and he intends to find out who — even if he has to disrupt the wedding of Meriet's older brother.
My Rating: 7

Reviews for The Devil's Novice

Review - Devil's Novice, The

The plot isn't really the point in Cadfael mysteries — this one was a bit silly. But the pacing and characters were great. I can get lost in the atmosphere. Cadfael never hurries. He goes about his duties, mixes his herbs, asks his questions, says his prayers and ponders — and solves the case.
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