The Hermit of Eyton Forest

by Ellis Peters
Category: "Fiction - Mystery"
Pages:224
Year of Publication:1988
Date Added:08/28/2008
Date Read:05/18/2015
Notes:A hermit named Cuthred, and his servant Brand take up residence near the Abbey on the estate of Dame Dionisia. She has a young grandson, Richard, whom she wishes to marry so she can get her hands on some neighboring estates. Richard is a schoolboy at the Abbey and, since he is only 10, has no interest in being married. A wealthy landowner from far away comes searching for an escaped servant. Richard puts things together and realizes Brand must be that servant. He rides to warn him and is, himself, captured on the way back to the Abbey. His grandmother coerces him into the marriage, but Brand, to return the favor sneaks into the house and informs Richard that Cuthred is no priest so the marriage will not be valid. Richard escapes and rides back to the Abbey and announces that Cuthred is no priest. Cadfael and Hugh the sheriff ride to confront Cuthred and find him dead. Cadfael puts the pieces together and figures out that Cuthred was really a messenger from Empress Maud sent to take valuable jewels and a message to her compatriot. The messenger ran off and was caught by another loyal to the Empress. The loyal slayer is allowed to ride off with the jewels. Richard returns to the Abbey school unmarried. And Brand is allowed to remain free and look for work.
My Rating: 6

Reviews for The Hermit of Eyton Forest

Review - Hermit of Eyton Forest, The

Not one of the better books in the series. Overly complicated, with too many characters. And Cadfael doesn't really solve the problems so much as he just wanders around while the participants work things out on their own.
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