Monk's Hood  Style: Average  Attitude: Edifying  Author: Ellis
Peters  Series: Brother Cadfael  Age Range: Young Teens+
Period: 12th C  Genres:  DetectiveHistorical   Gervase Bonel
dies of poisoning before an agreement to hand his manor over to
Shrewsbury Abbey can be ratified. Suspicion falls on his
15-year-old stepson, Edwin, who stands to gain the manor.
Brother Cadfael learns that Edwin is not the murderer, helps him
to hide, strives to establish his innocence, and inadvertently
unearths the real murderer.   As a detective story, fair to
middling; knowing Ellis Peters' style, it's not too difficult to
work out whodunnit. As ever with Brother Cadfael stories, the
enjoyment lies in the characters and the virtues and vices they
evince. The discovery that Gervase's widow is an old flame of
Cadfael from before his crusading days is handled sensibly. A
nice point is made towards the end when the murderer wants to
“confess” to Brother Cadfael, and while the monk hears him out,
and offers a “penance”, he stresse