A Morbid Taste for Bones - Ellis Peters - A Short Summary & Review
A Morbid Taste for Bones - Ellis Peters - A Short Summary & Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
A Morbid Taste for Bones introduces Brother Cadfael during the turbulent years of the twelfth century, when civil war fractures England and faith is often entangled with politics. When monks are sent to retrieve the bones of a revered saint, they uncover not sanctity but murder, a crime hidden beneath the language of devotion and miracle.
As rival factions vie for spiritual and political advantage, Cadfael applies reason, compassion, and lived experience to untangle truth from ambition. The novel lays the groundwork for the series by establishing a world where justice is shaped as much by mercy as by law.
My favorite quote from the book:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
This is a very good way to start a series.
Ellis Peters immediately grounds the reader in a richly rendered historical moment, one where belief, power, and survival collide. I love this period of history, and Peters uses it not as decoration, but as an active force shaping every motive and choice.
Cadfael is compelling from the start: thoughtful, observant, and quietly principled. The mystery unfolds with restraint, allowing character and consequence to carry the weight rather than sensational twists.
By the end, the appeal is clear, not just of the puzzle, but of the man who solves it. I finished this book already looking forward to the next, confident that I’d found a series worth settling into.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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