An omnibus volume containing the first two chronicles of Brother Cadfael, the remarkable medieval detective, features A Morbid Taste for Bones and One Corpse Too Many, as well as photographs and text from Cadfael Country. 17,500 first printing.

To save his estranged son, a monk risks breaking his vows in this “moving and suspenseful” entry in the Silver Dagger Award–winning medieval mystery series (Booklist). For Brother Cadfael in the autumn of his life, the mild November of our Lord’s year 1145 may bring a bitter—and deadly—harvest. England is torn between supporters of the Empress Maud and those of her cousin Stephen. The civil strife is about to jeopardize not only Cadfael’s life, but his hopes of Heaven. While Cadfael has sometimes bent the abbey’s rules, he has never broken his monastic vows—until now. Word has come to Shrewsbury of a treacherous act that has left thirty of Maud’s knights imprisoned. All have been ransomed except Cadfael’s secret son, Olivier de Bretagne. Conceived in Cadfael’s soldiering youth and unaware of his father’s identity, Olivier will die if he is not freed. Like never before, Cadfael must boldly defy the abbot. The good brother forsakes the order to follow his heart—but what he finds will challenge his soul.

A collection of critical essays examine the Ellis Peters mystery series featuring the twelfth-century Benedictine monk and detective Brother Cadfael.

The enormous explosion of crime fiction over the last decade means that more people are looking for a good mystery than ever before. This dictionary of fictional detectives helps readers learn about the series in which their favorite detectives are featured. Included are alphabetically arranged entries on roughly 150 fictional detectives, which provide information about the works in which the detective appears, the locales in which the detective operates, the detective's investigative methods, and other important information. Helpful bibliographical citations direct the reader to other interesting works. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography; various appendices; and an extensive index. The enormous explosion of crime fiction over the last decade means that more people are looking for a good mystery than ever before. Many of the most popular mystery books appear in series, and these series feature carefully developed detectives.

The first three novels in the award–winning medieval mystery series featuring the Welsh monk, herbalist, and crime-solver. Benedictine monk Brother Cadfael, “wily veteran of the Crusades,” has a deep knowledge of herbalism he picked up in the Holy Land, and a skill for observing human nature—both blessings in dire situations (Los Angeles Times). This volume includes the first three books in the series that earned its author a CWA Silver Dagger Award: A Morbid Taste for Bones At Shrewsbury Abbey, Brother Cadfael tends herbs and vegetables in the garden—but now there’s a more pressing matter. He is to serve as translator for a group of monks heading to a Welsh town to collect the holy remains of Saint Winifred, which Prior Robert hopes will boost the abbey’s reputation as well as his own. But when they arrive in Gwytherin, some object to disturbing the grave—and one of them is killed by an arrow. Some believe Saint Winifred herself delivered the deadly blow, but Brother Cadfael knows better . . . “Irresistible . . . compelling.” —The Washington Post One Corpse Too Many In 1138, war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud takes Brother Cadfael from his quiet garden into a battlefield of passions, deceptions, and death. Not far from the abbey, Shrewsbury Castle falls, leaving its ninety-four defenders to hang as traitors. With a heavy heart, Cadfael agrees to bury the dead, only to make a grisly discovery: one extra victim who’s been strangled, not hanged . . . “A colorful and authentic medieval background.” —Publishers Weekly Monk’s Hood Gervase Bonel is a guest of the abbey when he suddenly takes ill. Skilled herbalist Brother Cadfael hurries to the man’s bedside, only to be confronted with two surprises: In Master Bonel’s wife, the good monk recognizes a woman he loved before he took his vows—and Master Bonel has been fatally poisoned by monk’s-hood oil from Cadfael’s stores . . . “Each addition to the series is a joy.” —USA Today

Presents extended reviews of noteworthy books, short reviews, essays and articles on topics and trends in publishing, literature, culture and the arts. Includes lists of best sellers (hardcover and paperback).

Pioneering and interdisciplinary in nature, this bibliography constitutes a comprehensive list of regional fiction for every county of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England over the past two centuries. In addition, other regions of a usually topographical or urban nature have been used, such as Birmingham and the Black Country; London; The Fens; the Brecklands; the Highlands; the Hebrides; or the Welsh border. Each entry lists the author, title, and date of first publication. The geographical coverage is encompassing and complete, from the Channel Islands to the Shetlands. An original introduction discusses such matters as definition, bibliographical method, popular readerships, trends in output, and the scholarly literature on regional fiction.

A dictionary of over 117 women mystery authors giving details on their lives and their writing habits.

Your students and users will find biographical information on approximately 300 modern writers in this volume of Contemporary Authors®. Authors in this volume include: Gertrude Bell George Gissing Cokie Roberts Laurence Walsh