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Original poster

Cadfaell books by Ellis Peters - any good?

28 replies

fatowl · 03/09/2017 12:16

They are all 99p on Kindle today.

Worth reading? I'm enjoying Shardlake and I like other historical fiction.
Would like something a bit "easy" after a couple of heavy going books.

OP posts:
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MipMipMip · 03/09/2017 19:16

They're good. Although don't believe their version of The Battle of Lincoln (mentioned in one of the later books)as the geography is decidedly imaginative! Grin

C8H10N4O2 · 03/09/2017 19:03

For 99p definitely worth a try and read them in order. Not the level of complexity of some but enjoyable reads and mostly likeable characters.

I was looking for something similar for my Mother recently and since Ellis Peters wrote the Cadfaels an entire industry seems to have grown in creating historical detectives, many appear in the Kindle 99p section from time to time. I have a set about an Abbess waiting to be read next time I want period detectives with happy endings!

GnomeDePlume · 03/09/2017 18:29

HelenaJustina (good name BTW!). I get the books on Audible. I have a monthly subscription so each book costs me about £7.50ish. The amount of detail makes them eminently repeatable so worth the cost. Alternatively your local library might stock them.

The Inspector Felse stories are good, similarly light but humane. My favourite is The Grass Widows Tale.

BertrandRussell · 03/09/2017 16:54

Clue. It's almost always a girl dressed up as a boy.

BertrandRussell · 03/09/2017 16:53

You might find them a bit light and samey if you like Shardlake. But definitely worth 99p

HelenaJustina · 03/09/2017 16:48

Ghome where did you find Falco audio books?! Am a fan...

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 03/09/2017 14:48

Read in order!

Fantastic series, great comfort reading for when you just want a lovely story to lose yourself in.

We have all of them and they take up a lot of shelf...

Leavingonajet · 03/09/2017 14:40

I remember liking them but they are much lighter than Shardlake which I also like.

Original poster
fatowl · 03/09/2017 14:37

Brilliant thanks!

Have just got the first three for 99p each Grin

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TollgateDebs · 03/09/2017 13:58

They are good, but I prefer her work as Edith Pargeter, which is her real name. Give them a go, particularly The Brothers of Gwynned quartet.

catkind · 03/09/2017 13:50

There is a satisfying amount of historical backdrop, the stories are sweet and safe but rather predictable. I'd definitely start at the beginning, then you will see familiar characters pop up and understand where they fit in.

GnomeDePlume · 03/09/2017 13:38

They are quite light in the sense that they aren't great literature but I have found them quite satisfying.

Read them in order if you can as some characters reappear in later novels.

As an alternative have you tried the Falco mysteries? Set in Rome with occasional forays to other parts. I find the Roman domestic details fascinating. They make good audio books as well.

Nellyphants · 03/09/2017 13:34

There was a great cadfael tv series made about 20 years ago with Derek Jacoby. Worth looking out for.

hedwig2001 · 03/09/2017 13:32

Wonderful books. I was named after one of her characters, as my Mum was reading the book in pregnancy. Ellis Peters was quite chuffed when asked to sign a book for me a few years before she died.

HelenaJustina · 03/09/2017 13:23

I would read in order if you can. It helps with character development etc

RustyBear · 03/09/2017 13:08

Many of them are standalone, but you must read One Corpse Too Many before any except A Morbid Taste for Bones. It's best really to read them in order, as they mostly relate the progress of the civil war between Maud and Stephen.

WinterIsComingKnitFaster · 03/09/2017 13:07

They're quite light weight, but very good of that kind.

She was a lovely and very generous person according to my late DGM who ran the Friends of the local hospital.

annandale · 03/09/2017 13:02

They kind of a stand alone but yes there are recurring characters etc. I would read in order just because the early ones are a lot better IMO. my favourite was The Virgin in the Ice.

endehors · 03/09/2017 13:02

I probably still have my old paperbacks tucked away in the attic, but I might buy one for Kindle to revisit.

endehors · 03/09/2017 13:00

I think they were ok, possibly lighter weight, though I may be misremembering. It is some years since I read them as a young teenager.

Original poster
fatowl · 03/09/2017 12:49

Wow- a swift and unanimous response!

Just before I order a few, start at the beginning with number one or are they truly stand alone?
(Shardlake being technically standalone, but some characters and their stories keep recurring)

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HelenaJustina · 03/09/2017 12:43

I love them! And bought them all for my Kindle when they were a lot more than 99p...

RustyBear · 03/09/2017 12:40

Yes, definitely worth it.
Her Felse books are also all on Kindle at 99p today - I've never got round to reading those yet, but I think I'll take the plunge today!

bsmirched · 03/09/2017 12:28

Yes they're excellent.

RubyGoat · 03/09/2017 12:26

I really like Cadfael. I have all of them as paper copy, I must investigate the Kindle deal as I'm trying to reduce my bookshelf...