Ellis Peters has made the medieval mystery novel what it is today, setting high standards not only for historical accuracy but for believable characters, well-thought-out plots, and exquisite writing. Unfortunately, she doesn't always live up to these standards herself.
This package comprises some of the high points of the series: Monk's Hood, St. Peter's Fair (which has a far more satisfying conclusion than the rather simplistic TV movie), The Heretic's Apprentice, and especially The Potter's Field, which begins quietly but turns into a powerful tale of youthful idealism and middle-aged passion.
The Summer of the Danes has memorable characters and a beautifully described excursion outside the confines of Shrewsbury, and Peters cleverly links the fortunes of Cadfael et al. to significant events in Welsh history (which she has also made into a series of novels). But, a couple of chapters into the story, the author forgets that Brother Mark can't speak Welsh and Cadfael is supposed to be there as his interpreter (well, maybe it's a miracle, but in that case she forgot to credit St. Winifrid!).
Likewise, in Brother Cadfael's Penance, our hero unravels a murder using physical evidence plus a fishy explanation offered by the perpetrator; later on he discovers that the murder was avenged by someone who identified the murderer without access to any of the evidence! Again, the characters and the setting are vivid, the "real" history is an integral part of the story, and Brother Cadfael's conflict between his duties as a monk and as a father makes for an engaging tale -- but the implausibility of the "payoff" seriously weakens the novel.
I feel that, in general, this has the highest consistent quality of any contemporary mystery series. All the novels are worth reading, but some require tongue placed firmly in cheek first.

Realistically, this book thoroughly delves into the "deeper things" concerning scripture. Let he who "has an ear to hear" understand, and the less intellectual stand aside.

While this book is certainly focused on a complete theology of missions, it has a wealth of practical theology for everyday Christians and Pastors. This is not for beginners but certainly every Christian should read this book to broaden their thinking and it is a must read for all church leaders of "evangelical" churches.

In this volume, Hochachka and Somero present the findings of a large number of biochemical investigations. This material is organized in terms of various means of adaptation to extreme environments. This facinating synthesis of a large amount of material is easily accessible to the undergraduate student of biology or biochemisty, and would be worth the effort to those with less formal interest in the subject.

This book's fantastic! It docoments the story of Chuck Jones thinkin he was gonna do a better version of Peter and the Wolf than Walt Disney.It contains tons of colour and black and white photos from the film.Chuck Jones'animation,like Disney himself,is splendid.The other WB animatours,like Robert McKimson,Friz Freling and Tex Avery have animation as splendid like Disney himself.In fact,this version of Peter and the Wolf is way better than Walt Disney's version of Peter and the Wolf! Relive the moment it was first made in this book!

this book is one of the most concise and clearly thought out atlases on histology that I've encountered so far. It is amazingly easy to use and is chock full of only relevent information...no rambling. Three thumbs up!

These plays are fun to read. They might seem old fashioned because they were written two hundred years ago, but actually I think they are relevant today and any day. I've read all four plays already dozens of times, and I wish more people could become acquainted with this period's marvelous literature.

This book had me hooked by the end of the first chapter. I really enjoyed the story, and I would highly recommend "The Consultancy" to anyone.

This is the kind of book that kids love to imitate. I have seen school classes take off on its two word rhymes and make books of their own. The images are very natural to kids used to computer screens; it's the grown-ups who lag in their visual skills. While Damp Camp is definitely about summer camp, it is also about having fun with words and about connecting words with experience. Buy and try!

Is vulgarity grounds for murder? Alfred Armiger had antagonized many with his greed and crass acquisitiveness. So when the ruthless beer baron is discovered dead, his head beaten in by a magnum of champagne, there is no shortage of suspects. But all of Comerford is shocked with Detective George Felse arrests Kitty Norris, the daughter of a rival beer baron, the last person to see Armiger alive, and the main beneficiary of his will! But Kitty, charming and popular, has an unexpected advocate in Felse's young son, Dominic, who secretly adores her. Passionately convinced of Kitty's innocence, Dominic sets out to find the true culprit, a hazardous undertaking that might well cost him his life!

Best known for the Brother Cadfael mysteries, Ellis Peters actually wrote the Felse series first, but until recent years, these appealing books have been out of print in the United States. "Death and the Joyful Woman," which received an Edgar Award, deserves a warm welcome from American readers. Peters has told not only an engaging mystery but a sensitive coming-of-age story as well. Characters and relationships are sharply delineated--Dominic is a highly likable teen sleuth and his interactions with his parents, especially his father, are both amusing and touching. And a subplot concerning a struggling young couple and an unusual painting--the Joyful Woman of the title--proves just as involving as the main storyline. Readers of "Fallen into the Pit," Peters' first Felse mystery, may notice that the method Dominic uses to flush out the murderer is similar to the one he employs here, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent novel. Highly recommended.