One Corpse Too Many

The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

By: Ellis Peters

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

When the castle of Shrewsbury is taken during the war between Empress Maud and King Stephen, 94 prisoners are taken, 94 are hanged. When Brother Cadfael arrives to perform the burial rites, he finds one corpse too many among the bodies stacked about the fortress. Cadfael reports the discrepancy to Stephen's newly appointed Sheriff Gilbert Prescote, who reluctantly announces it to the town, asking if anyone can identify the unknown man.Godith identifies the murdered man as Nicholas Faintree, a squire of the rebel leader FitzAlan.

Investigate another case with Brother Cadfael.

©1979 Ellis Peters (P)1991 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Delightful...a colorful and authentic medieval background fraught with swordplay and a challenge to the death." ( Publishers Weekly)

I love this series

These books do a great job of capturing the Middle Ages, the monastic life, & the role the church played in every day life. Add to that great characters, good plots, early forensics, & a narrator whose voice fits the story perfectly, and what's not to love? (Note: I don't care much for the versions read by a woman, simply because there are SO many male characters that it just works better when read by a man.)

One of the best historical mysteries.

This second mystery of Brother Cadfael continues, in a time period of great poverty and riches, civil war between two mediocre would be monarchs, diseases which would horrify us and a true picture of the Medieval World and the tug between Church,State, and Secular worlds. Brother Cadfael, a monk who came late to the Religious life, solves mysteries, brings together two sets of lovers, and introduces us to the Middle Ages. What more could one ask? If this review sounds dry, the book is not. I have heard it many times and am never bored. The reader is great.

Loved it!

Enjoyed it as much as the first book. The narrator is a great fit for this series, and the mysteries and plot twists keep me on my toes. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Great absorbing story with a mystery on the side

This, the second story in the Brother Cadfael series, is more of a captivating adventure story set in medieval England than a detective mystery. The mystery lies behind the adventure, and does get solved in the end, but it isn’t the lifeblood of the story. It tends to have more of a flavor of a cozy mystery. The characters are mostly quite likeable and the reader gets drawn in to Brother Cadfael’s clever plotting. Patrick Tull isn’t my favorite narrator, but he doesn’t detract from the book. I read this series a long time ago, and I find I am enjoying them again. All in all, well worth listening to.

Wonderful read every time!

I’ve read all this series more than once. However, this was the first listening experience. Patrick Tull brings a marvelous richness to the book. He’s not just reading to me. He’s sitting with me and masterfully telling me a story!

Worth Every Single Moment

I'd have to break out the ole' Roget's to get enough words to describe how much I enjoyed every moment of this book and performance.

My favorite!!

I think I’ve listened to all of the Cadfael books— many times. This is still one of my favorite stories. I never get tired of it.
And I love Patrick Tull’s narrations! Both he and Stephen Thorne (narrated the tapes) are wonderful and bring the characters to life!!
And Ellis Peters is incredible!!! I can’t say anything about her that hasn’t already been said.
If you love medieval mysteries with wonderful characters that aren’t all full of angst and darkness, then these are for you!!

So much to love

Cadfael and Hughe Berengar meet. The tension in the relationship keeps the book moving. Love between three pairs of characters balances the story. No one is better to tell the story than Patrick Tull.

Brother Cadfael always a good listen

Would you listen to One Corpse Too Many again? Why?

Cadfael stories, I have listen to for couple decades several times each.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cadfael and Hugh Bellengar, their inter play in plots

What does Patrick Tull bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like to listen, so I can do mindless boring chores and have them be interesting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole, from determining that there was an extra corpse through the twists and turns to finally determine who caused the extra corpse.

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What made the experience of listening to One Corpse Too Many the most enjoyable?

Excellant narrater

Any additional comments?

The main problem I had with this, and every other audio book I've listened to, is that the narrater puts the wrong emphasis on a particular word or passage. I'm quite sure the author did not intend that emphasis in the given passage. Also, the picture on the cover of this audio book is HORRENDOUS. I would NEVER have listened to this book if the picture was all I had to go on.