The First Cadfael Omnibus

It took quite some time for the author to get round to him, but the Brother Cadfael mysteries were a winner from the start. The mixture of medieval atmosphere, strong characters and intrigue keep us reading, but it's the honest, intelligent, sympathetic, fair-minded and occasionally grumpy Cadfael himself who makes these books so memorable.

If you are unfamiliar with Brother Cadfael, buy this book and read the second story, "One Corpse Too Many," first. IMHO, it's the best of the whole series. You can go back and read "A Morbid Taste for Bones" later. Not counting "Bones" (which is a sort of "prequel" like the Hobbit is to the Rings saga), the 17-story series follows a tight chronology, pacing a real civil war that plagued England for several years beginning in about 1137 (which ended in a stalemate, where both claimants to the throne agreed to support their mutual nephew, Henry Plantagenet as king). The first three or four stories should be read in order, so while you're at it, buy the Second Cadfael Omnibus too. These set the scene and the characters. They're also the best -- the later 12 stories are quite readable, but only intermittently excellent, and often recycle plot devices from the first few. But, heck. Do what you want, as long as you read "One Corpse Too Many."

These are the books contained in this Omnibus: A Morbid Taste for Bones, One Corpse Too Many, Monks-Hood