The Leper of Saint Giles

The Fifth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

By: Ellis Peters

Narrated by: Johanna Ward

Setting out for the Saint Giles leper colony outside Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael has more pressing matters on his mind than the grand wedding coming to his abbey. Yet as fate would have it, Cadfael arrives at Saint Giles just as the nuptial party passes the colony's gates. He sees the fragile bride looking like a prisoner between her two stern guardians and the bridegroom, an arrogant, fleshy aristocrat old enough to be her grandfather. And he quickly discerns this union may be more damned than blessed. Indeed, a savage murder will interrupt the May-December marriage and leave Brother Cadfael with a dark, terrible mystery to solve. For the key to the killing - and a secret - are hid among the lepers of Saint Giles. Now Brother Cadfael's skills must ferret out a sickness, not of the body, but of a twisted soul - in the fifth Brother Cadfael Chronicle, a work that displays Ellis Peters' special genius at her best.©1981 by Ellis Peters (P)1998 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Each addition to the series is a joy. Long may the Chronicles continue." (USA Today)

Worth the time!

I enjoy the intrigue and romantic tension (as well as tension relief). It’s not really a romance and I am happy for that. I don’t like really sappy novels. This one did not fall into that trap. It’s really a good listen.

Another well written Brother Cadfael mystery

What made the experience of listening to The Leper of Saint Giles the most enjoyable?

Well written story; well told

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

While the plot is good; the enjoyment for me is in the telling.

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

Like many peiople I

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

The whole series gives a wonderful picture of 14th century England. It is also provides a peep into customs, religion and the basics of forensics and criminal psychology. Reading in chronological order provides a good insight into a civil war not often written about.

Narration not up to par

The accent did not match the locality. Female versus male voices were hard to distinguish.

Great!

I like brother Cadfael and this is my favourite narrator of the series. I wish there were more than these two books read by her.

The ending became predictable to me

I enjoyed the story and the reading very much. The ending was predictable, but, nonetheless, a very enjoyable book.