A Morbid Taste for Bones is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters set in May 1137. It is the first novel in The Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1977.
It was adapted for television in 1996 by Central for ITV.
The monks of Shrewsbury Abbey seek the relics of a saint in Wales for their chapel. The locals object to this translation of the relics, and a local leader is found murdered. Brother Cadfael is challenged to uncover the truth of the murder and help bring right endings to all parties, in both Wales and in the Abbey.
This novel was listed on the 1990 list of The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time by the Crime Writers' Association in the UK, and also on the top 100 list compiled in 1995 by the Mystery Writers of America. In 2010, The Wall Street Journal named it one of their "Five Best Historical Mystery Novels".
Plot
In May 1137, Prior Robert of Shrewsbury Abbey is determined that the Abbey must have the relics of a saint. Finding no suitable local saint, Robert finds one in nearby Wales.
Brother Cadfael has two novices assisting him in his herb and vegetable gardens: John (practical and down-to-earth, whose vocation Cadfael doubts) and the ambitious Columbanus (about whose "falling sickness" illness Cadfael is sceptical, although he treats him with sedating poppy syrup). After one such fit, Brother Jerome, Robert's clerk, claims that a vision of St. Winifred instructed him that Columbanus must go to Saint Winifred's Well in North Wales for a cure. When they return, Columbanus says Saint Winifred appeared to him, saying that her grave at Gwytherin was neglected; she wished to lie somewhere more accessible to pilgrims. Abbot Heribert approves the trip to Wales to retrieve Winifred's remains. Robert, Sub-Prior Richard, Jerome and Columbanus are joined by Cadfael (a Welshman, as interpreter) and John (for menial work).
The bishop of Bangor and Owain Gwynedd (prince of Gwynedd) consent to the Abbey's request. When the monks reach Gwytherin (on the Cledwen River), the local priest, Father Huw, objects to Winifred's remains being removed without approval by the free men of the parish. Rhisiart, the community's most influential landowner, opposes Winifred's removal. Robert tries to bribe him, and Rhisiart storms off. The assembly dissolves, agreeing with Rhisiart. Father Huw persuades Robert to ask Rhisiart for another meeting the next day, to which Rhisiart agrees. While John helps the servants (and Jerome and Columbanus keep vigil at Winifred's chapel), Robert, Richard, Cadfael and Huw await Rhisiart; he does not appear. The landowner is found dead in the woods, with an arrow in his chest bearing the mark of Engelard (an Englishman working for Rhisiart and in love with Rhisiart's daughter Sioned). When Engelard appears, Robert insists he be taken into custody. Engelard flees, and Brother John impedes the only local man close enough to stop him. Robert orders John held for breaking the law of Gwynedd and his vow of obedience; this pleases John as he is held where his new love, Annest, the local blacksmith's niece, lives.
Cadfael realises that Engelard's arrow did not kill Rhisiart: his back is damp from rain-soaked grass and earth, while his front is dry. Cadfael's conclusion: Rhisiart was stabbed from behind by a dagger, falling face-down. After it rained, someone turned him over and pushed an arrow into the wound from the front. The locals see Rhisiart's death as an omen, and agree to Winifred's removal; Robert plans to exhume her remains after a three-night vigil. Cadfael hopes the superstition that a corpse will bleed if touched by the murderer will force a confession, and at his suggestion Sioned asks that after each night's prayer those keeping watch place their hands on Rhisiart's heart. The first night, Jerome and Father Huw keep the vigil. Father Huw readily lays his hand on Rhisiart. Jerome hesitates, but says he will do so if Prior Robert feels it justified. Prior Robert gives him leave. The third night, Cadfael and Columbanus keep watch. Columbanus has another seizure; he is removed unconscious in the morning, evading Sioned's request. He recovers after mass, saying that Winifred told him Rhisiart should be buried in her grave when she is removed.
St. Winifred is exhumed, her linen-wrapped skeleton placed in the reliquary brought from Shrewsbury and the coffin sealed with wax. As Rhisiart is prepared for burial, Sioned asks Peredur (another suitor) to place a jeweled cross on his body. Peredur refuses, confessing that he found Rhisiart dead and pushed Engelard's arrow into the wound so Engelard would disappear as rival for Sioned's hand. Cadfael finds the flask of poppy syrup (brought for Columbanus) nearly empty, recalling that on the night Rhisiart was murdered, only Jerome drank the wine provided for the vigil; if Jerome slept through the vigil, he would be ashamed to admit it. Before the monks depart, Columbanus offers to keep vigil and drowses; a vision of a veiled young woman wakes him, identifying herself as St. Winifred and demanding to know why he murdered Rhisiart. In terror of divine retribution, Columbanus confesses, begging forgiveness. However, the "vision" comes too close, and touching her veil Columbanus realises the saint is a disguised Sioned and slashes at her with a knife before fleeing. Cadfael and Engelard tackle him outside, and Engelard, enraged at Columbanus' wounding of Sioned, accidentally breaks Columbanus' neck. Cadfael acts quickly; he, Engelard and Sioned undress Columbanus, open the reliquary, replace her in the grave above Rhisiart's body and place Columbanus's body in the reliquary, ensuring that the seals on the coffin appear undisturbed.
Columbanus' sandals, shirt and habit are found on the chapel floor, with hawthorn petals around them. Robert proclaims that Columbanus's prayers have been answered; that he has been transported bodily to blessed regions. The villagers (all of whom appear to know or have guessed the truth about what's really inside the reliquary) load the reliquary on a cart. As the monks leave with their "prize", the villagers gather on a hillside to bid them farewell, and Cadfael sees John hiding among them.
Two years later, Bened the Gwytherin blacksmith calls at Shrewsbury, telling Cadfael that John and Annest are married and John will become smith after Bened. Sioned and Engelard, also married, have named their child Cadfael. Bened also notes that Winifred's former resting place is the scene of pilgrimages and cures, while the Abbey reliquary is ignored by pilgrims. Cadfael muses that the saint will not mind sharing her grave with Rhisiart.
Characters Brother Cadfael: Herbalist monk at Shrewsbury Abbey. He is 57 years old, a man who came to his vocation in the monastery about 17 years earlier, after his life as man at arms in the First Crusade, sailor, and in service of a Norman lord. Prior Robert Pennant: Prior at Shrewsbury Abbey. He is based on the historical prior who did bring the relics to the Abbey. He is characterised as a man of the aristocracy, of mixed Welsh and English blood; with ambition for more than his present position. Aged 50 in this story, with silvering hair, he is a man taller than average. He believes deeply in miracles and the power of the saints, as well as his own rightness. Brother Jerome: Prior Robert's clerk. He is rather righteous on his own account, and reliable to the Prior for accurate reporting of Abbey events. Cadfael distrusts and dislikes him for his toadying up to Prior Robert Brother Rhys: An older monk in the Abbey, of Welsh birth. He tells the story of Saint Winifred's miracles and her life at Prior Robert's prompting. Rhys is no longer active, too old and frail (possibly well into senility) for much more than the occasional story. Abbot Heribert: Head of Shrewsbury Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. He is a gentle soul, based on the real abbot of that year. Richard: Sub-prior at Shrewsbury Abbey. He is one of the party that fetches Saint Winifred's bones from Gwytherin. He is low key and in many ways the opposite of the Prior. Brother Columbanus: Young, ambitious monk. He is given to extremes of emotion in display of his spiritual feelings, and is in service under Brother Cadfael in the herbarium. He is the younger son of an aristocratic Norman family, fair haired and strong, age 25, and less than a year since "tonsured", that is, took his vows. While still a monk, he is shown to be a man who puts his ambition over honesty and moral behaviour Brother John: Young and strong monk in service under Brother Cadfael. He is of a practical and direct nature, and a good sense of humour. He has curly reddish brown hair. He took his vows less than a year earlier. Brother Cadfael suspects John does not have a true vocation and would do better out in the world; he had joined the monastery when rejected as a suitor by a girl in England (an event about which he tells Annest in English when she could not yet understand English). John falls in love with Annest in Wales, showing Cadfael's perception to be true. Owain Gwynedd: Prince of Gwynedd, as his father Gruffudd ap Cynan is in his last months of life. He is the eldest surviving son of Gruffydd, who proves to be a good leader. He was a real historical person. Bishop David of Bangor: Built up the church at Bangor. He approved the moving of the saint's bones to rest at the Abbey in Shropshire. He was a real historical person. Father Huw: Parish priest at Gwytherin, where Saint Winifred has been buried these hundreds of years. He is hospitable and direct. Rare for the Welsh priests, he is unmarried, celibate. Rhisiart: Largest landholder in Gwytherin. He is widowed and living with his only child, a daughter. He can be hot-tempered at times, but is honest and respected by the entire community. He is solidly against the removal of Saint Winifred's remains to Shrewsbury, despite the approval of both Prince and Bishop. Murdered for his opposition. Sioned: Daughter and only child of Rhisiart and heir to his properties. She is a beautiful, outspoken and quick-witted young woman; she speaks Welsh and English; she is sought by at least two suitors. Engelard: Fair-haired young Cheshire man from the borders of Maelor, who fled to Wales to avoid Earl Ranulf of Chester, who did not like this skilled archer poaching deer from his lands. His father owns a manor, which Engelard will inherit once it is safe to return home. He is skilled in calling ox and dealing with cattle, good skills for Gwytherin. An outlander or alltud in Wales, accepted for the previous two years by Rhisiart to let him make his way in Wales. He is a suitor for Sioned and good friends with her father (despite some clashes over Sioned, all of which ended well on both sides). Peredur: Son and only child of Cadwallon. He is a suitor for Sioned. He is handsome but spoiled in always getting what he wants, until he fell in love with Sioned. Rhisiart tried to persuade his daughter to marry her lifelong friend, to no avail. Peredur seeks any means to push the favoured suitor out of Wales, stooping to planting evidence to implicate Engelard in a murder he did not commit. Cadwallon: Overlord who owns lands neighbouring those of Rhisiart. He is married to the querulous Dame Branwen, and father of the young man Peredur. He sends for the bailiff when Rhisiart is murdered. Cai: Ploughman for Rhisiart. He is the gaoler for John when he is held for aiding Engelard's escape. Bened: Blacksmith of Gwytherin. He is widowed, and a man of good repute in the area. Annest: Bened's niece, lady's maid and best friend to Sioned. She is of marriageable age. She falls in love with Brother John at first sight, though neither speaks the other's language (although they somehow manage to clearly understand each other instinctively). Griffith ap Rhys: Bailiff for Prince Owain in Rhos.
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