1983; 214 pages. New Author? : No. Genre : Medieval Crime Mystery; Sub-Genre : "Cozy". Book #8 in the "Brother Cadfael" series. Overall Rating : 7½*/10.
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On a dark and rainy day, 19-year-old Meriet Aspley petitions to join the abbey. He has a maximum of determination, a minimum of zeal, and strange dreams that leave him screaming in his sleep. Coincidentally, the Bishop's envoy (and by extension, the King's) goes missing, immediately after sojourning at the Aspley manor. Could these two events be related?
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What's To Like...
The Devil's Novice is is another of the Brother Cadfael cozies, and takes place in 1140 AD, during turbulent times along the Welsh-English border. As such, it is as much a piece of historical fiction as it is a mystery story. Peters gives an interesting (albeit tangential) account of oblates - young children vowed and given by their parents to monastic life. Enlightening, but I'm glad it is no longer a practice.
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As usual, Ellis Peters weaves the crime-mystery story deftly. Bits of information are revealed gradually, with a nice it-all-makes-sense-now ending. The perpetrator's fate, however, is unexpected, which made for a nice change.
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Despite the title, there is no Satanism in the story. But Ms. Peters does take a gentle swipe at those who would see demonic posession in all too many people and places.
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Kewlest New Word...
Ellis Peters' books always have a slew of great medieval vocabulary, so choosing one is difficult. For now, we'll go with - Briaut : an overgarment worn by both sexes (but mostly women) during the 11th-13th century. Its salient characteristic was long, flowing sleeves. Victorian artists were big on painting these. Google-Image it and you'll recognize the garment.
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Excerpts...
Afterwards, of course, there were plenty of wiseacres pregnant with hindsight, listing portents, talking darkly of omens, brazenly asserting that they told everyone so. After every shock and reverse, such late experts proliferate. (pg. 7)
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"Was this well done, brother? Falsely you brought me here! You told me my son was mortally ill."
"So he is," said Cadfael. "Have you not his own word for it how close he feels his death? So are you, so are we all. The disease of mortality is in us from the womb, from the day of our birth we are on the way to our death. What matters is how we conduct the journey." (pgs. 168-69)
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(T)here's many a young man has got his heart's dearest wish, only to curse the day he ever wished for it. (pg. 62)
It has to be said that the "break" in the case has a rather random feel to it, and you'll be wasting your time if you try to solve it alongside Brother Cadfael. But really, that doesn't detract from the tale. The Devil's Novice is a short read, so sit back and enjoy an entertaining story from a long-gone time. 7½ Stars.
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