Monk’s Hood (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #3), Ellis Peters. New York: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media, 2014 (Originally published in 1980).

Summary: When Gervase Bonel dies of poison from a dish sent by the prior, the sheriff is convinced it is his stepson Edwin, with whom he is on poor terms. Cadfael suspects otherwise but must seek proof.

Gervase Bonel has decided to turn over his house at Mallilie to Shrewsbury Abbey in exchange for lodgings and provision at the Abbey. But before the agreement can be signed, Abbot Heribert is called to a legatine council at which his office may be revoked and another named. While he is away, Prior Robert sends a dish from his table for Bonel, and shortly after he eats it, he takes ill and, despite Cadfael’s ministrations, dies. Cadfael recognizes the cause–Monk’s Hood (also called Wolf’s Bane) poisoning.

Attention focuses on Bonel’s stepson, Edwin. Relations between them had been poor due to Edwin having at one time been promised Mallilie only to see the promise revoked. He had reconciled himself to this and, out of care for Richildis, wife of Bonel and his mother, he had come to dinner, sought to reconcile only to be mocked by Bonel, finally to the point where he angrily departed through the kitchen where the dish from the prior was warming. The sheriff is certain it is him and will not consider other possibilities. Shortly after, Bonel was dead. Edwin, with the help of lookalike cousin Edwy escapes.

Edwin finds his way to Cadfael, who questions him about his stepfather’s death in such a way that Cadfael ascertains that Edwin had no clue that the man was poisoned and is therefore innocent. Cadfael is determined to find the real killer, because the poison came from his stores, often used externally to relieve muscle and joint pains. Two keys are to find the vial that contained the poison and a reliquary the boy says he’d thrown into the river, a gift he had prepared for Bonel before being insulted. Whoever had the vial also probably marked with traces of the poison. The location of the vial confirms Edwin’s innocence, as does the eventual finding of the reliquary.

But who was the murderer? This will take Cadfael, sent to care for a sick abbey shepherd near the Welsh border, into Wales and into personal danger that made for an exciting and somewhat unexpected ending–though one in character with Cadfael.

While I enjoyed the story, I felt Peters gave away the suspect early in the story and then ignored that person, leaving me wondering–why aren’t they investigating ______? The misdirection didn’t work for me, leaving me to wonder only about the motive.

An interesting element in the story is Richildis, who turns out to be an early love of Cadfael’s, separated by the Crusade on which Cadfael went, and married to her first husband when no word came from Cadfael. Encountering her is a surprise for Cadfael, raising feelings but also the deeper awareness of his vows and calling. That’s not enough for the officious Father Jerome who sees him conferring with her about Edwin and manages to restrict Cadfael’s movements. But Brother Mark, Cadfael’s assistant is not so restricted.

Cadfael’s relationship with Hugh Beringar, left in charge when the sheriff was called to the king’s Christmas feast, continues to develop. Both stand apart from many others with lesser visions of human nature and acting beyond the strict letter of the law. I look forward to seeing how their friendship develops.