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• One of my favorites. Cadfael's principles shine in this book. He won't give up the search for a murderer even though everyone else says it's futile.

  5.00 out of 5

  MrsLee

• In this second chronicle of Brother Cadfael of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury we are introduced to Hugh Beringar, who challenges Brother Cadfael as the most interesting character in this series by Ellis Peters. Hugh, soon to be made sheriff of the shire, shares many of the characteristics of Brother Cadfael in his shrewd mind, worldly savvy, humanitarian impulses, sense of justice, warrior skills and courtesy. We have considerable historical narrative in this book that propels the plot along as King Stephen lays siege to the town and castle of Shrewbury in his bid to overcome the forces of his cousin, Queen Maud. We have much interesting detail of the circumstances of a medieval siege as King Stephen is victorious and requires the life of every renegade in an orgy of hanging. The problem is when Brother Cadfael discovers that there is one corpse too many in the grisly pile and his sense of justice rejects the advice that in the midst of so much destruction one more corpse should not stir his interest. With two lovely romances to heighten the interest, this is my favorite in the 19 books of the series.

  5.00 out of 5

  seoulful

• This is the second in the Brother Cadfael Chronicles and the first in the series that I've read.The year is 1138, and war rages between the forces of King Stephen and those of Empress Maud. At Shrewesbury, where Brother Cadfael is living out his vocation is a Benedictine monk and tending to the gardens and herbarium of Shrewesbury Abbey, King Stephen has given the order to hang a number of men who have been condemned to death as traitors.Brother Cadfael has taken on the task of perparing the bodies for Christian burials. When he discovers that there is one more body than there was supposed to be, he also takes on the task of finding finding the murderer.I became so smitten with this book, that I rushed to the library to check out the first in the series.This was an intelligent mystery that was well-articulated, and a real pleasure to read.I intend to eventually read the entire series, in order. I've decided not to devour them all at once, though, but to savor them a bit at a time, and make them last - like the most delicious dessert that you would like to make last forever!

  4.50 out of 5

  bookwoman247

• One Corpse Too Many is the 2nd mystery of Brother Cadfael. This one is a step above the other Cadfael that I have read. The mystery is intriguing and while Cadfael is attempting to solve a murder (which gets lost for a time) he also has a charge he needs to protect, and try to send to safety. There is plenty of suspense and I found this to be a very enjoyable read.King Stephen has laid siege to the castle at Shrewsbury and after a successful conquest has all the captured defenders hung from the walls. The next morning Cadfael is charged with preparing the mass of bodies for burial. In so doing he finds an extra corpse unaccounted for on the hanging roster. Cadfael undertakes the task of discovering the murderer who tried to hide behind the Kings justice.

  4.00 out of 5

  readafew

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