The Virgin in the Ice

The Sixth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

By: Ellis Peters

Narrated by: Vanessa Benjamin

The winter of 1139 will disrupt Brother Cadfael's tranquil life in Shrewsbury with the most disturbing events. Raging civil war has sent refugees fleeing north from Worcester. Among them are two orphans from a noble family, a boy of thirteen and an 18-year-old girl of great beauty, and their companion, a young Benedictine nun. But the trio, never reaching Shrewsbury, have disappeared somewhere in the wild countryside.

Cadfael feels afraid these three lost lambs, but another call for help sends him to the Church of Saint Mary. A wounded monk, found naked and bleeding by the roadside, will surely die without Cadfael's healing arts. Why this holy man has been attacked and what his fevered ravings reveal soon give Brother Cadfael a clue to the fate of the missing travelers. Now Cadfael sets out on a dangerous quest to find them. The road will lead him to a chill and terrible murder and a tale of passion gone awry. And at journey's end awaits a vision of what is best, and worst, in humankind...in Ellis Peters's most stunning depiction yet of love and war.

©1982 by Ellis Peters (P)1998 by Blackstone Audiobooks

the best in storytelling

Ellis Peter's is at the top of her game with this fast-paced mystery within a mystery within a mystery. Extremely engaging and satisfying!

Some.scratches

Overall decent quality and narration, although Cadfael's voice by this narrator does not fit him as well as other narrators. There are some scratches in the audio, but nothing that ruins the entire production.

Excellent story, narrator a bit rough

Having listened to Ward narrate the previous books, I really can't listen to Benjamin's voices for male characters. She sounds as though she's telling a story to little children and using her "big bad wolf" gruff voice. I shall repurchase this title with the Thorne narration.

Patrick Tull is a MUCH better narrator

This version is free with an Audible account, but we bought the Patrick Tull version.

Cadfael to the rescue

Good old Cadfael does it again - a touch of forensic observation, a dose of kindness and a plateful of tolerance for the folly of girls in love. The only down-side of this audiobook was the occasional recording or production fault that left some words out or allowed a nasty electronic signal to overlay the narrator. This detracted a little from the performance and made the product seem a little shoddy. Better 'proof-reading' by editorial staff could pick up these faults before release.

Cadfael is a 12th century Sherlock Holmes

Cadfael seeks to find two young people and their nun companion who are unaccounted for in territory plagued by civil war and groups of deadly bandits. He uses his medical knowledge and life skills to find and rescue the missing people, and solve a murder. The story includes serious risk for the young people and Cadfael himself. The ending delivers an unexpected murderer.

Great story, mediocre performance

I’ve enjoyed Ellis Peters for years but the performance of this book strained my patience. Many female readers achieve varied styles to represent characters with creativity. This reader used a combination of a louder voice and read as though every word by any male character was an announcement or declaration. The style in which the lines she read didn’t square with the implied grammar - she read forcefully sentences that were meant as questions. A pronunciation guide would have helped. I listen to audio books to relax, this becomes a challenge when the reader narrates the story normally then “announces” all spoken lines in such a forceful manner that makes me want to back away.

THE BEST

I have listen to a lot of Ellis Peters', Brother Cadfael books and this is my favorite so far. Reader is very good. Look forward to downloading the 2 or 3 Ellis Peters i do not have.

One Star Off

Benjamin does an adequate job of narrating this book; not on par with Ward, but adequate. There were a few odd pauses that sounded the way a misplaced comma might read and which threw me out of the story just a little. Also, the characters could have been better distinguished. Not so bad that I won't listen to it again.

More than just a mystery

Ellis peters manages to weave in some basic truths about life in general, while exposing the reader to life so long ago.