The Heretic’s Apprentice is the sixteenth novel by Ellis Peters to feature twelfth century monk, Brother Cadfael, and can be a bit of a slow read. Ellis Peters can get a little too verbose in her exposition.

Brother Cadfael is a former soldier who has answered the call of God to join a monastery where he serves the community of Shrewsbury in the 1100’s. Cadfael is an expert herbalist and a keen observer of humanity. He is also one of those servants of the Lord that has a unique insight into the sometimes evil motivations of the human heart. This novel begins with an apprentice bringing home his deceased master who had left on a pilgrimage some years before. William of Lythwood had once been accused of heresy, and it seems the young servant may have some of the same views. When his main accuser is later found murdered, Cadfael is willing to employ his investigative talents and assist his friend, the sheriff of Shrewsbury, in getting to the bottom of the matter.

It’s an interesting plot, but Peters has a style of prose that I found a little hard when it comes to staying focused. Several scenes seem to just go on and on. Of course, this novel was written about thirty-five years ago. I have read other novels in the series, and the struggles remain the same. Peters is a talented and imaginative writer. Cadfael is an intriguing enough protagonist for me to still occasionally try another installment in this series. It’s an engaging plot, but it does require an amount of concentration that is not always to maintain.

The series is successful for a reason, so I would still encourage mystery fans to not pass on this series. It does offer a glimpse into what life in England could have been like if one can sort of ignore the monk who is able to solve crimes. The story itself is pretty interesting, and Cadfael’s steady, reasonable presence may seem a little dull compared to other flashier fictional detectives, however I do enjoy his wisdom and prudence during these somewhat traumatic events occurring around his abbey.

I will likely return to Shrewsbury and visit Brother Cadfael again before too long, but my next literary journey will have author Shari Lapena introduce me to The Unwanted Guest.