THE HOLY THIEF

Patrick Tull's baritone voice and oratorical delivery work well for a story set in 1144, for surely people sounded grander then. This is the nineteenth of Ellis Peter's famed Brother Cadfael series. An unusual series of abbey visitors, from a Benedictine monk who may not be who he appears to a French troubadour, bring unexpected trouble, including death. Cadfael steps in with his usual mix of wisdom, humor, and sharp sense of justice. Tull gives several of the main characters distinctive voices, although conversations with more than two characters can be confusing to follow at times. Nonetheless, he reveals personality marvelously well. The only serious quibble is Tull's noticeable intakes of breath before reading the narrative portions of the story. Otherwise, a good listen. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 05]