DescriptionIn April 1144, Brother Cadfael leaves his monastery once more, this time in the company of Heledd, a young woman desperate to escape from an arranged marriage, and the youthful Brother Mark, who is representing the bishop on a matter of church diplomacy. Cadfael does not foresee trouble on their errand, but then the travellers become entangled in the conflict between Owain Gwynedd and his treacherous brother, Cadwaladr, who has allied himself with a Danish mercenary fleet in order to vanquish Owain.
DescriptionIn the summer of 1143, William of Lythwood returns to Shrewsbury from pilgrimage, in a coffin. His young attendant Elave, sets about searching for a burial place in the abbey for his 'heretic' master. Unfortunately, Elave has heretical views of his own and having drunkenly expressed them, he faces capital charges from the mighty prelate Gerbert. The beautiful Fortunata, whom Elave adores, becomes a reluctant prosecution witness and before long a violent death takes place. Brother Cadfael and his old friend Sheriff Beringer's task is therefore two-fold: to rebut the heresy charges and solve the murder.
DescriptionAt the height of the hot summer of 1144, the Earl of Essex succumbs to a fatal arrow, but only after a lingering fever, during which his officials do their best to save him from hellfire by restoring various properties he has annexed, including the abbey of Ramsey. And so it is that the envoys arrive at the abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. Heavy rains bring the threat of flood: the holy relics must be saved. And when the waters subside, a robbery is revealed. And before Brother Cadfael can solve the case, to the crime of theft is added a murder.
DescriptionSudden drama strikes the Benedictine monastery at Shrewsbury when a young man, pursued by a lynching mob, claims sanctuary just in time to save his own life. The accusation is robbery and murder, yet Brother Cadfael senses his innocence and sets out to solve yet another tangle of human passions where love plays its inevitable part.
