by Ellis Peters
Part of Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, book 4
First published 1981
Brother Cadfael expects the annual Saint Peter's Fair to bring welcome relief to Shrewsbury in the summer of 1139. The grand festival draws merchants from across England and beyond, offering a brief respite from the civil war tearing the country apart. The festivities turn deadly when Thomas of Bristol, a prosperous trader, is discovered dead in the River Severn. The circumstances puzzle Cadfael. If robbers killed Thomas, why did they leave his valuable goods behind? Cadfael agrees to help Emma, the merchant's attractive niece, but she clearly withholds crucial information. The investigation grows more dangerous as thieves ransack Thomas's remaining merchandise and two additional murders follow. Emma's secrets put her in mortal peril as enemies close in. Cadfael must move quickly to protect the young woman, knowing that in a realm torn by warfare, treachery lurks everywhere and even well-meaning actions can prove fatal.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Shrewsbury, River Severn
Period: 1139
272 pages · Kindle Edition · MysteriousPress.com/Open Road