by Ellis Peters
Part of Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, book 15
First published 1988
Brother Cadfael faces an unexpected crisis when a fellow monk at Shrewsbury Abbey suffers a near-fatal accident in December 1142. The injured brother, convinced he is dying, reveals a devastating secret from his past to Cadfael. Against all expectations, the monk survives his injuries. Now bound by what he has learned, Cadfael must accompany his recovering colleague on a difficult pilgrimage across medieval England. The journey becomes a test of endurance as they travel treacherous winter roads to reach their destination. The monk seeks to make amends for wrongs committed years before, but the path to redemption proves more complicated than either man anticipated. Cadfael discovers that confronting the past requires more than good intentions, and some sins cast shadows that stretch across generations.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, secrets
Setting: Shrewsbury Abbey, England
Period: 1142
205 pages · Paperback · Warner Books