by Ellis Peters
Part of Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, book 8
First published 1983
Autumn 1140 brings an unsettling addition to Shrewsbury's Benedictine monastery. Meriet Aspley, youngest son of a wealthy family, appears the perfect novice during daylight hours. When darkness falls, his sleep erupts with such violent nightmares that fellow monks whisper of the Devil's Novice. Only Brother Cadfael shows concern for the shunned young man. The discovery of a corpse changes everything. The dead priest was last spotted at the Aspley family estate. All eyes turn to Meriet as suspicion mounts. Brother Cadfael must navigate family secrets and monastic politics to uncover what really happened. The investigation threatens to destroy an already fragile young man while a killer remains free.
Genres: historical-fiction, suspense, mystery, crime
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Shrewsbury, Aspley Family Estate
Period: Autumn 1140
290 pages · Paperback · Mysterious Press