by Ellis Peters
Part of Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, book 5
First published 1981
A wedding ceremony turns deadly when murder disrupts the arranged marriage between an unwilling young bride and her much older groom. Brother Cadfael finds himself drawn into the investigation when the trail of evidence leads directly to the Saint Giles leper colony on the outskirts of Shrewsbury. The medieval monk must navigate the complex social dynamics surrounding the reluctant union while piecing together the motives behind the killing. As Cadfael follows each clue through the colony's grounds, he uncovers secrets that connect the victim to the isolated community of lepers. The investigation forces him to confront the harsh realities of medieval marriage customs and social outcasts while seeking justice for the dead.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, medieval
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Shrewsbury, Saint Giles
Period: Medieval
289 pages · Paperback · Thorndike Pr