Author Description

England in 1142. In Oxford the Empress Maud is besieged by her rival for the throne, King Stephen. In Shrewsbury 10 year old Richard Ludel inherits his father's manor and his grandmother, Dame Dionisia, allows a hermit to take up residence on their land. And with the death of the brutal Drogo Bosiet, searching for his runaway serf, Brand, Brother Cadfael begins the search for a murderer and a motive.