This Cadfael mystery is more about mediaeval law and crime, and the first civil war in England, with the Empress Matilda and King Stephen as the belligerents, than about detection with the monk Cadfael''s skills. Nevertheless a craftily constructed story, and several strings to the plot, neatly disentangled at the end.
Edith Mary Pargeter OBE BEM (28 September 1913 – 14 October 1995), also known by her pen name Ellis Peters, was an English author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics. She is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern, and especially for her medieval detective series The Cadfael Chronicles.
