I love this series and I'm so impressed with Ellis Peters' excellent idea of making Brother Cadfael a Welshman housed in the English monastery at Shrewsbury. A man with a foot in both the Welsh and English worlds and the authority of the Church to aid him in his endeavors. She made these choices in the very first book and they continue to yield results.
Of course there are some repeated elements. One of the most common is the separation of a young couple by suspicion of wrong doing, something that features in this novel. Peters manages to complicate this plot however with two young couples who love against their parents' arrangements for them.
We also lose a well known character. Since it is stated in the description on the back cover, I feel it is no spoiler to say that Sheriff Prescote is captured, wounded, ransomed from his captors, and returned home, only to be murdered when he is unable to defend himself. Described as a just man, though sometimes harsh, he will be difficult to replace.
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