The Sanctuary Sparrow (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael)

About this book

In the gentle Shrewsbury spring of 1140 the midnight matins at the Benedictine abbey suddenly reverberate with an unholy sound- a hunt in full cry. Persued by a drunken mob the quarry is running for its life. When the frantic creature bursts into the nave to claim sanctuary Brother Cadfael finds himself fighting off armed townsmen to save a terrified young man. Accused of robbery and murder is Liliwin a wandering minstrel who performed at the wedding of a local goldsmiths son. The cold light of morning however will show his supposed victim the miserly craftsman still lives although a strongbox lies empty. Brother Cadfael believes Liliwin is innocent but finding the truth and the treasure before Liliwins respite in sanctuary runs out may uncover a deadlier sin than thievery- a desperate love that nothing not even the threat of hanging can stop.