Año 1144. La abadía de Ramsey, seriamente devastada, ha sido devuelta a su comunidad tras la muerte del cruel Godofredo de Mandeville. Uno de sus monjes, fray Erluino, llega a Shrewsbury en busca de donativos para restaurarla. Casi al mismo tiempo, llegan también un trovador francés con su criado y una bella y joven cantante. Con la llegada de las lluvias, se produce una inundación que amenaza las reliquias de santa Winifreda, y durante el traslado para ponerlas a salvo, desaparecen. Pese a ser rápidamente recuperadas, el único testigo presencial del robo muere durante la investigación del mismo. ¿Por qué fueron robadas las reliquias? ¿Es fray Tutilo, el joven acompañante de fray Erluino, el asesino del testigo, como todos soschepan?

While a major flood nearly overwhelms the abbey, someone has stolen a much valued relic encased in a coffin. Cadfael is in earnest to recover the coffin before anyone opens it. A rather dubious monk whose lack of interest in the brotherhood seems to be the thief. When the body of a murdered man shows up, the thief is immediately suspected but Cadfael realizes there is more to unravel before a young lady nearly wrecks everything. Will Cadfael catch the killer or will his long held secret in the coffin be discovered? ( )

Decent addition to the Brother Cadfael series. This time I guessed the actual murderer, but not the motive. Interesting. ( )

finally a murderer is arrested

The Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury becomes the destination for two monks from Ramsay, a monastery ravaged by war and needing assistance, and for a group of musicians. We find that one of the monks is also a singer and musician. The monks have raised a goodly sum of money and jewels from the area along with a gift of lumber from a local lord. When the rains fall and the River Severn is flooding, the wagon with lumber and the gifts is sent out of harm's way while the Abbey puts all its treasures in higher ground. When the flood waters recede, somehow the Abbey loses coffin with the bones of St. Winifred. Meanwhile, thieves steal the cart on the way back to the monastery and the strong box with the cash and jewelry is found opened. Also found is Winifred. There is contoversy over who actually will actually get custody of the saint. Does she belong to Shrewsbury, the monks of Ramsay to which she was heading or Lord Robert Beaumont, upon whose land she was discovered? And how did she get on the wagon for Ramsay?

A sortes Biblicae is the proposed solution for Saint Winifred. But what about the murder victim found nearby, especially as he was coming to the Abbey to identify the monk whom he helped put the reliquary on the wagon? The sortes gives closure to one mystery and Brother Cadfael deduced the rest. A most successful solution. ( )