The second part of the historical detective series with Brother Cadfael
The dispute over the succession plunged England into civil war, and in the summer of 1138 the town of Shrewsbury also shed blood. Stephen's victorious mercenaries captured the local castle and the commander ordered all ninety-four rebels to be hanged, whereupon the local Benedictine, herbalist and all-rounder Cadfael was commissioned to provide for the bodies on their final journey. But oh, why are there ninety-five corpses at once? And who was this apparently noble youth, apparently on a secret mission, who was not hanged by the executioner as a political opponent, but strangled from behind like a godson? Will Brother Cadfael get a clue from his new charge? Or Hugh Beringar?
While the knowledgeable monk and I discreetly search, who's responsible for the crime, we'll find out, how people lived in medieval England, what they liked and how they thought, what they worshipped - and why they murdered. The second volume of the historical mystery series featuring Brother Cadfael, which was the basis for four series of the British television series (1994-1998) starring Derek Jacobi.