The famous “Chronicles of Brother Cadfael” brought the English writer Ellis Peters (Ellis Peters) worldwide fame. The novels unfold between 1135 and 1145, during the civil war between Queen Matilda and King Stephen of Blois. Some Cadfael novels describe or reference historical events that actually took place around that time. In particular, in the first two books (“The Heresy of the Holy Innocents”?) and “One Extra Corpse,” the events of the transfer of the relics of Saint Winifred (en: Winefride) to the abbey in Shrewsbury in 1138 are described.
“The Secret Benediction” is the eleventh book of the series: a crusader maimed on the campaign, deciding to become a monk, breaks his engagement. His bride also decides to devote herself to God, but she disappears on the way to the monastery. The perceptive Brother Cadfael takes up the search for the missing woman.