A Sparrow Under the Eaves

Englishwoman Edith Pargeter was not a historian by training; however, under the pseudonym Ellis Peters, she created one of the most popular detective series, tightly linked to important historical events that shook 12th-century England and Wales, from where Pargeter’s ancestors were from. "The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael" is also a political detective—because its events unfold against the backdrop of a civil war between the supporters of the rightful claimant to the throne, Queen Matilda, and King Stephen of Blois, who seized the throne by force—along with classic, intimate stories involving the residents of Shrewsbury and its surrounding areas, as well as the inhabitants of the Benedictine abbey in Shrewsbury. It is here, late in life, that an old crusader—once a battle-hardened fighter—retreated to live out his days in peace after adopting the name Brother Cadfael, serving God and healing people. However, instead of that, Cadfael—this subtle connoisseur of human souls and a man with rich life experience—constantly has to investigate a wide variety of crimes and save not only bodies, but also souls…

In the fourth series, Brother Cadfael must again come to the aid of the innocent and unravel a mysterious crime that occurs during the annual St. Peter’s Fair, which takes place every year by the walls of the city of Shrewsbury. It is summer 1139, and in the struggle for the throne between King Stephen and Queen Matilda, there has been a brief lull; the townspeople (and even the monks living in the abbey) eagerly await the fair, which brings fun, entertainment, new connections, and so-needed purchases. But when one of the merchants is found murdered, Cadfael has to step in and investigate the killing. First, he is sure that the death of wealthy Thomas from Bristol is in no way the work of ordinary thieves; second, help is needed for Thomas’s young niece, Emma—who may also be in danger…