The book includes a map of the Abbey, the town of Shrewsbury, St. Giles, the winding River Severn and its small local brooks, and places in the environs mentioned in this story and others in the series.

Iveta and the guests gather at the abbey church for the wedding, but Huon does not appear; searchers find him dead far from his lodgings.

Brother Oswin notes that the dead man's hat is missing; Cadfael finds it near where he fell, with a rare flower attached.

At a convent, Cadfael finds Avice of Thornbury, who tells him Huon de Domville left the hunting lodge at dawn.

Cadfael accompanies Mark to Saint Giles and talks with Lazarus, recognising him as Guimar de Massard, a hero of the Crusade who was believed dead 40 years earlier.

Lazarus says the Fatimid doctors diagnosed and treated his leprosy; he lived as a hermit until learning his son had died, and that he had an orphaned granddaughter Iveta.

Lazarus removes his veil, revealing a face ravaged by disease, and claims it would be better for him to remain unknown; assuring Cadfael he is all right and at peace with his fate.

)[4] Kirkus Reviews is also positive: A welcome fifth appearance for Brother Cadfael, that compassionate sleuth-monk-herbalist of medieval Shrewsbury Abbey—whose mystery once again involves a star-crossed romance.

Iveta de Massard, doll-like granddaughter of a long-dead Crusades hero, is in love with young squire Joscelin Lucy.

But Iveta's rapacious uncle/guardian Sir Godfrid Picard has a profitable marriage planned for her—to arrogant, 50-ish Baron Huon de Domville.

And when Joscelin's escape is quickly followed by the murder of would-be groom Domville, the poor lad is the top suspect—and he takes refuge in a nearby leper sanctuary.

Complete with a dramatic public confrontation and a final bit of Cadfael deduction: another Peters delight, featuring vital characters, a beautifully organised puzzle, and history made real.

[1]Publishers Weekly reviewed a 1991 audio book of this and the prior novel in the series in one article, liking the historical setting more than the plots: Murder abounds in these early chronicles of Brother Cadfael, medieval herbalist and sleuth.

Listeners are likely to solve these mysteries long before the insightful Benedictine monk, but predictable plotting is amply compensated for by the author's wonderful re-creation of the period and actor Stephen Thorne's excellent narration.

Buffalo, NY December 15, 1991[2]The book explores social conflicts that arose from the aristocratic society and the manorial system in the Middle Ages in England.

Family life, including marriage, was structured around the importance of land, and further complicated by men leaving upon their own inspiration for the Crusades, far from England.

In time, it is set shortly after Empress Maud returned to England, taking Arundel Castle, where she was besieged and allowed to leave, as she joined her supporters in Bristol.

[6] He alludes to the massacre of civilians after the capture of Ascalon and Jerusalem, and the ignoble behaviour of the Crusader leaders Baldwin, Bohemond, and Tancred, "squabbling over their conquests like malicious children."

Brother Cadfael is loyal to his homelands; after killing the enemy in the First Crusade, he came to a tolerant view of the people in his world, and turned to the healing arts.

In this story, his knowledge of plants, specifically blue creeping gromwell and its rarity around Shrewsbury, led him to the witness who provided crucial information to solve the murder.

In him are all the forces of the era: call to the Crusades, chivalry in battle and in love, the manor system, the importance of family, and the powerful connection to Christianity.

When dismissed by de Domville, Joscelin considers joining the King's army, as rumours grow of impending civil war.

Inmates of a lazar house were bound by many rules: they must not approach any large town; they must use a clapper or their voice to warn the healthy of their "unclean" presence; and most wore heavy cloaks and even face cloths to hide their disfigurements.

[10] Even when living at a house like St. Giles, where food and medicine were provided,[11] most had a begging bowl, for the chance charity of passers-by.

[12] Given the explicit social separation, Joscelin Lucy is a daring and clever young man in this story, to use the lazar house as one of his hiding places until his innocence can be established.

It is useful to Cadfael throughout the series of books, for dulling pain and calming those in distress, and to other characters for stupefying guards, witnesses and rivals.

[13][14] Cadfael's final conversation with Guimar de Massard alludes to the raising of Lazarus of Bethany from the dead, as recounted in Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John.

The "Cadfael" series eventually extended to thirteen episodes, all of which starred Sir Derek Jacobi as the sleuthing monk.