The novel is set in actual locations in England during the Anarchy, the period of civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maude.

The plot was commended, as Cadfael did his "usual astute detective work" as was the historical detail, "Peters' reliable medieval performance as always", but "the formula is starting to show slight signs of fatigue.

The children's uncle and guardian, a supporter of the Empress, is refused permission to enter the King's lands to search for them.

As the first snowstorms of winter sweep the countryside, Brother Cadfael of Shrewsbury Abbey goes to the Benedictine Priory at Bromfield near Ludlow to treat a monk who has been attacked and left for dead.

As they ride to Bromfield, Yves tells Cadfael that his headstrong sister Ermina eloped four nights previously, and he became lost in the woods when he tried to pursue them.

The king's retainer in Ludlow tells Beringar that the brigands have attacked other isolated settlements, committing indiscriminate murder.

As dawn approaches, Yves hears noises nearby and goes to seek help, but runs into the arms of the brigands, who take him prisoner.

She is filled with remorse that her reckless conduct led indirectly to Hilaria's death, but Cadfael insists that the guilt belongs to the murderer.

She tells Cadfael that the stranger is Olivier de Bretagne, a Syrian-born squire in her uncle's service, with whom she is clearly in love.

As night falls, Olivier de Bretagne enters the fort by stealth and overcomes the brigand guarding Yves on the tower.

Brother Elyas wanders into the battle and confronts le Gaucher who, unnerved by the sight of a man he had left for dead, lets go of Yves.

Elyas is recovering his peace of mind, Hilaria's murderer is in prison, the brigands are exterminated, and Yves and Ermina are on their way to their uncle's care.

The Hugonin children's ordinary life events become life-threatening adventures between the siege of Worcester,[5] and the brigands of Shropshire, thieves out for themselves in a lawless era.

This novel describes the effect of the period called the Anarchy on ordinary people, even noble children being educated in monasteries and convents.

[8] The village that was the safe place on the hill for the smallholder John Druel is now named Cleeton St Mary.

[9] Abbot Radulfus and Prior Robert of Shrewsbury Abbey (home of Brother Cadfael) are both based on the real monks of 1139, as was Josce de Dinan of Ludlow Castle.

[10] This time in English history is described in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles in this way: "The earth bare no corn, you might as well have tilled the sea, for the land was all ruined by such deeds, and it was said openly that Christ and his saints slept.

A dozen audio editions were released, the latest in July 2012 on compact disk (ISBN 978-1441724793, Publisher Blackstone Audiobooks).

The action was moved from Ludlow to Cadfael's "home" abbey of Shrewsbury; Brother Elyas's part was replaced by that of Cadfael's young and callow assistant in the herb gardens, Brother Oswin (Mark Charnock), and extra plot elements were introduced to explain the presence of the brigands and the final unmasking of the murderer.

[17] The brigands and their leader le Gaucher (Ronan Vibert), were originally members of the rescue party sent by Yves and Ermina's uncle to search for them, but then committed mutiny.

[18][19] In 2013, the Middle Ground Theatre Company toured the UK with an adaption featuring Gareth Thomas as Brother Cadfael.