A brother at the monastery lies abed ranting and raving: the man who volunteered to watch him through the night falls asleep and wakes with a vision, one of a blessed saint who promising healing to the afflicted brother if her bones, neglected in their current grave, are properly enshrined at the monastery. Following the bishop’s approval, six monks journey to Wales to disinter the sainted young lady and bring her to the monastery. The locals are horrified at the notion of outlanders disturbing their saint’s rest and carting her away to Saxon territory, and then their most outspoken man develops an acute case of arrow-in-chest. Although a local is declared guilty by virtue of it being his arrow that was used, Brother Cadfael has dark suspicions that one of his brethren — the man whose idea this quest was anyway — may be behind it. It’s time for for Monk, medieval style!

It’s safe to say that this is unique among all of the medieval fiction I’ve read, given that all else is combat fiction: there’s very little shooty-stabby business here. A little, admittedly, since there is a murder involved, but it’s mostly character-riven drama that draws on medieval religion and politics. The book is not short on memorable characters, the best being Cadfael — a man who fought in the Crusades but who is now pursuing a life of prayerful contemplation at Shrewsbury Abbey, whose vast store of life experience serves him well in this little adventure. A Welshman by birth, Cadfael’s happy to be returning home for a little bit, and his affection for his people combined with his doubt about the prior’s motives mean he’s secretly on the side of the community whose graveyard is here to be prayerfully plundered. This also adds to his involvement in figuring out who really killed the man who so vocally objects to the monk’s desire: more than not having a dog in the fight, he has both dogs in the fight, and he doesn’t want further harm to befall the village, nor shame his Abbey. His wariness, affection for both sides, and ability to translate the others’ needs helps him gain the trust of the murdered man’s daughter, and together they work to expose the real killer. The writing is wonderful, and I definitely see continuing in this series.