Leper at St. Giles'

WHEN LOVE LEADS TO THE MOST DESPERATE OF ACTS.

It is October 1139 and Huon de Domville, a man of sixty, arrives at Shrewsbury Abbey to marry the beautiful Yvette, the eighteen-year-old heiress of Guimar de Massard. However, when he is found dead on his wedding day, it soon becomes clear that he was murdered.

The main suspect immediately becomes Joscelin Lucy, who everyone knows loves Yvette and is trying to prevent the shameful marriage. Brother Cadfael has his doubts about the identity of the murderer, but he must find evidence to support his claims. His investigation eventually leads him to the community of the poor and sick at St Giles, where another of the monks, Brother Mark, works.

It is he who manages to discover that there is one extra patient among the lepers. But does this person belong among the lepers, or are they just pretending? Who could be so desperate as to voluntarily take refuge among those shunned by others? The questions are mounting, Joscelin is still missing, and another murder takes place in Shrewsbury…