The Sanctuary Sparrow

Slightly out of the usual pattern for the Cadfael books and even better than usual. Surprising villain, quiet and competent, a daughter driven to desperate means by a tight fisted proud grandmother and matriarch. A lovely innocent pair of lovers in the falsely accused troubadour and the hard working maid taken finally for hostage. And of course justice is served at the end.

Summary: A young traveling entertainer at a wedding seeks sanctuary in the abbey, pursued by a mob accusing him of murdering and robbing the groom’s father while Cadfael and Hugh explore the possibility of other suspects closer to home.

It is the time for midnight matins at the abbey, usually peaceful. Instead, the monks hear the sound of an uproar growing louder. Then in bursts a lithe young man pursued by an angry and drunken mob. The young man, Liliwin, is a traveling juggler and singer, hired to entertain at Daniel Aurifaber’s wedding to Margery, daughter of a rich family. Daniel is at the head of the mob (rather than in bed with his bride) accusing Liliwin of murdering and robbing his father, a goldsmith. Liliwin claims that show more after he had been turned out without being paid because he broke a lamp, pushed into it by rowdy guests, he wandered off, finding outdoor shelter in a copse of trees until realizing he was being pursued. Abbot Radulfus grants sanctuary, a forty day reprieve from arrest, trial, and death, provided that Liliwin not leave the abbey.

Almost at once we see the trust between the shrewd abbot and Cadfael, who is sent to look after Daniel’s elderly grandmother, Juliana, suffering heart problems. He’s able to question members of the household. We also learn that the father, Walter, lives, although badly concussed. Cadfael retrieves Liliwin’s juggling balls and something more–news that the maid Rannilt to whom he was attracted in their brief encounter at the wedding party is concerned about him.

Neither Cadfael nor Hugh Beringar, the deputy sheriff, with whom Cadfael shares a rapport, believe Liliwin guilty. No stash of stolen goods has been found. And there is enough greed surrounding the Aurifaber household to make them want to learn more. Then Baldwin Peche, the locksmith living across from the Aurifabers as their tenant, turns up floating in the river–while Liliwin was supposed to be confined to the abbey. In fact, Liliwin had been about the night of the death, escorting Rannilt back to the Aurifaber’s after a visit (and tryst) encouraged by Susanna, Daniel’s sister, who managed the household.

Hugh and Cadfael have forty days to sort all this out. Liliwin’s presence draws out the character of some of the brothers. Prior Robert resents the disruption of the abbey’s life Liliwin represents. Brother Jerome, a strict sort keeps pressing Liliwin to examine his soul as a disciplinarian. And brother Anselm delights in a fellow musician, taking Liliwin under his wing, hoping to recruit him for the abbey choir. He restores the lad’s shatter rebec, a type of stringed instrument.

Finding the place where Peche was murdered, marked by some distinctive plants coinciding in one place becomes significant, as are marks on the murdered man’s back, and remarks Rannilt shared about the household with Liliwin as are the last words which Rannilt overhears Dame Juliana say before her fatal seizure. The slowly intensifying story culminates in a chase where Rannilt is held hostage while Liliwin, now freed of suspicion, attempts a risky rescue.

Peters gets all the elements for a good mystery just right in this story–an accused we are rooting for, an array of possible suspects around the fraught household of Aurifaber, a budding love story that we don’t want to see interrupted by a death sentence, or a death, and behind it all, the worldly wise spirituality of the abbey and the maturing friendship of Cadfael and Hugh. show less

I enjoy this gentle series (if murder and mayhem can have a gentle side). I skip around based on whatever book happens to be on sale and use them as lovely interludes between longer and more complicated books. Normally I give them 3 stars, but a few have rated 4 - most because I didn't guess the murderer until very close to the end.

This one gets 4 because of its wonderful exploration of women's roles and power dynamics in a multi-generation craft family. Books set in and around a monastery will of necessity have only token women. In most of the other Cadfael books I've read, those women are treated with respect, but have only minor supporting roles. In this one, we're treated to lengthy passages from the female POV. Powerful elderly show more matriarch, daughter/householder, new bride, and servant--all play a rich role in the narrative. The Sanctuary Sparrow is a fun read and welcome departure from the series. show less

Brother Cadfael used his amazing knowledge of plants and human nature in this episode. After the wedding of the goldsmith's son, the father is attacked and his collection of precious coins is stolen. The guilt is immediately dumped on a jongleur, Liliwin, an entertainer who performed his juggling act at the wedding dinner. He flees to the abbey's church and requests sanctuary from the pursuing mob. Soon after, the tenant is found dead.

I still enjoy this tech-free series taking place in Medieval England. Cadfael is a wonderful combination of pious friar and worldly traveler who brings all of his knowledge to the table to solve his cases. He always shows gentleness to the down-trodden and cares for everyone who needs his medical attention.

The monks' midnight service is interrupted by a travelling entertainer with a lynch mob hot on his heels. He claims sanctuary and is granted 40 days. Did he do what he's been accused of? Cadfael investigates.

One couple involved ends happily, the other doesn't. But even so there is hope:
'Old friend,' said Hugh, shaking his head with rueful affection, 'I doubt if even you can get Susanna into the fold among the lambs. She chose her way, and it's taken her far out of reach of man's mercy, if ever she'd lived to face trial. And now, I suppose,' he said, seeing his friend's face still thoughtful and undismayed, ' you will tell me roundly that God's reach is longer than man's.'
'It had better be,' said Brother Cadfael very solemnly, show more 'otherwise we are all lost.' show less

Ellis Peters again delivers a wonderful historical mystery.

Brother Caedfael often helps people in love. In this book, there are three couples, each couple very much in love, but in three very different ways. The action of the story comes about naturally from who each person is, and comes to light just as naturally.

Ms. Peters does seem prone to the trope of "the first suspect is never guilty", but I hadn't realized it until just now. She doesn't beat you over the head with it. Frankly, by about half way through this novel, I had at least three different theories about who did what and why, all of them supported by the facts revealed that far. And had I not been so very caught up in the excellent writing, and the wonderfully real show more characters, I could have figured it out - all the information was there. But I preferred to stay immersed in the time and place of the story, than take the time to work out the plot ahead of time. show less

When the father of the bridegroom is assaulted and robbed during the wedding festivities, suspicion is cast on the young minstrel who provided the entertainment at the wedding banquet. He reaches the monastery just ahead of his pursuers and is granted 40 days of sanctuary. That's plenty of time for Cadfael and sheriff's deputy Hugh Beringar to get to the truth of the matter. There are plenty of other suspects, including the nosy neighbor and even the bridegroom himself.

I always learn a lot about life in medieval England from the Cadfael books. This one focuses on domestic life, and the management of a middle class household. I even learned a new word. The young man who found sanctuary at the monastery was a jongleur. Ellis Peters excels show more in all areas of mystery writing – plot, characters, and setting. Her books have become “go-to” reads for me when I want to escape with a good book. show less