Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: Medieval monk Brother Cadfael races to save a young man he believes is falsely accused of robberyâ??before the protection of sanctuary expires. In the gentle Shrewsbury spring of 1140, the midnight matins at the Benedictine abbey suddenly reverberate with an unholy soundâ??a hunt in full cry. Pursued by a drunken mob, the quarry is running for its life. When the frantic creature bursts into the nave to claim sanctuary, Brother Cadfael finds himself fighting off armed townsmen to save a terrified young man. Liliwin, a wandering minstrel who performed at the wedding of a local goldsmith's son, has been accused of robbery and murder. The cold light of morning, however, will show his supposed victim, the miserly craftsman, still lives, although a strongbox lies empty. Brother Cadfael believes Liliwin is innocent, but finding the truth and the treasure before Liliwin's respite in sanctuary runs out may uncover a deadlier sin than thieveryâ??a desperate love that nothing, not even the threat of hanging, can stop. The Sanctuary Sparrow is the seventh book in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, featuring a "wily veteran of the Crusades." The historical mystery series earned Ellis Peters a Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Awardâ??and a legion of devoted fans (Los Angeles Time… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DWWilkin
My first exposure to Cadfael, on PBS was with this story. It is possibly the one I remember most. In the end I think you can see how it will play out, but until two thirds of the book, you still should be guessing. The thing about Cadfael and Ellis Peters is that the world that she crafts is
Conan Doyle lived during his protagonists adventures. Peters uses her imagine to spark ours. The stories coupled with the Mystery Series go hand and hand, and with Derek Jacobi as the Cadfael, it is a winner all around.
The Sanctuary Sparrow has enough clues, and the background of the give and take of the Abbey and the Shire make all the more sense as part of the story. Part of the great fun of the Cadfael stories is to see how the politics of the Abbey progresses through the various stories, and how well Cadfael's friends and enemies are succeeding in their own lives.
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detailed exquisitely. She uses prose, sometimes a great deal, but she gives you imagery in her mystery's that transcend them into historical fiction.Conan Doyle lived during his protagonists adventures. Peters uses her imagine to spark ours. The stories coupled with the Mystery Series go hand and hand, and with Derek Jacobi as the Cadfael, it is a winner all around.
The Sanctuary Sparrow has enough clues, and the background of the give and take of the Abbey and the Shire make all the more sense as part of the story. Part of the great fun of the Cadfael stories is to see how the politics of the Abbey progresses through the various stories, and how well Cadfael's friends and enemies are succeeding in their own lives.
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LibraryThing member seoulful
Once more we are drawn into medieval life in town and Abbey of Shrewsbury, England. We see the structure of Abbey life as the monks go through the offices of the day and perform each his duties. We see the town life particularly in the routines of the guilds and the wealthy families. And we catch a
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glimpse of the life of a traveling juggler, this one bursting in upon Matins at the Abbey and claiming sanctuary from a howling mob. We see individuals of integrity such as Brother Cadfael, resident herbalist and sleuth at the Abbey, his superior, Abbot Radulfus, fair and insistent on the laws of sanctuary and Hugh Beringar, the no-nonsense, but fair sheriff of the shire. We see in other individuals the effects of avarice and bitterness and hopes denied. Ellis Peters continues to delight with her old cast of characters as well as the new who bring depth to the totality of medieval life. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review:
Monastic sleuth sees what escapes others.
Monastic sleuth sees what escapes others.
LibraryThing member devafagan
[re-read 2012]
Very good, but one of the most tragic mysteries in the series, in my opinion.
Very good, but one of the most tragic mysteries in the series, in my opinion.
LibraryThing member antiquary
A young minstrel pursued by a mob takes sanctuary in Shrewsbury abbey, accused of murder -ii turns out the victim is not dead, but has been robbed. The real robber (and eventual murderer) dies what I have to call a tragic death.-- a powerful though sad climax.
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Liliwin claims sanctuary at the monastery after being accused of robbing someone. Brother Cadfael sets out to investigate. well-told story with sufficient clues to guess the solution, and a mild love interest too.
LibraryThing member mamzel
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member Joycepa
#7 in the Brother Caedfel series.
The serene rite of Matins is interrupted by a figure racing desperately for sanctuary in the church of the Abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul at Shrewsbury. An out-of-control crowd pursues him into the church and is only stopped by the commanding figure of Abbot
That sets the stage for another episode in the life and times of Brother Caedfel, Benedictine brother, who seems to spend as much of his time solving murder mysteries as he does compounding his herbal remedies for the sick. It’s another good plot done to Peters standard formula and yet another look at life in the 12th century during the time of the Civil War between Steven and Maude.
Peters’ writing is gentle; clearly she has great affection for her subjects. This is not a heavyweight series by any means, but is satisfying nonetheless. Caedfel and his colleagues, the deputy sheriff Hugh Beringar, and the people seem far more real, for example, than those in Peter Tremayne’s series about Sister Fidelma of Ireland.
An excellent read. Highly recommended.
The serene rite of Matins is interrupted by a figure racing desperately for sanctuary in the church of the Abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul at Shrewsbury. An out-of-control crowd pursues him into the church and is only stopped by the commanding figure of Abbot
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Radulphus. Accused of attacking a respected craftsman of the town while entertaining at the son’s weeding and then stealing the goldsmith’s money, according to law, the young fugitive is allowed 40 days and nights within the confines of the church before he is handed over to the law. Caedfel doubts the young man’s guilt, and quietly begins investigating, in his own way, into what really happened.That sets the stage for another episode in the life and times of Brother Caedfel, Benedictine brother, who seems to spend as much of his time solving murder mysteries as he does compounding his herbal remedies for the sick. It’s another good plot done to Peters standard formula and yet another look at life in the 12th century during the time of the Civil War between Steven and Maude.
Peters’ writing is gentle; clearly she has great affection for her subjects. This is not a heavyweight series by any means, but is satisfying nonetheless. Caedfel and his colleagues, the deputy sheriff Hugh Beringar, and the people seem far more real, for example, than those in Peter Tremayne’s series about Sister Fidelma of Ireland.
An excellent read. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member MarysGirl
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
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 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.
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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 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.
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LibraryThing member hopeevey
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
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 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.
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
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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 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.
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LibraryThing member fuzzi
Another entertaining story in this series. I did not guess whodunit until very close to the end of the book, which I liked.
LibraryThing member fdholt
In The sanctuary sparrow, Liliwin, a minstrel and juggler, is accused of murder and robbery. He seeks help from the good brothers at the Abbey and is granted asylum for forty days. Now it is up to Brother Cadfael to solve the mystery and find out who took the stolen property at the wedding feast as
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well as the one who murdered. An excellent addition to the Cadfael Chronicles. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
As always, this book began agonizingly slow, picked up at the half-way point, and ran at a fast clip to the end.
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
Not the best one I've read so far. My favourite part was Liliwin's sanctuary, and the time he spent with the brothers. I ended up skimming the whole scene between him and Rannlit because it was all too sweet and twee for me. Peters seemed to spend a lot more time describing scenery and settings in
Not a bad book, but not the best of the 7 I've read either, by a long shot.
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exhaustive detail, and I'd catch myself half way through thinking alright already. I was also certain as to who the killer was long before the half-way mark. Sometimes the biggest clue is the way the author draws the character, and such was the case in this book; in trying to write a nondescript character, Peters created the only plausible suspect. There were details I did miss though that added to the complexity of the plot, and they were well crafted. The ending was a little eye-rolling, but not so much as the ending of book 6, if I recall correctly. Peters seemed to like daring escapes, for a bit, at least.Not a bad book, but not the best of the 7 I've read either, by a long shot.
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LibraryThing member walterhistory
When a man escaping from an enraged mob claims sanctuary, Cadfael is ordered by his abbot to begin investigation of whether the mob's claims are legitimate. When a body is found on the river's edge, the mob suspects the man but Cadfael suspects otherwise. As he approaches the truth, he discovers
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that someone had weaved a perfect crime. Confronting the murderer is much more complicated considering the life of a maid is at stake & a man's innocence. Show Less
LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
During the performance of Lilliwin the jongleur at Daniel Auerfaber's wedding, he breaks a vase and is tossed out on his ear minus his fee. Later that evening the hue and cry goes up for his head at having committed murder and theft. Running for his life, he seeks refuge at the Shrewsbury Abbey and
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is granted 40 days of asylum. Brother Cadfael and Hugh Beringar are on the case to prove or disprove the boy's innocence. In the meanwhile, you discover that Walter Auerfaber is not dead, only injured and is more concerned about his loss of wealth than anything else. Show Less
LibraryThing member Othemts
Another Brother Cadfael mystery, and not one of the stronger ones. I noted earlier that I'd prefer a mystery for once without a murder (and this one initially did not have a murder) or without the stereotypical attractive young couple (instead this one had a stereotypical poor but honest couple).
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It did have a good characterization of a dysfunctional family which breaks from the mold of Peters' Shrewsbury populated by honorable, respectful, and kind citizens. But overall this book is a disappointment. Show Less
LibraryThing member Karin7
Yet another Cadfael book imported from Shelfari with no review, and it didn't make it to LibraryThing, either, so whatever I thought when I first read this, other than I gave it 4 stars, is gone.
A young minstrel races into the sanctuary and grabs the cloth on the altar to escape the mob chasing
A young minstrel races into the sanctuary and grabs the cloth on the altar to escape the mob chasing
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him, certain without proof that he has committed murder and theft. The abbot stops the mob from beating him to death and gets them to leave. A rather action packed start to a Brother Cadfael book, but rest assured, it's another gem in this series. He has a legal right to 40 days of sanctuary before he has to be handed over to the authorities, providing he doesn't leave the compound, and--I know you'll be shocked--Brother Cadfael investigates, along with Hugh Beringer with the help of others. Yes, of course there is a romance as a side part of this, or it wouldn't belong in this series, would it? Show Less
Original publication date
1983
ISBN
9781784080570
Local notes
Brother Cadfael, 07
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery PetersEs |