The Raven In The Foregate: 12 (Cadfael Chronicles)

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Ailnoth ends up dead (hardly a surprise considering his behavior), and the mystery rests in trying to figure out who did it. Everyone suspects the dark, brooding Benet at first, but that ends up being a mistake. I won’t spoil anything here and give it away, but let’s just say when the “mystery” is finally solved, I felt like groaning and pulling my hair out. Hopefully I haven’t given away too much in the summary provided above. Hugh Beringar: Sheriff of Shropshire. He is in the King's service, about 26 years old, and a close friend of Cadfael. His manors are in the north of Shropshire. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff by King Stephen three years earlier, and has acted as Sheriff since the death of Stephen's prior choice earlier in 1141. [2] In this novel, he is appointed as Sheriff by the King. He was introduced in One Corpse Too Many.

One couple sends for Father Ailnoth to baptize their newborn daughter, but he refuses to interrupt his Offices. When he does respond, the infant has died, and according to some medieval doctrine, she is doomed to limbo and is denied burial in consecrated ground. Cadfael recalls two items that were not found with Ailnoth's body: a small cap over his tonsure, and his staff. Cadfael retrieved the cap from the boys who found it at the pond early Christmas morning. He finds the staff near where the body was found. The ebony staff, with its band of silver, holds long, greying hairs in it, suggesting its victim was Diota. Cadfael presses Diota for the full story of Christmas Eve. The priest found sin in both his housekeeper and the boy, after he spoke with Giffard. She followed Ailnoth on his way to meet Ninian, begging him not to harm the boy. She clung to him, begging for mercy; Ailnoth beat her on the head with his staff, leaving the wounds Cadfael had tended. Terrified and dazed, she let go of him, and made her way home.Diota was injured Christmas Eve. Cadfael treated her wounds. Cynric sends Cadfael to aid newborn Winifred, now in the care of her grandmother Nest, mother of the late lovely Eluned. Cadfael confronts Benet with his true name, Ninian. Ninian is in Shrewsbury by the work of his resourceful childhood nurse, Diota Hammet. He plans escape through Wales to Gloucester. Sanan will go with Ninian. He will leave when his name is cleared, and Diota is safe; then he and Sanan will marry. On the day Giffard comes forward, Sanan meets Ninian at Cadfael's workshop. They leave for his hiding place just before Hugh arrives. Ocr tesseract 4.1.1 Ocr_detected_lang en Ocr_detected_lang_conf 1.0000 Ocr_detected_script Latin Ocr_detected_script_conf 1.0000 Ocr_module_version 0.0.7 Ocr_parameters -l eng Old_pallet IA19896 Openlibrary_edition On Christmas Eve, Brother Cadfael sees Ralph Giffard walking away from town, then he sees Father Ailnoth walking out, staff in hand, sleeves billowing, too distracted to offer a greeting. Both Benet and Sanan Bernière appear for the Christmas Eve services ( matins) at the Abbey, while her stepfather Giffard attends at Saint Chad. Benet and Sanan slip out separately to Cadfael's workshop for an uninterrupted chat, the start of their romance. Medieval clergy at their worst, and Cadfael at his best. Will he fail to unravel this skein and innocents will suffer? Who is innocent?

What results in a fairly straightforward murder mystery with well-defined suspects with rationale motives. Other characters and their relationships are well-drawn too. I enjoyed getting a look at the personality of the townspeople and their relationship to the religious hierarchy. The book also manages to have good scenes and further insight into some series regulars such as Abbot Radulfus and Sheriff Hugh, and even some fun with Brother Jerome’s anal activities. In the meantime, the parish of Holy Cross (comprising the Foregate and the rural areas out of town) has lost its beloved priest, Father Adam, aged before his time (he was only sixty), by worry for his fallible parishioners. His death leaves many people bereaved, but most especially Cynric the Verger, a taciturn but kindly man. Cynric eulogizes him succinctly: "A sad,kind man,...a tired man with a soft spot for sinners." Others may condescend toward Father Adam for his want of learning, but his parishioners loved him for his compassion. Then Father Ailnoth's drowned body is also found. The noblemen in Shrewsbury loyal to King Stephen are hell bent in taking the law in their own hands to find the killer of Father Ailnoth. They go after some commoners who were in dispute with Father Ailnoth. When Brother Cadfael talks to some monk or similar in the abbey that has never been seen before. He would either be the main suspect or the victim. What is important for me to tell you is why I think this particular story by Ellis Peters is worth four stars. I love how Peters recreates medieval times. You feel like you are there. The words, the scenery, the actions and thoughts of the characters feel genuine. They create an atmosphere and a mood. They put you in a time and place so very different from our own. I find this utterly enjoyable; we escape the rat race of today.I'd give the book three stars just because of Ailnoth, and because he seems to cast a pall over the entire book even after he's dead. However, I bump it up to four because there's some wonderful rhetoric from Cadfael, Hugh, and Abbott Radulfus regarding fallibility, sin and sinners. Also, the book rewards the reader by mentioning events and characters from several previous books, including lovely Torold Blund and Godith from One Corpse Too Many. Torold Blund: Young squire of FitzAlan [3] in service of Empress Maud. He has married Godith, settling in Anjou. Both were introduced in One Corpse Too Many. He is again sought by King Stephen for his work in support of his enemy; sent as scout from Normandy, believed by Hugh to have returned there. The harsh, unforgiving Father Ailnoth is brought as pastor for Holy Cross church in the foregate. When he disappears just two weeks later, Cadfael and Hugh Beringar solve the mystery. Community life was governed heavily by the rules of the Church, so excommunication, as the fictional story tells in the story of the young woman Eluned who killed herself after being refused absolution then communion, was a heavy punishment. [10] [11] [12] It is December, 1141. Abbot Randulfus has a problem on his hands. The parish of Holy Cross and the Abbey of St Peter and St Paul share the same church building; the Abbey is responsible for appointing the parish priest. Father Adam has died and the Abbot needs to find a replacement for the long-time and much beloved parish priest.

A thaw lets Cynric dig the grave for Ailnoth. The baker Jordan Achard was seen out early Christmas morning, and two will attest he was not at home. Hugh will announce this after the funeral as a way to get the guilty person talking, a scheme Cadfael terms devious. The funeral is well attended. Word that Hugh will charge the murderer draws many to the end of the funeral, including Ninian out of hiding. As the baker loudly protests his innocence of murder and guilt of adultery, Ralph Giffard mistakes Ninian as one to hold his horse. Ninian hides in his country-boy role again. This installment of "Cadfael" begins with a new priest, Father Ailnoth, being installed in the town. To say that Ailnoth is a nasty, judgmental jerk is a gross understatement and he immediately seems to try his best to alienate himself from the townsfolk. The next day, the woman who came to Cadfael is no where to be found. She soon is found dead--drowned by an apparent suicide. When this is brought to Ailnoth's attention, he tells everyone that she was a whore and he refused to give her absolution when they met. It is assumed she killed herself following this. Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2014-01-22 17:47:11.905098 Bookplateleaf 0010 Boxid IA1147503 City New York Donor

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Brother Jerome: He is a monk who admires Prior Robert, and a man who likes the sound of his own voice, especially when chiding others or carrying tales. He is a man of slight build. Lccn 86016397 Ocr_converted abbyy-to-hocr 1.1.20 Ocr_module_version 0.0.17 Openlibrary OL2722836M Openlibrary_edition Like an avenging fury, like a scavenging raven swooping through the Foregate to hunt out little venial sins, and consign the sinners to damnation.”