Svatopetrský jarmark – Petersová Ellis (2025)

ANOTHER PUZZLING CASE FOR THE NOTABLE BROTHER CADFAEL...

It is July in the year of our Lord 1139, and merchants from England and Wales are gathering in Shrewsbury for the famous fair that the abbey holds every year, under the patronage of King Stephen himself. However, preparations are disrupted on the eve of the feast of Saint Peter by representatives of the guilds led by the mayor.

The town is in a dire state after last year's siege, and therefore they demand that the monastery provide a tenth of the proceeds from the rental of stalls for the repair of the broken streets. Disagreements escalate when the mayor's son, Philip, goes to negotiate directly with the traders and a brawl ensues.

Merchant Thomas from Bristol delivers a single humiliating blow to Philip, and the young man vows to take revenge. When Master Thomas is murdered at night, few doubt the identity of the killer. However, Brother Cadfael finds the entire situation suspicious and, with the help of Thomas's niece Emma, sets out to investigate. When a second murder occurs, Cadfael begins to suspect that more than just a share of the fair tax is at stake. Perhaps even the royal throne itself...