The Sanctuary Sparrow

Written by Ellis Peters

Narrated by Vanessa Benjamin

On a spring evening in 1140 Shrewsbury, the midnight matins at the Benedictine abbey suddenly reverberate with an unholy sound-a hunt in full cry. Pursued by a drunken mob, the quarry is running for its life. When the frantic creature bursts in to claim sanctuary, Brother Cadfael finds himself fighting off armed townsmen to save a terrified young man.

Accused of robbery and murder is Liliwin, a wandering minstrel who performed at the wedding of a local goldsmith’s son. The cold light of morning, however, will show his supposed victim 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 thievery-a desperate love that not even the threat of hanging can stop.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio
• Release date: Jan 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781441751669

Ellis Peters

Ellis Peters (the pen name of Edith Pargeter, 1913–1995) is a writer beloved of millions of readers worldwide and has been widely adapted for radio and television, including her Brother Cadfael crime novels, which were made into a series starring Derek Jacobi. She has been the recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger, Edgar Award for Best Novel, Agatha Award for Best Novel, and was awarded an OBE for her services to literature in 1994.

Reviews for The Sanctuary Sparrow

[marysgirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[mrsrk-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another excellent book from the “Brother Cadfael” series. Very well written, gives you a bit of the taste of that time, although, obviously, not written in Old English.

[phoenixcomet · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[hopeevey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[sueincyprus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[mamzel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[meredy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Six-word review:Monastic sleuth sees what escapes others.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[walterhistory · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[kaulsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As always, this book began agonizingly slow, picked up at the half-way point, and ran at a fast clip to the end.

[fuzzi_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another entertaining story in this series. I did not guess whodunit until very close to the end of the book, which I liked.

[fdholt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 well as the one who murdered. An excellent addition to the Cadfael Chronicles.

[seoulful · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[dwwilkin_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[joycepa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

#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 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.