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The Leper of Saint Giles

The Leper of Saint Giles

GothicHistorical Mystery
Published
1981
Language
English

Synopsis

Guests are gathering at Shrewsbury Abbey for the wedding of a wealthy, unpleasant older man to a young woman being pushed into the match by guardians more interested in her fortune than her happiness. Her true love, a passionate young suitor, is determined to stop the ceremony before it's too late.

When a murder brings the wedding to a sudden halt, the young suitor becomes the obvious suspect, his motive plain for everyone to see. Brother Cadfael isn't so sure the obvious answer is the right one, and sets out to find the truth among a household of guests all keeping their own secrets, aided by a company of lepers camped nearby at Saint Giles.

Prose complexity
6/10

Vibe

TenseMysteriousAtmospheric

Genres

Gothic Historical Mystery Medieval

About the author

E
Edith Pargeter

Edith Mary Pargeter OBE BEM (28 September 1913 – 14 October 1995), also known by her pen name Ellis Peters, was an English author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics. She is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern, and especially for her medieval detective series The Cadfael Chronicles.

Characters

Brother CadfaelProtagonist

A Benedictine monk and herbalist at Shrewsbury Abbey who investigates a murder that halts a forced wedding.

All characters in The Leper of Saint Giles