Novels Set in Shropshire (Book Guide) - An Excellent Mystery, a Morbid Taste for Bones, Dawn Wind, Dead Man's Ransom, Monk's Hood, Nordy Bank (Novel), (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Commentary (novels not included). Pages: 69. Chapters: An Excellent Mystery, A Morbid Taste for Bones, Dawn Wind, Dead Man's Ransom, Monk's Hood, Nordy Bank (novel), No Shame, No Fear, One Corpse Too Many, Precious Bane, Saint Peter's Fair, The Cadfael Chronicles, The Confession of Brother Haluin, The Devil's Novice, The Hermit of Eyton Forest, The Holy Thief, The Leper of Saint Giles, The Pilgrim of Hate, The Potter's Field, The Rain Before It Falls, The Raven in the Foregate, The Rose Rent, The Sanctuary Sparrow, The Virgin in the Ice, White Acre vs. Black Acre. Excerpt: The Hermit of Eyton Forest is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, first published in 1987 and set in the autumn of 1142. It is the 14th novel in the Cadfael series. The mystery is set in the Anarchy, the continuing battles between King Stephen and Empress Maud, now besieged in Oxford Castle. Sheriff Hugh Beringar and Brother Cadfael work together to untangle the threads of this mystery brought to them by both the civil war and the cruel ways of lords in other shires. The story opens on 18 October 1142 with the news that Richard Ludel, lord of Eaton manor, has died of his wounds taken at the battle of Lincoln in February 1141. A servant carries the news to Sheriff Hugh Beringar, who has charge of the manor lands for King Stephen. Hugh shares the news with Abbot Radulfus, who is guardian of the son. Brother Paul informs young Richard, 10 years old, that he is orphaned, and lord of Eaton manor. Richard has been educated at the Abbey since age 5 when his mother died. It is suspected that his father made the charter with the Abbot to keep his son away from his grandmother, Dame Dionisia Ludel. She does not believe in such education for a lord. Her goal is to marry the boy to Hiltrude, daughter of Fulke Astley, who will inherit the estates on either side of Eaton manor: Wroxeter and Leighton. That he is too young, their ages 12 years apart, have no bearing on her decision, aimed at increasing family lands and her own power. Her request that Abbot Radulfus send the boy back to her is refused. While the boy is educated, the steward John of Longwood will continue to run the estates well. Hugh Beringar has power from his role as King Stephen's man, overlord in the King's absence. He decides it is best that the boy's inheritance be assured. The former overlord of the estate, William Fitz Alan fled to France, as a supporter of the Empress Maud when King Stephen took Shrewsbury and Fitz Alan's estates. Fitz Alan is rumoured back in England, no need to stir up old loyaltie