The final episode of the second series and you can count on two things in Cadfael.
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.
Any new arrival to Shrewsbury is likely to be a wealthy and unpleasant or contemptible person. Usually to be killed off quickly.
Here the new arrival is Father Ailnoth. A puritanical priest, a reprehensible man and loyal to King Stephen.
He refused absolution to an unmarried pregnant young woman whose confession he had reluctantly heard.
She was later found drowned believed to be suicide, hence she would be buried in unconsecrated ground. However Cadfael found bruises in her body which might indicate that she was forcibly held down.
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.
The background of the civil war in England and over King Stephen's crown is very important here. It leads Cadfael to smoke out some suspects. The power of the church here is also an important factor. Ailnoth might be more typical of the kind of clergy that existed at the time.
However the ending might be unexpected. Despite the suspects which include a few people being tortured, Cadfael ends up being surprised himself.
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.
Any new arrival to Shrewsbury is likely to be a wealthy and unpleasant or contemptible person. Usually to be killed off quickly.
Here the new arrival is Father Ailnoth. A puritanical priest, a reprehensible man and loyal to King Stephen.
He refused absolution to an unmarried pregnant young woman whose confession he had reluctantly heard.
She was later found drowned believed to be suicide, hence she would be buried in unconsecrated ground. However Cadfael found bruises in her body which might indicate that she was forcibly held down.
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.
The background of the civil war in England and over King Stephen's crown is very important here. It leads Cadfael to smoke out some suspects. The power of the church here is also an important factor. Ailnoth might be more typical of the kind of clergy that existed at the time.
However the ending might be unexpected. Despite the suspects which include a few people being tortured, Cadfael ends up being surprised himself.
