The Sanctuary Sparrow
The Sanctuary Sparrow is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in spring 1140. Published in 1983, it is the seventh novel in The Cadfael Chronicles. The story opens during the midnight service at the Abbey, when a young man seeks sanctuary, just seconds ahead of a mob of locals fresh from a wedding feast, charging him with theft and murder. The novel was the second of the series to be adapted for television in 1994 by Central for ITV. Reviewers found this story a bit more sentimental than earlier novels in the series. The plot reveals the killer sooner than expected, but this not a drawback, as "a dramatic turn of events that leads to the exposure of the killer and the transformation of Liliwin into a hero." Plot summary The story takes place over 7 days in May 1140. At the midnight services of Matins on a lovely May night, a boy speeds into the Abbey church just ahead of mob after him for theft and murder. Abbot Radulfus stops the mob, grants the victim's request for sanctuary and successfully orders the mob to return in quiet the next morning to discuss their charges. Liliwin is a