Summary: Two deaths and the abduction of a widow seem tied to a white rose bush from which the annual rent of a Foregate property is paid in the form of one white rose.

It is coming up on the anniversary of the celebration of the placing of St. Winifred’s reliquary on the abbey altar. The same day also marks the payment of an unusual rent. Judith Perle, heir of a prosperous weaving establishment lost both her husband and unborn child within three weeks. In her grief, she deeded their home in the Foregate to the abbey with the provision of a rent of one white rose from a bush on the property, paid on St. Winifred’s day. It involved about half her estate. The business, however, prospers under her cousin Miles’ management, so much so that she thinks of entering the convent, unhappy with the suitors who have sought her hand (and fortune).

Brother Eluric, a monk given over to the abbey as a child, is designated to deliver the rent. But in doing so in previous years, he found himself attracted to her and he pleads to be released from the obligation to keep his soul pure, and he is. Niall, the householder, a widower with a young daughter, is designated to take his place, a task he is delighted to accept, as he is also attracted to the widow. He is a bronzesmith and his feelings are further fostered when Judith brings him a girdle to be repaired–a buckle had torn away.

Niall’s daughter lived with his sister but he visited regularly. One night, shortly before the rose rent is due, he finds the bush has been mangled but not destroyed. There is a body at its base, Brother Eluric, dead of a knife wound. A bootprint is found nearby, that Cadfael takes a mold of. Later, as he discusses the death with Judith. Cadfael discloses Eluric’s attraction. Judith determines the next day to end the whole rose rent thing, giving the house fully to the abbey. She speaks of this to a servant, who share it in the kitchen, where this is overheard by a number.

The next morning she sets out for the abbey and is seen crossing the bridge but never arrrives at the abbey or returns home. It is concluded that she has been abducted, particularly after a boat is recovered and a buckle from the girdle Niall repaired is found. The town is turned out to search for her, including Bertred, on of her workers. He goes out that night on a secret errand and finds where Judith is being held. A mishap is heard by a neighboring watchman who sets the dogs on him. He escapes by jumping into the river, stunned when he hits his head. Then, as he comes to, a dark figure strikes another blow, and shoves him into deeper water, where Cadfael finds his body the next day. And he discover that the boots match the bootprint he found by Brother Eluric.

Was Bertred Eluric’s killer? And who killed Bertred? And is Judith’s abduction connected, and how will it all come right? Cadfael is not alone in the resolution of it all. Our old friend Sister Magdalen will play a role as does Niall, and Judith herself, with Cadfael himself uncovering the key clue pointing to the murderer. What’s most interesting in this story is we find ourselves pressed to keep in focus the murders as the story of Judith’s abduction unfolds, with all the possible implications this has. ( )

Another fun story

I enjoy the Brother Carwell series and this was certainly a good one—a murder mystery with nice twists! I do think that these are best read on order. ( )

The Rose Rent is 13th of the Brother Cadfael Mysteries series by Ellis Peters. It works just as well reading it as a stand alone book. I have not read any of the other books in this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was a good old cozy murder mystery to be enjoyed while relaxing by the fireside and sipping a cup of tea. The setting was ideal--a Benedictine monastery in Shrewsbury in 1142 with all the appropriate and well fleshed out inhabitants of both abbey and Shire in general, from the bronzesmith, Niall to the Sheriff and other inhabitants of the town. The star of this book and series is the shrewd Brother Cadfael, who characteristically of the quiet listener, makes the perfect sleuth.

The scenario revolves around a wealthy young widow, Judith Perle. She runs the family's prosperous clothing business which gives her an independent status highly unusual to women in this time period, outside of cloisters. She has donated a house to the abbey, free of charge with the exception of an annual rent to be paid once a year--delivery to her of a white rose from her favorite rosebush given her by her deceased husband.

Judith has a number of suitors and in addition one of the young Brothers at the monastery has been infaturated by her. After confessing such to his confessor, he if relieved of his duty of delivering the annual rose. However, not long after this confession his body is found near the rosebush, which has been seriously vandalized. It is at first thought to be a suicide, but after comtemplating the scene and looking over the evidence as such, Brother Cadfael and the others determine it was murder, as they piece together signs of foul play.

It is the first in a series of sinister events that transpire revolving around Judith and the rosebush upon which the annual rent, and therefore the contract that gifted the home to the abbey, depends. Next, Judith herself disappears during an early morning walk. It is soon determined that she was kidnapped, likely to prevent the payment of the rose rent, thereby negating the contract and freeing up the property. It is also assumed that it is likely one of her number of suitors who by besmirching her reputation could force her hand in marriage and lay his hands on her business and riches, a perfect motive. Brother Cadfael, along with her other loyal friends, begin their investigation and ongoing search for Judith.

More plot twists ensue, with another body mysteriously washing up with a couple of wounds to the head visible. Judith herself barely escapes the hands of the murderer, being rescued by a newly acquired suitor, one who she is beginning to have fond feelings for, and one who hasn't even admitted to himself yet that he indeed is a suitor.

The only remaining casualty is the rose bush itself, which is blown to bits by the murderer still at large in order to prevent the rose rent from being paid. Everyone is on edge, with the fiend still on the loose. But Brother Cadfael has finally uncovered the last evidence he needed pointing to the culprit who is then confronted and arrested.

We end the story on a happy setting with things finally beginning to look up for the young widow as it seems there is a budding romance growing between her and her rescuer. As I said, it's an enjoyable who-done-it! ( )

A la muerte de su esposo, la joven y adinerada viuda Judit Perle cede una de sus propiedades, una casa en el barrio de la Barbacana, a la abadía de Shrewsbury. Solo pide a cambio que, cada año, coincidiendo con el día en que se conmemora el traslado de los restos de santa Winifreda, se le entregue una rosa blanca. Su nueva situación despierta forzosamente el interés de muchos potenciales pretendientes, sobre todo si llegara a recuperar la casa de la Barbacana por incumplimiento del pacto por parte de la abadía...
En el verano del año 1142, la rosa aparece violentamente destrozada y el joven monje que debía entregarla, asesinado. Hay tantos sospechosos como pretendientes.

The abbey rents donated land from a young widow whose only request rent in the form of a rose annually. When a young monk requests to be replaced by another, trouble starts. First, the rose bush is hacked & the young monk is found dead next to the bush. Second, the young widow vanishes without a trace. When another body turns up & then the rose bush is set on fire, Cadfael knows he has little time to resolve 2 murders. When the widow turns up alive, Cadfael suspects its all about the donated land. But will Cadfael discover the murderer before the young widow becomes the next victim? ( )