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The Sanctuary Sparrow: The Seventh Chronicle of Brother Cadfael Audiobook
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(4.00) - 3,824 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
On a spring evening in 1140 Shrewsbury, the midnight matins at the Benedictine abbey suddenly reverberate with an unholy sound—a hunt in full cry. Pursued by a drunken mob, the quarry is running for its life. When the frantic creature bursts in to claim sanctuary, Brother Cadfael finds himself fighting off armed townsmen to save a terrified young man.
Accused of robbery and murder is Liliwin, a wandering minstrel who performed at the wedding of a local goldsmith's son. The cold light of morning, however, will show his supposed victim still lives, although a strongbox lies empty. Brother Cadfael believes Liliwin is innocent, but finding the truth and the treasure before Liliwin's respite in sanctuary runs out may uncover a deadlier sin than thievery—a desperate love that not even the threat of hanging can stop.
This finely written tale is another gem from the master of medieval intrigue.
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"The Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters is a wonderful set of mysteries that take place in 12th century England. Ellis Peters does a wonderful job of describing all the characters and she is a great mystery writer. The cases are complicated enough to make them interesting."
— Hazel (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Gripping and knowledgable.”
— Spectator -
“A welcome treat for Brother Cadfael fans.”
— Kirkus Reviews
The Sanctuary Sparrow Listener Reviews
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Paul Falshaw-Skelly, 6/14/2022
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" Good, but not the best of the series. The love story was a little shallow and the murderer a little obvious. Not enough Cadfael and Hugh, I think. "
— Ryan, 2/18/2014 -
" Another great story by Ellis Peters. The ending line by Brother Cadfael is precious and dead on. The murderer takes a while to umask, and the plot moves along with a variety of side trails. I like it. "
— Frode, 2/16/2014 -
" as i've seen several of pbs's well-done programs on brother cadfael, i rather enjoyed reading one of the books. i will definitely read others. "
— Debbie, 2/13/2014 -
" You'll read it in one sitting. The characters are SO REAL in spite of the 900-year gap between Cadfael and us, you'll find yourself owned after the first few pages. "
— Jill, 1/21/2014 -
" Brother Cadfael does it again. Without judgement but carefully seeks the truth and justice. "
— Janet, 1/15/2014 -
" These are great! love them "
— Mom, 12/29/2013 -
" A good read, with lots of medieval background. I love Ellis Peters for a light read and Brother Cadfael is there with his generosity, thoughtfulness and expertise in medicine and awareness! "
— Jenny, 12/27/2013 -
" Nothing special, just another of the series, but I like them. "
— Jessica, 12/27/2013 -
" I love going back in time and listening to a Brother Cadfael mystery. It's always more than just the mystery. "
— Vickie, 12/26/2013 -
" What a depressing finale! The good guys won but I felt sorry for the villains. "
— Valeria, 12/24/2013 -
" Another great Cadfael who dunnit. Keeps you guessing until the end. These are excellent books who you want an enjoyable historical murder mystery, well paced and well written as with all the others I have read in this series. "
— Allen, 12/22/2013 -
" I'm reading piles of my old favourites at the moment & picked this one up - I love the Cadfael mysteries. This is a lovely, romantic one. "
— Kate, 12/18/2013 -
" Another good read in the Cadfael Chronicles. I especially enjoyed the portrait of the young jongleur, the "Santuary Sparrow" of the title. Even the peril of a sparrow is known unto God... "
— M, 12/4/2013 -
" Cadfael works to resolve the murder of a young minstrel who seeks sanctuary in the sanctuary. "
— Jan, 12/1/2013 -
" as i've seen several of pbs's well-done programs on brother cadfael, i rather enjoyed reading one of the books. i will definitely read others. "
— Debbie, 11/29/2013 -
" You'll read it in one sitting. The characters are SO REAL in spite of the 900-year gap between Cadfael and us, you'll find yourself owned after the first few pages. "
— Jill, 11/17/2013 -
" A good read, with lots of medieval background. I love Ellis Peters for a light read and Brother Cadfael is there with his generosity, thoughtfulness and expertise in medicine and awareness! "
— Jenny, 11/4/2013 -
" The Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters is a wonderful set of mysteries that take place in 12th century England. Ellis Peters does a wonderful job of describing all the characters and she is a great mystery writer. The cases are complicated enough to make them interesting. "
— Hazel, 11/4/2013 -
" Yet another good read. It is not deep or enlightening but there is something substantial to the characters. Peters plays with traditional roles in this one making even the guilty party sympathetic and well rounded. "
— Ed, 6/22/2013 -
" What a depressing finale! The good guys won but I felt sorry for the villains. "
— Valeria, 6/6/2013 -
" These are great! love them "
— Mom, 6/4/2013 -
" I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others, but it was still very good. As other reviewers have said, it provides an interesting perspective on the situation for women during this time period. "
— Miriam, 5/8/2013 -
" I'm reading piles of my old favourites at the moment & picked this one up - I love the Cadfael mysteries. This is a lovely, romantic one. "
— Kate, 5/7/2013 -
" I only read a few murder mysteries a year, and Ellis Peters is still great decades later. "
— Mike, 5/1/2013 -
" Cute, escapist mystery with a gimic (12th Century England) "
— G., 4/7/2013 -
" Cadfael is a wonderful character. Wish they'd make a new tv series though Derek Jacobi was so good as the monk dectective ! "
— Martha, 3/29/2013 -
" This is probably my favourite Brother Cadfael mystery so far. Peters has such a way of writing that reflects on human nature - it makes me wish I could see things in the calm and non-judgmental way that Cadfael himself does. Great story and lovely writing. "
— Meghan, 3/28/2013 -
" Another great story by Ellis Peters. The ending line by Brother Cadfael is precious and dead on. The murderer takes a while to umask, and the plot moves along with a variety of side trails. I like it. "
— Frode, 1/22/2013 -
" Another great Cadfael who dunnit. Keeps you guessing until the end. These are excellent books who you want an enjoyable historical murder mystery, well paced and well written as with all the others I have read in this series. "
— Allen, 12/19/2012 -
" This is probably my favourite Brother Cadfael mystery so far. Peters has such a way of writing that reflects on human nature - it makes me wish I could see things in the calm and non-judgmental way that Cadfael himself does. Great story and lovely writing. "
— Meghan, 12/10/2012 -
" Cadfael is a wonderful character. Wish they'd make a new tv series though Derek Jacobi was so good as the monk dectective ! "
— Martha, 11/12/2012 -
" I think this is one of my favorite BC books so far. Im not sure why, perhaps its emotional intensity and passion was really reved up. Really dug it. "
— Ruth, 9/24/2012 -
" A bit grimmer and more intense than the earlier ones that I've read. "
— Rachel, 7/28/2012 -
" I only read a few murder mysteries a year, and Ellis Peters is still great decades later. "
— Mike, 4/23/2012 -
" I have read some reviews that indicate this is the best of the Cadfael series. I certainly do not agree, and feel inclined to say so. However, I do agree with reviewers that cite this as the darkest yet. Overall, another charming addition in the Welsh monk's adventures. "
— B., 1/5/2012 -
" Cute, escapist mystery with a gimic (12th Century England) "
— G., 10/14/2011 -
" Some of the earlier books in the Brother Cadfael series are oddly "chaste" considering the time period they are set in. This volume's topic perhaps was not as dark as the preceding volume, but it still involves more sensuality than some of the earlier books. "
— Katie, 9/30/2011 -
" Another good read in the Cadfael Chronicles. I especially enjoyed the portrait of the young jongleur, the "Santuary Sparrow" of the title. Even the peril of a sparrow is known unto God... "
— M, 9/29/2011 -
" Good, but not the best of the series. The love story was a little shallow and the murderer a little obvious. Not enough Cadfael and Hugh, I think. "
— Ryan, 6/15/2011 -
" You'll read it in one sitting. The characters are SO REAL in spite of the 900-year gap between Cadfael and us, you'll find yourself owned after the first few pages. "
— Jill, 4/2/2011 -
" You'll read it in one sitting. The characters are SO REAL in spite of the 900-year gap between Cadfael and us, you'll find yourself owned after the first few pages. "
— Jill, 4/2/2011 -
" I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others, but it was still very good. As other reviewers have said, it provides an interesting perspective on the situation for women during this time period. "
— Miriam, 3/5/2011 -
" I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others, but it was still very good. As other reviewers have said, it provides an interesting perspective on the situation for women during this time period. "
— Miriam, 3/5/2011 -
" Some of the earlier books in the Brother Cadfael series are oddly "chaste" considering the time period they are set in. This volume's topic perhaps was not as dark as the preceding volume, but it still involves more sensuality than some of the earlier books. "
— Katie, 2/24/2011 -
" Some of the earlier books in the Brother Cadfael series are oddly "chaste" considering the time period they are set in. This volume's topic perhaps was not as dark as the preceding volume, but it still involves more sensuality than some of the earlier books. "
— Katie, 2/24/2011 -
" A good read, with lots of medieval background. I love Ellis Peters for a light read and Brother Cadfael is there with his generosity, thoughtfulness and expertise in medicine and awareness! "
— Jenny, 7/29/2010 -
" A good read, with lots of medieval background. I love Ellis Peters for a light read and Brother Cadfael is there with his generosity, thoughtfulness and expertise in medicine and awareness! "
— Jenny, 7/29/2010 -
" I'm reading piles of my old favourites at the moment & picked this one up - I love the Cadfael mysteries. This is a lovely, romantic one. "
— Kate, 7/20/2010 -
" I'm reading piles of my old favourites at the moment & picked this one up - I love the Cadfael mysteries. This is a lovely, romantic one. "
— Kate, 7/20/2010 -
" Cadfael works to resolve the murder of a young minstrel who seeks sanctuary in the sanctuary. "
— Jan, 11/14/2009 -
" Cadfael works to resolve the murder of a young minstrel who seeks sanctuary in the sanctuary. "
— Jan, 11/14/2009 -
" Nothing special, just another of the series, but I like them. "
— Jessica, 11/4/2009 -
" Nothing special, just another of the series, but I like them. "
— Jessica, 11/4/2009 -
" Not at all bad. <br/> <br/><em>Charity shop find</em>. "
— Debbie, 3/22/2009 -
" Not at all bad. <br/> <br/><em>Charity shop find</em>. "
— Debbie, 3/22/2009 -
" These are great! love them "
— Mom, 3/9/2009
About Ellis Peters
Ellis Peters (1913–1995) was the pen name of English novelist Edith Pargeter, author of scores of books under her own name. She was a recipient of the Silver Dagger Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, conferred by the Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain, as well as the coveted Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America.
About Vanessa Benjamin
Vanessa Benjamin (a.k.a. Roe Kendall) is a native of the British Isles. Some twenty-five years ago she moved to the United States with her family and set down roots in Maryland. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, receiving their silver medal as well as the Sir Emile Littler and Caryl Brahms awards. Benjamin has performed on stage in the Washington, DC, area for several years and at many venues and has performed at the Kennedy Center as Mrs. Schubert in the long-running show Shear Madness. An accomplished actress and narrator, she has recorded over two hundred books. Her work as a freelance voice-over artist and narrator has led her in many interesting directions, from technical government materials to eighteenth-century romance novels to hotel advertising, but narrating books is what she really enjoys. “I really love playing all the parts when I narrate a book. It’s an adventure, a challenge, and above all I feel that I learn something new with each book I read. I do a lot of reading for the Library of Congress’ Blind and Physically Handicapped program, and it is so rewarding for me especially when I get a letter from a patron; it’s a great service for the listener.”