The hustle and bustle of the great St Peter's Fair, where merchants from all over England bring their goods to trade and barter. And then a death, Master Thomas, stripped of his handsome gown and dignity. As always there is Brother Cadfael searching for the murderer - and the truth.
It was meant to be a harmless stag night prank. A few hours later four of his best friends are dead and Michael Harrison has disappeared. With only three days to the wedding, Detective Superintendent Grace - a man haunted by the shadow of his own missing wife - is contacted by Michael's beautiful, distraught fiancée, Ashley Harper. Grace discovers that the one man who ought to know Michael Harrison's whereabouts...