The Devil’s Novice (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #8), Ellis Peters. New York: Mysterious Press/Open Road Media, 2014 (Originally published in 1983).

Summary: Meriet Aspley is called the “Devil’s Novice” for his nightmares, his awkwardness among the brothers, and an attack leaving him consigned to Brother Mark, where he finds the body of a man he later confesses to have murdered.

Even Meriet Aspley’s arrival at Saints Peter and Paul is awkward from the cold and distant parting from his father to his over-zealousness to be received as a monk. Then there are the nightmares, calmed by Cadfael but arousing talk of him being the “devil’s novice.” When found with a girl’s ornament, he nearly chokes Brother Jerome to death when the brother takes it from him and burns it. For punishment, he is sent to the lazar house to work with Brother Mark, work he takes to well.

Meanwhile, news arrives that Pieter Clemence, a church emissary who had visited the Aspley manor has gone missing, and subsequently his horse is found near boggy ground. Clemence is assumed dead. Hugh Beringar as sheriff helps to investigate. Cadfael, as an emissary from the abbey helps both abbot and Hugh by visiting the Aspley manor. He meets Janyn, the twin of Roswithia, who is to marry Nigel, the favored son of Leoric Aspley, Nigel and Meriet’s father. He learns nothing of Clemence except that he was escorted on his way for a short distance by the father and two servants. He does learn of the affection of Isouda Foriet, from another neighboring manor, for Meriet, and that she is determined to marry him and doubts his call as a monk.

Subsequently, on a mission to gather wood for the lazar house, Meriet leads them to a place he knew where his family stored wood to make charcoal. They discover the remains of a man with a cross and ring that identify him as Clemence. They also find an arrow in his chest. Hugh is looking for a murderer. When a beggar as apprehended for theft, he is carrying a dagger that belonged to Clemence. They hold but don’t charge him for murder but allow word to get out. When Meriet hears that the beggar has been charged, he surprises everyone with a confession. The father had agreed to cover things up, sending Meriet to the abbey. Yet Meriet’s story doesn’t add up. Cadfael and Beringar suspect someone else.

All the possible “persons of interest” will be at the wedding of Roswithia and Nigel and so Hugh and Cadfael bide their time. Amid all this, we have the resolute and ingenious Isouda, who conspires with Cadfael to visit Meriet and later uncovers a key piece of evidence. Her character brought a needed contrast to the seriousness of Meriet and his father, Leoric.

Why Clemence was murdered remains a puzzle. When the answer comes, it will reveal larger conspiracies and lead to another murder attempt. But what of Meriet and Isouda? You’ll just have to read the book to find out!