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  • The Sanctuary Sparrow

  • The Seventh Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
  • Written by: Ellis Peters
  • Narrated by: Vanessa Benjamin
  • Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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The Sanctuary Sparrow cover art

The Sanctuary Sparrow

Written by: Ellis Peters
Narrated by: Vanessa Benjamin
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Publisher's Summary

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.
©1983 Ellis Peters (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Historical
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What the critics say

“Murderous though they be, the Ellis Peters books set in twelfth-century Britain have the freshness of a new world at dawn…Peters weaves a complex, colorful, and at times quite beautiful tapestry. Medieval of course.” ( Houston Post)
“Medieval England comes marvelously alive.” ( Washington Post)

What listeners say about The Sanctuary Sparrow

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ciaran Adams

Another fantastic Cadfael story

The Cadfael books never fail to impress. And The Sanctuary Sparrow is no exception. The author has/had a clear understanding of the time period and though some aspects are certainly anachronistic, it is never enough to detract from the overall tale.
The interactions between Hugh and Cadfael are a treat as ever and the newly introduced characters complex enough to be believed.
Vanessa Benjamin as narrator has improved and while not a narrator with the widest of character ranges she still manages to carry the story and provide enough emotive power to properly immerse the listener at times.
A job well done all around.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Fraser

Vanessa Benjamin sucks!

I cannot finish listening. The vocal performance is excruciatingly awful.
It is very unfortunate that producer continued to use her as others are so much more attractive.

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