Soon after his arrival at the Benedictine abbey of Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael finds himself on a mission to his Welsh homeland. Acting as translator, he must help his prior to obtain the bones of Saint Winifred, which now rest in a small village grave.

The Welsh villagers are loath to part with the relics of a martyr said to have miraculous powers, but before an agreement can be reached, the one villager most outspoken in his dissent is found murdered. His lovely daughter is determined to find the killer, and Cadfael is eager to help.

Carefully, kindly, and with cunning enough to please any mystery fan, the good monk sets out to solve his first case. In the process, his heart is touched by two pairs of star-crossed lovers, and he just may affect a miracle of his own.