In the summer of 1358 Matthew Bartholomew finds himself one of a party of Bishop's Commissioners sent north to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the Abbot of Peterborough He & his colleagues quickly learn that behind the beautiful facade of the Benedictine monastery there is a vicious struggle for power & that not everyone would be happy to see the prelate's safe return This unrest & discontent seems to have spread throughout the town & there are bitter rivalries between competing shrines & the financial benefits of the relics they hold One of these shrines is dedicated to Lawrence de Oxforde a robber & murderer who was executed for his crimes but who has been venerated ever since miracles started occurring at his grave But when Bartholomew & his friend Brother Michael go to investigate they find murder instead