A Morbid Taste for Bones

Synopsis

In 1137 the ambitious head of Shrewsbury Abbey has decided to acquire the remains of Saint Winifred for his Benedictine order. Brother Cadfael is part of the expedition sent to her final resting place in Wales, where they find the villagers passionately divided by the Benedictines' offer for the saint's relics.

Canny, wise and all too worldly, Cadfael isn't surprised when this taste for bones leads to bloody murder. The leading opponent to moving the grave has been shot dead with a mysterious arrow, and some say Winifred herself dealt the blow. Brother Cadfael knows that a carnal hand did the killings, but he doesn't know that his plan to unearth a murderer may dig up a case of love and justice, where the wages of sin may be scandal - or his own ruin.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Corpsewood Cradle

* Ruth Galloway discovers a severed hand in a bog at Saltmarsh, immediately alerting the police.
* The victim is identified as a local teacher, Jennifer Preston.

Chapter 2: Mortal Remains

* Detective Superintendent Harry Nelson leads the investigation, aided by Ruth's archaeological expertise.
* Ruth uncovers ancient burials in the bog, which provide clues about past deaths and rituals.

Chapter 3: The Flesh and the Earth

* Ruth and Harry delve into Jennifer's personal life, uncovering secrets and hidden relationships.
* The bog reveals more gruesome remains, indicating a macabre ritual.

Chapter 4: Bones of Contention

* Ruth's ex-husband, Frank, joins the investigation as an expert on forensics.
* Tensions rise between Ruth and Frank as they work together to uncover the killer's motive.

Chapter 5: The Bitter End

* Harry and Ruth uncover a connection between Jennifer's murder and a series of disappearances in the area.
* They identify the killer as David Kellogg, a disturbed individual with a twisted obsession with the bog.

Chapter 6: The Corpse Road

* Kellogg is apprehended, confessing to the killings and revealing his ritualistic motive.
* Ruth and Harry piece together the events leading to Jennifer's death, exposing a sinister plot.

Chapter 7: The Silent Witnesses

* The bog continues to yield secrets, revealing evidence of Kellogg's previous victims.
* Ruth's archaeological knowledge helps trace the killer's path and identify his victims.

Chapter 8: The Cradle of Bones

* The case is closed, but Ruth reflects on the horrors hidden within the bog.
* She realizes that the bog has witnessed countless deaths over the centuries, and its secrets will continue to haunt the living.

Real Example:

In Chapter 3, Ruth discovers the remains of a pregnant woman buried in the bog. She notes that the woman was most likely killed during a ritual ceremony:

* "The body was lying on its side, the knees drawn up to the chest. The hands were clasped over the abdomen, as if the woman had been holding something close to her. Ruth's heart skipped a beat. She knew that pose from ancient burials, where women were often buried in this position to protect the unborn child in the afterlife."