It was the dead man’s sword! Hugh, son of the blacksmith and a lifelong friend of Aileen and Robert, introduces to them this new adventure, one in which a good man is cut down before he can present an offering to the shrine of St. Edmund on behalf of his master.

When Aylwin, an Anglo-Saxon steward to a great Norman lord, is found foully murdered, the town of St. Edmundsbury is rocked by the death and the knowledge that someone among them could be the killer.

In the process of discovering who did this terrible deed, the Abbey embroiderer and goldsmith’s apprentice must use their talents and their heads to find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt. But what they learn may lead them to the very depths of greed and envy that can cause some to reject the laws of God and man.

Penitent’s Sword is the second installment of a YA historical mystery series. The books can be read as standalones, although it is recommended to read them in order.