Book Log 2021 #50: The Potter's Field by Ellis Peters

The brothers of the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul are preparing a new field for planting, one gained in a land swap with another abbey as both possessed plots that were closer to the other. The plowing of the long-fallow field is abruptly halted when it turns up the body of a young woman. The field had, until recently, been used by a local potter before he opted to take monastic vows. His wife was believed to have left with another man - or did she? 

As usual, brother Cadfael gets involved in trying to solve the mystery, which appears to be tied to a young novice from another abbey, which is under pressure from men loyal to the Empress Maud. 

Another solid outing, made a little more interesting by the potter turned monk. This is one of the rare cases where the person taking vows gets to fully examine the consequences of rejecting the secular life. Usually we only get a general judgement on whether or not the person should become a monk, which doesn't provide as much depth to the story as we got here.