It is Cripples Day at Shrewsbury, and this brings a mass of disabled pilgrims to the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in the hopes that St. Winifred can cure them. We learn about St. Winifred's presents in "A Morbid Taste for Bones." Cadfael welcomes them while some of the other Brothers find it a nuisance.
Within a short while, a body is found in a leather sack amongst the visitors. Nobody is to leave. In an attempt to discover the culprit Cadfael boils down the man's body to inspect the bones and uncovers two possible explanations for his death. And yes, they did leave.
Once again, many things are not what they seem, and it is up to Brother Cadfael to bring them to light. There are also parallel stories that may or may not have a bearing on the murder. One is of a seller of bogus relics. The other two brothers are on a pilgrimage.
If you do not compare it to the book, it is a good film and well balanced. The movie has to tighten the story so some good guys in the book may have to go bad. (Do not forget that the first two chapters of the book are revealed in detail in "A Morbid Taste for Bones" and "One Corpse Too Many") This story takes place years later.