The Escalating Series of Murders

The chain of deaths that terrorizes the abbey, from Adelmo to Malachi.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

First Death: Adelmo

A Fall from Grace The Suicide Adelmo of Otranto throws himself from the cliff. His death is initially thought to be an accident or murder. It is the first in a series of violent deaths. The Investigation Begins Abbot Abo asks William to investigate. The death is shrouded in mystery. William suspects suicide but keeps an open mind. The Ripple Effect Adelmo's death sets off a chain of events. His lover Berengar is consumed by guilt. The forbidden book is stolen. The abbey's peace is shattered.

Second Death: Venantius

A Grisly Discovery The Blood Jar Venantius of Salvemec is found headfirst in a jar of pig's blood. The scene is shocking. William realizes that the body was moved. The Poison Trail Venantius's fingers are blackened. He has been poisoned. The poison is linked to the forbidden book. The murders are connected to the library. The Pattern Emerges William begins to see a pattern. The deaths may be following the Apocalypse. This hypothesis will guide his investigation, though it later proves misleading.

Third Death: Berengar

Drowned in the Bath The Missing Assistant Berengar of Arundel disappears. His body is found in the balneary, drowned. His fingers are also blackened. He has been poisoned. The Book Thief Berengar stole the forbidden book from Venantius. He read it and was poisoned. His death is a direct result of his curiosity. The Apocalyptic Pattern Continues The third trumpet brings water. Berengar's death fits the pattern. William is now convinced that a single murderer is at work.

Fourth Death: Severinus

The Herbalist Slain A Violent Murder Severinus of Sankt Wendel is killed with an armillary sphere. His head is crushed. The room is ransacked. The murderer was looking for the book. The Culprit Malachi of Hildesheim is the murderer, acting on Jorge's orders. He kills Severinus to recover the forbidden book. The Pattern Breaks The fourth trumpet strikes the stars. The armillary sphere represents the heavens. But William realizes that the weapon was chosen by chance, not design. The apocalyptic pattern is a coincidence.

Fifth Death: Malachi

The Librarian's End Poisoned by the Book Malachi dies after touching the poisoned pages. His tongue is black. He speaks of scorpions. The fifth trumpet brings locusts with scorpion stings. The Final Victim Malachi is the last of the murder victims. His death is accidental, a result of his own actions. The chain of deaths ends with him. The Aftermath The abbey is destroyed by fire. The murders are solved, but the truth is complex. No single villain is responsible; the deaths are the result of a web of causes.

Night of the first day

Morning of the second day

Morning of the third day

Afternoon of the fifth day

Night of the sixth day