Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
The umpteenth in the Sister Fidelma series set in 7th c. Ireland. Fidelma and Eadulf's wedding ceremony is postponed by the murder of an odious abbot who had come to Cashel specifically to protest their wedding, being a proponent of the Roman way of thinking which demands celibacy for the Christian religious. But Ireland has no such rules, and Rome does not have an official ban on marriage among the religious either--and Abbot Ultan had other reasons for being among the highest ranking political and religious people in the land, all gathered together at Cashel.
But before he can make much more than a stir, he is stabbed to death and Fidelma, who is also a high-ranking lawyer besides being a religieux, is asked by the man accused of the crime to defend him. While Fidelma can find no one with a kind word to say about Ultan and motives are everywhere, no one but her client was seen leaving the abbot's room minutes before his death.
As usual, Fidelma and Eadulf work together to solve the crime, and of course more bodies join the abbot's along the way before Fidelma reveals all at the end. Enjoyable visit to Cashel as always, if somewhat predictable.
But before he can make much more than a stir, he is stabbed to death and Fidelma, who is also a high-ranking lawyer besides being a religieux, is asked by the man accused of the crime to defend him. While Fidelma can find no one with a kind word to say about Ultan and motives are everywhere, no one but her client was seen leaving the abbot's room minutes before his death.
As usual, Fidelma and Eadulf work together to solve the crime, and of course more bodies join the abbot's along the way before Fidelma reveals all at the end. Enjoyable visit to Cashel as always, if somewhat predictable.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
The murdered abbot was going to protest Sister Fidelma's marriage to Brother Eadulf. And he was going to do so in front of all of Ireland's royalty too. So I think they murdered the abbot and pinned the crime on someone else.
Hey, makes sense to me. :-)
Hey, makes sense to me. :-)
Anna S. (annapi) reviewed A Prayer for the Damned (Sister Fidelma, Bk 17) on + 334 more book reviews
Fidelma and Eadulf have decided to get married, and it's a big to-do as the rulers and who's who of the 5 kingdoms will come to pay their respects to the sister of the King of Muman on this auspicious occasion. As fans would expect, murder interrupts the festivities - the fanatic and universally hated Abbot Ultan is murdered and the suspect is the King of Connacht. Fidelma has to solve the murder before her wedding can proceed or the subsequent political turmoil could erupt into worse. This installment is as entertaining, intriguing, informative and delightful as the rest of the series has been.
