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Michaelmas
Tribute
Burren Mystery #2
by Cora Harrison
The Michaelmas Fair is an occasion for merrymaking, trade, and paying tribute to the lord of the clan. But the
MacNamara clan’s steward, Ragnall, has raised the tribute, and has even been caught helping himself from people’s
homes. When his body is found in the churchyard in a shallow grave, there are plenty of suspects, and Mara, the
Burren’s Brehon, must discover whodunit. Then there is a suicide, or is this murder too?
I confess to ignorance about early 16th century Ireland and base
my scanty knowledge of Brehon law on the novels of Peter Tremayne
and this new series. It certainly seems to be enviably sensible
in most respects, and when reading these books, set in an almost
idyllic setting, the word "cozy" is never far from my mind. Whether
I am reading cold fact, wishful fantasy or somewhere in between
is a matter for conjecture. Mara and her school, her two suitors
and the other characters are enjoyable to read about, and very much
a product of their surroundings. This is a tortuous plot, and I
certainly didn’t guess it all, but it does almost fill the pages
of what is a fairly long book and kept me entertained. The English
are shown as being a bad lot, and there is a foreshadowing of what
is to come for Ireland that makes me think of Conquistadors and
pre-Columbian civilizations. Reading this is like having a warm
bath, although not as much as the first book My Lady Judge
(also reviewed
on this site). The author has wisely let a little cold water in
this time...
Reviews
of other titles in this series
My
Lady Judge #1
Michaelmas
Tribute #2
The
Sting of Justice #9
Verdict
of the Court #11
Condemned
to Death #12
A
Fatal Inheritance #13
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|
The Book |
| Macmillan
UK |
| 2
May 2008 |
| Hardback |
| 1405092254
/ 9781405092258 |
| Historical
Mystery / 1509 Burren, Ireland |
| More
at Amazon
UK |
|
The Reviewer |
| Rachel
A Hyde |
Reviewed
2008 |
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