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Clodagh O'Lochlainn has been found dead one misty morning
in a very unusual manner. Tied to an ancient stone statue
of the old god of evil she has obviously not died of natural
causes, but was it a mortal hand or that of the pagan deity
that did the deed? It is up to Mara the Brehon to discover
whodunit along with her law students, preferably before her
fiftieth birthday celebrations.
I always find a lot to enjoy in these Burren mysteries. Firstly
the unusual setting, which shows how very different Brehon
law was to English law, but also the characters themselves
and the twisty plot. There are a lot of suspects here as the
dead woman was universally unpopular, so Mara and her group
have their work cut out for them interviewing everybody and
sifting truth from lies. The author also weaves in plenty
of descriptions of the beautiful surroundings and as usual
we get to learn a fair bit about life in early 16th century
Ireland. As with all series part of the enjoyment is in catching
up with the lives of the characters, and the ones in this
series are largely likeable and entertaining as well as interesting.
These mysteries are not grim and gritty but veer towards the
cozy end of the spectrum so combine a relaxing reading experience
with a good plot, well-researched background and plenty of
imagination. Long may the series run.
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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