The Devil's Seal
Peter Tremayne
Minotaur Books, Jul 28 2015, $26.99
ISBN: 9781250059727
In 671 Ireland, religious leaders
are irate over the latest Papal decree of Rule of the Blessed Benedict. They come to Cashel to debate over how to
implement and more important ignore the dictate by the Council of Autun. One of the attendees Anglo-Saxon Brother
Egric survives a shipwreck that killed his three traveling companions. He claims to be Brother Eadulf’s brother who
the latter thought died years ago.
Before the divided discussion between the Irish and Anglo-Saxon
delegates commences someone slices the throat of Saxon emissary Brother Cerdic;
leaving his corpse in a position of prayer.
At Cashel, Mumen King Colgu assigns his sister (Eadulf’s wife) Sister
Fidelma to investigate in hopes of preventing more homicides from
occurring. As she makes her inquiries,
additional killings happen including Cill Naile steward Sister Dianaimh.
The silver anniversary
Mysteries of Ancient Ireland (see Atonement of Blood) is an enjoyable
medieval whodunit. The fascinating focus
on the various religious leaders’ reactions to the Papal decree anchors the
novel in time and place. Sister
Fidelma’s intriguing investigation entertains the faithful, but the climax
lacks the vigor of most entries (including this novel) in one of the consistently
best historical series.
Harriet Klausner
No comments:
Post a Comment