Absolution by Murder (A Sister Fidelma Mystery) (Mystery of Ancient Ireland)

The author is a scholar of some renown, who is also a very good writer of murder mysteries that usually occur in ancient Ireland. This first book takes place at an important abbey in Northumberland, where the principal characters get together in an attempt to reach a meeting of the minds between the Irish Church and the Church of Rome. Unfortunately one of the most powerful speakers for the Church of Ireland winds up dead before the council can convene, and Sister Fidelma, our heroine, is asked to get to the bottom of the murder. All throughout the story, the reader gets much information on the inner workings of the various factions of the early Christian Church, and just how little these factions agreed with each other on presenting Christianity to the people, or indeed in what way the ancient Church leaders thought things should have been be run from the inside. An extremely interesting historial account of how the modern-day Church got started; what teachings and rules were once surpressed and which were emphasized. All this, and a fascinating and absorbing crime novel as well are contained in this volume. Enjoy!

Absolution by Murder introduced me to a very fascinating character, Sister Fidelma of Kildare. Fidelma, who lives in the seventh century A.D., is a very talented and accomplished woman. Sister has a graduate education where she earned the degree of anruth, similar to a masters degree today. Fidelma works as a dalaigh, an advocate in the courts. As an advocate she investigates problems and crimes and advises both church and civil authorities. A dalaigh may prosecute, defend, or even serve as judge in a criminal proceeding. In this novel I was inaugurated to Irish customs, laws, and society of ancient times. Seventh century Ireland was a very advanced society. In the culture, women were accepted as equal to men. Women were encouraged to become whatever they wished. Females functioned as lawyers, physicians, professors, managers and owners of businesses, warriors and chieftains. In the Christian church women were nuns, priests and bishops. This advanced society was codified in the Brehon laws. Under this legal system all people were protected from abuse. The customs seemed so advanced I decided to check history texts and found a great reference that I recommend In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish from Neolithic Times to the Coming of the English The story in this novel concerns a murder that occurs during a meeting of senior church officials. The conclave is a conference of religious and lay leaders gathered to determine whether the church should continue following the beliefs and procedures of the Irish (rule of Colmcille, or Iona) or adopt new rules to become consistent with the Roman church. Sister Fidelma is asked by Oswy, the High King of Northumbria, to investigate the murder of Etain, the Abbess of Kildare. Etain was the primary advocate for the Irish system. Oswy, concerned about the political effects of the murder of Etain, commissions Fidelma and Endulf, a brother from the Roman side, to investigate and decide who murdered Etain and who is responsible for the chain of events. By appointing co-investigators, one from each side, the king hopes to appear unbiased. The investigation is eventful and suspenseful. The resolution manages to satisfy both sides in the struggle. Although the mystery is fun to follow, my main attraction is the detailed descriptions of the customs and laws of seventh century Ireland. The novel gives us a peek into a great ancient convent with views into the dormitories and cubicles. We witness the politics within the Church, each side of the struggle thinking they have the real truth. We experience the tension between Fidelma and Endulf. Since Endulf is from a different culture, he has difficulty accepting Fidelma as his equal and acknowledging that a female can be in charge of such an important matter. I enjoyed the reactions of the characters when Fidelma interviews them. Most of them are not from her culture, so they struggle with emotions

If you haven't met Sister Fidelna, Brehon, yet - then you've been missing out. I love a good murder mystery and I love a good historical novel and I get them both in Fidelma. This is the first novel in the excellent series from the noted Celtic scholar and once you've read the first you will be addicted.Fidelma herself is a delight and the facinating glimpses into seventh-century Ireland make me eager for more. Don't miss out any longer

I stumbled across the first "Sister Fidelma-mystery" quite by accident; and I have never before had a more lucky discovery! Sister Fidelma is Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and Father Brown all rolled into one as well as being the female equivalent to the role played by Sean Connery in "name of the rose". Tremayne writes in a style, which can only be compared to that of Agatha Christie, - with one MAJOR difference though: Where Agatha Christie often let her victims die a hoffifying death by poisoning; Tremayne displays a taste for variation: The first victim in this particular book thus meets her untimely death by throatcutting, another one is drowned in wine, and a third is hanged. I very much like the way Tremayne entertains as well as teaches at the same time. While I read this book, I learned more about the Irish legalsystem in 7th century Ireland, than I ever did at university... I have now read all but one "Sister Fidelma-mystery", and I hope that I will not be reading the last but merely the latest!