Our Lady of Darkness: A Novel of Ancient Ireland

This is the best Sister Fidelma mystery that I've read since the first one. Like Absolution By Murder, it's about more than the case at hand. It deals with the issue of capitol punishment. I thought it was interesting that capitol punishment had not been part of the ancient Brehon law code of Ireland. There are pro and con arguments on capitol punishment presented, but they are integrated into the plot without being excessively preachy. This is a well-written novel that has an important theme.

Peter Tremayne is the fiction pseudonym of a well-known authority on the ancient Celts, who has utilised his knowledge of the Brehon law system and 7th-Century Irish society to create a new concept in detective fiction. The Sister Fidelma novels are taking on almost cult proportions and are becoming ever more popular with each offering from the author, whose obvious knowledge of the times and subjects he writes about shines out like a beacon on the shore. Arriving home from a voyage of pilgrimage, Sister Fidelma is shocked to hear that her Saxon companion, Brother Eadulf, a man who has assisted Fidelma on more than one occasion on her search for the truth, is under sentence of death for the murder of a young woman. Fidelma finds it impossible to even contemplate the accusation and rushes the the capital of Laigin, determined to appeal against the sentence and to do everything in her power to defend the honour and the life of Eadulf.

This book is probably the darkest book I've read in this series. As usual the book is well-written and engaging. Sister Fidelma is asked to cut short her pilgrimage so that she can return home to Ireland to save her friend Eadulf who has been accused of the rape and murder of a very young novitiate at the abbey in the kingdom of Laigin. Not only that but she finds out that Eadulf has received a sentence of death for his supposed involvement with this crime. It becomes a real race against time and we wait with bated breath to see whethe or not she can make it in time to save him. The question of capital punishment becomes the cornerstone of this book. The plus and minus issues on this all important topis are all issues that we still deal with today. Fidelma hurries there as fast as she can with three warriors that her brother has assigned to help keep her safe. And these warriors are indeed necessary. When Fidelma arrives she finds a sinister and dark abbey where she finds unspeakable crimes have been committed in the name of lust and of greed. The characters in this book from Laigin are wondefrully depicted. They all seem sinister and menacing. Fidelma's search for the truth becomes desperate and a race against time in a land where she can find no allies. An excellent book!

This was my introduction to Tremayne's books. I am going to leave the jury out until I read a couple more of them. I think maybe this was not his best book for introducing to his series, and I don't like to make judgements about series with just one book (unless it is absolutely atrocious...and I've been wrong before!).I have to admit the history of Ireland and the legal standing of women at this time period is absolutely fascinating. I'd never read anything concerning the history of Ireland this far back (into the early period of Christianity in Ireland). They certainly seemed to treat women with more respect back then prior to the changing of the legal system to coincide with the legal system of Rome and the Catholic Church. The story got slow in some parts. Not boring, just slow. Seemed to take a bit of time to get to the point, and many times I made the connection in the murders and the involvement of a variety of religious personages...I am not real crazy about being right concerning who did what so early in the book.However, I will read some other books from Tremayne. I do have to say for those who like mysteries without the accompanying bad language, violence, overwhelming sexual information that comes with more modern mystery series, these books are very safe that way. The history is absolutely well researched and that I admire. Part of the reason I will continue to read some of Tremayne's books is just to get that historical information. It's fascinating.Karen SAdler

Ireland in the middle of the seventh century is a beacon of light in a world of darkness. Scholars from all over the world go there to study and women are considered the equals of men. Sister Fidelma of Cashel, the sister to the king of Muman, a religiouse and a dalaigh wields considerable power, which she doesn't hesitate to use when her friends are in trouble.When she learns that her friend Brother Eadulf, is going to be hung for the rape and murder of a twelve year old girl, she cuts short her pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James in Iberia and rushes to defend him. It will be one of the most difficult jobs Fidelma has ever undertaken because there is an eyewitness account and plenty of circumstantial evidence.The Sister Fidelma mysteries are always a treat to read and OUR LADY OF DARKNESS is no exception. Readers really empathize with the strong-willed heroine who fears for her very dear friend. The who-done it is very complex and enthralling with a cast of believable suspects that are all guilty of something. The audience will get a good feel for the culture of Ireland in the seventh century and feel as if they are in twenty-first century America.Harriet Klausner