Atonement of Blood by Peter Tremayne Series: Sister Fidelma #24
Published by Minotaur Books on July 18, 2013
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Winter, 670 AD. King Colgú has invited the leading nobles and chieftains of his kingdom to a feast day. Fidelma and her companion Eadulf are finally home for an extended stay, and have promised their son, Alchú, that they'll be able to spend some time together after months of being on the road, investigating crimes.
Fidelma and Eadulf are enjoying the feast when it is interrupted by the entrance of a religieux, who claims he has an important message for the King. He approaches the throne and shouts ‘Remember Liamuin!' and then stabs King Colgú. The assassin is slain, but does enough damage to take out Colgú's bodyguard, and to put the king himself on the verge of death. As King Colgú lies in recovery, Fidelma, Eadulf, and bodyguard Gormán are tasked with discovering who is behind the assassination attempt, and who Liamuin is. They must journey into the territory of their arch-enemies, the Uí Fidgente, to uncover the secrets in the Abbey of Mungairit, and then venture into the threatening mountain territory ruled by a godless tyrant. Danger and violence are their constant companions until the final devastating revelation
The king is stabbed by a vengeful assassin and now Ancient Ireland’s best sleuth is out to get answers. Peter Tremayne continues to wow me with his delve into seventh century Ireland and his dark-edged, clever mysteries for fiery and determined Sister Fidelma to solve.
Atonement of Blood is the twenty-fourth entry in the Sister Fidelma series that is going strong into the middle of its second decade of installments. A standalone mystery, but part of a long-established story arc for the principal characters so works best when read in order.
Atonement of Blood begins when Fidelma along with several of the upper class of Cashel sit down to feast hosted by her brother, King Colgu of Muman. They no sooner are seated and toasting the saint to which they are feasting when the guard escorts in an unknown brother who claims to have a message for Colgu. His message is stated as he plunges his knife into Colgu.
With her brother carried off to his bed on the brink of death, Fidelma is torn between discovering the truth behind the attack and waiting at her brother’s side. Then, there is the promise she made to her young son to do more with him. Her husband, Eadulf, helps her see where she is best placed and they go about discovering what led to this assassination attempt. Eadulf and Fidelma already spot oddities about this so-called brother and sift through the evidence and witness accounts that take them into part of the kingdom where a rival clan to Fidelma’s own will not appreciate an investigation. The recent civil war that her brother and his loyal army recently put down in this part of the kingdom is still fresh and she begins to discover that the assassination plot might have its roots in that insurrection.
With the escort of one warrior, Fidelma and Eadulf venture forth after the truth going through danger, hardship, and hostile witnesses. Embers of resentment still flame up against her clan and by extension, them. The evidence trail shows them the complicated plot behind the assassination and their own peril as someone still works to keep them from getting at the truth.
Atonement of Blood, like many books in this series, is edgier than a straight-up murder mystery in that it has political intrigue, action-suspense, and dark deeds that were part of that tumultuous historical time period. Though Fidelma’s brother is King and has gone to war and won against rivals for the throne, the peace in his kingdom and throughout Ireland is always precarious.
I appreciated seeing Fidelma and Eadulf having found a good working harmony and more at peace with her decision to step away from the religious community to focus on her law expertise. They are also prioritizing their personal and family time though will do their part when needed. In this book, the focus was on the after-effects of war and how its never as simple as winners and losers, right side and wrong side. Often the innocent people and non-combatants are the ones hurt by war the most.
All in all, it was a gripping read and had many exciting or intense parts that I didn’t want to put it down. Historical Mystery fans who like to also explore the ancient world should give the Sister Fidelma series a look-see.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Tis the Season to be Scary by Vicki Delany @vickidelany.bsky.social @crookedlanebooks.bsky.social @sophiarose1816 - September 30, 2026
- Zero Dark Bloodthristy by Alisha Sunderland @authoralishasundy.bsky.social #KindleUnlimited@sophiarose1816 - September 23, 2026
- 🎧 All the Little Liars by Charlaine Harris @realcharlaine.bsky.social #TheresePlummer @recordedbooks.bsky.social @berkleypub.bsky.social @BerkleyPub @sophiarose1816 #SundaySeries - September 20, 2026
I like a good murder mystery a sometimes. This sounds pretty good.
These are really keeping me intrigued, Mary!
Twenty-four books and still going strong! How many more until the series is over/caught up?
Yes! I’m loving it. I believe its up to 36 or 37 right now. There’s a new release each year.
Wow, I just looked up this series and saw that there are 36 books! You’ve still got a bit to go even though you’ve completed 24 books. I hope you continue to love the series, Sophia!
Oh yeah, these will keep me busy for a long while, Rachel. 🙂 And, then there are the short stories and novellas… LOL
Oooo dark!
Yes, it was very thrilling.