Penance of the Damned by Peter Tremayne Series: Sister Fidelma #27
Published by Minotaur Books on July 25, 2017
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
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Ireland, AD 671. King Colgú of Cashel is shocked to learn that his loyal Chief Bishop and advisor has been murdered in the old enemy fortress of the Uí Fidgente. When word reaches Cashel that the culprit will be executed under new law, a larger conflict threatens.Dispatched to investigate, Sister Fidelma and her companion Eadulf discover that the man facing punishment is Gormán - commander of the King's bodyguard. But Fidelma cannot believe Gormán would carry out such an act - and yet he was found locked in a chamber with the body, weapon in hand. The evidence is stacked against him.If they are to save Gormán and keep the peace between the kingdoms, Fidelma and Eadulf must find the true culprit. As the threat of war looms, the date of execution draws ever closer
The head of the King’s bodyguard killed the kingdom’s chief bishop and is about to be executed for it? Fidelma must act swiftly to get answers even while among her clan’s biggest enemies and fending off a religious leader set on instituting the harsh Penitentials and a war to get his way. Ancient 7th century Ireland is brought vividly to life paired with a cunning murder mystery.
Penance of the Damned, the twenty-seventh Sister Fidelma mystery begins with the shock of popular, honorable Gorman found in a locked room with a murdered man and imprisoned for murder. All evidence leads to him though the motive is sketchy.
King Colgu can’t afford to take a band of his warriors and wrest his head bodyguard from the Ui Fidgente clan royal house, knowing his man Gorman would no more kill Bishop Segdae than stop breathing. He does the next best thing, though, he sends his sister, now famed dalagh and investigator with her husband to find the truth and do what she can to bring justice even in a volatile situation.
The Ui Fidgente king wants no trouble with his overlord King Colgu, but some of his own people including an influential religious leader trying to institute a new form of church will rise up if he doesn’t deal with the man tried and accused of murder. Fortunately, Fidelma finds a point of law to stay action and give her time to investigate.
Fidelma and Eadulf aren’t long investigating when oddities and untruths come out, but so does the evidence of something greater and dangerous afoot in the land of the Ui Fidgente. Time and circumstances are conspiring against them. They must figure it out quickly to save their friend Gorman and prevent a war.
Penance for the Damned presents a standalone murder mystery, but much of the background for this one relies on the reader to have at least read #24 Atonement of Blood which references some of the events and people and the political situation.
This one starts with a startling opening scene. Gorman is such a long-time well-known character that there was never any doubt that he’s being set up for this one, but it’s a fun locked-room teaser that makes the reader wonder how Fidelma can prove him innocent. This was one that I figured out once it was all laid out for me, but it was exciting see it pace out to the reveal. There are some great suspenseful and exciting scenes to build to a good ending.
Another sensational entry in the Sister Fidelma world!
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.
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