Sister Fidelma returns in another spellbinding story of murder and intrigue in seventh-century Ireland–when the murder of a high cleric threatens to result in a bloody war between two of Ireland’s kingdoms.In A.D. 644, the Venerable Dacan, a respected scholar of the Celtic Church, is murdered while on a visit to the Abbey of Ros Ailithir in the Irish Kingdom of Muman. Dacan, unfortunately, was … unfortunately, was the close confidant of the hot-headed young king of the neighboring kingdom of Fearna, who is using Dacan’s murder as an excuse to provoke war.
Sister Fidelma, an advocate of the Brehon courts, is summoned by the dying King of Muman to solve the brutal killing and also to prevent the incipient war between the two kingdoms. But, at the remote abbey, Fidelma soon discovers that there are far more sinister forces than mere political intrigue at work behind the mystery of Dacan’s death. She must quickly unravel a most complicated mystery if she is to prevent the coming war–and preserve her own life as well.
With a mix of historical detail and deft characterization, Peter Tremayne once again brings ancient Ireland to full, vivid life.
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Suffer Little Children Earns 5/5 Abbey Secrets…Engaging Epic!
I have become an eager fan of historical fiction, especially that which is centuries ago, somewhere in Europe or the British Isles, and includes a murder mystery to untangle. I often find myself googling the facts and details behind the fiction applauding the efforts the author made to bring about as true a representation of culture, society, roles of women, and the true events of the time. Case in Point: Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma Mystery. “Suffer Little Children” is the third book in the series set again in the seventh century, and as I discovered, the only book set in Ireland (Éireann), Sister Fidelma home.
Sister Fidelma has been summoned by the King of Muman, her cousin, to return home immediately. Sadly, on her arrival, she discovers her cousin is gravely ill from the yellow plague; her brother, being his heir, would soon become King, and is distressed that his rule may come with war. The Venerable Dacán, a revered scholar, yet austere in personality, has been murdered and her well-known talents are sought and required to uncover the culprit and, as a result, avoid war. The new King of Laighin, a neighboring kingdom with whom they share centuries of animosity over a land dispute, is demanding, by law, an honor price for Dacán’s brutal murder, whose brother of the victim is a close advisor. Due to the impact of the murder and a complex set of familial connections to the Abbey Ros Ailithir where the murder occurred, the demand includes returning the disputed lands to Laighin or war between the two kingdoms is imminent. It may be a stretch, but Sister Fidelma concurs that if the murder details show the abbey culpable, then so is the King of Muman, and they will need to atone for the murderous crime…as is law. Her brother has commissioned her to investigate the incident and be prepared to present her findings, for or against her kin, in seven weeks time when the Great Assembly convenes or war will ensue…not much pressure, I’d say.
Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma Mystery series is a huge favorite, and for this third journey she has a personal stake in the outcome of her investigation, but an serious outbreak of yellow fever, destruction of a small village, a little group of displaced children, dynamic at the abbey, impediments with her investigation, further perilous incidents, and a warship sitting in the harbor add intense pressure to her task and page-turning engagement to the reader, or in my case, listener. Tremayne’s well-developed story, epic in nature, and writing style is brilliantly compelling, very descriptive with vivid language to illustrate the different settings, diverse characters, and varied emotions in the drama. The abundance of characters mentioned direct or indirect to the story, names and terms in the medieval or Irish vernacular (although defined in context), and all the complex descriptions, might make one feel overwhelmed, but the entirety of the drama is enriched by such details. I am, however, listening to the extraordinarily talented Caroline Lennon whose narration helps make those details more comprehensible, smoother, and with accurate pronunciations (although, for this review, I had to look elsewhere for as many accurate spellings as I could find). Her natural voice is pleasant and she performs well the Irish accents depicting age and gender. Yes, it is an epic story (the audiobook has an 11:35:00 running time), but the scope of the murder where the body is no longer available, rugged nature of the seventh century, and lack of contemporary forensic techniques along with historical and religious references, detailed movements and mannerisms, and several side stories are extensive and need to be addressed. Marvelous…all the way through to the shocking conclusion!