A man lies under the tawny earth, hands still clutching the knife that killed him. Thorfinn Sigurdarson, Earl of all Orkney and Caithness, has made a mistake, and he won’t let himself forget it. Now rumours have started in the Norse lands that he might be getting a second chance – but should he take it, when it means that dead men are walking?
Lexie Conyngham’s Viking mysteries are my new obsession. While the mystery held my attention and kept me turning the pages late into the night, the historical details, deftly woven into the fabric of the story, brought the tale to life. And what’s a mystery without compelling characters? The folk who populate Orkney were an interesting lot. How they went about their daily lives was completely foreign and intriguing to me, but their personalities and motivations easily translated into the modern world. The main characters — bossy, independent Sigrid and competent, stoic Ketil — proved to be a formidable investigative team, complementing each other’s strengths and skills, and working realistically within the constraints of their society’s social norms. I am sad that there are only 3 books in this series. I hope the author will write more in time.
I picked up this book because I am a fan of Thorfinn Sigurdarson, Earl of Orkney. Although he actually plays a secondary part in this story, I enjoyed the lively plot around the supernatural reappearance of the dead Rognvald, traitor who was killed by Thorfinn at the beginning. Our protagonist Ketil, having quietly returned to Orkney after a long and unexplained disappearance, keeps finding himself surrounded by murders—too many to be coincidental. He nearly becomes a corpse, himself, and received so many wounds that a lesser man would have been happy to remain bedridden as the mystery played itself out. Not our Ketil! He’s in the thick of things, trying to unravel the conspiracy that seems to involve too many suspicious characters with too many motives:
“What if someone else was killed while Ketil was away? Whoever killed Snorri was no doubt still here: they wouldn’t have gone trailing off to Kirkuvagr just because Ketil had gone there. It might be just as dangerous here as it would be asking questions about Rognvald’s ghost in Kirkuvagr. Had Snorri really been killed because he was going to tell Ketil something?
Well: it could not have been Hrolf, not with three broken ribs. It could have been Bjarni, or Afi, or several other large men well able to haul Snorri over the wall into the pig sty. It was unlikely to have been Einar, but he could have ordered someone to do it. Was it someone who knew more about Rognvald’s ghost, or someone who knew more about Herleif’s death?”
As you can see, things got very complicated. I admit I had a hard time following the thread on occasion. Part of the problem for me was too many characters whose name started with an H. We had Herleif, Helga, Hrolf, and Hlifolf. Because the names are unfamiliar, it was easy to mix them up. But, having gone along for the ride, I didn’t mind the occasional bump. I got a good feeling for everyday life on cold and unforgiving Orkney. There was a hint of possible romance between Ketil and his old childhood friend Sigrid, who was the only person he truly trusted. Will that come to fruition in book two? I certainly hope so!
Tomb for an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham is book 1 of the Orkneyinga Murders series. I really enjoyed this book from page 1, I couldnt put it down. This is a historical novel, and while I dont generally read this type of book I loved this book and cant wait to read the next book in this series. I like the writing and the story line in this book. This is the first book, I have read by this author and I will definitely continue to read books. I give this book 5 stars.
Viking who dunnit mystery? More please!
I’ve always been fascinated by the people we call Vikings so I was hooked at the summary. Sigrid and Ketil are wonderful main characters in this historical suspense novel and the attention to detail on every page were such that it wouldn’t surprise me to find some of these locations in real life and wonder if I’d been there before.
There were many twists and turns, red herrings, and I have seldom been more wrong about who I believed to be the culprit.
I can’t wait to read more of Lexie Conyngham’s books
Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham is a four star novel. This novel is very interesting because of the historical background that is presented. With the author being a historian, the way the Vikings are portrayed are more than likely accurate. All the details that went into this novel must have taken years of research. The way the author portrayed this town and the people living in it had me yearning for more. As I kept turning pages and reading more and more, I couldn’t help but get sucked into the story and the whodunit aspect. This book was full of suspense and kept me guessing right up to the very end.
Lexie Conyngham’s Tomb for an Eagle is the first book in the Orkneyinga Murders series. This is a tale rife of mystery and suspense. Set in the past, it is eloquently written to align with the historical times. The author uses their creative writing talent to engage the reader in the story and maintain their interest page after page until finally you come to the final pages. I felt that the characters were flawless in their portrayal and fell within the story effortless creating a seamless experience in reading. Normally I may not have read a book within this genre, but something about it drew me in and I don’t regret it. I look forward to reading future books in this series by Lexie Conyngham.
Tomb For an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham is the first book in the Orkneyinga Murders series and is set in a beautiful country which adds to the story and the mystery.
This book is a story of mystery, intrigue and will have you gripped from the first chapter, the story weaves through and has you engaged right to the last word. The writing draws you into the story and feels that you are living the twists and turns all the way through story, I was completely enthralled and was kept guessing all the way through to the end.
The characters are rich and you take them to your heart, I always love when a author makes the country a character too and to set this story in Scotland you have an instant character especially with the descriptions of the places, although some of the town names being written in either Gaelic or Celtic were hard to pronounce but I think I got some right. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mystery. This is the fist book I have read from this author and it will not be the last.
Tomb For An Eagle by Lexie Conyngham is the first book in the Orkneyinga Murders series. I found this book to be full of mystery and intrigued and was kept guessing all the way to the end.
This book focuses on Scottish and Norse history and weaves a tale so imaginative that at times it was so easy to imagine you were there. The author effortlessly captures your attention. For me I knew I had to read this book from the second I read the blurb and was already trying to figure out what could be going on.
The characters in this book were perfectly written for the story they were in. It felt like they added to the story rather than were happenstance of what was going on. This book was full of details and it really takes you on a journey. Never at any point was it obvious as to who the killer would be or dull as we were taken on the investigate journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I loved the level of detail in it and I loved how it felt like it was true to the time it was set in. I am looking forward to reading whatever comes next in this series.
Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham is an original and engaging historical murder mystery story. The tale is as mysterious as it is suspenseful, with a whose done it type theme. Lexi kept switching it up so you were unable to pinpoint who committed the crimes. Just when you thought you were on the right track, boom you were thrown off track. The writing is engaging, detailed and descriptive and makes you feel like you are a part of the mystery. The story is set in my favourite place in the world, Scotland but in a time where Vikings reined.
Tomb for an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham
Four Stars
Tomb for an Eagle is the first book in the Orkneyinga Murders series by Lexie Conyngham. I usually don’t read historical books, but this one intrigued me right from the start. This is the first book I have read by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more of this series. This historical mystery held my attention from the first page to the last. I love the of the characters were well defined and the detailed descriptions made me feel like I was right there with the characters. This story was filled with twists and turns, and I loved that it kept me guessing to the very end until I figured out who did it. I highly recommend this book and look forward to books by Lexie Conyngham in the future.
Tomb for an Eagle is the first book in the Orkneyinga Murder series, by Lexie Conyngham. It is also the first book I have read by the author. It is set in the viking era, and is about a dead body that is found, crudely buried, and with an eagle. While the story is fictional, it has some historical aspects as well, which I like. It was hard for me to get into, because there are a lot of characters, and with odd names. But once I figured out who is who, I enjoyed the rest of the story. It is very mysterious and that kept me engaged because I wondered what would happen next. There were a lot of twists and surprises, which is always good. Murder mysteries are never any fun when you figure them out halfway through, so another good thing about this book. I give it a 4 star, because I enjoyed it, but it isn’t a favorite. There is a lot of detail and story building, with great characters and interactions.
Tomb for an Eagle was an interesting 4 star read and book one in the Orkneyinga Murders series.
This book takes us back to the viking era, we get suspense, murder and so much more. I like the kind of reads that keep you wondering who could be the killer and this one didn’t disappoint.
Once I started I didn’t want to stop. I have to admit I did have a little difficulty understanding some things because of the viking language which made it authentic.
There are several twists and turns The secondary characters added a great element to the story. The author does a great job with her writing and pulls you right in with all the detail. This is my first read by Lexie and I look forward to reading more from her.
Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) By Lexie Conyngham. While I wasn’t immediately drawn in I still found myself really enjoying this story. It had a bit of a slow start for me but once it picked up a bit I definitely couldn’t put it down. There’s so many twists and turns that readers are kept on their toes and in suspense. Each character brings something different to the story and the author has a way with attention to every detail. This was my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. The author wrote a story that had me guessing until the very end and I’m a sucker for a good story that I can’t figure out right away. It’s well written and paced nicely never feeling rushed. I’m giving this book a four star review and highly recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different.
Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham, 4 stars.
Ketil is searching for answers. That is what lead him to The Brough. He is searching for their leader, Thorfinn. But Thorfinn is away, so Ketil decides to wait. He pretends to be a simple trader, not knowing who he can trust. But it turns out all he gets is more questions. Oh, and the dead body they found. Who killed him and why? Not to mention that he has heard rumors that the ghost of a man he knows to be dead. But ghosts and resurrection of the dead aren’t real. Are they? Are there those that still worship the old gods? Do they possess these powers? Will he find answers or is someone really bent on keeping him from finding the truth?
This a what I would describe as a historical suspense mystery. It is set in the time of the Vikings. In my opinion, the description that comes with the book does not give this story justice. There is so much going on than just the rumors that a dead man is alive again. A dead body is found not to long after Ketil arrives. Plus there are other “accidents” that seem to happen. Plus Ketil, with the help of Sigrid, has to take on the sole of detective, trying to find out just what happened. This puts him danger and he doesn’t even know whom from. The story is quite interesting, but I admit I had trouble getting into it from the beginning. There were many words I did not know and did not quite understand where the story was going. But the more I got into, the less I could put it down. It really is imaginative and like nothing I have read before.
I highly recommend this book to others who enjoy historical suspense.
This is my first story by Lexie Conyngham and let me tell you that she is amazing. I was very interested in this story because of the cover of the book. (Who does not love an intriguing book covers?) Ms. Conyngham’s writing style was very descriptive which made it easy to see in my mind’s eye easier. From the first couple of paragraphs to the last word of the book I was hooked. I knew it was going to be an all-day book read. The characters were like old friends that I went to visited for the day. The flow through the story was a nice pace. On the other hand, I did need to pay attention as this is a murder mystery book. Clues are out in the open but can be over looked easily. There are loopy loops and twists and turns around every corner. This story in on the Norse Lands and the characters having traditional names which is worth reading the book for that content alone. I would highly recommend reading this book. I personally cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Tomb For An Eagle
Orkneyinga Murders
Book 1
By Lexie Conyngham
This is a suspenseful murder mystery. Set back in time.
Lexie Conyngham has written what I consider to be a historical suspense story. The names were old, with a touch of imagination. Which makes them unique. So I know I did not pronounce them correctly. The book was filled with suspense and kept me reading. Lexie Conyngham did a great job setting her book up. She gave plenty of background. That made you feel as though you could see the village as you read the book. I love the characters. Such a great story. So I don’t give any spoilers, I will not tell you about who is who, in this story. You just have to read it. Well done Lexie Conyngham! I will be checking out your other stories as well as keeping up with this series.
Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders, #1)
By Lexie Conyngham
4 stars
This is one of those books that when you first read the blurb you are a little unsure about but once you are finished you are so glad that you read it. I will admit the front cover didn’t catch my eye so this definitely falls in to the ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ category. The story was a little different to what I normally read but a change is good sometimes. I thought that the author created a really exciting and mysterious world in this story, through her excellent descriptive language I felt like I was right there amongst the characters. I loved that I couldn’t guess what was going to happen and the author kept me guessing right until the very end. The author made me feel like I was part of the story as I was so immersed in trying to find out who did it!
If you love a good murder mystery full of suspense and exciting moments then I would absolutely recommend ‘Tomb for an Eagle’ – I don’t think that you will be disappointed!
A great read about mystery In the Viking era, Sigrid’s day is ruined when she finds the buried body of a man in a nearby gully to her farm. While visiting the area, Ketil realises he knows the man as a warrior and messenger to the Thorfinn kingdom. Together, Sigrid and Ketil investigate a whole town of suspects. But can they find the killer before it’s too late?
A brillaint read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Sigrid doing what she loves and standing up for herself or Ketil trying to find the truth and fit in to the community. I also liked how he was the damsel in distress needing saving for humour which was brilliantly written.
Also loved the visual detail throughout the novel with the island in the fog with rocky crags and harsh weather which was perfectly written with air of mystery and magic as something of the ancient world harsh and unforgiving
And the sense of history with Viking warriors and ships and culture and food halls as if you were actually there.
Brillaint mix of crime thriller and historical with suspense and fast paced action for a captivating read. Overall, a brilliant read and I would give it five stars
Well this was a bit of an interesting departure from the typical murder mysteries that I would normally find myself reading. Lexie Conyngham was a new author to me when I chose Tomb for an Eagle. I loved the cover and the blurb so decided to give it a go. I was glad that I did, as this was a new take. I would say it was a bit of a difficult read. The tools are there to help you decipher some things though so I was grateful for that. I don’t know if it would be for everyone though. There is some difficult names as this is set in Scotland and has some pretty crazy words to learn. In the back there is a guide to help you with this. Thanks Lexie Conyngham for that! I also found it a bit complicated with the details and such to keep track of everything so there was another thing that confused me. Otherwise this was gripping tale that I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out. I was kept on my toes with the guessing, which is ultimately what you want in a good murder mystery. I look forward to seeing what will come next in the series.
I am not going to write a review that references anything within the story because I feel like if I “wax poetic” about the book, I would be giving something away.
I went into this book based on the cover. I had not read a blurb, I did not know what it was going to be about or the genre. If you like “blind books” this would be a good one to go with. Let it settle over you because it might take a little bit to get the rhythm down.
The story is well developed and has layers that we get to peel back as it continues. The author does a good job of plotting the story and following the thread from beginning to end. It’s the first book I’ve read by them and I will continue with the series as it is published. I have put it on my “don’t forget to read the next installment of the series” list.