Sor Fidelma, ya de vuelta en Irlanda, es llamada por su hermano para investigar el asesinato de un sabio en la abadía de su primo, en extrañas circunstancias. Sor Fidelma deberá esforzarse en descubrir las causas del crimen antes de que estalle un conflicto diplomático que podría acabar en una guerra entre varios reinos de Irlanda.

un bel thriller storico, consigliato!!! ( )

Als het om macht gaat, tellen zelfs de levens van kinderen niet. Fidelma moet de moordenaar vinden van een groot Iers geleerde, die in een klooster is vermoord. Het blijkt te gaan om chiefs die koste wat kost hun macht willen behouden. Bedreigingen worden uit de weg geruimd. En dat maakt dan een van de bedreigden zo angstig, dat ook hij een moord pleegt. Maar voordat Fidelma al die losse puzzelstukjes tot één geheel heeft gevormd...

I've read all of these before, this is a gradual run through the series again. I'm not sure that I feel the same about them now as I did. The setting remains intriguing, 7th Century Ireland being a very different place. But I did find myself getting somewhat irritated at Fidelma. In this book her usual sidekick, Eadulf, is missing and I'm not sure that it works as well without him. She is a woman of status, sister to the king, highly educated, and a nun. It's a mixture that makes her quite exceptional and she uses it blithely, it's a little bit arrogant and I found it a bit irritating.
The mystery is complicated enough, and is muddled by more than one thread of motive by different parties. It is quite unpleasant at times, with children being murdered. I'm not sure it works as well now as it did when I read them initially, but that is probably me. ( )

I really enjoyed this episode in the Sister Fidelma series. She is an interesting character in a time period and place where women had a surprising amount of freedom. The historical notes were very interesting and the book was extremely well-researched. The author did a great job of winnowing down the suspects and if you were paying attention, the clues were there for you to figure out the culprit along with Sister Fidelma. I enjoyed the resolution, but I also enjoyed the ride Tremayne took you along to get to the resolution. ( )