R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 5/9/2021 + 1438 more book reviews

Ancient Ireland in AD 666 is a fascinating location for the Sister Fidelma mysteries. In this novel, the fourth of a series, she is sent to the Abbey of the Salmon of Three Wells. In a peaceful setting in southwest corner of the country a murder has occurred. The Abbess Draigen has requested a dalaigh to investigate headless female body has found in one of the wells. A advocate of the Brehon law courts, Sister Fidelma is qualified to investigate.

The author often weaves two mysteries into the stories of Sister Fidelma, her friends and family. The same is true with this one for on the trip to the Abbey she finds a Gaulish merchant ship with neither crew nor cargo afloat in a bay. As she searches the ship she finds a missal that she had given her friend, Saxon monk Brother Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham, a year earlier. Is he among the missing? And, is the abandoned ship somehow connected to the murder at the Abbey?

At the Abbey, she encounters distrust and information with no bearing on the situation. Then a second murder occurs and the mystery deepens. A strong, intelligent and independent individual dedicated to pursuing the truth and locating the murder or murderers, Sister Fidelma is determined to uncover what really happened on the ship and why the murders were committed. .What she finds during her investigation is layers of hatred and animosity, political intrigues, prejudice, and greed which she must sift to find her answers. The is an excellent tale by a talented author who obviously loves Celtic history.

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