(There is a BUT in the second paragraph.) An enjoyable novel, the first in the Sister Fidelma series. The setting of the Synod of Whitby and its theological (and political) tensions are of interest to me, although the abbess Hilda is thinly drawn and dull, as a character. But Fidelma and her Seaxun colleague cum friend, Eadulf, are far better drawn, and the mystery does carry the reader along. It is not deep reading, and is not fabulously written, but it is well written and a good distraction; a good read and a promising start to the series. I will read on. HOWEVER...

Fidelma is a religious sister in 7th century Ireland, a member of the order of Saint Brigit of Kildare, which is what attracted me to the series. (Brigit herself doesn’t come up at all in the book.) There is a prologue, “Sister Fidelma’s World,” that concerns me. It gives a distorted impression of medieval Irish society, particularly as regards women. Given that the book is thirty years old, and the scholarship in the area has advanced greatly since then, this is forgiveable, but it is very unfortunate. This series continues to be read, and, if the original prologue remains, continues to reinforce a too sunny view of a time where, in fact, women were very much *not* the equals of men, despite there being ways in which they were less badly off than those on the continent. It was not, as Tremayne/Beresford Ellis says in the prologue, “an almost feminist paradise.” Nor were all people freely accorded medical care, as is suggested in the novel. He is referring to the Brehon Laws there, but whether they were actually enforced is questionable, and that they applied to the lower classes is unlikely. Ireland was a brutal land in the middle ages, which sounds practically utopian at times, here.

It is true that Ellis knows a lot about ancient Ireland and church history, and that makes the book so much richer. But do not take every point he makes as writ. Check his facts, and proceed with caution. It is entertainment, not scholarship. ( )

Absolución por asesinato
Peter Tremayne
Publicado: 1994 | 221 páginas
Novela Histórico Intriga
Serie: Sor Fidelma #1

Durante el sínodo de Whitby, en el año 664 d. C., la Iglesia romana y la Iglesia celta se encuentran más enfrentadas que nunca. De hecho, estamos ante lo que puede llegar a ser una guerra de religiones en la Europa de las edades oscuras.

En ese ambiente, entre sacerdotes, doctores y reyes, empiezan a aparecer cadáveres brutalmente asesinados.

Entre sospechas y recelos, se encomienda la investigación a una monja de obediencia celta especialista en derecho, sor Fidelma, pero se le asigna como colaborador a un sajón perteneciente a la Iglesia romana, Eadulf, de quien se desconocen las intenciones. Mientras, a las puertas de la abadía la peste hace estragos y se prepara una conspiración contra el rey de Northumbria.

La acción de esta primera entrega de la serie se sitúa en el año 664, cuando se produjo un duro enfrentamiento entre la Iglesia romana y la Iglesia Celta. Sor Fidelma deberá resolver unos misteriosos casos de asesinato en compañía de un asistente católico.

I was impressed with the smooth way Tremayne worked the religious and political background into this historical mystery, set in 7th century Northumberland, England. Though I will confess that as with pretty much everything I read these days, I found parallels to our current condition (potentially violent confrontation between opposite sides of cultural issues; war; and a plague).

Sister Fidelma, a sort of attorney in addition to being a religious, is an appealing character. Her Saxon counterpart Eadulf, a monk who joins her in investigating a series of murders, is also engaging. I appreciated the fact that there was just enough of a budding relationship between them to bring a smile to my face, but not enough to distract from the plot.

The one thing that disappointed me a bit was that the author telegraphed the killer very early on. If he had been a bit less heavy-handed with the clues, the red herrings would have been more fun.

Overall it was entertaining, and a welcome break from some of my more intense reading of late. ( )

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