Absolution by Murder cover art

Absolution by Murder

Sister Fidelma Mysteries, Book 1

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Absolution by Murder

By: Peter Tremayne
Narrated by: Caroline Lennon
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About this listen

Absolution by Murder is the brilliant and evocative first novel in Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series, bringing seventh-century Ireland vividly to life.

As the leading churchmen and women gather at the Synod of Whitby in AD 664 to debate the rival merits of the Celtic and Roman Churches, tempers begin to fray. Conspirators plot an assassination while mysterious, violent death stalks the shadowy cloisters of the Abbey of St Hilda.

When the Abbess Etain, a leading speaker for the Celtic Church, is found murdered, suspicion inevitably rests on the Roman faction.

Attending the Synod is Fidelma, of the community of St Brigid of Kildare. As an advocate of the Brehon Court, she is called on to investigate the murder with Brother Eadulf, of the Roman faction. However, the two are so unlike that their partnership is described as that of a wolf and a fox - but which is which? More gruesome deaths follow, and the friction among the clerics could end in civil war. Can the solution to the mysteries avert such a conflict?

©1995 Peter Tremayne (P)1995 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Crime Fiction Fiction Historical Mystery Traditional Detectives Crime Detective Murder

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All stars
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What an engrossing tale. i have read all Sister Fidelma stories, and enjoyed listening just as much.

well met Sister Fidelma!

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I'm glad I listened to this story as would have struggled with all the names and pronunciations

Excellent

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the first book of this series. couldn't put it down. absolutely brilliant! Look forward to the next one.

loved this!

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A pleasant and not too taxing whodunnit with interesting characters who engage the reader. Obviously, the ‘selling point’ of this series is the unusual choice of time period in which the story is set. I have a sketchy knowledge of this era - it’s not known as the dark ages for nothing so I’m not too ashamed- and I really enjoyed having a few blanks filled in.
The narrator had a pleasant tone and, while not exceptional, was better than average.

Enjoyable and instructive

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Rather bizarre pronunciation of the names of the Saints. This is off putting at first

Reader

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So many forgettable names. Such a confusing tale. I have departed at chapter 4. First time ever for me.

Forgettable

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I really wanted to like this but judge it to be a waste of my time. Bought as it’s the first in the series of Sistee Fidelma books and recommended by a friend. I felt it was formulaic and a waste of a credit. The only thing I did like was the mention of familiar Yorkshire places in the monks’ lives eg Whitby Abbey abs Catterick.

Read something else

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Sounded great and the sample was interesting,but it rapidly went downhill. The Irish and Saxon name were a mystery to me, so I didn't know who the characters were talking about.
I managed to get to chapter 5, with absolutely nothing happening except a load of sitting around talking.
I usually enjoy this genre, historical murder mysteries, but not this. I
I had no empathy with any of the characters
I'd give this one a miss

Like wading through treacle.

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The author's homophobia was woven into the fabric of the story. it meant I guessed whodunnit, based on my reading of the author's prejudices, not the clues. Distasteful.

Homophobia spoilt the story

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