Our Lady of Darkness [Paperback]

Peter Tremayne (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur (2002)
• ASIN: B000OT8QMG
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Probably the Darkest Book in this series!, September 13, 2004

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Our Lady Of Darkness (Paperback)

This book is probably the darkest book I've read in this series. As usual the book is well-written and engaging. Sister Fidelma is asked to cut short her pilgrimage so that she can return home to Ireland to save her friend Eadulf who has been accused of the rape and murder of a very young novitiate at the abbey in the kingdom of Laigin. Not only that but she finds out that Eadulf has received a sentence of death for his supposed involvement with this crime. It becomes a real race against time and we wait with bated breath to see whethe or not she can make it in time to save him. The question of capital punishment becomes the cornerstone of this book. The plus and minus issues on this all important topis are all issues that we still deal with today. Fidelma hurries there as fast as she can with three warriors that her brother has assigned to help keep her safe. And these warriors are indeed necessary. When Fidelma arrives she finds a sinister and dark abbey where she finds unspeakable crimes have been committed in the name of lust and of greed. The characters in this book from Laigin are wondefrully depicted. They all seem sinister and menacing. Fidelma's search for the truth becomes desperate and a race against time in a land where she can find no allies. An excellent book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Saving Eadulf, January 8, 2009

By 

W. Easley "Opa" (Colorado Rocky Mountains) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Our Lady Of Darkness (Paperback)

Our Lady of Darkness is the ninth novel in the Sister Fidelma series. Sister Fidelma of Cashel, a town in Ireland, lived in the seventh century A.D. Although most of Europe was suffering the Dark Ages, Ireland was a progressive land where gender discrimination was rare. In Ireland any citizen could aspire to any profession. Sister is a very talented and accomplished woman. Fidlema has a graduate education where she earned the degree of anruth, similar to a masters degree today. Fidelma works as a dalaigh, an advocate in the courts. As an advocate she investigates problems and crimes and advises both church and civil authorities. A dalaigh may prosecute, defend, or even serve as judge in a criminal proceeding.

This story begins when Sister Fidelma returns from a "retreat" to a shrine of Saint James in Iberia. Sister abandons her retreat because she hears that Brother Eadulf, her close friend, has been arrested for a serious crime. Fidelma rushes to Fearna, where Eadulf is imprisoned, in hopes of defending him. Fearna is the capital city of Laigin, an enemy of Cashel. Although Fidlema is a dalaigh, with status in all of Ireland, several high officials in Fearna dislike her due to previous cases she won against Laigin's interests.

When Sister arrives, she discovers that Eadulf has already been tried and convicted. She learns he is sentenced to hang very soon. So Fidelma persuades Fianamail, the King of Laigin, to delay execution of sentence so that she might investigate whether there are grounds for appeal. The King gives her 24 hours.

Sister first learns that the Kingdom of Laigin has changed their law from the laws of the Brehons, the common law of Ireland, to the "penitentials", the law being advocated by the church of Rome. While the Brehon laws seldom call for capital punishment, the penitentials frequently assign death as a punishment for felony crime. Eadulf is accused of a serious felony, the rape and murder of a 12 year old girl. Fidelma immediately sends Aidan, one of her guards, to Tara, the city of the High King to request that Barran, the Chief Brehon of all Ireland, come to judge her appeal.

The investigation is wrought with difficulties. The primary witness has disappeared, the victim's blood and a piece of the victims robe were found in Eadulf's room. Four officials oppose Fidelma's efforts: the King, Abbess Fainder, Abbot Noe, and Bishop Forbassach, the Chief Brehon of Laigin. Could one of them have plotted against Eadulf out of vengeance against Fidelma? Could Eadulf have been framed by one of the merchants or town people to remove themself as a suspect. Could a foreign force be involved? Fidelma struggles to even imagine a motive for falsely accusing Eadulf, since he probably was, to the people of Fearna, simply a traveler making his way to Britain.

Fidelma struggles to find her way through a maze of information, much of it contradictory and some of it disproving her case. Several times during Sister's labors she encounters threats to her career, her freedom, and her life. The information Fidelma receives is confusing

Our Lady of Darkness is a fun mystery. The characters are well drawn and their emotions, intentions, and personalities are vivid and vital. The plot is full of suspense and political intrigue. I enjoyed this novel, it is a very entertaining book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provocative Theme, May 25, 2008

By 

L. Frankel (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Our Lady Of Darkness (Paperback)

This is the best Sister Fidelma mystery that I've read since the first one. Like Absolution By Murder, it's about more than the case at hand. It deals with the issue of capitol punishment. I thought it was interesting that capitol punishment had not been part of the ancient Brehon law code of Ireland. There are pro and con arguments on capitol punishment presented, but they are integrated into the plot without being excessively preachy. This is a well-written novel that has an important theme.