Customer Reviews

The Divine Sacrifice

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here we have a mystery set in another time. I read Tony Hay's first book on a whim. I am looking for new authors as I have read everything my old standbys have written. I wanted to expand my thinking of who would be entertaining. I was happily surprised. I will be reading the rest of His books as I have found his style is one that grabs and keeps my interest throughout the book. I would recommend Tony Hays and say start with the Killing Way. You find fleshed out characters that you come to care about. You will travel down a path that will keep you wondering who and why was this murder commited. Who will be next? Try one book and you will be hooked.

Although he lost a hand in combat, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas has become a key adviser to the High King of Britannia Arthur ap Uther. As the monarch tries to unite Britannia under his rule, he trusts loyal Malgwyn with his life and for his sage advice; as does Merlin for Arthur.

Malgwyn accompanies King Arthur to Glastonbury Abbey where Brother Elafius recently died mysteriously. Knowing Malgwyn successfully solved crimes before (see The Killing Way), the Abbott asks him to investigate the cause of death. Malgwyn makes little progress until he realizes the monk was murdered, but no motive appears and everyone inside the abbey had opportunity.

At the same time, his advisor detects, King Arthur and St. Patrick meet. The latter is conducting church business to weed out followers of the Pelagian Heresy. Arthur tries to stay out of the debate over original sin as he knows the two sides are passionate and prepared for civil war.

This superb thriller places a fabulous whodunit inside of a profound historical tale that brings to life fifth century Britannia at a time when the divided church challenges everyone including the High King to choose a side; neutrality is disallowed. With a strong sense of time and place, fans of the Sister Fidelma mysteries will enjoy Tony Hays' brisk addition to the Arthurian myths.

Harriet Klausner

I wanted to give this book five stars. The first book in the series, The Killing Way, was very engrossing and held much promise. I was eager to read this sequel. And Tony Hays still did much well, especially with the well-developed and realistic setting, the good pacing, and the likeable protagonist.

But Hays clearly needs a better editor, and the many mistakes in this book kept intruding on my enjoyment of the story. There were continuity errors from TKW, some minor, such as Guinevere's hair color changing from brunette (p. 142 of TKW) to blond (p. 108 of TDS) or burial places moving from "close to their homes and family" (p.94 of TKW) to "barrows on the top of the meneds dug by the old people to bury their dead" (p. 228 of TDS). More significantly, the character Merlin changed from "[o]nce he had given good counsel, but the years had played tricks on his mind, and he thought himself a sorcerer now and sold potions made of valerian root to the gullible" (p. 21 of TKW) to being a totally competent, perceptive, and valued counselor throughout TDS. There are even some continuity errors within TDS. For example, on p.24, Malgwyn recalls "striking the boy lord Celyn in some sort of petulant reprisal for his rejection by the consilium." On p. 53, on meeting Gildas, Malgwyn thinks, "So, this was Lord Celyn's brother." On p. 95, however, when discussing Gildas, and Arthur tells Malgwyn that he had had experiences with his family, Malgwyn has "no idea what he was talking about." It's only after Arthur says, "Remember the upstart noble that tried to prevent me from taking up the sword?" that Malgwyn can say "'The boy noble? Celyn?' Then I remembered."

The plot also had weaknesses, which I found even more frustrating. As in the last book, a suspect thought he had killed someone - and Malgwyn left him thinking he had done so - when in fact someone else came along later and killed her. This felt a little contrived the first time; the repetition struck me as lazy plotting. The ultimate resolution of the original murder was also unsatisfying, and didn't make sense. [****SPOILER****Coroticus had no reason to insist that there was a murder for Malgwyn to investigate the death of the very old monk and, even after "inspecting his body," Malgwyn said, "I still see naught to cause you to send for me." (p. 46-47) It was only on seeing the disarray in Elafius's cell that Malgwyn became convinced of foul play, and Coroticus could have straightened up the cell before Malgwyn's arrival.****SPOILER****] A good historical mystery gets both the history and the mystery right.

If I could give the book three and one half stars I would, but I can't give it four.

Malgwyn ap Cuneglas has been a farmer, a husband and father until his family was killed by the Saxon, a fierce warrior and leader against the Saxons until his right arm was severed in battle... and then an invalid and a drunk, before being dragged back as an advisor, by his King. The King happens to be Arthur, and while there are names out of legends and tales, those here feel firmly a part of a gritty and realistic historical period. The author might as well have used a historical king, but there is some amusement in seeing how the various characters are re-imagined.

In this tale historical character appear as Patrick comes to a nearby monastery for a visit--to see if the rumors of the spread of Pelagian heresy are true. Arthur has come to check on a local lord's loyalty. Malgwyn and Bedevere accompany Arthur, but Malgwyn is also requested by the abbot to look into the death of one of the monks.

The mystery is complex and extensive, involving much more that could possibly be guessed at. The pacing is slow at the very first but quickly speeds up and continues on to involve trips and battle and conspiracies and politics, as well as personal lives and loves in the past and the present, and religion and beliefs. There is a cast of characters, some well-drawn and others more quickly drawn with brief appearances, but none are two-dimensional.

I was impressed by how it all came together into a first class historical mystery, despite the Arthurian aspect, which could have just been a gimmick to hang a pedestrian mystery on. I had also thought I was tired of Arthurian re-hashes, but this use of the characters was fresh enough to be interesting, and the storytelling and the mystery are definitely enough to overcome any qualm about it. I am very much looking forward to more in this series.