Monday, July 18, 2016

The Devil's Seal

Gorman, leader of the king's bodyguards, and two of his men, Enda and Dego, have come across the bodies of four men alongside the River Siur.  Two of the victims are monks.  Surprisingly one of monks is alive.

Meanwhile, back in Cashel, Eadulf has been summoned to the presence of Colgu.  He and his spiritual adviser want to know why a religious delegation is being thrust upon them by Rome and Canterbury.  When Eadulf goes to the chapel to speak to the religious envoy from his homeland, he finds the man has been murdered.

It turns out that the survivor of the attack on the Siur is Eadulf's younger brother, Egric.  Concerned over the death of the envoy, Fidelma and Eadulf begin an investigation.  They discover that the brother of the pope is going to be visiting Cashel shortly.  Could his visit be the reason for the killing?

A potential witness is murdered in the castle despite being under guard, and later an attempt is made on the lives of Fidelma and Eadulf.  What is the plan of the killer?

When the delegation arrives, they claim that they are there to discuss the possibility of the Archbishop of Canterbury overseeing the religious life of the island or possibly one of their own bishops doing that.  Fidelma is sure that this is not the reason that they are in Cashel.

How many more deaths must occur before Fidelma will be able to solve this mystery?  Author Peter Tremayne has written an intriguing mystery that isn't revealed until the closing pages of this novel.  A good read, a real page turner, with several surprises and which leaves the reader guessing right up to the end.

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