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Absolution by Murder
- Sister Fidelma Mysteries, Book 1
- Narrated by: Caroline Lennon
- Series: Sister Fidelma, Book 1
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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Summary
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?
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What listeners say about Absolution by Murder
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- D. A. Morse
- 27-09-19
Like wading through treacle.
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
4 people found this helpful
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Performance
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Story
- Julie Swanepoel
- 06-11-19
well met Sister Fidelma!
What an engrossing tale. i have read all Sister Fidelma stories, and enjoyed listening just as much.
2 people found this helpful
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Performance
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Story
- K
- 04-08-19
Enjoyable and instructive
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.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- joyce
- 02-01-20
Forgettable
So many forgettable names. Such a confusing tale. I have departed at chapter 4. First time ever for me.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Tony Mac
- 23-04-22
Reader
Rather bizarre pronunciation of the names of the Saints. This is off putting at first
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- MRS M CHISHOLM
- 24-01-22
Excellent
I'm glad I listened to this story as would have struggled with all the names and pronunciations