Penance of the Damned

A number of years ago my local librarian recommended Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma series to me. I began with number one, and it wasn’t until I was about seven books into it that the librarian revealed to me that the series had, at that point, twenty-four books! The true telling of a good author, however, is that instead of being terrified at the thought of that many more books to get through, I was delighted. Up to that point, every single book was as good as the previous one. Penance of the Damned, number twenty-seven in this series, is no different.

Sister Fidelma and her partner, Brother Aedulf, are sent by her brother, Colgu, king of Muman, to the fortess of Donennach, home of the Prince of the Ui Fidgente, with whom he has recently secured an uneasy peace. Gorman, commander of Colgu’s bodyguard, has been accused of killing Segdae, the Prince’s Chief Bishop, after Gorman is found unconscious with a knife in his hand in the Bishop’s locked room. Fidelma must find the true murderer before her old adversary, Abbott Nannid, can use the new rules of the Penitentials to punish him with death.

Once more Tremayne has crafted a tale for historians and casual readers alike. I look forward to many more adventures with Sister Fidelma!