A Fatal Inheiritance (#592) by Cora Harrison is the latest entry in her intriguing mystery series featuring Mara, the Brehon of the Burren in sixteenth century Ireland. She has the responsibility of administering the law in her kingdom which is increasingly at odds with how the Church, based in Rome and the English under a young Henry VIII wish to see it done.
In her latest case, an older, exceedingly unpleasant woman has been strangled and left tied to an ancient rock pillar representing the Old Gods. In the isolated valley where the murder occurred, there is a lingering belief in the power of these Old Gods. Mara must investigate who had the means, the motive and the opportunity to commit such a murder, and use the students enrolled in her law school as her assistants to give them experience and a chance to use their growing knowledge of the law in a practical setting.
It's also a good excuse to get away from the bustle at Ballinalacken Castle, where her husband, King Turlough, has ordered a grand feast to celebrate her upcoming fiftieth birthday, the burden of which, of course, falls on her! Still, Mara can't help but feel a twinge of conscience that her recent ruling in Clodagh O'Lochlainn's favor in granting her disputed property may have played some part in the woman's death. An uncomfortable case to deal with all around.
The window into the history of Ireland at this time period always reveals some surprising similarities to women's issues today, and questions of how the law should be most fairly carried out. New additions to this series are always a welcome read!
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