Writ In Stone

It's 1509, and a crowd has gathered at a small Cistercian abbey in western Ireland in the Burren for the Christmas wedding of Turlogh Donn, king of the Three Kingdoms and Mara, the Brehon for the Burren.  A cloaked, hooded figure kneeling in vigil by the tomb of the O'Briens is discovered in the early dawn murdered violently.  The victim is the king's cousin, Mahon, who closely resembles him.  A rare snowfall proves that the murderer is someone within the abbey itself.  The question is, was it political or was it personal?  That's the problem Mara will have to solve, and quickly, before the assasin strikes again in Cora Harrison's historical mystery Writ in Stone (#171). 

Neither English nor Roman law apply here where ancient Irish clan law still rules.  Women lawyers are not uncommon and capital punishment  doesn't necessarily apply if the murderer admits his guilt and pays the set judgment honor price.  As Mara sifts through the evidence and questions those present in the abbey, many possible motives are raised.  The abbot is another O'Brien cousin, with skeletons in his closet and with an important Cistercian visitor due.  Mahon, the victim, has just brought home a new second degree bride.  Turlogh's designated heir Conan is not well, and his bride is restless.  Could that be the key to the killing?  You'll just have to read this one to find out, but it's so well done, I've already decided I'll have to go back and read more of Mara's cases in the previous entries in this series.  I'll bet you will, too!