Books From the Backlog #92

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, please feel free to enter your link and link back to this post, then spend some time visiting some of the other posts.

This week's neglected book:

Dancing With Demons by Peter Tremayne

#18 Sister Fidelma

Historical Mystery, Irish History

9.6.07

Blurb:

Sister Fidelma must investigate the murder of the High King himself and by doing so risk civil war, in Peter Tremayne's brilliant new novel in the popular series. When Sechnussach, High King of Ireland, is found dead in his bedchamber with his throat cut, all clues seem to suggest an all-too-obvious prime suspect. Dubh Duin, the chieftain of the clan Cinel Cairpre, was found with the murder weapon in his hand when the High King's guards entered the royal chamber, before taking his own life. The Chief Brehon of Ireland asks Sister Fidelma to investigate and find out what possible motives could have driven Dubh Duin to assassinate the High King. Her investigations reveals an intricate web of conspiracy and deception that threatens to unbalance the five kingdoms and send them spiralling into a violent and bloody civil war and religious conflict...

WHY DID I PICK THIS ONE?

In honor of both Women's History month and the upcoming St. Patrick's Day, I chose a book/series with a powerful woman protagonist. The series is set in the early centuries after Christianity came to Ireland and Fidelma is a daughter and sister of kings, a scholar, a religious, and an Irish law advocate and investigator of nearly the highest rank. In other words, a strong, intelligent woman.

I have loved these mysteries for the meticulous attention to Irish history and custom of the time, the clever plots, but Sister Fidelma herself (and her faithful Brother Eudulf- fellow sleuth, friend and more).

I am behind and have about half dozen of the series on the shelf waiting for me to go back and get caught up.