Michael Sims, whose previous Victorian collections Dracula’s Guest (vampires) and The Dead Witness (detectives) have been widely praised, has gathered twelve of the best stories about humanity’s oldest supernatural obsession. Ghost stories date back centuries, but those written in the Victorian era have a unique atmosphere and dark beauty. not to be outwitted, she is like a hound dog on the trail of his prey. I had the greatest respect and admiration of Sister Fidelma in the story. one must remember that in AD 664, Catholicism WAS the church, since the Protestant Reformation didn't begin until around 1517 when Martin Luther published his ninety-five theses. which saddens me and I am sure many Christians that the teachings of Christ were and are used to personal and political gain. a battle for control between Rome and Ireland, more political than based on faith. the book contains much about the fight in the Catholic church over doctrine and religious rituals during the time period.

Interesting historical murder mystery set in AD 664 in Northumbria, a medieval kingdom, which in current day is northern England and the southeast part of Scotland. In addition, it bothered me that so many things were referred to by their latin names over and over then again, without the narrator, I would never have guess how some of the names and titles were pronounced. The author needs to work on revealing his feminine side in his female characters.

In fact, I don't recall Sister Fidelma ever praying or contemplating religion. The main characters spend more time thinking about sex and the opposite sex than to about religion or praying. I didn't realize that medieval nuns wore such form fitting habits that their figures were so easily judged.

When first introduced to Sister Fedelma, both female Abbessess in the story comment on her figure and her looks. While during this period there were mixed religious houses where both men and women lived, from what else I have read it seems men and women did not regularly 'cohabitate' as described by the author but lived in separate quarters. I also tired of, and was annoyed by, the constant sexual undertones of the religious characters. I was so tired of hearing about Sister Fedelma's bright green eyes that I was ready to poke them out. Good story, annoying writing, too many green eyesĮven though I was intrigued by the setting and the period detail in this book, this story would have moved much faster if details and facts were not constantly repeated.

Absolution by murder