Absolution By Murder
Sister Fidelma is not only a religieuse but also a high ranking dalaigh (advocate) in the 7th century Irish legal system with a reputation for solving knotty problems. When Abbess Etain, one of the chief speakers among Celtic delegates to the Synod of Whitby, is murdered, Fidelma is asked to investigate together with Brother Eadulf, a Saxon magistrate turned monk from the Catholic delegation.

Although I found the historical background interesting, I got tired of the insistence on the superiority of the Irish culture over the barbaric Anglo-Saxons. I will see how this plays out before deciding whether to continue with the series after finishing the boxed set.

A Shroud for the Archbishop
Delivering the Rule of her Order to the Pope for blessing, Sister Fidelma re-encounters some of the people she'd met at the Synod of Whitby. One of them, Wighard, is the archbishop-elect of Canterbury whose election has to be confirmed by the Pope. Unfortunately he is killed in what seems to be a straight forward case of murder during a robbery gone wrong and an Irish monk is arrested. Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf are asked to investigate to prove that there is no anti-Celtic collusion by the Catholic authorities.

Again an excellent mystery against a well drawn historical background but marred by the insistence that the 7th century Irish were just like us (accepting of female equality, not too harsh with criminals, into martial arts, accepting of sex as one of God's gifts) as opposed to the barbaric Anglo-Saxons and Romans.

Suffer Little Children
Sister Fidelma is back on her home territory of 7th century Ireland. The king of Cashel is dying and Fidelma's brother, Colgu, the tanaist or heir-apparent, sends her on a mission to investigate the murder of The Venerable Dacan, a monk from Laigin, in a Cashel monastery. The king of Laigin and Abbot Noe, Dacan's brother, are demanding the ceding of the territory of Osraige in compensation. Are they entitled to do so and what is the connection with a massacre of a village near the monastery that Fidelma witnesses on her journey?

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery even if the flood of Irish names was a bit overwhelming at first. Fidelma's musings about how much she misses Eadulf were a bit repetitive. ( )