Writ in Stone

Burren Mysteries #4

by Cora Harrison

A Mystery of Medieval Ireland - Christmas, 1509. Mara, the investigating judge of the Burren, has accepted the offer of marriage made by King Turlough. But on the eve of the marriage festivities, a man kneeling in prayer in the abbey church is violently murdered. Who could have planned to kill the king? Cut off from the outside world by heavy snow, Mara must act quickly to catch the assassin before a second death occurs.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Ireland, Historical, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Hardcover

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

Cora Harrison worked as a headteacher before she decided to write her first novel. She has since published twenty-six children's novels. My Lady Judge was her first book in a Celtic historical crime series for adults that introduces Mara, Brehon of the Burren. Cora lives on a farm near the Burren in the west of Ireland.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2009, and its the 4th part of the amazing "Burren" mysteries, featuring Brehon Mara of the Burren.

This tale is set at Christmas time, in the year AD 1510, and Brehon Mara has accepted the offer of marriage made by King Turlough Don O'Brien.

This marriage is planned to take place at the Cistercian Abbey on Christmas Day, but on the eve of the marriage a man is brutally murdered while kneeling in prayer in that same abbey church.

Who could be responsible for this murder, but even more importantly the murderer is that this person is still within the cloister walls.

What is to follow is a very thrilling and astounding Irish historical mystery, in which Mara must use all her cunning and prowess to solve this case quickly and securely, and after solving all the threads of this web of deceit and murder, she will be able to identify and bring to justice this culprit, before finally sentencing this same person according to Brehon Law.

Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent Irish historical mystery to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Wonderful Writ In Stone Mystery"!

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Sentence: The Burren, on the west coast of Ireland, is a land of white stone and dark gree-blue sea, encircled by swirling terraced mountains of gleaming limestone, soft fertile grass and hard rock; tiny jewel-bright flowers and wind-torn asymmetrical trees; great pagan stone monuments and small ruined Christian churches and abbeys.

Mara, responsible for justice in Burren, Ireland, is set to marry King Turlock, ruler of three kingdoms in Northwest Ireland. He announced he would hold a solitary vigil in the abbey church by the tomb of his ancestor at dawn. When Brehon is awakened to an uproar of voices proclaiming the King has been murdered, she knows it is not true as he was with her. The victim is the King’s brother. But who was the intended victim?

I was trying to figure out what about this series appeals to me as much as it does. One answer is the author’s descriptive abilities. Harrison is a very evocative writer, not only of era and location, but of people as well. I can “see” what I’m being told and that adds a real richness to the story. It allows the story to become real in my head.

Another answer is the history. Learning about a time, place and, particularly, a system of law only known to me because of this series, is something I value. It also adds a background layer of suspense as you sense the time coming when English law will outlaw Brehon law in the 1600s. When an author can educate, as well as entertain, they gain my respect.

The characters are very well drawn; I felt their personalities. Mara is a very intelligent, strong and capable woman, holds a position of high authority and respect. She also has a bit of Holmes’ powers of observations and Miss Marple’s ability to appear guileless, who Harrison has very smartly balanced that with Turlock; a king who has been a warrior all his life and tends to react first. While not romantic suspense, by any means, the relationship between Mara and Turlock is nicely done. Surrounding them are multitude of diverse characters and personalities adding layers to the story.

I did appreciate that, in this book, Mara’s law students had a much less substantial role in solving the crime. The story is well plotted providing lots of possible suspects and motives along the way. It also raises the issue of canon law versus secular law.

I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it to all those who enjoy historical mysteries.

WRIT IN STONE (Hist Mys-Mara, Brehon of the Burren- Ireland-1509/Middle Ages – VG
Harrison, Cora – 4th in series
Severn House, 2009, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780727868121

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would highly reccomend reading A Secret and Unlawful Killing before reading Writ in Stone because events and characters from A Secret and Unlawful Killing strongly influence Writ in stone.

There's also more Irish/English and Irish/Rome politics present this time around.

Each book in this series adds layers to the characters and the setting. Previously I didn't really feel that Mara really *liked* her betrothed, much loved the man. And I'm wondering if I wasn't the only one who wondered, because it seemed that Harrison made a real effort to show readers how Mara truly feels about her king.

Writ in Stone is another wonderful historical mystery set in The Burren. Harrison manages the sometimes delicate balance between history and mystery, and I love how Harrison causes the setting to shape the plot. (People do, or don't do, things because it's The Burren in the 1550s.) No anachronisms have disturbed my immersion in Mara's world, and Harrison paints a vivid picture of The Burren and the subjects' society in a very accessible way.

I also found the mystery to be well-constructed. Harrison falls heavily on the side of a 'fair play' mystery, providing all the clues to the reader. It's only at the very end when Mara figures out the crime(s) that Harrison refrains from sharing Mara's conclusions and the reader must wait for the denouncement.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story with a happy ending.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the "Mara, Brehon of the Burren" series. I'm reading them out of order, so for me this was a fantastic way to get more knowledge about the backstory of characters that I already like. With the whole being snowed into an abbey conceit, it's essentially a locked room mystery set in Gaelic Ireland. I appreciate the way the tensions between the different legal systems of the era are woven into the plot, and if there's a bit too much "maybe it's you! OR YOU!" in Mara's articulated thought process at times, a slight heavy-handedness is the worst flaw the book has, and that's not really very bad at all. I particularly appreciate the relevant chapter opening quotes from Irish legal texts.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying the Burren Mystery series by Cora Harrison. It's set in early 16th century Ireland, when that country was still governed by its own legal system, called "Brehon Law," that had been in place for centuries. The main character is a female judge, something that was even more rare in that time and place, than it is in modern-day America, although apparently not unheard of. I like how the stories weave in the legal and cultural history of western Ireland along with good mysteries.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's great about these is the tidbits of Brehon law at the beginning of each chapter - an additional boon for mystery buffs.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book. Brehon Mara once again untangles a knotty problem, this time in snowed-in quarters. An excellent story with many twists and turns.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find the series gets better and better as you get to know the characters that reappear in each book. I can't get enough of them.

[Nancy Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these novels because in the, the author precents a view of medieval Ireland not many of us know about, and the eminently practical and fair legal system they used. I also like the character of Mara, the Brehon, (judge). In this one, I struggled with the pace. So much happened in such a short span of time. I found myself saying, "what! it is the same day?!" It was also difficult for me to believe the premise in this story. For all that, I enjoyed it, and will continue with the series.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying the Burren series. King Turlough and Mara in 1509 have gone to the Abbey to marry and visit Turlough's son Conor. Conor has the wasting disease. The King had planned to lead the pray, but stayed in bed. Another man was ask by the Abbot to take his place. The man is found dead in the morning. Mara must figure out who violently beat the man to death. Because Mara is a divorced woman, the Abbot has refused to marry her. Mara announces that because of the death, the marriage will be postponed. Good story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 16th century west of Ireland in a Cistercian monastery, Mara is Brehon of the Burren – an office that includes the functions of investigator, prosecutor, and judge. A powerful position for a woman that would be unthinkable in the contemporary England of Henry VIII. She is at the monastery for her wedding to King Turlough but the ceremony becomes problematic when it is targeted by the Roman church in an effort to impose a tighter control over the Irish clerics. An intriguing plot and quite impressive character.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

Another mystery and investigation steeped in Irish law. It continues the story of Mara, Brehon of the Burrens and her students, friends and protectors. This story gives closure to earlier complications and ends on a joyous Christmas Eve. The setting of a Cistercian abbey for the crime gave way for a look at the traditional Irish ways versus the encroaching English

[Groucho42 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mara and Turlough are at an Abby to get married when murder happens. A good mystery that has its rating lowered for two reasons. First, figuring it out is just nonsense, as a cheap bit of writing is used to address it. The murderer is trite and annoying, with her ex-husband magically showing up. Second, while Turlough's son brings in the interesting question of Irish independence in the age of Henry VII, his character and actions just seem annoying and cartoonish.

[Lucy Cummin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mara and King Turlough are to marry but . . . Turlough's cousin is murdered, only it looks as though Turlough was the intended victim. They are staying at an abbey to have the ceremony in a grander setting, but the abbott is not pleased to have them and doesn't want to perform the ceremony . . . lots to unravel. I love these! ****

[Doreen Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to see how a woman judge in the 1500s in Ireland, copes with and successfully deals with clash within the catholic faith between Roman ways and traditional Irish ways, romance, murder of a man at the alter, teaching and potential sons-in-law.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been enjoying these mysteries, and this one was a good variation on a classic murder mystery trope. I sometimes feel like the author leaves out a lot from previous books, but I suppose that's to make each one a standalone.

[Rosemary Rinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but did not love it as I had expected, as I'm very fond of medieval/historical mysteries. I'm afraid I don't exactly remember what I didn't like about it, but I didn't immediately decide to read all the others, a good clue!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was slow-going for me--so much talking and it was just boring. I'm quitting the series.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful mystery set in medieval Ireland. A king, a female judge, a murder, all in a great setting!

[ABesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would’ve been five stars, but this one had more typos and repetitive information than the three previous combined.

[Kathleen Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this was an interesting peek into this place and time and history.

[Laine Coates · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, total surprise ending! Lots of fun to read.

[Elizabeth Ambrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly not Peter Tremayne but very similar in many ways. Might just depend on who you read first.

[Gaynor]

borrowed on one card

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've started reading her Mother Superior series set in 1920's Ireland and wanted to explore her other work. This is not captivating me as the other series. I'm calling it a DNF and moving on.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rereading the Burren series but not sure I read this one! Definitely 5 stars as the King and Mara the Brehon marry Christmas Eve.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brehon law ran Ireland for centuries, and, even in the early 16th century, sometimes the judge could be a woman. That's the case with this series, of which this book (yes, I'm reading them out of order) is number four. Mara is the brehon for the Burren, which, then, as now, is a beautiful part of Ireland. After studying law for years, she serves as a judge herself and garners the respect her position requires.

Mara also is meant to marry Turlough, her King, at Christmas ; however, those celebrations are cut short when Mahon, Turlough's cousin, is murdered -- mistakenly believed to be Turlough himself -- in the same abbey where the wedding was to take place. The judge becomes detective. Secrets are revealed amidst historical details regarding Irish and English history.

Harrison has done her homework. This book seems to be well researched. I appreciate how each chapter starts with quotes from Brehon Law, in Irish, of course, translated into English. That said, I'm holding back a little in my stars simply because occasionally the narrative was jarred by more modern lexis. When a character says that she was 'hanging around' or she 'hung around' in a 1509 setting, I raise my eyebrows. To my knowledge, such phrasing, with connotations of idleness, dates back to the 19th century. Whilst I don't expect nor want the characters to speak in Early Modern English nor the equivalent in Irish, I just wish that they wouldn't use such explicit modernisms in their speech.

[Madeleine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haha, I'm hooked. These are just really sweet stories. Mara the Brehon is a totally cool strong believable historical female heroine, her law students are cute and hilarious, her love interest (the King!) is great, the mysteries themselves are interesting without being creepy, and there is lots of food! Addicted.

[Kb · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of this series sounded interesting. I wanted to give it a try, but life is too short to labour through such poor writing. An example in three condensed paragraphs:

"My Lord," she said calmly. "They are crying your death."
"Come here," he said softly...
"Stay there," she said warningly...

I am telling you warningly, stay away from this book.