R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed Condemned to Death (Burren Mysteries, Bk 12) on + 1452 more book reviews
Set in the 16th century, Brehon Mara visits a small fishing community where a dead man in a boat washes up on the beach. Was this murder? She and her scholars - Slevin, Domhnall, Cormac, Art, Finbar, Cael and Cian investigate the man's death. The scholars interview the close lipped community but discover little. Mara suspects murder but needs to be sure. When her belief is confirmed, the group must discover who would kill the man and why.
As the tale develops, the reader discovers that the dead man was searching for something on the beaches but no one acknowleges this fact. Finally, it appears that occasionally gold artifacts are found on the shores by one individual or another. And, since the man is a dealer in such artifacts he may be searching for buried treasure. His visits have become more frequent in the past few months indicating that he wants to gather whatever might be left.
A secondary plot finds Mara trying to decide what to do with Finbar who has failed twice and must be released from the school. The problem for this artistic fifteen-year-old is that his father vows to disown him if he doesn't succeed. Mara finds a place for the young man if only his father will agree to this solution.
As the tale develops, the reader discovers that the dead man was searching for something on the beaches but no one acknowleges this fact. Finally, it appears that occasionally gold artifacts are found on the shores by one individual or another. And, since the man is a dealer in such artifacts he may be searching for buried treasure. His visits have become more frequent in the past few months indicating that he wants to gather whatever might be left.
A secondary plot finds Mara trying to decide what to do with Finbar who has failed twice and must be released from the school. The problem for this artistic fifteen-year-old is that his father vows to disown him if he doesn't succeed. Mara finds a place for the young man if only his father will agree to this solution.
