The first in a delightful new mystery series set in 16th century Ireland
My Lady Judge (Burren Series)
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'A lovely, balanced blend of historical detail and good story telling. This book is appealing in every way' Brenda Rickman Vantrease ‘An excellent historical novel with a most original leading character Cora Harrison has wonderfully recreated the Celtic culture of Ireland in its mysterious twilight at the end of the Middle Ages. A true Celtic feast' P. C. Doherty 'Sister Fidelma would be delighted with her sleuthing `descendant’. Well researched and written' Peter Tremayne 'The character of Mara, the Brehon judge, is beautifully drawn . . . She will make so many friends, all of whom will look forward to each new mystery with keen anticipation’ Alys Clare 'She mixes faction and narrative to good effect' Dorset Echo ‘A fine mix of history and mystery’ Choice magazine ‘This charming book could be the start of a million-selling series’ Evening Herald 'This is a terrific debut of a historical series that promises something completely different. If the test of a good historical is a solid plot with an intricate setting, My Lady Judge is the real thing . . . definitely a series to watch' Globe and Mail
Book Description
In the sixteenth century, as it is now, the Burren, on the western seaboard of Ireland, was a land of grey stone forts, fields of rich green grass and swirling mountain terraces. It was also home to an independent kingdom that lived peacefully by the ancient Brehon laws of their forebears. On the first eve of May, 1509, hundreds of people from the Burren climbed the gouged out limestone terraces of Mullaghmore Mountain to celebrate the great May Day festival, lighting a bonfire and singing and dancing through the night, then returning through the grey dawn to the safety of their homes. But one man did not come back down the steeply spiralling path. His body lay exposed to the ravens and wolves on the bare, lonely mountain for two nights . . . and no one spoke of him, or told what they had seen. And when Mara, a woman appointed by King Turlough Don O'Brien to be judge and lawgiver to the stony kingdom, came to investigate, she was met with a wall of silence . . . 'An excellent historical novel with a most original leading character...A true Celtic feast.' P. C. Doherty
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Graham R. Hill
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am obviously conscious that tastes are different in reading as in everything else. I don't doubt the genuineness of other reviewers' pleasure in this book, but I thought that it would be useful to those considering buying it to know that there are alternative views. So let me explain why I gave up after the first five chapters; a point before the crime has been discovered (the fact that it has already taken place has been rather unsubtly telegraphed along with a full list of possible suspects) let alone solved.
Firstly, the author can't write. Her much vaunted descriptions of the west of Ireland basically consist of ensuring that the words 'clints' and 'grykes' appear at least once on each page - and if you want to know what these terms mean then I recommend going directly to the geological dictionary from where the author's research assistant obtained them. When it comes to people she is even worse. Malachy, the skilled but flawed doctor/herbalist character obligatory in this genre, is described on first appearance as 'a strong-looking, handsome man of forty' and then two pages later and after just a few minutes perfunctory dialogue he has become 'no more than forty, and yet beginning to look like a man nearing sixty'. Admittedly he has a teenage daughter, which I can confirm from experience has a definite ageing effect, but surely not twenty years per conversation.
The historical detective has to have a setting of course. This one is sixteenth-century, female and Irish. They've all been done before including the female Irish combination. The first, scene-setting chapter of the book ends in a rather laboured joke, the punchline of which indirectly refers to Sherlock Holmes, presumably as some sort of comparison.... Read more ›
Firstly, the author can't write. Her much vaunted descriptions of the west of Ireland basically consist of ensuring that the words 'clints' and 'grykes' appear at least once on each page - and if you want to know what these terms mean then I recommend going directly to the geological dictionary from where the author's research assistant obtained them. When it comes to people she is even worse. Malachy, the skilled but flawed doctor/herbalist character obligatory in this genre, is described on first appearance as 'a strong-looking, handsome man of forty' and then two pages later and after just a few minutes perfunctory dialogue he has become 'no more than forty, and yet beginning to look like a man nearing sixty'. Admittedly he has a teenage daughter, which I can confirm from experience has a definite ageing effect, but surely not twenty years per conversation.
The historical detective has to have a setting of course. This one is sixteenth-century, female and Irish. They've all been done before including the female Irish combination. The first, scene-setting chapter of the book ends in a rather laboured joke, the punchline of which indirectly refers to Sherlock Holmes, presumably as some sort of comparison.... Read more ›
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this an excellent read - once I started, I could not put it down.
As a whodunit, it was very good. It had many false leads and it was not until the end that the villain became known. Sister Fidelma has found a wothy successor some nine hundred years later as Brehon.
As a whodunit, it was very good. It had many false leads and it was not until the end that the villain became known. Sister Fidelma has found a wothy successor some nine hundred years later as Brehon.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is set in 1509 in Ireland where people live by the Brehon laws which seemed to work well. The main character Mara is the judge and hands out her judgments when the laws are broken. She comes across as a very caring gentle person who runs a school for young boys who wish to study the law.
During the May day festivals the whole village celebrate by dancing and singing and lighting fires in ther mountains, but one young man doesn't come down again and the story is about Mara trying to find the killer against a background of silence.
The book is interesting enough with the bits of Brehon law at the start of each chapter, but it didn't really capture me and I was a little disappointed, it was a bit safe and lacked punch.
During the May day festivals the whole village celebrate by dancing and singing and lighting fires in ther mountains, but one young man doesn't come down again and the story is about Mara trying to find the killer against a background of silence.
The book is interesting enough with the bits of Brehon law at the start of each chapter, but it didn't really capture me and I was a little disappointed, it was a bit safe and lacked punch.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As for the latest one after read a cora harrison from the local liberary she just wanted to read the whole set so we checked out Amazon
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was the first time I had read anything written by this author, and I will certainly read the rest in the series.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By K. Leversuch
Format:Paperback
This is the first book by Cora Harrison that I have read, and I really enjoyed it. Here is the Amazon synopsis for My Lady Judge:
In the sixteenth century, as it is now, the Burren, on the western seaboard of Ireland, was a land of grey stone forts, fields of rich green grass and swirling mountain terraces. It was also home to an independent kingdom that lived peacefully by the ancient Brehon laws of their forebears. On the first eve of May, 1509, hundreds of people from the Burren climbed the gouged out limestone terraces of Mullaghmore Mountain to celebrate the great May Day festival, lighting a bonfire and singing and dancing through the night, then returning through the grey dawn to the safety of their homes. But one man did not come back down the steeply spiralling path. His body lay exposed to the ravens and wolves on the bare, lonely mountain for two nights ...and no one spoke of him, or told what they had seen.And when Mara, a woman appointed by King Turlough Don O'Brien to be judge and lawgiver to the stony kingdom, came to investigate, she was met with a wall of silence ...'An excellent historical novel with a most original leading character...A true Celtic feast.' - P. C. Doherty.
This is a murder mystery set in Ireland in the Middle Ages. The main character is Mara, who is the judge of this kingdom. I loved her character. She had so many sides, the teacher, the mother, the judge and the woman. She could be deceptive when necessary, or just to get out of boring social meetings, which made me chuckle. She did have a conscience however. She was fair, calm and friendly. All the characters were well written and many I found an emotional connection too.
I liked the old-fashioned way of investigating the murder.... Read more ›
In the sixteenth century, as it is now, the Burren, on the western seaboard of Ireland, was a land of grey stone forts, fields of rich green grass and swirling mountain terraces. It was also home to an independent kingdom that lived peacefully by the ancient Brehon laws of their forebears. On the first eve of May, 1509, hundreds of people from the Burren climbed the gouged out limestone terraces of Mullaghmore Mountain to celebrate the great May Day festival, lighting a bonfire and singing and dancing through the night, then returning through the grey dawn to the safety of their homes. But one man did not come back down the steeply spiralling path. His body lay exposed to the ravens and wolves on the bare, lonely mountain for two nights ...and no one spoke of him, or told what they had seen.And when Mara, a woman appointed by King Turlough Don O'Brien to be judge and lawgiver to the stony kingdom, came to investigate, she was met with a wall of silence ...'An excellent historical novel with a most original leading character...A true Celtic feast.' - P. C. Doherty.
This is a murder mystery set in Ireland in the Middle Ages. The main character is Mara, who is the judge of this kingdom. I loved her character. She had so many sides, the teacher, the mother, the judge and the woman. She could be deceptive when necessary, or just to get out of boring social meetings, which made me chuckle. She did have a conscience however. She was fair, calm and friendly. All the characters were well written and many I found an emotional connection too.
I liked the old-fashioned way of investigating the murder.... Read more ›
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Thayer
Format:Paperback
As the first of this type of book I've read I thought is was brilliant. It keeps you guessing the whole way through and just when you think you've worked it out - you haven't.
Well written and can't wait to read the Michaelmas Tribute.
Well written and can't wait to read the Michaelmas Tribute.
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Lady Judge
This series of books by Cora Harrison is excellent. I am gripped by the whole collection. Well formed characters and good story lines. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2011 by jooles
4.0 out of 5 stars
Opens a new old world
Villainy and detection amidst the Burren, a small community on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. What is most attractive in this story is the law that is applied and practised back in... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2009 by N. C. Granby
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