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
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The first in a delightful new mystery series set in 16th century Ireland
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
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. The one thing that this novel's protagonist and Holmes have in common is that they are both professional investigators; a refreshing change from the various amateur historical detectives who always seem to combine anachronistic deductive skills with astonishing levels of competence in whatever their day job happens to be. However, for a judge Mara does not convince as having a terribly good grasp of legal priciples. In settling one case, seemingly very much bound up with the crime about to be committed, she declares both that there is no case to answer and in the next breath that the case against the accused is not proven. I fail to see how those two things can exist at the same time, however long ago or far away the legal system involved; you can't prove or disprove a case that doesn't exist.
Anyway, clearly I didn't like it. I suggest that you read all the reviews and make your own mind up.
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. The one thing that this novel's protagonist and Holmes have in common is that they are both professional investigators; a refreshing change from the various amateur historical detectives who always seem to combine anachronistic deductive skills with astonishing levels of competence in whatever their day job happens to be. However, for a judge Mara does not convince as having a terribly good grasp of legal priciples. In settling one case, seemingly very much bound up with the crime about to be committed, she declares both that there is no case to answer and in the next breath that the case against the accused is not proven. I fail to see how those two things can exist at the same time, however long ago or far away the legal system involved; you can't prove or disprove a case that doesn't exist.
Anyway, clearly I didn't like it. I suggest that you read all the reviews and make your own mind up.
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 12 months ago by jooles
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
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Will keep you wanting more
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... Read more
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Fun murder mystery
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... Read more
In the sixteenth century, as it is... Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2008 by K. Leversuch
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