• Absolution by Murder

  • A Sister Fidelma Mystery
  • By: Peter Tremayne
  • Narrated by: Caroline Lennon
  • Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (613 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Absolution by Murder  By  cover art

Absolution by Murder

By: Peter Tremayne
Narrated by: Caroline Lennon
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In AD 664 King Oswy of Northumbria has convened a synod at Whitby to hear debate between the Roman and Celtic Christian Churches and decide which shall be granted primacy in his kingdom. At stake is much more than a few disputed points of ritual; Oswy's decision could affect the survival of either Church in the Saxon kingdoms.

When the Abbess Etain, a leading speaker for the Celtic Church, is found murdered, suspicion falls upon the Roman faction. In order to diffuse the tensions that threaten to erupt into civil war, Oswy turns to Sister Fidelma of the Celtic Church (Irish and an advocate for the Brehon Court) and Brother Eadulf of the Roman Church (from East Anglia and of a family of hereditary magistrates) to find the killer. But as further murders occur, and a treasonous plot against Oswy matures, Fidelma and Eadulf soon find themselves running out of time.

©1994 Peter Tremayne (P)2014 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about Absolution by Murder

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    271
  • 4 Stars
    194
  • 3 Stars
    102
  • 2 Stars
    26
  • 1 Stars
    20
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    306
  • 4 Stars
    146
  • 3 Stars
    53
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    226
  • 4 Stars
    159
  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    18

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting new (for me) series & great narrator!

Finding Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma mysteries appearing in the New Releases list in a great big bunch over a period of only a few days, I was curious. So I looked Peter Tremayne up on StopYou'reKillingMe, found out which was the first book, and listened to a segment on Audible. I was pulled right in by the story, and by Caroline Lennon's narration. The perfect match. Having listened to the first, and finding that Audible seems to have all of them, I'm a very happy camper! I think that this series of mysteries set in 7th century Europe (mostly Ireland???) would very likely appeal to Brother Cadfael fans and cozy mystery fans. I'm getting the next few books today!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It is all in the lips...pursed,compressed, bitten.

How do the characters in this medieval mystery express themselves? When they aren't doing it with their violet and green eyes, it is more likely with their lips. I lost count of how many times and how many characters "bit his" or "bit her lips" but craved to hear more of his/her thoughts or fuller description of his/her appearance. First published over 20 years ago, the time has long passed that an editor should have helped shape the mostly wooden characters or wimpy plot into something fuller ... but I was still seduced by the opportunity in fiction to learn something of this time period of history. Audible produced the recording presumably to fill a gap in the full, long series. This is the first that I "read" and I see that later books in the series get more positive reviews .... Maybe I'll give it another try, but fellow readers beware ...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good story, annoying writing, too many green eyes

Even though I was intrigued by the setting and the period detail in this book, this story would have moved much faster if details and facts were not constantly repeated. I was so tired of hearing about Sister Fedelma's bright green eyes that I was ready to poke them out. I also tired of, and was annoyed by, the constant sexual undertones of the religious characters. While during this period there were mixed religious houses where both men and women lived, from what else I have read it seems men and women did not regularly "cohabitate" as described by the author but lived in separate quarters. When first introduced to Sister Fedelma, both female Abbessess in the story comment on her figure and her looks. I didn't realize that medieval nuns wore such form fitting habits that their figures were so easily judged. The main characters spend more time thinking about sex and the opposite sex than to about religion or praying. In fact, I don't recall Sister Fidelma ever praying or contemplating religion. It seemed off. The author needs to work on revealing his feminine side in his female characters. The killer was easy to spot early on. In addition, it bothered me that so many things were referred to by their latin names over and over; then again, without the narrator, I would never have guess how some of the names and titles were pronounced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Murder among the Monks and Nuns

Interesting historical murder mystery set in AD 664 in Northumbria, a medieval kingdom, which in current day is northern England and the southeast part of Scotland . . . the book contains much about the fight in the Catholic church over doctrine and religious rituals during the time period . . . a battle for control between Rome and Ireland, more political than based on faith . . . which saddens me and I am sure many Christians that the teachings of Christ were and are used to personal and political gain . . . one must remember that in AD 664, Catholicism WAS the church, since the Protestant Reformation didn't begin until around 1517 when Martin Luther published his ninety-five theses . . . I had the greatest respect and admiration of Sister Fidelma in the story . . . I think you will, too . . . she's observant, out spoken, and honest . . . not to be outwitted, she is like a hound dog on the trail of his prey . . . yet she has a heart for the gospel . . . great conclusion . . .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well written and well read, though sometimes tedio

Very good historica mystery with compellin intriug. Strong distinct cherecters. The author has a tendancy to emphasize lesser known facts about church history, like priests could merry and monks lived in co-ed monasteries. I am a church history fanatic so I loved the historical and theological detail, though i ca imagine that it mighty be boring for some. The reader has a lovely irish acent and obviously practiced her latin and unfamilliar words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Early Medival murder mystery

What made the experience of listening to Absolution by Murder the most enjoyable?

I have read all of the Sister Fidelma series, but hearing them brings them to life for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Fidelma.

What about Caroline Lennon’s performance did you like?

Great job especially with the Irish word.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would like to, but couldn't

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

If Brother Cadfael was female and Irish,,,,

Seventh Century Irish nun/lawyer solves murder mysteries in the middle of a church conference. Yes, nun and lawyer. Really. The book is worth a credit just to find out haw that worked.

Very complex set of characters and situations. Inspires me to do a little research on a period of history most of us know very little about. Narrator does a great job.

My only complaint -not really a complaint, more an inevitable problem - is that many of the names sound alike, making it a challenge to keep all the characters straight.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intriguing

Peter Tremayne has developed a wonderful character in Sister Fidelma, and depicted very vividly the setting and situation of the time period. Great storyline with plenty of twists and turns.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Catholic issues

What did you like best about Absolution by Murder? What did you like least?

I found the Irish, Anglo-Saxon, Latin - names, places and language very hard to follow. I even lost track of characters because of the foreign-ness of the text. Reader should know some Catholic and church history before reading.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Fair murder investigation. Good inter play between investigators.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A Bit too Graphic

Very well read. Reminded me of Ellis Peters Br Cadfael. But descriptions of murdered victims a little too graphic for my tastes. Wasn’t surprised that this author also writes horror.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful