Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews

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Act of Mercy by Peter Tremayne
St. Martin's Press, November, 2001
Hardcover, 268 pages
ISBN: 0312268645
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Act of Mercy
by Peter Tremayne

Sister Fidelma, religieuse, sister to the King of Cashel and advocate of the Brehon courts in seventh-century Ireland, sets out on a pilgrimage from Ireland to the Shrine of St. James in Spain. Fidelma travels by ship with some of the most obnoxious pilgrims ever to set out on a pilgrimage. To make matters worse, one of the passengers, Cian, is an old flame who broke her heart ten years ago. One night during a violent storm, one of the pilgrims is apparently washed overboard, but then a bloodstained robe is found which raises the possibility that one of the pilgrims is a ruthless killer. Fidelma must find the killer before he strikes again -- no easy matter when none of the pilgrims seems willing to cooperate in her investigation.

Sister Fidelma is a charmer: she's tough, she's intelligent and she has real heart. Peter Tremayne makes the Middle Ages come to life, with fascinating observations about the culture and mores woven into an exciting thriller. Fidelma uses logic and deductive reasoning to solve her cases, and her path to enlightenment is always entertaining to observe, as is her wry humor. This is another top-notch entry in an excellent series.

The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun
Putnam, January, 2002
Hardcover, 226 pages
ISBN: 039914675X
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

In this twenty-fourth entry into this bestselling cozy series, wealthy journalist Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese casts, Koko and Yum Yum head off for a mini-vacation at a friend's inn in nearby Black Creek. Qwill's long-time girlfriend, Polly Duncan, is out of town and Qwill is left to his own devices. Innkeepers Nick and Lori Bamba are excellent hosts, but Lori feels that there is something wrong at the inn. And when a guest's murdered body shows up in the local creek, Qwill is forced to agree. With Koko to provide some helpful clues, Qwill sets out to investigate. During the course of his inquiries, he also collects more fascinating local lore for his upcoming collection of Moose County legends, entitled Short & Tall Tales, and gets involved in varied local doings which provide fodder for his popular newspaper column.

The latest adventure of Qwill and his beloved cats shows that Lilian Jackson Braun hasn't lost her deft touch. Qwill has encounters with Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, the opening of an antique mall and lots of eccentric characters. The characterizations, setting and gentle folksy humor are what keep readers coming back for more of Ms. Braun's delightful mix of cats and crime.

Mystery Book Reviews
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Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews

Act of Mercy by Peter Tremayne

The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun