A Prayer for the Damned

Peter Berresford Ellis

February, AD 668, and Cashel is full of distinguished visitors. The reason - under the old Irish custom, Fidelma of Cashel and Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham, having been joined together for a year and a day, are to be married. But on the eve of the ceremony, the pious Abbot Ultan, who has travelled from the far north to attend, is found murdered in his chamber. Worst still - one of the most distinguished guests, the King of Connacht, has been seen fleeing from the scene and is charged with the murder. He demands his right to appoint Fidelma in his defence. Quickly Fidelma discovers that Abbot Ultan is not the pious man he was thought to be -- indeed, many of the guests have cause to hate him. It is a long weekend of suspicion, fear and more death before Fidelma and Eadulf are able to reveal to their restless and querulous guests the truth behind Ultan's murder.