Grieving the loss of wife and mother, Aidan and Melangell visit the renowned spiritual retreat center on the British island of Lindisfarne so Aidan can share with bright eight-year-old Melangell one of the places that inspired Jenny to write her books.
There they meet up with Jenny’s friend Lucy, a Methodist minister, who is teaching a course on the local Northumbrian saints. Lucy has brought Rachel, a troubled teenager, to the Holy Island in hopes that the remoteness and peace of the location will help her.
But when Rachel is found dead on the beach, everyone on the island is under suspicion. As investigators and Rachel’s “friends” come to the island, Aidan and Lucy learn more about Rachel, and Lucy’s past as a policewoman is revealed.
And so Aidan is drawn into his second mystery. Masterfully told by award-winning author Fay Sampson, Death on Lindisfarne explores the complicated motivations of fallen people against the backdrop of ancient holiness.
Fay Sampson is a widely published author with a particular interest in fantasy and Celtic history. She has been shortliste for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize on three occasions and is a winner of the Barco de Vapor award.
My Impressions:
Death on Lindisfarne is the second book in The Aiden Mysteries series by Fay Sampson. (You can read my review of book 1, The Hunted Hare, HERE.) The novel juxtaposes a modern mystery with the ancient history of Holy Island, a sacred place of peace and rest, but also the scene of betrayal and violence. This book is a great pick for those who love a British mystery with a hint of history.
Aiden Davison and his young daughter Melangell are on holiday just 6 months following the death of Aiden’s wife, Jenny. Lindisfarne or Holy Island was the place of great joy for Aiden and Jenny, and he wants to share the memories with Melangell. Enrolled in a course on the Celtic church and saints, they join a diverse group of people with secrets. The murder comes early and there are plenty of suspects.
I really liked the way Sampson uses the historical backdrop of the island as a means to advance the story. The stories that course leader Rev. Lucy Pargeter shares are as interesting as the murder mystery. I had my suspicions early on about just whodunit, but there are enough red herrings and mysterious doings by all the characters, that I was never sure about the ending. Death on Lindisfarne is a true British mystery. I loved the different vernacular used, the very British constabulary and the remote setting employed. And while this mystery is wrapped up, there is a hint of more to come for Aiden, Melangell and Lucy. Death on Lindisfarne can also be treated as a standalone.
Recommended.
(Thanks to Kregel for a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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