The Last Abbot of Linn Duachaill

by Michelle Markey Butler, Jess Barry

The last Viking attack left a raw wound in the memories of the people of Linn Duachaill. When the longship Seedrache appears at the mouth of the river, it revives those memories.But Captain Mariel, no raider, seeks only to trade. Driven by the knowledge that if the voyage fails, her family will lose their entire estate, she offers silver for tall trees she can turn into longships. Abbot Coman's greed overcomes his mistrust, and he accept the Norsewoman's offer. But politics threaten their uneasy cooperation. The abbot and the local king's quarrelsome history erupts once more, and neither hesitates to try to secure the advantage over the other. Unlikely alliances and strange betrayals surface at every turn!Will this vicious competition entangle Captain Mariel and her crew, threaten a budding romance, and destroy her only hope of saving her family's fortunes?

352 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2021

About the author

Retired from teaching after more than twenty-five years, I am delighted to have more time for other pursuits.

My debut novel, Homegoing, was recently released by Pink Narcissus Press. A second novel, The Last Abbot of Linn Duachaill, co-authored with Jess Barry, was published by S&H Publishing.

Current projects include the next book in the Tall Ships of Saradena series (after Homegoing), a sequel to The Last Abbot of Linn Duachaill, and a set of connected romance novels.

At True Crime Medieval, Anne Brannen and I cover criminal mayhem from the Middle Ages. Laurie Dietrich provides the transcripts. It turns out people stole, poisoned, ambushed, cheated, manipulated, massacred, and murdered every bit as much during the Middle Ages as now. Which can be depressing or encouraging, depending.

Reviews

[Naomi]

not kindle....dont own kindle......like paper

[Cathy A. Corn]

Wonderful sail into the Middle Ages as Norsemen needing timber seek to trade with Irish monks. These are not Vikings who pillage and rape, yet conflict surrounds this story of an Abbot who seeks to glorify himself above God. Story is powerful, engages the reader, and the love story between the gentle Evgreen, who works for the brothers, and the Norseman Ivor, who comes to build boats, enhances the action. This story brings history alive in a fascinating way.