Winter, 670 AD. King Colgu has invited the leading nobles and chieftains of his kingdom to a feast day. Fidelma and her companion Eadulf are finally home for an extended stay, and have promised their son, Alchu, that they’ll be able to spend some time together after months of being on the road, investigating crimes. Fidelma and Eadulf are enjoying the feast when it is interrupted by the entrance of a religieux, who claims he has an important message for the King. He approaches the throne and shouts ‘Remember Liamuin!’ and then stabs King Colgu. The assassin is slain, but does enough damage to take out Colgu’s bodyguard, and to put the king himself on the verge of death.

As King Colgu lies in recovery, Fidelma, Eadulf, and bodyguard Gorman are tasked with discovering who is behind the assassination attempt, and who Liamuin is. They must journey into the territory of their arch-enemies, the Ui Fidgente, to uncover the secrets in the Abbey of Mungairit, and then venture into the threatening mountain territory ruled by a godless tyrant. Danger and violence are their constant companions until the final devastating revelation.

Atonement of Blood is a mystery of Ancient Ireland from Peter Tremayne.