The mystery of murder and other fowl deeds is uncovered by archeologists in present Ireland. The tale of the Keening starts centuries ago, in 16th-century Ireland, when the murdered body of Sorcha the local physician and prophetess is discovered by her son on the morning after a lavish banquet at the Maguire castle. The common bond between past and present is the Tierney clã. For centuries the Tierney family has owned and managed a guest house on their property a short walking distance from Maguire Castle. Now, that legacy is threatened by an American investor who plans to build vacation homes in the area. Homes that will block Tierney's guest house views of Enniskillen Castle and Loch. The narrative jumps in time between the violence, the brutality, the oppression faced by the Irish in the past, and the present fears, threats, and dreams of Bridget Tierney's descendants centuries later. It is told with a richness of history, love, loss, lament, beauty, and justice that is found in this small piece of Irish land, its people, and their stories. I loved the Keening. I loved learning about a country that is so dear to me. I feel fortunate to have been given a glimpse of such a wealth of history. Feeling as if I can understand a bit better the bitterness behind the endless struggle, violence, and passions that Ireland has lived. All told through an enthralling tale with lovable characters, fierce women, brave warriors, evil men, and so much more.

(3.5)
This is a decent book and I used the audio book with it just to make sure I was able to pronounce everything the correct way!
There has been a guesthouse on the Tierney land in County Fermanagh for centuries. Now, the Tierney’s hotel is faced with the prospect of a development that will block the best view they have, that of Enniskillen castle. However, if there are important historical artifacts buried on the property the project can be stopped. Soon, archaeologists appear.
Mick has ancestors called Brigid and Shane Tierney. She ran the guesthouse way back in the 1500s. You get a good look at how things were back then at a lavish banquet at the castle. The wine and ale flow freely as the bard recites the stories of the ruling family, The Maguires. However, Sorcha the prophetess sees bad things ahead. The Tudors are determined to complete their brutal takeover of Ireland.
The morning after the banquet, Sorcha is found dead. Shane is accused of her murder. His lawyer conducts his defense on the hilltop that was used as the court in 1595.
In 2018, the dig begins on Mick’s land. Were there artifacts found? Yes but also a whole lot of prophecies and more. Oh, and not to mention that body…
This book was pretty good when it was in the past but the current was a little boring. I think you just wanted it to hurry up and get back to the past. Once the past and present caught up in a sense then it was a little more interesting for both time eras.
The narrator of the audio book was excellent and really helped to bring the story to life. Definitely recommend it.

This audiobook is a nice blend of history and mystery. Listeners will come away with knowledge of the some of the ways and traditions of Ireland before what is called the “Flight of the Earls”. At first there are chapters alternating between two time periods (late 1500’s and 2017) and then another is introduced years after the events of the 16th century. Reading along with the audiobook might be helpful to some readers, because there are lots of characters a.k.a suspects in the 16th century.

The voice actor’s performance is melodious and has what is/sounds like an Irish accent. The beginning of the chapters start with poems, prose, or quotes from historical books. The wonderful narration carries over into parts of the story, where characters both past and modern share renditions or amusing rhymes like a bard.
Definitely for those who love lots of details and drama in their novels.

Thanks to ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. My reviews and ratings are my own.

TW/CW: SA, murder off page, adultery

Set in two timelines around the same area this story is quite a slow burn but comes together beautifully at the end. Modern day the Tierney family run a hotel in Fermanagh, the other part of the story is set in 1500's and full of folklore and myth. Well crafted and wonderful descriptions of the scenery and locations. There is quite a bit of historical fact intertwined within the chapters which i loved, and brought the old part of the story alive. Up to date chapters included the large corporate who want to destroy the environment for financial gain so also very topical. Fabulous book and so well narrated. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

This story, on both timelines, was beautiful, engaging, and heartbreaking. I find that most people I speak to know about an Gorta Mór (the potato famine or the great hunger), The Troubles, and lesser, the Easter Uprising. But, few, if any, know that the English perpetrated numerous atrocities against the Irish for CENTURIES. Though this is a work of fiction, it touches on the atrocities across at least 500 years. It pulls in Irish folklore, real like figures such as Grace O’Malley (who I named my daughter after), gives a stark, if brief, account of what happened during the famine, and embraced the tension that still exists today in Northern Ireland. It also highlights the horrible things that have been done to women throughout history.

The mystery of Sorcha’s murder (and everything following) was intriguing, I could NOT figure out who the perpetrator was! I feel like the biggest missing piece was more background on the Brehon Laws and the change from a matriarchal to a patriarchal society thanks to the Catholic Church.

While I was born and lived most of my life in the US, I did live in Ireland for a couple years and, in my soul, it feels like home to me. This book ripped at my soul for what the incredible people of Ireland have endured over the centuries, but I know they will continue on as one of the strongest, kindest, most magical people.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. His beautiful voice brought me to Ireland and allowed me to immerse myself in the story for both timelines.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audiobook.

This was very interesting! I enjoyed the historical aspect, and the jumps between times weren't too confusing. Really enjoyed the narrator as well. Would definitely recommend giving this a try!

Interesting dial-timeline historically based mystery, incorporating relevant poems and literature and conjuring the spirit of 16th century Ireland.

I’m just not sure what this book is aiming for. Perhaps it was my expectations: I’m a fan of time-slip novels which, like this book, are set within two time periods. However, I was perhaps expecting something like a Barbara Erskine story where something happens in the earlier time that echoes through time and affects the modern time. But that just didn’t happen. The story was really rather slow and, despite being over 11 hours in length & containing a number of plot lines, it felt like not a huge amount of things actually happened, or not enough to keep my interest - normally with audiobooks in this genre I’m reluctant to stop listening as I am hooked through interesting characters and thrilling storylines. The characters in this book were, on the whole, well-formed, but there just wasn’t enough substance within the book for their stories to be fully told and intertwine.
Some great history within both the early time period and current time looking back to the troubles. Despite there being huge potential for gripping storylines with murder, attempted murder, incest and rape set within a time of war, it just seemed to fall flat and miss the mark, for me. Despite all these things happening it felt lacking in substance that would bound these experiences into a dramatic story that would captivate the listener.
The narrator was good although on occasion he did pause midway through sentences almost like waiting to turn the digital page to get to the next word. But this wasn’t very often and did not detract from the storytelling. I liked his accents and voicing got each character,
This book has so much potential and I’m sure others will enjoy it, but for me it just wasn’t as good as I hoped.

This was a joy to read.The narration was so pleasant to listen to and the story was interesting and made you feel like you were in Ireland long ago. I would definitely recommend this audio book.

I really enjoyed the narration of `The Keening', which is set in two time frames in Ireland. The story revolves around The Tierney Hotel, a family business for many, many years. They are under threat as an American investor is trying to change things significantly. They come up with a plan to delay the proposed development. I found parts of the story confusing and a bit slow, and I enjoyed the historical aspect more than the current day. Thank you to Anne Emery, Net Galley and RCW Press Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Keening: A Mystery of Gaelic Ireland by Anne Emery, Narrated by Sean David Power. Duration: 11 Hours, 17 Minutes.

A duel timelines historical mystery set in Ireland about one family, A mystery in the past that reveals in the present.
Mick Tierney’s family manage a Guest House in Northern Ireland for hundreds of years. They decided to study the artifacts of historical importance on their ground in 2018.
Brigid Tierney ran the inn in 1595. Her friend, a predictor, had been killed. They didn't find any clue who could be a killer. The priest, Brigid's husband who had been seen around, there could be some political reason or simply had a personal matter, no one knows.

This isn't just a mystery, there is a lot of information about Irish history, culture, customs, Fight of the Earls in the early 1600s, in the time that Tudors of England was determined to complete their conquest of Ireland.
It was moving and sad how the bond between people had been broken, and for what really! Also, I can't imagine a better way to read this book except listening to an amazing Irish accent.

Many Thanks to ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for the ARC, I have given my honest review.

3.5⭐️
🎧I had the audiobook version. I was drawn to it as I love Irish accents. The narrator I felt did a decent job.

Mick Tierney’s hotel is threatened with losing the beautiful views of the castle by proposed new development. The plan is to try and disrupt that proposal by looking for historic artefacts from the historical site associated with the hotel and their ancestors.

There are 2 time frames, modern day and the 15th century with their ancestors Brigid and her husband Shane and their children.

The writing style and language changed slightly to encompass terms used in the 15th century not a big change, enough to make it feel a bit stilted in places. The writing style is a bit waffly a lot of prose with little dialogue. The pace is too slow for me. I preferred the historical section ( which is the majority of the story) as each character had their own problems, I didn’t really engage with any of the characters, my favourite was Shane

It is a work of fiction but is firmly based in fact and appears well researched (going by the notes at the end (It blends various periods of Irish history well by using the different time frames. It includes wars, the famine,the troubles. The way it’s blended works quite well.

I wasn’t taken with the incorporation of poetry, although it was integral to one of the characters.
For me it’s an ok read, the best is when everything comes together at the end which raised my rating.

Mick Tierney’s family has run a hotel in County Fermanagh for hundreds of years. But now a proposed development will destroy the views of Enniskillen Castle, a large part of the hotel’s popularity. The only way to stop the development is the discovery of artefacts of historical importance on the disputed ground. Brigid Tierney ran the inn in the 16th century, and it’s her story that takes center stage, and it’s the events that occur in her time that will lead 21st century archaeologists to uncover artefacts and a bog body, hundreds of years old. Power’s Irish lilt goes down a treat, as my grandmother used to say, smooth and mellow