Scales of retribution

 by Cora Harrison. When the fiercely independent kingdoms of western Ireland are threatened by the earl of Kildare, an agent of Henry VIII, King Turlough of the Burren rounds up a group of friends unwilling to accept English rule. Leaving his wife, Brehon Mara, to preside over his kingdom is not normally a risky proposition, given the fact that she is the only female Brehon (judge and investigating magistrate) in Ireland. Mara is, however, currently heavy with child. Experiencing premature labor, she summons Malachy the physician, but he is nowhere to be found. After giving birth to a healthy son, Mara learns that Malachy has been poisoned, and suspects abound. Determined to bring the culprit to justice, Mara expands her investigation, endangering the life of her infant son in the process. Harrison, like Peter Tremayne in his Sister Fidelma series, provides a superior brand of historical mystery that underscores the uniquely independent position of women in medieval and early Renaissance Ireland. --Booklist (Check catalog)