The Garden of MartyrsA Catholic parish is torn apart when two of its members are accused of murder The year 1806 is not a good time to be Catholic in Boston. When a man is brutally killed on the Boston Post Road, two unsuspecting Irishmen are charged with the crime. For five months they rot in prison, denied a lawyer until just two days before the hearing. It is a mockery of justice—a one-day trial that results in a unanimous verdict: The Irishmen will be hanged, dissected, and dismembered. Comforting them falls to Father Cheverus, a French émigré struggling to adapt to life in the New World. It is his duty to help the condemned find peace, but any overture he makes to the prisoners will be met with an anti-Catholic backlash that could destroy his fledgling congregation. As he walks a fraught path, the priest must decide: Is his obligation to his flock, or to God? |
What people are saying - Write a review
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified
THE GARDEN OF MARTYRS
User Review - KirkusA historical thriller about two real-life Irish Catholics who were arrested for a brutal murder in early 19th-century Boston.The great flood of Irish immigration has barely begun in 1805, but New ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - CarolynSchroeder - LibraryThingThis is an outstanding novel about a not often written about time in the growth of the United States. It is a study in prejudice, persecution and hatred against foreigners immigrating to the Boston ... Read full review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
appeared asked attorney began believe Blake bloody body Boston breath brother called carried Catholic Cheverus child Church close confession couldn’t cross crowd Daley dark death didn’t Dominic don’t eyes face Father Matignon fear feel fellow felt finally Finola give glanced guards Halligan hand happened hard he’d head hear heard heart held holding hope horse Irish James Judge knew leave letter light lived looked mean mind morning mother mouth murder never night nodded offered once passed Perhaps pray priest prisoners recalled replied returned road Rose seemed seen shoulder side smell smile someone soul standing stood street Sullivan talk tell Thank thing thought told took town trial tried trying turned voice waiting walked wanted woman wondered write young