From Booklist ...
"King Arthur’s maimed and embittered counselor, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, turns in another edgy performance in the second installment of this superb Arthurian-inspired mystery series. After Arthur and Malgwyn are called to the abbey of Glastonbury to settle a trumped-up religious controversy, they are sidetracked by the particularly violent murder of Brother Elafius, an elderly resident monk. The ever-imaginative Hays shakes things up by introducing another celebrated historical character into the cleverly plotted mix. By happenstance, the self-promoting Patricius (St. Patrick) is also visiting the abbey, presumably on a mission to stamp out the heresy of Pelagius. When Patrick himself is killed, it is up to Malgwyn to unravel an intricate web of religious, economic, and political deceit. This heady concoction of suspense and legend will appeal to a broad cross-section of historical-fiction and whodunit fans."
— Margaret Flanagan
From Publishers Weekly
 The Divine Sacrifice Tony Hays. Forge, $24.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-7653-1946-3
Hays's brilliant second mystery set in fifth-century Britain delivers on the promise of its predecessor, The Killing Way (2009). Much of the novel's strength derives from its complex lead, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a soldier who lost a limb in combat and is now a trusted counselor to Arthur, “the High King of all Britannia.” When a monk, Brother Elafius, dies in mysterious circumstances, the abbot calls for Malgwyn, who has previously displayed a talent for detection, to investigate. Malgwyn can't immediately identify the cause of death, but eventually finds evidence that Elafius's neck was broken. A theological struggle centered on the Pelagian heresy (i.e., that man can achieve eternal life through good works alone) as well as threats to Arthur's rule cloud the inquiry. Hays does a superb job of making the legendary king a convincing historical figure. Already, this series rivals the work of such proven masters of the subgenre as Steven Saylor and Laura Joh Rowland. (Apr.)
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