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The Chalice of Blood (Sister Fidelma #21)
Ireland AD 670. When an eminent scholar is found murdered in his cell in the abbey of Lios Mór, fear spreads among his brethren; his door was secured from the inside, with no other means of exit. How did the murderer escape? And what was the content of the manuscripts apparently stolen from the scholar's room? Abbot Iarnla insists on sending for Sister Fidelma and her comp...more
Published
(first published January 1st 2011)
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Twenty-first in the Sister Fidelma medieval mystery series revolving around a nun who is a lawyer and the husband who assists her in their detecting.
My Take
The primary theme here is religious intolerance, so antithetical to what Jesus taught. The negative need to destroy anyone who believes opposite your own beliefs. To burn any books which do not conform to your thoughts.
Tremayne makes an excellent point in what he relates about Celsus, the book that is causing such a hurrah in the abbey as...more
My Take
The primary theme here is religious intolerance, so antithetical to what Jesus taught. The negative need to destroy anyone who believes opposite your own beliefs. To burn any books which do not conform to your thoughts.
Tremayne makes an excellent point in what he relates about Celsus, the book that is causing such a hurrah in the abbey as...more
Another good book in a series I think I've read all of. In this one Sister Fidelma decides she doesn't really want to be a sister any more, rather just focus on the law. There is also some troubles between her and her husband Brother Eadulf, which started in the last book #20 and isn't yet resolved by the end of this one. But Fidelma's brother the Kind of Cashel has need of their skills and brings them back together (Eadulf's been living in a religious community at the Abbey of Ruan) most of the...more
Story is set in 670 AD in Ireland. This is book 21 in the Sister Fidelma series. I plan to add the earlier books to my to read list. I enjoy this genre of historical set mysteries. If "learning" about life in another time and place doesn't interest you then a book like this is not for you. This is a complex story with many twists and complex characters. Tremayne goes a little far for my taste at times as he has the characters speaking in Latin (not my strong suit despite 2 years of study) or in...more
This is another solid entry in the Sister Fidelma series. I truly do enjoy this series, and each book is always a page-turner with many murders and various suspects and some real red herrings thrown in to confuse the issue. So even though these books are solidly historical, they are wonderful "who-dunits" too. For those who don't know Fidelma, be prepared for a supremely intelligent and strong woman who does not suffer fools gladly. Her husband Eadulf is also a wonderful character who is very re...more
There is something about Sister Fidelma that I really don't like - she's arrogant. She uses her position as a dalaigh of the second rank the way someone would use their 2:1 as a cudgel to batter down all those lower seconds (intellectual vermin!). If that doen't work then she brings out the big guns... being sister to the king, Colgu. Her poor, long-suffering husband Eadulf gets walked on, dismissed, generally put down like a dog with a severe case of worms.
But hang on! What's this? They've spl...more
But hang on! What's this? They've spl...more
One of the better ones in the Sister Fidelma series. Berresford Ellis writing as Tremayne about the early Irish church, my favorite part of
Ireland (Munster) in the 600's - and his intriguing mystery - are to be enjoyed on many levels. It was not a pretty time and Tremayne does not
romanticise it. Fidelma is not always a likeable character here. However, I admire her. She engages superstition, fanaticism, mysoginy, cruelty, ignorance and fear with the weapons of truth, information and the Irish la...more
Ireland (Munster) in the 600's - and his intriguing mystery - are to be enjoyed on many levels. It was not a pretty time and Tremayne does not
romanticise it. Fidelma is not always a likeable character here. However, I admire her. She engages superstition, fanaticism, mysoginy, cruelty, ignorance and fear with the weapons of truth, information and the Irish la...more
view all 5 comments
c2011. FWFTB: AD670, scholar, abbey, manuscripts, locked. So, I couldn't really get into the very first book in the series so thought I would dive into a later episode. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and there are no less than 3 murders to solve. I also received an unanticipated education in Latin and Erse (? Okay not too sure what ancient Irish is called.)which was, I felt, seamlessly integrated into the story. Recommended for the normal crew.FCN: Sister Fidelma, Brother Eadulf, Abbot Iarnla.
I find Fidelma's character very hard to cope with. She always seems condescending and arrogant and I find this unbelievable for someone of her rank. There were also too many references to various books of the time with characters spouting quotes to prove their knowledge. The basic plot was good as were the secondary characters.
I'm a little delinquent in writing my review for this one- but in my opinion, "meh". It was okay. One characteristic that really got on my nerves was the author's constant habit of giving the reader the Gaelic phrase, then repeating what it was in English and describing it. Once or twice, this is perfectly fine. Seven times on one page gets annoying. I've turned the book into the library, or I'd give examples- but it almost seemed like that was serving as a filler to add more words. I've read an...more
This is the most recently U.S. published Sister Fidelma mystery. A scholar was murdered for a Dan Brown type of shocking non-discovery concerning Christianity. Further death, destruction and mayhem ensue due to intolerance. What is significant about these events is that this behavior wouldn't even have been thinkable in Ireland not too long beforehand. Fidelma's Ireland is changing bit by bit. It's expected, but nevertheless a sad development.
Interesting series about midieval Irish lawyer Fidelma Cashel. Sometimes the author makes this time period in Ireland sound like paradise without electricity, but that's OK. This installment deals with religious intolerance in the sort-of-new-to-Ireland Christian faith.
Wow, what an interesting version of a murder mystery! Written in the times of the early church in Ireland, great background and historical information about that time. I will definitely go find some of the earlier books about mystery sleuth Sister Fidelma.
I really liked it. Mysteries set in ancient times really rely on wit and deduction and this one dos a great job. characters are pretty well developed, even if you haven't read previous books in the series (which I haven't as yet).
Absolutely could not keep my interest, I kept realizing I was simply turning pages and it wasn't worth the effort. Not my cup of tea.
This is part of a series set in 7th century Ireland. The story line offers a new perspective on life at that time.
Wow. This is 21? There's a lot of repetition of the relationships but Sr. Fidelma is still a good read
The Sister Fidelma series is always enjoyable (and this is no. 26).
The usual mixture of celtic political intrigue, religion, murder, and unpronounceable words. Well written and historically informative.
The usual mixture of celtic political intrigue, religion, murder, and unpronounceable words. Well written and historically informative.
Maybe a little less, as the plot was more convoluted than some, but still and enjoyable read in a great series.
Lovelly. Although fidelma can be annoying
This novel has most of the strengths and weaknesses of the others in the series. Strengths: fairly interesting characters, lots of believable historical background, a fairly compelling murder mystery. Weaknesses: pedantic and repetitive narrative style.
Not sure if it convinced me to read more in that series - likable characters but I wish I would be able to pronounce all the gaelic words properly.
This is a very interesting mystery but, as a historical novel, I found it had a little too much detail to be consistently enjoyable.
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Another great Sister Fidelma mystery set in ancient Ireland. Tricky, secretive characters, good plot - one of the brothers of an abbey was murdered, his research regarding Christian beliefs are missing, the door was locked from the inside. The story gives clues, but hard to put them together until the very end. Great reading.
library book
As always, I enjoyed this Sister Fidelma mystery. The biggest weakness was the unraveling relationship between Fidelma and Aedulf; I found myself wanting to shake her as she settled into intense stubbornness.
Another enjoyable read in the series; rich in detail, history and ancient law.
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Peter Berresford Ellis (born 10 March 1943) is a historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 90 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as an authority on Celtic history and culture. Under Peter Tremayne,...more
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