Customer Reviews

The Council of the Cursed: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (Sister Fidelma Mysteries)

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For those of you who are trying to find a different historical series to fall in love with since the Brother Cadfael series, take a look at Peter Tremayne. Tremayne is an historian and an expert on the era that he writes on. (670A.D.) and in Ancient Ireland, and his Sister Fidelma series is a winner. This is something like the 18 book in the series, so if you haven't read any of these books yet, start at number one (Absolution by Murder), and begin a wonderful journey to an enchanted time. In this book Sister Fidelma and her husband Brother Eadulf are in Burgundy where there is a Catholic Church conference. Strange things are happening in the city of Autun. People are dying and women and children are going missing. Fidelma and Eadulf are tasked with getting to the bottom of it. These books are truly wonderful, and I cannot say that enough. I am also truly fortunate because I live in Canada. I get these books a full year earlier than their American release date.

In 670 AD, Bishop Leodegar of Autun calls for a council to discuss different positions taken by the various Christian churches. For instance his community enforces a celibacy direction, which has led to outraged monks having to send their upset wives and children to reside at Domus Femini under the control of vicious martinet Abbess Autofleda. The Celtic Church sends Fidelma of Cashel and her husband Brother Eadulf to France as their representatives.

The night that the Celtic delegation arrives, someone bashes in the head of Hibernian Abbot Dabhoc; also with him are two unconscious clerics, who upon being revived insist they know nothing. Fidelma's instigative fame has crossed the Channel and she has the support of the papal delegation so an unhappy Leodegar agrees to this woman making inquiries. As she uncovers clues, Fidelma finds several possible suspects that run the gamut of the church as each had motive and opportunity but also believes something more powerful is the actual motive; while her host demands she finish yesterday; proclaiming women should not be delegates or sleuths.

With obvious timeliness in terms of the issue of celibacy and a woman's role in the church both wrapped inside a powerful complex whodunit, the COUNCIL OF THE CURSED is a terrific Dark Ages mystery. Fidelma is at her best as she rejects pressure brought by either a killer wanting to remain concealed or by her being a female. The story line is fast-paced as Peter Tremayne moves his champion from Ancient Ireland to France in a fabulous entry.

Harriet Klausner

Sister Fidelma has a loving husband who is said to be bright but just gets to follow her about & be put down for daring to open his mouth or think for himself; she is noble, but is always so gracious about not rubbing it in to any passing strangers, neighbours, or crime suspects more than half a dozen times a day; she is educated and has a highly successful career in which she can demonstrate her brilliance and status on an hourly basis; she has a child whom she obviously loves and spends a good half day with him every six months, and has ensured the staff that care for him are suitably grateful; she is religious and devotes as much of her spare time from her work as is possible to having philosophical doubts which mean she has to remove herself from her husband and son even more while she determines who she is and what her relationship with her faith and God should be. One rather gets the impression that she will send the Almighty a note when she does.

The mysteries are quite nice, the history is fun if a little emphatic that Ireland was a golden land, but the main character is a stereotype of outrageous dimensions. One wonders why Eadulf, who has left his homeland, family, language, form of Christianity, and his own career, puts up with her.

This novel is actually set in France in a period where where the Burgunds were under the control of the Franks. The mystery is set at a religious council. I enjoy historical novels and the background atmosphere. In this novel, we dip into Franks and Gauls and Bretons, Britains, Angles and Irish/Celt cultures, all with Roman influence.

The author has a clunky and loquacious style of writing that depends alienatingly much on dialogue and informational asides and not enough on just plain good writing that revolves around fully developed characters complete with thoughts and feelings, settings described evoking all of the senses, and a sequence of actions propeled by a strong plot line. He might do better writing scripts.

Also, the main character is unbelievable. Her outspokeness would be credible in a contemporary character, but not in one who lives in ancient times, when it would have been at least incredibly foolish and at most deadly. Her husband also is unbelievably deferential, given that his intellect is supposedly on par with hers.

If you're a fan of good writing, stay away from this author and this series.

I've read every book in this series and I highly recommend each and every one.

Once again another great Sister Fidelma mystery. Unfortunately, it ressembles "Our Lady of Darkeness" in several ways though the author twists and turns things around to keep the reader guessing. The setting of Autun, France was an added plus for someone who has visited the city and read about its history.

Fidelma and Eadulf find themselves in a foreign land with foreign customs that challenge their ability to solve what at first appears to be a case of murder caused by anger, but develops into something much more sinister. Danger stalks them as they interact with a collection of openly evil characters as well as others who may not be what them seem. Once again, Fidelma manages to find the solution, but not before she faces an attempt on her life.

Amazon delivered this book early, in perfect condition -- typical excellent service. Each book in this terrific series provides an opportunity to go back and re-read the entire series,and learn about Celtic culture. Its historically accurate fictional renditions of events such as Council of Iona provide wonderful perspective and insight.

If you follow the Fidelma series, this book is a must have, if you don't it's a good idea to start with the first one in the series, but it is a standalone book as well.