Customer Reviews

Master of Souls: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (Sister Fidelma Mysteries)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tremayne is actually Peter Berresford Ellis, Celtic scholar, and this is his 16th Sister Fidelma mystery.

It is 668 AD, and Fidelma and her husband Eadulf must travel to the far west of Ireland to help solve the murder of Abbess Faife and the kidnapping of six novices. The political situation could be very unstable, as peace has recently been reached with the Ui Fidgente, the warlords of the area. Fidelma's skills as an investigator, her rank as a dalaigh, a sort of ancient legal advocate, and her knowledge as a scholar will be needed desperately.

Once they arrive at Fhearta Abbey, they discover that the scholar Cinaed has been killed--struck down in the chapel.

Was Cinaed killed for his views on marriage among the religious? His views on the trinity? Or was it something he had discovered and written about recently--all his writings are burned shortly after they arrive. Jealousy may be the cause (his wife and mistress hate each other); and other scholars resent his standing and influence, while deploring his views.

A shipwreck on the coast also figures into the story, as does gold hidden in the ruins of a rebel tower, a sly and duplicitous local warlord, and the "ghost" of a dead rebel, Uaman, who seems to be leading a nasty band of warriors. Fidelma is able to unravel the many strands of this mystery and show how all these are related, and discover who really is the "ghost" and responsible for the many deaths.

Tremayne is able to create seventh century religious life in a Celtic abbey with careful precision and lifelike characters.

Armchair Interviews says: You will truly be swept away into the past.

The Ui Fidgente and the Eoghanacht of Cashel have been at war for centuries until the battle at Cnoc Aine when the Ui Fidgente leader was killed. He was replaced by Donennach who pledged fealty to the King of Muman because he wanted peace for his people. In the territory of the Ui Fidgente, a member of the abbey Ard Fhearta was bludgeoned; at almost the same time, six religious from the abbey along with Abbess Faife are making a pilgrimage when they meet a battered sick man.


He tells them that he was the victim of wreckers who deliberately destroyed his ship on the rocks during a storm and killed his men and stole his cargo. They give him the clothes of a religious to wear and while he is changing, brigands kill the abbess and takes the religious hostage. Ui Fidgente warlord Conri asks Sister Fidelma to help figure out the mystery while her brother orders her to do so in order to cement relations with their former enemies. Fidelma is accompanied by Brother Eodulf, who wanted to stay at Cashel with their son and get ready for their binding wedding but knows that he must help her in her inquiries. When they come close to getting some answers, Sister Fidelma's life is in jeopardy.

Peter Tremayne writes some of the best historical mysteries due in part to his heroine, a woman living in an enlightened country when the rest of Europe is going through the dark ages. Her abilities as a dalaigh, an officer of the law courts, and her role as the sister of a king makes her a very powerful woman. The mystery is impossible to figure out as is the link between the death of the Venerable Cinaed and the disappearance of the six religious. Even the heroine claims this is the hardest case she ever worked on. MASTER OF SOULS is another brilliant Sister Fidelma who done it.

Harriet Klausner

If you're already a Sister Fidelma fan, I only need to tell you that this is another good one.

If the good sister-lawyer-noblewoman is new to you, ask yourself this: Could you be tempted by a superbly written medieval mystery that painlessly lays out the advanced culture of the Ireland of the 7th century while presenting a magnificent page-turner?

I have to admit that I love fiction written by genuine historical experts who enjoy making their period come alive by fictionalizing it. The Sister Fidelma books are a great example of that.

The most recent volume is a treasure.

As usual, Peter Tremayne pulls you into the far past and the gripping world of Sister Fidelma for another fast paced mystery. I love his work.

"Master of Souls" is a complex mystery of multiple murders, tribal conflicts, piracy, and the human capacity for inhumanity. Peter Tremayne brings his villains to life and creates colorful characters across the Irish countryside that both aid and hinder the progress of Sister Fidelma's efforts to solve the mystery and bring the guilty to justice. In her role as a dálaigh (or advocate of the law courts), she remains steadfast to the laws of the ancient Irish legal system, but is sensitive to the ways of religious communities and her faith.

As usual, Tremayne's scholarship shines through as a solid foundation for his intricate mystery set in ancient Ireland. At first, I grouched about the inclusion of so many phrases in Latin and Gaelic (always translated for the reader), but I soon came to realize that the phrases provided, in and of themselves, an underlying mystery that allowed the reader to unravel insights into the religious and political conflicts of 7th century Ireland, assuming that religious conflicts are anything but political.

Sister Fidelma and her Saxon companion Brother Eadulf also provided a revealing insight into personal relationships within religious communities in early Irish culture that would be eradicated after the invasion of ideologies from the Roman Church.

"Master of Souls is a good read. It provides treasures for all kinds of readers--those only interested in a good story line, unforgettable characters, political intrigue, as well as those readers who also enjoy the precious gems provided by Tremayne's depth and detail.

I have already placed my order with Amazon and eagerly await Tremayne's latest Sister Fidelma armchair adventure "Dancing with Demons" (paperback to be released soon).
Dancing with Demons: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (Mysteries of Ancient Ireland featuring Sister Fidelma of Cashel)

I have read all the books in this series, and this one was not a disappointment. The author's knowledge of the time period supports and enhances his ability to create a believable mystery for Sister Fidelma to solve. I recommend them to anyone who likes mysteries, especially the historial genre.

Two years ago, I was introduced to Peter Tremayne and his heroine, Sister Fidelma. Fortunately there were quite a number of books in this series for me to read. Master of Souls came out just as I finished my last Sister Fidelma book. I'm sad to say, that now I'll have to wait along with everyone else for Sister Fidelma's next adventure. To Mr. Tremayne: Please Hurry!

I don't understand why most of the reviews of this book have been positive. I found it boring and couldn't finish it. The writing is lazy and sloppy and shows all the signs of an author who is cranking them out or rushing to meet a deadline. The conversations are dull, lacking in wit and imagination. The characters are totally unappealing. I bought the book thinking that it would have a nice atmosphere -- an aura of mystery and ancient Ireland. But the author is writing too fast and too carelessly to stir up any atmosphere. This book is a waste of time and money.

Master of Souls gives us more insight into the mores and customs of ancient Ireland, as well as an interesting mystery to unravel.

This Sister Fidelma of Cashel mystery more than meets the high standards of previous tales within the series. Well researched and interesting, the twists and turns of the clash of clan leaders and faiths in ancient times captures the imagination. As a reader I would wish for more personal familiarity with Gallic to truly appreciate every aspect of the story.