Customer Reviews

The Monk Who Vanished (Mystery of Ancient Ireland)

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The author Peter Tremayne obviously has a great knowledge of Ireland in the 7th century and also on the Irish Law of the period. His Sister Fidelma book are attracting what can only be described as a cult following, but they are of interest to anyone who likes historical novels or mysteries. This series of books are set in Ireland in the 7th century, a time when there was total equality for women. The lead character is the beguiling Sister Fidelma. She is a brilliant scholar, a leading authority on Irish law and the sister of a king. This is also a period in history when celibacy was not yet a part of religious life.

AD 666, an old monk and a set of relics have disappeared during the night from the Abbey of Imleach. Obviously the monk who has gone missing is of great concern to the Abbey, but the missing relics are of much greater concern. The relics are the political symbol of the entire kingdom and their disappearance threatens to undermine the peace and stability of the land.

While on a visit to the Abbey, Sister Fidelma is asked to investigate the matter and with the help of her friend and companion Brother Eadulf, Fidelma begins slowly but surely to unravel the mystery, but there are people who will stop at nothing, including murder to achieve their way.

I have read all of Peter Tremayne's books of fiction. I have found some very interesting actual factual written gems in each book.

His books are always fun and interesting. The charictors are realistic. You hate the ones u should and want the good guys to win.

The Monk Who Vanished is the seventh novel in the Sister Fidelma series. Sister Fidelma of Cashel, a town in Ireland, lived in the seventh century A.D. Although most of Europe was suffering the Dark Ages, Ireland was a progressive land where gender discrimination was rare. In Ireland any citizen could aspire to any profession. Sister is a very talented and accomplished woman. Fidlema has a graduate education where she earned the degree of anruth, similar to a masters degree today. Fidelma works as a dalaigh, an advocate in the courts. As an advocate she investigates problems and crimes and advises both church and civil authorities. A dalaigh may prosecute, defend, or even serve as judge in a criminal proceeding.

This is a tale of political intreague. The story begins with the disappearance of a monk, Brother Mochta, and the holy relics from the Abbey at Imleach. Shortly after the priceless holy relics, symbols of the power of the King, disappear, King Colgu of Cashel and Prince Donennach of the Ui Fedgente are shot in an assassination attempt.
The Ui Fedgente, a longtime enemy of Cashel, accuse Colgu of plotting the assassination, which Colgu denies. A hearing is ordered and Sister Fidlema agrees to investigate.

The case is very complex, the assailants were quickly killed and there were no witnesses to the theft of the holy relics. Fidelma faces further confusion as various organizations and people attempt to influence her. Have the Ui Fedgente plotted this themselves to give them and advantage over Cashel? Did someone in Fidlema's own kingdom devise a plot to unseat their own king? Is there some outside agency or force behind this?

Fidlema conducts the investigation with her usual energy and wit but encounters numerous barriers that interfere with her progress. Many of the people she interviews attempt to control her efforts. Some people lie to Sister, while others avoid her or simply do not answer her questions. Sister is led on false trails. Fidlema becomes suspicious that she is up against an organized resistence.

This is a rousing tale full of action and intrigue. The characters appear to be real people full of doubts, agendas, fears, and flaws. This is a good story that kept me interested. I recommend this book.

Wretched, awful prose, overuse of Latin terminology (trying to impress the readers?), and I plowed halfway through until finally I could not stand one more "pursed lips" or "grimaced violently" or other overuse of lame vocabulary. I have the next book in the series and I am donating it to charity, although perhaps the greater charity would be to throw it away so no one else has to suffer through this...