Customer Reviews

The Subtle Serpent

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This is the fourth Sister Fidelma book I have read, and have yet to be disappointed! Though I am not a particularly big mystery fan, I am a fan of Celtic/Irish myth and legend. As Peter Tremayne, under his real name (maybe) of Peter Beresford Ellis, is a well-known authority on the ancient Celts, the stories carry an air of realism to the point that I feel I'm there when I read them, even to the extreme of feeling chilly when he describes the winters in Ireland of yore. As I live in south Florida, this is no mean feat!

Along with Ellis Peters in the Brother Cadfael series, Mr. Tremayne has a lock on the medieval sleuth genre. As with Ms. Peters, Mr. Tremayne adds just the right touch of reference to actual historical personages to give proper perspective, as well as to give them credibility. The twists of intrigue are historically accurate, as well as interesting and entertaining. And what the good sister can make of clues without the aid of a full 20th century forensics lab is asounding!

The characterizations are the work of a writer who truly understands the human condition. Sister Fidelma is not perfect, nor does she pretend to be. But she, and the other recurring characters, grow with the series. I cannot begin to describe the plot, as it takes so many twists and turns, but it unravels neatly, if you're of a mind to try to figure out who-dun-it before the good Sister does it for us.

As each book of the series builds on the previous ones, I would recommend that new readers begin with the first of the series, "Absolution by Murder". Each book is worthy of respect, though I must say that "The Subtle Serpent" is my favorite so far. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves mysteries, Irish history, both of the above, or just a good read!!

This was the fourth Sister Fidelma book I consumed as soon as I was able. I find the character and time fascinating. A long-time interest in Ireland, where my father's family was from, was ignited this summer by a trip to "Eireann". Sister Fidelma's adventures have kept the flame burning. I love the mention of places I'd seen. As a foreign language person, I appreciate the Latin and Irish thrown in to the dialog. The Subtle Serpent was an interesting blend of history and mystery. I like the characters developed in the book and Sister Fidelma's always insightful analysis! As a matter of fact, my interest in Sister Fidelma was so high, I read 3 more: TheSpider's Web, the Valley of Shadow and the Monk Vanished. Since some of them have not yet been published here in the US, I ordered them from Amazon.com.UK !

This fascinating historical mystery is set in Ireland in the year 666 AD. The author uses actual historical events as a backdrop for the story of Sister Fildelma, who is dalaigh, an advocate for the courts. In this capacity she is sent to investigate a murder at an abbey on the southwest coast of Ireland. During her investigation, several more murders are committed and Sister Fidelma becomes aware of local tensions and political machinations, as well as inappropriate behavior at the abbey.

This is a story that benefits from the excellent scholarship by the author who has thoroughly researched this historical setting. The time and place are vividly portrayed with lots of relevant and interesting details. The author is a capable writer with a talent for characterization and ability to build suspense. In addition, despite the fact that I have read none of the prior books in the series, I didn't feel lost by jumping in at the fourth book. However, I am intruiged enough to want to go back and start at the beginning!

I'm not a fan of modern murder mysteries because I can too easily translate it into paranoia, and stay awake at night worrying about my own safety. But the setting of the Sister Fidelma mysteries is far enough removed from my own reality to just be a great escape. I'm also interested in Irish history, but I'm not one to just sit down and read a history book. I was delighted to learn that in Sister Fidelma's time in Ireland women often were on an equal level with men in many ways, perhaps even as much as today.

This story is the second of the Sister Fidelma mysteries I have read. Another reviewer mentioned the preferred sequence to read them, but I have not done so. You can pick up one and still know as much as you need without having read any of the others.

The Subtle Serpent is very difficult to put down. Even with kids fighting in the next room or my eyes begging me to let them close at night, I found it difficult to not go on to the next page. Sister Fidelma is a bright, bold, brave, compassionate, and likeable young woman who is called to figure out why a headless corpse has been found in the well of the Abbey of the Salmon of the Three Wells. You meet some very interesting characters and some interwoven plots while Sister Fidelma goes about solving this murder.

Typically, I am not really a "mystery" fan at all, but several friends who know my fondness for all things Irish and historical persuaded me to read The Subtle Serpent, and I was quickly hooked! I have already ordered several more Sister Fidelma books, and no doubt will devour them when they arrive as well.

S Fidelma is quite something - can hardly wait to follow her other adventures. The detail included in Tremayne's writing greatly appealed to me as well, and I could just place myself back in one or more settings in that time in ancient Ireland - I heartily recommend the series.

I read this 300-page book in one day, which says something about Peter Tremayne's ability to keep the story moving with plenty of twists and turns. Tremayne artfully evokes the landscape and social setting of 7th century Ireland, and is adept at creating visual imagery to take us back to that world.

His heroine, Sister Fidelma, is the proud forerunner of today's special prosecutor, assigned to investigate evil deeds throughout the Emerald Isle. In this case, she ponders the grisly beheadings of two women at a monastery on the Southwest Coast, a mystery which soon becomes entwined with political intrigue and a threat to the kingdom.

Sister Fidelma is very much a modern woman in an ancient setting, and this will be appealing or offputting according to the reader's predilections. If the book has a fault, it is in Tremayne's gratuitously injecting his views on various theological controversies into a murder mystery. In the same context, others may question the historical accuracy of some of his claims.

These caveats nothwithstanding, the book is a page-turner that will not go half-read. Stodgy conservatives such as myself might be irked by this or that historical point, but we will nonetheless have had ourselves a good read.

After reading several Sister Fidelma mysteries, I am still impressed by the protagonist's superhuman character qualities. Despite the ancient setting of the stories, she can teach our present society a few things.
The suspense is of course again unrelenting.

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.

In this the fourth book in a must read series of Irish mysteries, Sister Fidelma is called to investigate a murder at a remote abbey. But when she arrives there that is not the only mystery that awaits her. There is also the strange disappearance of a ship and all its crew.

To put it succinctly: this is a solid, well-written, nicely plotted mystery set in seventh century Ireland, where women had greater rights than they probably have today. Historically accurate (within reason for a mystery novel), this is about as good as the genre gets.

tremaynes knowledge of 7th century Ireland is fantastic.I have to admit being a historical dimwit,this book really opened my eyes!!!ive read all of his books starring fidelma, i wish he'd write more...and when will Eadulf and Fidelma finally get it together!!!will he ever make a movie??????