Act of Mercy: A Celtic Mystery (Mysteries of Ancient Ireland featuring Sister Fidelma of Cashel) (Hardcover)

by Peter Tremayne (Author) "Colla, the tavernkeeper, tugged on the leather reins to halt the two sturdy donkeys which had been patiently hauling his overladen cart along the track..." (more)
Key Phrases: pilgrim ship, steering oar, stern deck, Sister Muirgel, Brother Tola, Toca Nia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Tremayne provides another authentically detailed installment in his exquisitely crafted Sister Fidelma series. As Sister Fidelma, religieuse and prominent advocate of the Brehon Courts in seventh-century Ireland, travels by sea to the Shrine of Saint James on the Iberian Peninsula, a series of unfortunate accidents begin to plague her fellow pilgrims. When it becomes apparent that a distorted brand of obsessive love is the primary motive for the murders, Fidelma must exercise her keen powers of observation to expose a homicidal maniac among a seemingly pious group of clerics. Firmly entrenched in the astonishingly fertile historical milieu of the early Middle Ages, this decidedly literate and intelligent whodunit will appeal to the same school of demanding fans of period mysteries that relish the novels of Ellis Peters. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
In the late autumn of 666 A.D., Fidelma of Cashel - an advocate of the Brehon Courts, sister to the King of Cashel, and religieuse of the Celtic Church is at a crossroads. Needing to reflect upon her commitment to the religious life and her relationship to the Saxon monk Eadulf, she leaves Eadulf behind and joins a small band sailing from Ireland on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James in modern-day Spain. Her first surprise on-board is the appearance of Cian, her first love, a man who had deserted her ten years ago, and who stirs up memories she'd rather forget.

As if this wasn't complication enough, on the first night out the ship is tossed by a turbulent sea and a pilgrim disappears, apparently washed overboard. But the appearance of a blood-stained robe raises the possibility of murder and death continues to dog the tiny band of pilgrims trapped within the close confines of the ship. Battling against the antagonism of her fellow pilgrims, Fidelma is determined to solve this most perplexing of puzzles before the ship reaches the shrine and the killer, if there is one, disappears forever.


See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur; 1st edition (November 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312268645
• ISBN-13: 978-0312268640
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,485 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sister Fidelma is Tops, November 12, 2001

By A Customer

This series has always been one of the best of its genre, and, unlike other similar series, it shows no sign whatsoever of losing steam as more books are written. In fact, this was one of the best Fidelma mysteries. As always, Fidelma is positively Holmesian in her deductive abilities, and she is a much more multi-faceted character than the illustrious Mr. H. Also, Tremayne always creates memorable characters, both the foils and the criminals, and, for the most part(certainly here), cracking good mysteries. Also, there was a nice teaser at the end that leaves the reader definitely anticipating the next entry in the series. (...). Anyway, a great read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical mystery, October 17, 2001

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sister Fidelma of Cashmal, daughter and sister to kings, takes a pilgrimage to Iberia to visit the Shrine of St. James. She needs a respite from her royal sibling and from the Saxon monk Eadulf. She knows she has found her life's calling as a religieure, but hopes this odyssey will help her sort some mixed feelings especially her feelings about Eadulf.

Alas, poor Fidelma received no respite on her trek as her luck deserts her from the start when she meets first love Cian, who unceremoniously dumped her years ago. Soon two women are killed and attempts on Fidelma's life occur. With the ship's captain blessing, Fidelma begins investigating the homicides.

In the eighth installment of the Sister Fidelma historical mysteries, readers obtain a glimpse at the heart and soul of the heroine that paints a vivid picture of life in eight-century Ireland. The who-done-it is a marvelous piece of misdirection, as the villain remains hidden until the end. When revealed, the audience will feel pity towards the culprit. ACT OF MERCY is a fantastic Dark Ages who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Sister Fidelma Sets Sail, October 8, 2004

By	Sires (It's a Toss Up Right Now) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I freely admit that Peter Tremayne is not a good writer. At his worst he sounds like he is across the room shouting the narrative at you. His detective, Sister Fidelma comes across like a mixture of Perry Mason, Kung Fu and Sherlock Holmes, with poor old Brother Ealdwolf her happy bumbling Watson. However there are simply not enough books about Dark Age (he would dispute the term) Irish judge magistrates in a religious order.

In this book where we have Sister Fidelma leaving Ealdwolf behind as she ponders her dedication to law and religion, she sets sail with a group of contentious and mismatched pilgrims. And, lo and behold, she finds one of the pilgrims to be a blast from her own past. And he hasn't changed much at all. Then a woman disappears and is presumed lost overboard and Fidelma begins to investigate that and other strange happenings on a small boat.

Add Saxon slavers (Wo-DEN, Wo-DEN), heavy weather at sea and a dreadful ship wreck resulting in a rescue that further complicates the case.

You can tell that Tremayne is really trying to give Sister Fidelma more depth and character and because he is doing something different I'm inclined to give him an A for Effort.