The Subtle Serpent: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (Sister Fidelma Mysteries) (Paperback)

by Peter Tremayne (Author) "The gong was struck twelve times, its vibration rousing Sister Bronach from her contemplation..." (more)
Key Phrases: aspen wand, young religieuse, gold calf, Abbess Draigen, Sister Brónach, Brother Febal (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Seventh century Ireland provides the background in Peter Tremayne's newest murder mystery which begins gruesomely as two nuns pull a decapitated corpse from their drinking well. Sister Fidelma is called upon to determine who the body is and how she met her untimely end. Fidelma, as an advocate of the courts, is the appropriate person to collect evidence and determine if there is a case to be answered. Although Tremayne makes clear in his introduction that women under Irish law in the period aspired to and performed most professions on a similar footing with men, he does not neglect the opportunity to place Fidelma in situations where both her youth and gender raise the question of her suitability for her official capacity. Still, her enjoyment in convincing her doubters of her abilities and her ultimate success indicate, as Tremayne evidently intends, that this particular period, at least as Ireland as concerned, should not be characterized as a dark one.

En route to the scene of the crime that opens the story, Sister Fidelma encounters a second curiosity, a ship foundering in the waves without a person on board. What Fidelma does discover are hints that an old and trusted friend was aboard and seems to have met the same mysterious fate as the rest of the crew and cargo, whatever that might have been. The novel proceeds as Fidelma sets out to determine the cause of each of her mysteries, and what if any is the connection between them. Tremayne is a careful and engaging storyteller; his characters are thoughtfully drawn, and he uses the central mystery for them to discuss and reflect upon the differences between the native Irish church and that of Rome (which is becoming the more powerful--and whose ultimate success will keep women like Fidelma out of the halls of power which she has confidently and capably strode.)

The ecclesiastical period setting may remind readers of the work of Ellis Peters, but the 7th century is distinct from the 12th and Ireland distinct from England. Tremayne relishes those differences, creating a tale that has much to enlighten and intrigue his readers and make them anxious for the next time Sister Fidelma is called to perform her duties. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Seventh-century sleuth Sister Fidelma employs her considerable powers of reasoning and deduction to solve another perplexing homicide steeped in avarice and intrigue. When the decapitated body of a young woman is found in the well of the Abbey of the Salmon of the Three Wells, Sister Fidelma travels to western Ireland in her capacity as an advocate of the Brehon law courts. En route to the Irish kingdom of Muman, she encounters a drifting merchant ship whose crew and cargo have evidently disappeared. Tying these seemingly unrelated incidents together, Sister Fidelma unravels a tangled mystery rooted in the legend and lore of ancient Ireland. A treat for history buffs who devoured Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization and historical mystery fans who appreciate strong and highly intelligent female protagonists, such as Sharan Newman's Catherine LeVendeur and Kathy Lynn Emerson's Lady Susanna Appleton. Margaret Flanagan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451195582
• ISBN-13: 978-0451195586
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #368,441 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lose yourself in the 7th century for a few hours. . ., December 29, 2000

By	Joe Jacco (Sarasota, FL USA) - See all my reviews

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!!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a captivating read, January 6, 2000

By	B. Kelly "profesora abuela" (Liberty, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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 !

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful and entertaining historical mystery! , January 10, 2007

By	Snowbrocade (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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!