I've read four of the Sister Fidelma mysteries now. I don't read serial novels very much, and when i do I like to be able to read them out of order. I read this one after the first one because it was the "Christmas" offering in the series. No. 11 in the series, it turned out to be spookier, grittier, and more "into" tho common folk of Sister Fidelma's era (7th century Britain) than was the first entry. Perhaps the winter atmosphere made it so, but it was much more effective, I felt. The "Christmas" attitude was tempered by the fact that it was also the season of the Celtic pagan "Yuletide" and the reader truly felt the grimness of winter in this bleak story. Also, Sister Fidelma and her companion, the monk/doctor Eadulf, were this time sidetracked and snowbound in what might be a haunted monastary where a spooky murder has been committed. Not exactly your usual Christmas fare. .Written by Peter Beresford Ellis, under a pseudonym, a scholar of Celtic historical culture, these novels have a realism that pervades the text, even within the fantastic circumstances.I'll probably take a long break before reading any others of the series, but the fact that I read four, pretty much in a row, speaks to how well I thought of this set of mysteries.
Our duo have gone to Canterbury since we left them and are now off to visit Eadulf's homeland planning to stop and see his old friend who sent a mysterious note at a nearby abbey. Upon arrival they find that friend murdered. Fidelma has taken ill from a storm and being in Saxon lands her gender does her no favors. Consequently, Eadulf takes the lead for much of the story which was a nice change. The abbot is a nasty man with a dead wife who appears to be haunting him. Outlaws are in the woods. As usual all is right in the end.
What do You think about The Haunted Abbot (2005)?
This was a very dark read as it dealt with ghosts, a suspected suicide, the massacre of women and children and an accusation of witchcraft by a member of the Church. Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf ("ah-dulf") brave the cold, near-death sickness and a tortured mind in their quest to find the truth.All of these stories are very tightly written with non-stopping plots but I rated this 3 stars only because the relationship between Sister Fidelma and Eadulf was not fleshed out enough IMHO. And the detail given on the last page (don't read ahead!) just left me with a "what the hell" mindset. I actually re-read some of the more important pages just to see if I missed something there (I didn't...it wasn't openly stated). Were these books written for the rated PG group? One final suggestion for potential readers--read these books in sequence or you will never appreciate the nuances between Fidelma and Eadulf. Nor will you feel the time period and specific cultures that this series is trying to illuminate.
—Denise
Brother Eadulf gets to take center stage for once! Fidelma and Eadulf travel to the land of Eadulf's birth to seek out a friend from childhood...but arrive a day too late. As usual the mystery is multi-layered and was impossible for me to figure out.Spoiler!!!!I do wish, now that Fidelma and Eadulf have proclaimed themselves an item, they'd show a bit more...oh, affection? No hugs? No quiet touches of the hand? No playful glances? Come one...pleeease?
—Jessica
