A mystery story set in medieval Ireland and featuring a lawyer/sleuth noblewoman, Peter Tremayne's The Leper's Bell is a fascinating and satisfying novel. I enjoyed the setting very much, especially Tremayne's use of actual Irish terms to describe things (he defines them in the text, too) which helped to make the setting more vivid. I did have a difficult time keeping some of the minor characters straight, with all of the unfamiliar Irish names. This is, however, a minor quibble.Lady Fidelma, the sleuth/lawyer who is the book's protagonist, was an interesting and dynamic character, and the mystery set for her to solve was a puzzling one. Tremayne did an excellent job of adding enough twists to keep me engaged, and while I had my suspicions, I didn't guess who had actually committed the crime. However, the mystery did wrap up neatly, and not in a "Murder She Wrote" style where they added the clues afterward. This was an enjoyable mystery, comparable to Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series. I'll keep my eyes open for more of Fidelma's exploits.
A mother's worst nightmare...her baby is abducted. Sister Fidelma's success as an advocate of the law has left some people angry. Is this abduction of her son an act of revenge? A political attack on the ruling family (of which Fidelma is a part)? The baby's wet nurse was murdered while the baby was in her care. Was it merely a personal grudge against her. If so, where is the baby?I've read all of the Sister Fidelma books (in order) and love the tight plots that the author builds. Many of the stories have had me clueless as to the motives or who is the "bad guy/gal" right up to the last few pages. In just a few hundred pages the reader has the entrance, the episode (usually a murder), the fleshing out of participants and the resounding finish summarized by Sister Fidelma. These books have received worldwide acclaim and enjoy a massive fan following. I'll continue with these books as they are released and will look into his other series (under different pen names).
What do You think about The Leper's Bell (2006)?
As with the whole series, the actual mystery takes second place to the rich description of the 7th century Irish (Brehon) legal system and the changing culture in Britain and Ireland as Roman law and religious practice i on the rise after The Council of Whitby. Fidelma is an interesting portrait of the educated Irish woman and the rights held by all women in Ireland in contrast to the Saxon and Roman traditions. Tremayne is a Celtic scholar in his own right, and the historical accuracy makes the books winners!
—Winifred Radigan
Well, I could pick out the culprit because evidently anyone who is described as arrogant is the kiler. Otherwise, I loved the story. I was SO pleased that Eadulf finally stood up to and became angry with Fidelma that I read the page twice through in celebration. I was also happy that the author chose to have Eadulf do something independently and get it right. I was even championing that if the baby were found that Eadulf take him and leave, so aggravated had I become with Fidelma and her moods and selfishness, but "onward and upward" to the next book.
—Patricia
