Kristian Ferrell
The Sister Fidelma mysteries are a series of historical whodunits set in the 7th century, mainly in Ireland. The titular character is a former member of the community of St Brigid of Kildare, a qualified advocate of the ancient law courts of Ireland, and a nun from an esteemed family. In the fourth book of the series, Sister Fidelma investigates a murder at a remote abbey, encountering the disappearance of a ship and its crew. While the series is mostly set in Ireland, Sister Fidelma also visits other Celtic lands, including Wales and Northumbria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Setting | Mainly in Ireland during the mid-7th century AD |
| Main Character | Sister Fidelma |
| Fidelma's Background | A qualified "dalaigh" or advocate of the ancient law courts of Ireland; a former member of the community of St Brigid of Kildare; a high-ranking lawyer; a nun from an esteemed family; the sister of the King of Muman |
| Other Characters | Brother Eadulf, a Saxon monk; Abbot Ultan; King of Connacht; Wighard, Archbishop of Canterbury; Brother Ronan Ragallach; Bishop Gelasius; Cass; Brother Conchobhar; Enda; Abbot Segdae of Imleach; Prince Donennach; Chief Brehon Faolchair; Aidan; Della; Abbot Noe of Fearna; King Sechnassach of Ireland; Deusdedit of Canterbury; Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Plot Elements | Political intrigue; personal relationships; religious conflict; characters' desires for personal or monetary gain; murder mysteries; investigations; ritualistic killings; stolen treasure; plagues; attempts to overthrow the king |
| Inspiration | Celtic, specifically Irish, history and culture; the role of women in the ancient Celtic world; the work of authors such as Umberto Eco and Ellis Peters |
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What You'll Learn
Sister Fidelma's boat journey to a remote abbey
In the Sister Fidelma mysteries, Fidelma is a nun and a qualified advocate of the ancient law courts of Ireland. The stories are set in the 7th century, mainly in Ireland, but also in other Celtic lands, including Wales.
In one of the books, the fourth in the series, Sister Fidelma journeys by boat to a remote abbey in the Irish Kingdom of Muman. The year is 664 AD, and Fidelma has been summoned by the dying king to investigate the murder of the Venerable Dacan, a scholar of the Celtic Church. She is accompanied on her journey by a warrior named Cass.
Fidelma is the sister of the King of Muman, and a high-ranking lawyer. She is often called upon to solve important mysteries, usually with her husband, Eadulf, an Angle from present-day England. The stories are full of political intrigue, personal relationships, religious conflict, and characters' desires for personal or monetary gain.
The Sister Fidelma mysteries are written by Peter Tremayne, the fiction pseudonym of Peter Berresford Ellis, a Celtic scholar. The first four Fidelma short stories were published in 1993, and there are now over 40 titles in the series.
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The investigation of the chieftain's murder
The Sister Fidelma mysteries are a series of historical whodunits set in the 7th century, mainly in Ireland. The titular character, Sister Fidelma, is a nun from an esteemed family and a qualified advocate of the ancient law courts of Ireland. She is also the sister of the King of Muman.
In one of the mysteries, "The House of Death", Fidelma works to solve a murder connected to a scheme to undermine her brother Colgú's authority as King of Muman. In another, unnamed mystery, Fidelma is sent by her brother, the king of Cashel, to Laisre, chieftain of Gleann Geis, to negotiate permission to build a Christian church and school in his territory. However, she finds out that the chieftain has been murdered in the middle of the night, with a local deaf-mute man found holding the bloody knife that killed him. Despite everyone else's certainty of the man's guilt, Fidelma is not convinced and must uncover the truth behind the chieftain's murder.
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The mystery of the ship's disappearance
The Sister Fidelma mysteries are set mainly in Ireland during the mid-seventh century AD. In the fourth book of the series, Sister Fidelma, a qualified advocate of the ancient law courts of Ireland, encounters the disappearance of a ship and its crew while investigating a murder at a remote abbey.
In the story, Sister Fidelma is called upon to solve the murder of the Venerable Dacan, a respected scholar of the Celtic Church, who was found brutally killed while visiting the remote abbey in the Irish Kingdom of Muman. As Sister Fidelma sets out for the abbey with a warrior named Cass, she uncovers sinister forces at play beyond mere political intrigue.
During her investigation, Sister Fidelma discovers that Dacan's death is being used by a neighbouring kingdom to demand reparations from Muman, threatening imminent war. With Muman's honour and stability at stake, she must unravel the truth behind the murder and the mysterious disappearance of the ship and its crew.
The story highlights Sister Fidelma's role as an inadvertent solver of murders, showcasing her qualifications as an advocate and her ancient Irish heritage. The mystery of the ship's disappearance adds a layer of intrigue to the plot, keeping readers engaged as they journey with Sister Fidelma through the twists and turns of the investigation.
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The plague ship's arrival at a nearby port
The plague ship arrived at the port of Rome, where Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf had travelled to investigate the murder of Wighard, Archbishop Designate of Canterbury. The ship's arrival caused panic in the city, as rumours of the deadly plague on board spread quickly. The port was immediately placed under quarantine, with no one allowed to enter or exit.
Fidelma and Eadulf, however, were permitted to board the ship, as they had been summoned specifically to investigate the murder of Wighard. They were met by Bishop Gelasius, who briefed them on the situation. The ship had arrived from the Irish Kingdom of Muman, and the crew had been expected in Rome for several days. When the ship failed to arrive as scheduled, a search party was sent out, and the ship was eventually located drifting off the coast.
As Fidelma and Eadulf boarded the ship, they were overwhelmed by the stench of death and decay. The ship was littered with the bodies of the crew, who had apparently succumbed to the plague. Among the bodies, they discovered the missing treasure that Wighard had brought with him to Rome. The priceless chalices sent for the Holy Father Vitalian's blessings were also recovered, but the goodwill gifts that Wighard had brought were nowhere to be found.
The investigation into Wighard's murder became even more complicated due to the presence of the plague ship. Fidelma and Eadulf had to work quickly to gather evidence and identify potential suspects before the plague could spread further. They soon discovered that the plague was not natural but had been deliberately started by someone on board. This person had also taken the opportunity to murder Wighard and steal the treasure.
As they delved deeper into the mystery, Fidelma and Eadulf encountered resistance from those who did not want the truth to be revealed. Despite the dangers, they remained determined to solve the case and bring the perpetrator to justice. Their investigation took them from the plague ship to the heart of Rome, where they unravelled a conspiracy that threatened to destabilise the relationship between the Saxon and Irish kingdoms.
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The Abbot Ultan murder
The Sister Fidelma stories are a series of historical whodunits set in the 7th century, mainly in Ireland. The series has 42 titles, with the first four short stories published in October 1993. The stories usually involve political intrigue, personal relationships, religious conflict, or characters' desires for personal or monetary gain.
In one of the stories, titled "A Prayer for the Damned", Sister Fidelma is set to enter a permanent marriage with her companion Eadulf, with whom she has a son. The marriage is a major event as Fidelma is the sister to the King of Muman, and the High King of Ireland, as well as other kings and major figures, are in attendance. However, the eve of the ceremony is marred by the murder of a distinguished guest, the fanatical and much-disliked Abbot Ultan, who is found dead in his chamber. The King of Connacht is accused of the crime as he is seen fleeing the scene. With her wedding delayed and the murder threatening chaos, Fidelma must uncover the truth behind Abbot Ultan's murder if the often tenuous peace of the land is to be maintained.
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