The Leper's Bell (Sister Fidelma Mysteries)

The Leper's Bell is one of the best of the overall excellent Sister Fidelma mysteries. It is quite different from most of the series because Fidelma and Eadulf are personally involved in the mystery instead of just being the investigating dalaigh and her companion. The change is quite enjoyable because you get to see the main characters change and grow a bit more than can normally be seen. The mystery itself is also interesting and, as usual, Peter Tremayne's helps us glimpse more of the Early Medieval Irish world that he makes so real and fascinating.

This fascinating series of the history of Ireland and it's orderly, fair ancient laws combined with mystery, adventure and a romantic duo has kept me intrigued for years. The Leper's Bell takes Fidelma and Eadulf into a new relationship and Fidelma begins to question her priorities, her allegiances and her ambivalence to motherhood. While the mystery in this book leads us down intriguing paths, it is easy to see where the real villian resides. No matter. It's not so much the mystery that ensnares the loyal Fidelma reader in this book as it is the way Tremayne weaves history, law, travelogue and romance.

In the seventh century, dalieh Sister Fidelma of Cashel, travels around Eire as an advocate of the law courts accompanied by her lover and trial marriage partner Brother Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham. After their current trek in which they left their young son home with his competent nurse Sarat, they return home to tragedy. Sarat has been murdered and their child is missing, probably kidnapped, but no ransom or any message has been delivered by the perpetrators. Fidelma's brother King Colgu of Muman is irate over the abduction of his nephew. He meets with his advisers and Eadulf on how to proceed. All agree on one thing not to allow the normally logical Fidelma to investigate especially since she holds herself culpable for going on her last assignment while leaving her child behind. However, Fidelma remains determined to get involved regardless of the commands from her brother the king and her spouse. Peter Tremayne refreshes the delightful long running medieval who-done-it by bringing the case home and making it personal for the normally rational Fidlema. However, this time she must keep calm in order to follow the clues to rescue her beloved son even though her brother and husband think she is incapable of performing such a detached investigation. The Leper's Bell is Peter Tremayne at his very best (which is incredible). Harriet Klausner

As usual, Peter Tremayne kept me guessing until the end of the story, while managing to really bring out all the characters in the plot. I recommend the entire Sister Fedelma series to anyone who likes a personal story with a nice dose of history, especially the Celtic kind!