The Spider's Web: 6

The author Peter Tremayne obviously has a great knowledge of Ireland in the 7th century and also on the Irish Law of the period. His Sister Fidelma book are attracting what can only be described as a cult following, but they are of interest to anyone who likes historical novels or mysteries. This series of books are set in Ireland in the 7th century, a time when there was total equality for women. The lead character is the beguiling Sister Fidelma. She is a brilliant scholar, a leading authority on Irish law and the sister of a king. This is also a period in history when celibacy was not yet a part of religious life. In this, the fifth book in the series of Sister Fidelma mysteries the Sister is called to investigate a murder, in what on the surface seems to be a normal peaceful town. But while there Fidelma uncovers a web of secrets that everyone seems to want to keep hidden. What is worse Fidelma has a race against time to discover the truth, or she is likely to be the next victim.

This is the fifth Sister Fidelma book I have read, and the highest complement I can pay Peter Tremayne is that I've started reading my sixth. As a fan of medieval fantasy and Arthurian literature, I find the Sister Fidelma books right up my alley. Mr. Tremayne captures the spirit and essence of the times and turns them advantage in telling his tales. I truly feel I have been transported to 7th Century Ireland! Mr. Tremayne's other life as a Celtic historian and scholar gives these books a realism they might not otherwise have."The Spider's Web" continues in the vein of the previous novels. Sister Fidelma is called in as an advocate to ensure justice is done in the case of a murder. In the spirit of all great detective series', things are not what they seem. The good sister delves deeper and deeper into the web, this time, as in others, with her sidekick Brother Eaudulf. More often than not, Fidelma and Eaudulf make enemies as they draw closer and closer to the truth. The web grows curiouser and curiouser until the final denouement. Simple, not particularly original, but still effective! And the plot in this novel is indeed a tangled spider's web.To pat myself on the back, I was able to solve this one on my own, before having it spelled out to me. But, am I ready to leave Florida to become a 7th Century Irish religious sleuth. I don't think so, but Sister Fidelma is the only person who could actually make me consider it!!

Peter Tremayne presents us with an admirable protagonist in the figure of Sister Fidelma, a nun as well as an officer of the ancient Irish courts. Tremayne's didactic purpose becomes somewhat tiresome in the narrative, as Sister Fidelma repeatedly stops to explain Irish custom and law to Brother Edulf, her sidekick from England. However, The Spider's Web ultimately succeeds in presenting us with an interesting mystery set in a land more foreign than any of us could ever hope to find.As the plot unfolds, the reader meets a fascinating cast of characters who live in seventh-century Ireland. In Tremayne's picture, this was a cultured, ordered society with many virtues that we would love to have in our world. Equal rights for women is a given, as is protection for those who are infirm or disabled. Succession was based on merit, not on mere order of birth. Christianity as practiced by these Irish was an embracing, accepting creed miles away from Augustine's influence. This is the genteel time we encounter, and it is not dark at all.Yet, even in this wonderful society there is plenty of malfeasance and treachery. In this tale, we follow Sister Fidelma as she investigates a murder in the Irish countryside. As the plot unfolds, prejudices are cast aside and the only certain thing is that the truth is not obvious. I enjoyed reading this book and learning a bit about how ancient Ireland might have been. We are fortunate to have a guide to a land that many of us never before knew existed. I hope that there will be many more mysteries for Sister Fidelma to investigate, and I will go along for the ride each time.

This was the first real mystery book that I had ever really read and liked. I found it verry informational in the law systme in ancient Ireland and a good mystery of which I have never truly had a taste for. It is about A brehon of the courts in Ireland, Sister Fidelma, And the saxon monk, Brother Eadulf. They are sent to the little and seemingly peacefull vilage of Araglin to investigate the seemingly obvious murder of the chief Eber and his sister Teafa. Every finger points to the blind, deaf and dumb Moen but Fidelma has the suspicion that Moen had been framed so with the help of Eadulf they unravel the secrets of the vilage to prove Moens inocents and find the real murder. I found this book amazingly well writen and I had fun trying to get ahead of the mystery before it was solved. Right after I read this book I went out looking for the other Sister Fidelma series and now I'm on the 2 book which is equally good.

In the middle of seventh century Ireland, King Colgu sends his sibling, Sister Fidelma, to Araglin to investigate the murder of the local chieftain Eber. A witness saw Moen, a deaf mute, holding the murder weapon, a knife, near the corpse. Also killed is Eber's sister Teafa. Fidelma accompanied by Brother Eadulf travel to the crime scene. They quickly learn that the villagers believe Moen killed the two victims in a fit of rage. Fidelma has problems with that theory because the two deceased showed kindness towards the prime suspect. Teafa raised Moen as if he was her child. The two sleuths begin to wonder who had motives and would most benefit by the deaths of Eber and Teafa. However, no one seems to want to cooperate. Disruptions, sometimes nearly fatal, appears to be the prime intent of the townsfolk. Still, Fidelma and Eadulf continue to search for the killer. SPIDER'S WEB, the fifth Sister Fidelma novel, is an engaging Celtic mystery. The story line is very intriguing when tidbits of seventh century Irish culture are presented and fully woven into the plot. Fidelma is a fully developed character, whose motives center on her religion and her belief in justice as expected of an advocate of the law courts. The villagers seem a bit thin, but fans of historical mysteries will receive enjoyment from Peter Tremayne's entire series.Harriet Klausner