The Subtle Serpent: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland

Rating:
Summary: Excitement without paranoia makes a great escape
Review: I'm not a fan of modern murder mysteries because I can too easily translate it into paranoia, and stay awake at night worrying about my own safety. But the setting of the Sister Fidelma mysteries is far enough removed from my own reality to just be a great escape. I'm also interested in Irish history, but I'm not one to just sit down and read a history book. I was delighted to learn that in Sister Fidelma's time in Ireland women often were on an equal level with men in many ways, perhaps even as much as today.

This story is the second of the Sister Fidelma mysteries I have read. Another reviewer mentioned the preferred sequence to read them, but I have not done so. You can pick up one and still know as much as you need without having read any of the others.

The Subtle Serpent is very difficult to put down. Even with kids fighting in the next room or my eyes begging me to let them close at night, I found it difficult to not go on to the next page. Sister Fidelma is a bright, bold, brave, compassionate, and likeable young woman who is called to figure out why a headless corpse has been found in the well of the Abbey of the Salmon of the Three Wells. You meet some very interesting characters and some interwoven plots while Sister Fidelma goes about solving this murder.

Rating:
Summary: Lose yourself in the 7th century for a few hours. . .
Review: This is the fourth Sister Fidelma book I have read, and have yet to be disappointed! Though I am not a particularly big mystery fan, I am a fan of Celtic/Irish myth and legend. As Peter Tremayne, under his real name (maybe) of Peter Beresford Ellis, is a well-known authority on the ancient Celts, the stories carry an air of realism to the point that I feel I'm there when I read them, even to the extreme of feeling chilly when he describes the winters in Ireland of yore. As I live in south Florida, this is no mean feat!

Along with Ellis Peters in the Brother Cadfael series, Mr. Tremayne has a lock on the medieval sleuth genre. As with Ms. Peters, Mr. Tremayne adds just the right touch of reference to actual historical personages to give proper perspective, as well as to give them credibility. The twists of intrigue are historically accurate, as well as interesting and entertaining. And what the good sister can make of clues without the aid of a full 20th century forensics lab is asounding!

The characterizations are the work of a writer who truly understands the human condition. Sister Fidelma is not perfect, nor does she pretend to be. But she, and the other recurring characters, grow with the series. I cannot begin to describe the plot, as it takes so many twists and turns, but it unravels neatly, if you're of a mind to try to figure out who-dun-it before the good Sister does it for us.

As each book of the series builds on the previous ones, I would recommend that new readers begin with the first of the series, "Absolution by Murder". Each book is worthy of respect, though I must say that "The Subtle Serpent" is my favorite so far. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves mysteries, Irish history, both of the above, or just a good read!!

Rating:
Summary: Lose yourself in the 7th century for a few hours. . .
Review: This is the fourth Sister Fidelma book I have read, and have yet to be disappointed! Though I am not a particularly big mystery fan, I am a fan of Celtic/Irish myth and legend. As Peter Tremayne, under his real name (maybe) of Peter Beresford Ellis, is a well-known authority on the ancient Celts, the stories carry an air of realism to the point that I feel I'm there when I read them, even to the extreme of feeling chilly when he describes the winters in Ireland of yore. As I live in south Florida, this is no mean feat!

Along with Ellis Peters in the Brother Cadfael series, Mr. Tremayne has a lock on the medieval sleuth genre. As with Ms. Peters, Mr. Tremayne adds just the right touch of reference to actual historical personages to give proper perspective, as well as to give them credibility. The twists of intrigue are historically accurate, as well as interesting and entertaining. And what the good sister can make of clues without the aid of a full 20th century forensics lab is asounding!

The characterizations are the work of a writer who truly understands the human condition. Sister Fidelma is not perfect, nor does she pretend to be. But she, and the other recurring characters, grow with the series. I cannot begin to describe the plot, as it takes so many twists and turns, but it unravels neatly, if you're of a mind to try to figure out who-dun-it before the good Sister does it for us.

As each book of the series builds on the previous ones, I would recommend that new readers begin with the first of the series, "Absolution by Murder". Each book is worthy of respect, though I must say that "The Subtle Serpent" is my favorite so far. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves mysteries, Irish history, both of the above, or just a good read!!

Rating:
Summary: a captivating read
Review: This was the fourth Sister Fidelma book I consumed as soon as I was able. I find the character and time fascinating. A long-time interest in Ireland, where my father's family was from, was ignited this summer by a trip to "Eireann". Sister Fidelma's adventures have kept the flame burning. I love the mention of places I'd seen. As a foreign language person, I appreciate the Latin and Irish thrown in to the dialog. The Subtle Serpent was an interesting blend of history and mystery. I like the characters developed in the book and Sister Fidelma's always insightful analysis! As a matter of fact, my interest in Sister Fidelma was so high, I read 3 more: TheSpider's Web, the Valley of Shadow and the Monk Vanished. Since some of them have not yet been published here in the US, I ordered them from Amazon.com.UK !

Rating:
Summary: a captivating read
Review: This was the fourth Sister Fidelma book I consumed as soon as I was able. I find the character and time fascinating. A long-time interest in Ireland, where my father's family was from, was ignited this summer by a trip to "Eireann". Sister Fidelma's adventures have kept the flame burning. I love the mention of places I'd seen. As a foreign language person, I appreciate the Latin and Irish thrown in to the dialog. The Subtle Serpent was an interesting blend of history and mystery. I like the characters developed in the book and Sister Fidelma's always insightful analysis! As a matter of fact, my interest in Sister Fidelma was so high, I read 3 more: TheSpider's Web, the Valley of Shadow and the Monk Vanished. Since some of them have not yet been published here in the US, I ordered them from Amazon.com.UK !

Rating:
Summary: Simply Good
Review: To put it succinctly: this is a solid, well-written, nicely plotted mystery set in seventh century Ireland, where women had greater rights than they probably have today. Historically accurate (within reason for a mystery novel), this is about as good as the genre gets.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Good
Review: To put it succinctly: this is a solid, well-written, nicely plotted mystery set in seventh century Ireland, where women had greater rights than they probably have today. Historically accurate (within reason for a mystery novel), this is about as good as the genre gets.

Rating:
Summary: I'm now hooked on Sister Fidelma!
Review: Typically, I am not really a "mystery" fan at all, but several friends who know my fondness for all things Irish and historical persuaded me to read The Subtle Serpent, and I was quickly hooked! I have already ordered several more Sister Fidelma books, and no doubt will devour them when they arrive as well.

S Fidelma is quite something - can hardly wait to follow her other adventures. The detail included in Tremayne's writing greatly appealed to me as well, and I could just place myself back in one or more settings in that time in ancient Ireland - I heartily recommend the series.