In the period later called The Dark Ages, Ireland stood as a beacon of learning. While most of what would become Europe was ruled by illiterate warring tribes, Ancient Ireland had a rich culture where books and art flourished. Women were granted the same legal rights as men and were considered more equal than in today’s most advanced countries. The Brehon Laws governed a society that was complex and enlightened, vastly different from the others of its time. This way of life was violently surpressed during the English occupation of the island and is little known today.
Ancient Ireland was divided into Five Kingdoms, in the 600’s, Colgu was High King of Munster. His red-haired sister, Fidelma, is not only a nun, but also a dalaigh, which is a combination of judge and detective. Her high-ranking duties require her to journey not only throughout Ireland, but sometimes overseas to dispense justice. It is on her travels that she meets Brother Eadulf, a Saxon monk, healer and scholar who assists her in her cases. Until around 700 AD, when new papal laws went into effect, religieuse were allowed to marry and cohabit, often raising families in combined religious houses. So it is entirely proper when Fidelma and Eadulf become romantically involved as they work together.
In those days, when forensic science didn’t exist, solving crimes depended entirely on what another fictional detective called “those little grey cells”. The modern reader is constantly warning the characters to check for fingerprints or send fibers to the lab. The monastic atmosphere and use of logic is reminiscent of the Brother Cadfael mysteries.
Though there is a story arc over more than a dozen books, the Sister Fidelma series can be read as individual works, since each provides enough background to prevent confusion. Tremayne weaves Celtic legends and customs throughout each solidly built mystery, completely transporting the reader to another time and place, so very different from ours. This then, is truly a celebration of St. Patrick’s Ireland and it has nothing at all to do with green beer.
published by St. Martin’s Minotaur
As someone still grieving over the death of Ellis Peters and the subsequent loss of Cadfael (how DARE she get old and die, damn her!) this series sounds right up my street. Thank you, Jacks!
“Women were granted the same legal rights as men and were considered more equal than in today’s most advanced countries.”
This sounds interesting – can you expand?
This sounds fascinating – yes my ears pricked up at that line too, Rosy!
As I’m newly into historical crime/mysteries I think I’ll have to exercise my 1-click finger for this one . . .
Another great review, Jackie. And yes, please do elaborate on the wimmin’s rights of Irish yore!
In Ancient Ireland, everyone had an “honor price”, their worth to the community, usually measured in cows or goods. This was based on skills and rank in society, not gender. Also crimes towards women, such as rape or domestic violence, was harshly punished, not only criminally, but also societally and paying of honor price. It was just not tolerated. Women were not only literate, but highly educated and could hold nearly all of the same jobs as men. Plus, with the system of fostering children, men were involved with child rearing, it wasn’t considered just a woman’s job. In all, a woman was held in much higher esteem than is commonly considered, even in our advanced age.
These facts are gleaned not only through Tremayne’s novels(he is a history professor), but also from my reading countless books on Ireland over the years.