Another book I was gifted, and this one I really like!
To start with, a plot synopsis. This is one of the mysteries in the Sister Fidelma series, set in ancient Ireland (7th century AD). Yes, another historical mystery series :) This particular book is the third in the series, and is set in 666 AD. Sister Fidelma is an Irish religieuse (nun) who is also a trained advocate of the ancient Irish law system of the time. When a headless female corpse is found in the drinking well of a remote abbey in south-west Ireland, Sister Fidelma is called in by the abbess to investigate. One hand of the corpse was found clasping a crucifix; tied to the other arm is a pagan death symbol. Though the abbess was the person who summoned her to investigate, she and the community of the abbey seem increasingly reluctant to aid in Fidelma's investigation. Meanwhile, on her way to the abbey to investigate, Fidelma encountered a merchant ship under full sail on the seas off the Irish coast. But the crew and its cargo have vanished - as if by sorcery. Whose is the body in the well? Where is the crew of the vessel? Are these bizarre events connected? And if so, who is responsible?
This book is a good example of a middle-of-series character development. Compared to the Riddle of St Leonard's, Tremayne succeeded where Robb was irritating me. It doesn't ignore any character development in the first 2 books, but you don't have to have read the first two to understand the relations between the characters. The characters are still developed in this book, and you feel like they are genuinely part of the events taking place, not that things are just happening around them. A bonus (though it shouldn't be), is that they're honestly likable characters. Well, not all of them, but you're not supposed to like them all. Still, even the unlikeable characters are still developed, and seem like real people. They're likable as characters, even if their personalities aren't particularly endearing. (If that makes sense to anyone but me...)
The mystery is well developed too. It's not incredibly obvious who did it, and there's multiple layers to the puzzle that Fidelma has to solve, making it a very good read. Honestly a book I was having a hard time putting down. Definitely a good sign :)
Ancient Ireland was surprisingly modern in women's rights, and such a system allowed women, like Fidelma, to be educated equal to their male counterparts. It was really interesting reading a book set so long ago, but with surprisingly modern views. To read more about it, check out the International Sister Fidelma Society. (Yes, any good author should have a fan society!)
Overall: 5 of 5. Good mystery, interesting historical setting, good characterization. If you like this sort of book, definitely worth a read. Yes, I'm gonna have to find the others in this series now. Which might be hard, living in the middle of nowhere as I am... :)
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