I really dithered about this rating. I think a 2.5 stars would be accurate.

I used to read the Fidelma mysteries faithfully and then stopped about 8 years ago. Now I remember why. I really struggle with the names and, thus, keeping track of who is who. This one had a lot of history on which tribe was eligible to have a member to be High King of Ireland. The history, well researched, went back hundreds of years and, frankly, I got lost and then was a little miffed because it really didn't matter to the story.

The story was a mess and by the end of it I really didn't understand it. The plot was so confusing involving Saxon warriors, feuding families and the apparent secret kidnapping of the High King's wife for no apparent reason. On top of that, Fidelma was bound by an ancient oath, a geis, that forbids her from telling anyone her mission including her traveling companions, husband Eadult and bodyguard Enda.

They chase after secret goals, get captured, meet unpleasant people and encounter death. At the end, I have no real clue what really happened and why it mattered so I was dissatisfied. What I did like was the history of the times. It is really interesting but the story itself? Not great.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book to review.

I love Sister Fidelma mysteries for the plot, the characters and the well researched historical background.
This one was a good one even if it's not amongst the best in this series.
I loved the plot, even if it wasn't hard to guess the culprit, it kept me hooked till the last page.
The book is well written, I really appreciated the usage of Old Irish words, and the world building is wonderful.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC

When Sister Fidelma, her husband Eadulf and the warrior Enda travel to an abbey in to give

Abbott Nessan a message, they are in for a shock. When the Abbott is suddenly murdered, suspicion falls on Cairenn, a young girl, who runs away. But the trio soon find themselves in a much deeper mystery which may concern a plot to assassinate Fidelma’s brother, the King of Cashel.

Unfortunately, Fidelma is restricted by a geis, an ancient oath, which restricts her ability to ask for help from the other two.



This is an enjoyable mystery with a rather involved plot, engaging characters and vivid descriptions of the Irish landscape.. Fidelma is an interesting and clever character well-versed in Brehon law who usually remains calm in the most extreme circumstances. The other two are also likeable, but a bit irritable in this book because of the geis. I have read many of these books and this trio are like old friends. I will be very sorry to see the series end!



The trio do eat hedgehogs at one stage. I was a bit upset about that!



I received a free copy of this ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

Sister Fidelma has been charged with a secret mission and placed under a geis by the High King. The first task is to talk to the abbot of Finnbarr. Traveling with her is her husband, Eadulf, and a warrior, Enda; neither of which she can tell of her mission. Before she can speak with the abbot, he is found murdered. Sister Fidelma and her companions search for a young woman who left about the time of the murder. But perils and other mishaps seem to follow them wherever they go, and their very lives become endangered. Can Sister Fidelma complete her task for the High King and solve the mystery?

These mysteries are very good. I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of them. This one was quite convoluted. The characters are so well developed and the plots very well executed. I will always look for more of these books.

In 671 AD Fidelma is given a mission, under a sacred oath not to reveal the aim. This is my second attempt at the series and unfortunately I can't seem to like the characters or be interested in them, the story or the writing style. Two stars because I did manage to finish it.
A NetGalley Book

The language of Old Ireland was too difficult to follow. The story was convoluted but may be readable to those with more interest in this genre.

DNF. The language of Old Ireland was too difficult to follow. The story was convoluted but may be readable to those with more interest in this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the digital galley of this novel.

In the previous book for this series, number 28, Sister Fidelma had sworn to a secret oath and this book concerns her travels to carry out that secret oath. This oath is of such a sensitive nature that Fidelma cannot share it with anyone, not even her husband Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham. The first part of their journey takes them to the Abbey of the Blessed Finbarr so Fidelma can speak to Abbot Nessan but he is found murdered before she can discuss anything with him. Sister Fidelma of Cashel is a lawyer and a legal advisor to her brother, Colgu, King of Muman so she takes on the task of finding out who killed the abbot with suspicion pointing toward a young woman who fled the abbey after escorting the Abbot back to his living quarters.

This story is filled with information about what life was like in 7th Century Ireland. Old Irish words are used in abundance with the English translation following. I most enjoy a book relating to this time period when the mystery takes up the main story line. This book concentrated much more on the political side of the time period when Ireland was divided into many kingdoms and many factions seem to have always been trying to overthrow one kingdom or another. I didn't get quite enough mystery here to keep me completely satisfied and reading about Eadulf complaining because Fidelma wouldn't tell him what the secret oath was just got downright irritating.

Ireland, 671 AD, and once again Sister Fidelma – or just Fidelma really as she has renounced her role as a religeuse – is called upon to undertake a mission for the sake of the Five Kingdoms of Ireland. But what exactly is her mission? Bound to silence by a sacred oath, her colleagues in the hunt for the truth, her husband Eadulf and the warrior Enda, have to trust that she can be released from the oath before the lack of information becomes a risk to their safety.
At the abbey of Finnbarr, the place to where Fidelma is summoned, the abbot is murdered before he can speak to her and the prime suspect disappears into the night. As Eadulf and Enda follow Fidelma in pursuit of the truth, pieces start to fall into place of the big picture. A plan to assassinate the High King himself – a plan hatched by members of Fidelma’s family…
First a word on the cover – the one above is the US release from those nice folks at Severn House, who were nice enough to let me have a review copy. It’s out in the US in October, but with the cover below, it was released in the UK by Headline in May. August isn’t exactly halfway between the two release dates, but it’s not far off…
This is the 29th of the Sister Fidelma mysteries, along with a novella and a couple of books of short stories. I’ve reviewed the first nineteen titles on the blog, so it’s fair to say I’m a big fan of the series. More so than any other historical series, there’s a sense of other-worldiness about the setting, as in a land that itself contains a mixture of religions and cultures, with other contrasting beliefs across the sea both near and far. The plots tend to be a mixture of classic whodunit, conspiracies and thriller-adventures, with each the amount of each aspect varying from book to book.
This book is as full as ever of the historical picture and the characterisation of Fidelma and Eadulf, with previous frictions coming to the surface once again due to the secrecy that she has to adopt due to her oath. I think that it’s only fair to warn new readers that this probably isn’t the title for mystery fans to start the series with, though, as the whodunit element is very slight, with a lot of characters remaining off-page for a significant portion of the book. It also means that following exactly who is related to who and is plotting what against whom can take a little concentration at times.
For fans of the series, it will be another enjoyable read in the series. For the mystery fan, you might want to get to know the characters in a more traditional mystery setting – basically anything from the first fifteen of so titles – first and then come back to this one. Either way, it is Well Worth A Look.

Maybe I've read too many Sister Fidelma stories, but this one wasn't that hard to figure out. I enjoyed it, and am still impressed, as always, with the historical detail. I enjoyed the basic plot and was entertained, but I wasn't gripped as I was with earlier Fidelma stories.

The blood-red moon of the title, esca cro-deirg, symbolised to contemporaries that an important event was about to occur, and, if they were Christian, that God was about to act against those who had offended Him.

Little seems to happen in this leisurely-paced 29th entry in the Sister Fidelma canon. However we do gain insights into the occasionally-fraught relationship between the learned dalaigh and her companion, Eadulf.

Fidelma is carrying out an investigation but is under an oath of secrecy which means she must conceal much from her partner and the warrior, Enda, who accompany her on her journey. Much of the story is about that journey and the people encountered on it, rather than the details the plot which she is looking into. This means that a lot of explanation is crammed in quite late on.

Although characters often spoke of how complicated it all was, I thought the “mystery” element here was less convoluted than usual.This did not in any way detract from the joys which the book conveys by way of accuracy of historical detail and atmosphere, excellent writing and the use of languages, including Old Irish, Latin and Greek.

This was a delightful read and is highly-recommendable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the digital review copy.

4 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

It is 671 is the wild lands of Ireland where Sister Fidelma and her husband Eadulf live. She is an advisor and sister to the King of Muman. She is a lawyer. They are on a journey to see Abbott Nessan. He has a message for her and she is sworn to secrecy about her task – she cannot even tell her husband. Eadulf is more than a little miffed about this. This book focusses more on Eadulf and Fidelma’s relationship than some of the other Sister Fidelma novels. When they arrive at the abbey, they find Abbott Nessan has been murdered.

Suspicion for his murder falls on a young girl – the Abbott’s niece – Fidelma feels that this is not so. She sets off to look for the missing girl. With her own life in danger, for she is suspected in the plot to murder the King and abduct his wife, she pursues the truth.

The language used in this novel is beautiful – except for all the ancient Irish words. It is tightly written and plotted. This is my first Sister Fidelma book, and I was very interested to look at the others in the series. I liked the novel and enjoyed the characters and the descriptions of the countryside and of ancient Irish traditions.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read, enjoy and review.