Blood on the Wind (Sister Fidelma Mysteries Book 37): A historical mystery of rivalry and betrayal

by Peter Tremayne

The thirty-seventh mystery in Peter Tremayne's long-standing and much-loved series, featuring 7th-century Irish super-sleuth Sister Fidelma.
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Sister Fidelma and her husband Eadulf are journeying back from the Kingdom of the East Angles to Cashel when a violent storm wrecks their ship on the Isles of Sulis. Seeking shelter, they discover that Lowarn, the ruler of the islands, has been poisoned in an assassination attempt, but who is the culprit? And what are their motives? Lowarn's sister, Sirona, begs Fidelma to investigate the case, while Eadulf uses his medical skills to tend to the dying king.

Embroiled in a dark world of murder, suspicion and intolerance, Fidelma and Eadulf must discover if the islands are truly cursed by the Goddess Sulis, as the locals believe, or if warring monarchs from foreign lands are responsible for the islands' fate . . .

Praise for the Sister Fidelma

'The background detail is brilliantly defined . . . wonderfully evocative' The Times

'A challenging and unusual but deeply satisfying and enjoyable historical thriller' Booklist

'Tremayne expertly incorporates historical and legal details of the time into the suspenseful plot. This impressive volume bodes well for future series entries' Publishers Weekly

Audible Audio

Published July 16, 2026

About the author

Peter Berresford Ellis (born 10 March 1943) is a historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 90 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as an authority on Celtic history and culture. As Peter Tremayne, he is the author of the international bestselling Sister Fidelma mystery series. His work has appeared in 25 languages.

Reviews

[Helen]

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advanced reader copy of Blood on the Wind. All opinions and comments are my own.

Another complicated story for Fidelma and Eadulf, filled more with the early religious and social history of the British isles than the ‘mystery’ plot. This one involves a poisoned king of what are now called the Isles of Scilly, talk of Saxon domination, the murder of a celebrated healer, and the battle between the ‘Old Faith” and the ‘New.’ Which would be interesting if it wasn’t page after page of historical data, and hard to follow at times.

Finally, we get what is basically a ‘drawing room’ scene, whereby Fidelma gathers everyone together and reveals whodunnit. There’s a bit of a twist, which some may have seen coming. And since all of the action occurs far away from Ireland, Fidelma and Eadulf can now sail away home. To simpler adventures, one hopes.

[Jo]

This is the latest in the Sister Fidelma series. This is such a great series; I’ve enjoyed all of the books including this one. I always learn something new about the history and culture of 7th century Britain.

The story revolves around the tension between the worshippers of Sulis and the New Faith. Fidelma and her husband, Eadulf, are shipwrecked and drawn into an assassination attempt, potentially caused by religious differences.

If you enjoy historical fiction or historical mystery then check this series out. This is book 37 so there are enough books to keep you going for a while!

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC

[Christine]

After getting used to the names of the islands, and where they actually were, I started enjoying this murder mystery.
I liked the setting of the novel with its beautiful descriptions of the landscape! I found it very interesting to read about those times where the old gods were not forgotten, and how the old faith still had so much influence. Even in the case of a murder, this point remains essential... This was fascinating!
I also enjoyed the way Fidelma runs her investigation learning about the justice of these days.
As always, it is a real pleasure to read the author's novels.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Staci]

Blood on the Wind is the newest adventure of Fidelma and Brother Eadulf, and whether you are a longtime fan of the series or have just joined in, it does not disappoint. Fidelma is the sister of King Colgu of Muman in Ireland, and Brother Eadulf is an Angle. Fidelma is an expert in Brehon law in Ireland and legal adviser to her brother, while Eadulf is skilled in herbal medicine. This novel finds them in the Isles of Scilly , where Fidelma is investigating a murder attempt while Brother Eadulf works against time to keep the victim alive. The islanders are a fox's den of clashing loyalties and violent passions, and Fidelma will have to work fast to sort out the truth, lies, and puzzle at the heart of it all.
The historical details in this series are always fascinating and immersive, and the location of this particular book is interesting, although, at times, the number of islands makes it confusing. Blood on the Wind is an excellent historical mystery to curl up with on a stormy autumn night. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read review this book.