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Sister Fidelma #0.5
The Lair of the White Fox
Travel back in time with the first ever case from super-sleuth, Sister Fidelma, in this gripping Celtic mini mystery. The perfect introduction to Peter Tremayne's highly-acclaimed historical crime series.
Ireland, AD 659. Sister Fidelma is in her final year of study at Brehon Morann's law school, and en route to visit an old friend, Lúach, in her family home. But things take a sinister turn when Fidelma arrives to discover that Lúach has been missing for five days. Has someone driven her from the enclave of her home, or are there darker forces at work?
The deeper Fidelma digs, the more questions she unearths. It's clear that there is far more to Lúach's disappearance than those closest to her are letting on, and only Fidelma has the conviction to pursue the case. Can she untangle the truth in time to save her?
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2016
105 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Peter Tremayne
206 books471 followersPeter 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.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 5, 2018
A real pleasure to read a short novella prequel portraying a younger Fidelma refining her skills of detection and displaying her knowledge of the Law.
She goes to visit a friend from school only to be told the girl is presumed dead. This tale has a wicked stepmother to boot!
She goes to visit a friend from school only to be told the girl is presumed dead. This tale has a wicked stepmother to boot!
September 11, 2018
Nice and enjoyable, good premise. Too many words are given in Gaelic, followed by their English translation. We're not here to learn a new language, and it slows down the pace. Also, the solution to the mystery in this short story was evident and too easy. I loved learning about the historical and cultural background though, and thought the main character had much potential. Will try the first full novel in the series and see how Fidelma is developed further.
August 11, 2018
Excellent mystery novella. Full review soon at classicmystery.blog
March 10, 2017
In this Sister Fidelma Peter Tremayne takes us back to just before Fidelma was qualified as at the anruth level. Fidelma stops to visit her friend Luach but her friend has disappeared. Fildelma feels something is off and true to herself she investigates this disappearance. The Lair of the White Wolf was as entertaining as all the others and Fidelma of cours, solves the mystery. No spoiler I won't tell you who. A look at Ireland in the so called dark ages.
August 27, 2017
A novella that is actually a prequel to all of the novels, it features Fidelma as a very young woman. The mystery is not too complex given the shorter length. It provides the back story on Fidelma's entry to religious life.
August 26, 2021
The Lair of the White Fox Earns 5+/5 Anruths…Engaging & Compelling!
Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma Mystery is set to be part of my Top Five Surprises in 2021! I have become fascinated by historical fiction set centuries ago especially when real events, fascinating historical figures, and legends and myths are entwined together in a clever fictional mystery with ample suspects and motives to challenge my efforts to join in. Tremayne has created a realistic seventh century environment through his use of descriptive language and dialogue almost poetic in its style along with Gaelic language that is often translated in context. Case in point: the prequel “The Lair of the White Fox.”
Fidelma of Cashel is in her final year of studying law ready to achieve the degree of “Anruth,” just short of the highest degree given by secular or ecclesiastical colleges, and since her cousin is now King, she and her brothers were essentially outsiders. It was suggested, when she completes her studies, she take up a position within the religious community, and although it did interest her, time to think was warranted. She had accepted an Invitation to spend a few days with her friend and schoolmate lady Lúach, so she travelled to Dún Dealgan, the fortress of her friend’s father Prince Ossen of Muirthemne. Fildelma herself was of noble birth, so she was surprised by the terse greeting she received from her friend’s stepmother when she arrived; it was not befitting her station or friendship with the daughter of the prince. Then, when she discovers her friend has been missing for five days, she sets forth doing that in which she is competent: asking questions, seeking answers, and forming legitimate avenues to explore…demanding family? ruthless thieves? neighboring chieftains? lovesick admirer? Brilliant. Engaging. Clever.
Tremayne’s novella helped to answer some questions from the books I’d already read by providing more background into Fidelma’s family and how she came to be part of the church along with the first of many investigations in which she insinuates herself. There were several scenarios to explain her friend’s disappearance, the least likely, yet the one most adhere to, was that she met with a tragic accident, however, Fidelma’s critical thinking, introspective manner, and personal conviction has her following another path, often meeting resistance, but uncovering details that lead to a surprising truth revealed in true Christie fashion. I enjoyed the ease in reading Tremayne’s work, descriptions and explanations, inclusion of Gaelic language, and the compelling tale, for which I had my own ideas, kept me interested to the final page. I was fascinated by the legends, myths, and history of Ireland along with issues around the role of women and the role of religion, and the discussion about “love” and cheese. Excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as well as the entire series.
Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma Mystery is set to be part of my Top Five Surprises in 2021! I have become fascinated by historical fiction set centuries ago especially when real events, fascinating historical figures, and legends and myths are entwined together in a clever fictional mystery with ample suspects and motives to challenge my efforts to join in. Tremayne has created a realistic seventh century environment through his use of descriptive language and dialogue almost poetic in its style along with Gaelic language that is often translated in context. Case in point: the prequel “The Lair of the White Fox.”
Fidelma of Cashel is in her final year of studying law ready to achieve the degree of “Anruth,” just short of the highest degree given by secular or ecclesiastical colleges, and since her cousin is now King, she and her brothers were essentially outsiders. It was suggested, when she completes her studies, she take up a position within the religious community, and although it did interest her, time to think was warranted. She had accepted an Invitation to spend a few days with her friend and schoolmate lady Lúach, so she travelled to Dún Dealgan, the fortress of her friend’s father Prince Ossen of Muirthemne. Fildelma herself was of noble birth, so she was surprised by the terse greeting she received from her friend’s stepmother when she arrived; it was not befitting her station or friendship with the daughter of the prince. Then, when she discovers her friend has been missing for five days, she sets forth doing that in which she is competent: asking questions, seeking answers, and forming legitimate avenues to explore…demanding family? ruthless thieves? neighboring chieftains? lovesick admirer? Brilliant. Engaging. Clever.
Tremayne’s novella helped to answer some questions from the books I’d already read by providing more background into Fidelma’s family and how she came to be part of the church along with the first of many investigations in which she insinuates herself. There were several scenarios to explain her friend’s disappearance, the least likely, yet the one most adhere to, was that she met with a tragic accident, however, Fidelma’s critical thinking, introspective manner, and personal conviction has her following another path, often meeting resistance, but uncovering details that lead to a surprising truth revealed in true Christie fashion. I enjoyed the ease in reading Tremayne’s work, descriptions and explanations, inclusion of Gaelic language, and the compelling tale, for which I had my own ideas, kept me interested to the final page. I was fascinated by the legends, myths, and history of Ireland along with issues around the role of women and the role of religion, and the discussion about “love” and cheese. Excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as well as the entire series.
October 13, 2018
In some ways, this is a step backward in the series, something of a prequel to the novels. It's an e-novella (and as far as I know not available in any other form), so it might be out of reach for some readers.
The story takes us back to Fidelma before she was a religeuse, before she had even finished her legal studies. She is near the end of her time at Brehon Morann's school and trying to decide what to do with her life. She goes to visit a friend only to find that the friend has disappeared! The solution to the mystery is the central feature of the story.
It's interesting to read of the younger Fidelma. Peter Tremayne gives us glimpses into a Fidelma who is still developing as a person. She seems, to me at least, to be much more concerned about the privileges she enjoys as a lawyer, even though her insistence on the rights of her statue will never disappear, they will soften over time. Her social status in this story is much less than she will come to enjoy later. She is a cousin of the King of Munster (her brother has not yet become King); she has not yet joined the community of St. Brigid at Kildare so she does not enjoy the status of a religeuse. But, as usual, Fidelma does not suffer much from a lack of confidence which enables her to stand her ground and solve the mystery in spite of the opposition of others who believe they are in charge.
My only complain is one that I often have with Peter Tremayne. He tends to use a lot of Irish words some of which he explains and others he doesn't. My objection is that he usually doesn't tell you how to pronounce them. Some of the books have pronunciation guides but many of them don't; the books with the guides usually tell you how Irish is pronounced but not the particular word in which you are interested. Since Irish has even less of a connection between the written letter and the spoken pronunciation than French has, it just might be easier to give a glossary and pronunciation guide for the words used. But, unless you're reading it aloud to someone or want to impress someone at a cocktail party, the words never detract from the story and the atmosphere of Ancient Ireland.
The story takes us back to Fidelma before she was a religeuse, before she had even finished her legal studies. She is near the end of her time at Brehon Morann's school and trying to decide what to do with her life. She goes to visit a friend only to find that the friend has disappeared! The solution to the mystery is the central feature of the story.
It's interesting to read of the younger Fidelma. Peter Tremayne gives us glimpses into a Fidelma who is still developing as a person. She seems, to me at least, to be much more concerned about the privileges she enjoys as a lawyer, even though her insistence on the rights of her statue will never disappear, they will soften over time. Her social status in this story is much less than she will come to enjoy later. She is a cousin of the King of Munster (her brother has not yet become King); she has not yet joined the community of St. Brigid at Kildare so she does not enjoy the status of a religeuse. But, as usual, Fidelma does not suffer much from a lack of confidence which enables her to stand her ground and solve the mystery in spite of the opposition of others who believe they are in charge.
My only complain is one that I often have with Peter Tremayne. He tends to use a lot of Irish words some of which he explains and others he doesn't. My objection is that he usually doesn't tell you how to pronounce them. Some of the books have pronunciation guides but many of them don't; the books with the guides usually tell you how Irish is pronounced but not the particular word in which you are interested. Since Irish has even less of a connection between the written letter and the spoken pronunciation than French has, it just might be easier to give a glossary and pronunciation guide for the words used. But, unless you're reading it aloud to someone or want to impress someone at a cocktail party, the words never detract from the story and the atmosphere of Ancient Ireland.
March 25, 2022
This story is a prequel when Fidelma was still a law student. She has gone to visit a friend who has disappeared unexpectedly. Fidelma must unravel the mystery. I suspect it can be hard to write prequels because your character must have the natural instincts minus the maturity and experience. Here, Fidelma is in her seventh year and she has yet to take the exam to reach anruth, the second highest level. If she went to the highest level, then that would lock her into a purely academic career track and she does not want that.
Tremayne mentioned Fidelma needing "protection" because her cousin Maenach, the current king of Muman, was indifferent towards her. In an era full of patronage, kin mattered only so much since she and her brothers could be considered threats to Maenach. Irish laws of inheritance did not follow primogeniture and thus did not require killing off family members. Nevertheless, Fidelma does not wait around and decided to enter the House at Cill Dara. She leaves it in Hemlock at Vespers, but that will not be for another several years.
Reading this book, I suspected the resolution about halfway through but I didn't know who the culprit was until the very end. In that, Tremayne fulfilled the literary laws of mystery writing.
Tremayne mentioned Fidelma needing "protection" because her cousin Maenach, the current king of Muman, was indifferent towards her. In an era full of patronage, kin mattered only so much since she and her brothers could be considered threats to Maenach. Irish laws of inheritance did not follow primogeniture and thus did not require killing off family members. Nevertheless, Fidelma does not wait around and decided to enter the House at Cill Dara. She leaves it in Hemlock at Vespers, but that will not be for another several years.
Reading this book, I suspected the resolution about halfway through but I didn't know who the culprit was until the very end. In that, Tremayne fulfilled the literary laws of mystery writing.
June 15, 2024
If I wasn't already a fan of the Sister Fidelma series, I'm not sure this book would have earned the four-star rating. Most half-step books like this are far too short to really enjoy - by the time you get into the story, it's over! But I liked the peak into Fidelma's past, specifically her last year as a law student.
Even then, she didn't hesitate to stand up for herself and exert her legal power when necessary. It was fun in this story and in the full-length novels in the series to see the attitudes of royalty, other legal advisors and even the lower classes change when she presents them with the facts of her skill and standing in the legal community.
I didn't figure out what was going on in this story until it became obvious, but even then I wasn't sure about the motive until it was revealed.
I have the next several books from this series in my audio library, and I hope to read at least one more of them before the end of 2024.
Even then, she didn't hesitate to stand up for herself and exert her legal power when necessary. It was fun in this story and in the full-length novels in the series to see the attitudes of royalty, other legal advisors and even the lower classes change when she presents them with the facts of her skill and standing in the legal community.
I didn't figure out what was going on in this story until it became obvious, but even then I wasn't sure about the motive until it was revealed.
I have the next several books from this series in my audio library, and I hope to read at least one more of them before the end of 2024.
June 12, 2019
Overall, I enjoyed it; I haven't read any of the Sister Fidelma books, and decided to read this novella, which takes place before all of the other books, even though it was written later, before jumping into the main book sequence. The one thing I did not enjoy in this novella was the amount of time the author spent inserting Gaelic terms for everything, and then explaining what it is. I understand that he knows a lot about this period in Celtic history, but I didn't need to know the Gaelic terms for soap, table, storeroom, etc. It made the beginning of the novella drag. But, that seemed to drop off quite a bit after the first quarter of the novella. I am going to try the first book next, and see how I like that.
August 3, 2020
Racconto prequel di una serie che non ho mai letto. La storia non è male, anzi mi è piaciuta, ma ho avuto seri probòemi con tutte le parole gaeliche usate, spesso termini tecnici della professione legale, e i tanti personaggi citati come riferimenti a varie leggende. Spesso le parole in gaelico si riferivano a parti di una fortezza o a eventi della vita quotidiana, ma poi arrivava il controsenso che per misurare la distanza viene sempre usato il chilometro, inventato più di un millennio dopo, invece che, per esempio, il miglio già usato dai Romani...
March 14, 2021
That was my first book in this series and I have to admit that I’m of two minds about it. On the one hand, I appreciated the description of the period and the way of life but on the other hand, I found Fidelma not very endearing and borderline pedantic with the constant repeating of her titles.
I’m not saying that I won’t read more books in this series but it might not be in my top ten list to read more. Unless, in future books, Fidelma looses the repeating of her title and the nearly pedantic attitude.
I’m not saying that I won’t read more books in this series but it might not be in my top ten list to read more. Unless, in future books, Fidelma looses the repeating of her title and the nearly pedantic attitude.
March 25, 2019
I love Fidelma and enjoyed this short story. It is new but starts in the earliest days of Fidelma. This is much more in line with the Fidelma character we all know now than in some of the early short story collections from around this time in her life. Good story development in few pages with several bad guy choices. Interesting to see Fidelma all Fidelma like without the reputation or sister of your king to back up her authority.
July 8, 2019
This was a short prequel to the Sister Fidelma series. Very enjoyable, especially for a shorter book. Again the plot is well constructed and the resolution logical, though I'd had an inkling of what was going on well before the end. Still, an excellent choice if you're reading the series anyway -- or considering it -- or need something short. This is set well before the start of the series, before she's even "Sister" Fidelma, so really can work no matter how much of the series you've read.
December 14, 2017
More a 2.5 star read: this didn't tempt me to pick up the rest of the series. Clearly the author has done a lot of deep research and I enjoyed the early medieval setting, but I found the prose style very hard work - heavy on the tell rather than show. The research often intrudes rather than illuminates, and the mystery element turned out very predictably.
January 18, 2022
The things I like about Novella's is the ability to explore a character or time that doesn't fit in the main books in a series. This was a glimpse of the main character prior to her finishing her studies.
May 21, 2025
This novella is a brief glimpse of Sister Fidelma before she matured. It's a whodunit in search of a body and the reveal is very much in the Christie tradition. It does give a fair bit of information of how enlightened Celtic Ireland was before the church got her controlling grips on the land.
February 7, 2018
Novela cortita, que nos ofrece un relato de Fidelma en su etapa de formación.
Entretenida y amena, como viene siendo habitual
Entretenida y amena, como viene siendo habitual
July 26, 2018
This novella recounts the first investigation of a young Fidelma as she is completing her law studies, but does not explain why she only ever reached the second highest degree.
June 3, 2019
Easy read nothing new
Interesting period piece. Standard murder mystery. Kkkk kkkk kkkk kkkk kkkkkk k k k k k kk k k k
Interesting period piece. Standard murder mystery. Kkkk kkkk kkkk kkkk kkkkkk k k k k k kk k k k
November 24, 2020
It was fun to meet Fidelma as a young girl, already showing the confidence and determination that she exhibits in all the books.
December 12, 2024
A really nice little short story at the beginning of Sister Fidelma's career.
July 30, 2016
The Lair of the White Fox
This novella is an introduction to the Sister Fidelma stories. I've heard a little about these tales of the 'Dark Age' Celtic times and girl versed in the law who solves crimes and teases out mysteries. Her own friend Luach, has disappeared and Fidelma, in the face of some opposition from Luach's stepmother, solves the puzzle.
This story is probably not the best introduction. I felt it had been rushed. There were some very odd sentence constructions, some errors, warload for warlord, and repetition within sentences, which spoke of a lack of editing input. I found myself constantly annoyed by the use of a Celtic term followed by the English equivalent, for example, the deochbhaire, or cupbearer. You wouldn't read a book set in France and expect to be told that someone had opened the fenetre, or window. The plot was rather shallow and predictable and a whole 15% of the book was an extract from the new Fidelma novel. Could do better.
This novella is an introduction to the Sister Fidelma stories. I've heard a little about these tales of the 'Dark Age' Celtic times and girl versed in the law who solves crimes and teases out mysteries. Her own friend Luach, has disappeared and Fidelma, in the face of some opposition from Luach's stepmother, solves the puzzle.
This story is probably not the best introduction. I felt it had been rushed. There were some very odd sentence constructions, some errors, warload for warlord, and repetition within sentences, which spoke of a lack of editing input. I found myself constantly annoyed by the use of a Celtic term followed by the English equivalent, for example, the deochbhaire, or cupbearer. You wouldn't read a book set in France and expect to be told that someone had opened the fenetre, or window. The plot was rather shallow and predictable and a whole 15% of the book was an extract from the new Fidelma novel. Could do better.
April 24, 2017
It's been a while since I last read a Sister Fidelma mystery, so this novella was a good way to get back into the mood. (Seems I have missed two books in the series!) This 99-page novella makes a good introduction to the series if you are not already familiar with the books, as it is a sort of prequel to them all.
If you don't know the setting, it is 7th century Ireland. A 20-ish Fidelma has been studying to be dalaigh -- an advocate of the law -- and decides to call upon a friend, Luach--daughter of a noble family. (Fidelma herself is related to the king of Munster.) When she arrives at Luach's home, Fidelma is shocked to learn that only a few days earlier, the young woman disappeared without a trace.
Has Luach run away, to escape pressure to marry her off to a much older suitor? Was she injured and unable to send for help? Was she abducted? And why, if she left on her own, is her horse still in the stables? If you want to know the answer, then you've gotta read the story.
My only complaint is that I encountered at least a handful of typos, something that has become more and more common these days as human editors are being replaced with spell check and grammar check software that, no matter their sophistication, often miss glaring mistakes.
I give this novella 4 stars because...yes, I really liked it.
If you don't know the setting, it is 7th century Ireland. A 20-ish Fidelma has been studying to be dalaigh -- an advocate of the law -- and decides to call upon a friend, Luach--daughter of a noble family. (Fidelma herself is related to the king of Munster.) When she arrives at Luach's home, Fidelma is shocked to learn that only a few days earlier, the young woman disappeared without a trace.
Has Luach run away, to escape pressure to marry her off to a much older suitor? Was she injured and unable to send for help? Was she abducted? And why, if she left on her own, is her horse still in the stables? If you want to know the answer, then you've gotta read the story.
My only complaint is that I encountered at least a handful of typos, something that has become more and more common these days as human editors are being replaced with spell check and grammar check software that, no matter their sophistication, often miss glaring mistakes.
I give this novella 4 stars because...yes, I really liked it.
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November 1, 2018it was very good as all Lady Fidelma are.
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