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Sister Fidelma #31
The Shapeshifter's Lair
Ireland. AD 672. The body of a dead man has been found on a lonely mountain road and taken to the isolated abbey of Gleann Da Loch for a proper burial. The abbot quickly identifies him as Brehon Brocc, who had been travelling to the abbey on a secret mission with Princess Gelgeis and her steward. When news reaches Colgu, King of Muman, that his betrothed, Princess Gelgeis, has disappeared, Fidelma with her trusted companions, Eadulf and Enda, enter the hostile Kingdom of Laigin in search of the truth.
But one death is quickly followed by another and warnings of demonic shapeshifters and evil lurking in the mountains must be taken seriously. Are there really brigands stealing gold and silver from the ancient mines? And are rumours of a war between the Kingdoms of Laigin and Muman to be believed? As Fidelma searches for answers, she must do everything in her power to avoid danger and death in a land where no one is to be trusted . . .
But one death is quickly followed by another and warnings of demonic shapeshifters and evil lurking in the mountains must be taken seriously. Are there really brigands stealing gold and silver from the ancient mines? And are rumours of a war between the Kingdoms of Laigin and Muman to be believed? As Fidelma searches for answers, she must do everything in her power to avoid danger and death in a land where no one is to be trusted . . .
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2020
35 people are currently reading
195 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 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 17, 2021
This terrific Irish mystery by the author, Peter Tremayne, is already the 31st volume of the marvellous "Sister Fidelma" series.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of an area called "The Cuala" (Wicklow Mountains) within the Kingdom of Laigin (Leinster) in the 7th Century, as well as a list of Principal Characters featuring in this thrilling tale, and an Author's Note with very informative historical details about certain events and settings.
Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all characters, whether they are real historical or wonderful fictional, come splendidly to life, the atmosphere of 7th Century Ireland is beautifully pictured, and all these factors combined will keep you spellbound from beginning to end.
The tale is set in AD 672 in the period known as Laethanta na Bo Riabhai (the days of the brindled cow), which corresponds to the last three days of March and the first three days of April.
The book starts sedately when all of a sudden news arrives at Cashel that Princess Gelgéis of Osraige, betrothed to King Colgu of Muman, Fidelma's brother, has vanished in the lands of Laigin while travelling to meet her cousin, Abbot Daircell, at his abbey in the Cuala mountains.
With Princess Gelgéis are her steward, Spealáin, missing, and her Brehon Brocc will be later found murdered, Fidelma is summoned to investigate the abduction of Princess Gelgéis, and with her are her companion (husband), Eadulf, and their friend Enda, who's a warrior of the Golden Collar for King Colgu of Muman.
What is to follow is a tremendous and eventful intriguing mystery, where gold and silver mines in the Cuala are also playing an important part, a mystery that will provide us with quite a few twists and turns with conspiracy at the heart of it all, before it will end with a superbly worked out plot by revealing in a determined, exciting and clever fashion the plotters behind this conspiracy, with at their head a ruthless silent arch conspirator called "The Changer".
Highly recommended, for this is another fabulous addition to this amazing series, and that's why I want to call this fantastic episode: "Another Superb Sister Fidelma Mystery"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of an area called "The Cuala" (Wicklow Mountains) within the Kingdom of Laigin (Leinster) in the 7th Century, as well as a list of Principal Characters featuring in this thrilling tale, and an Author's Note with very informative historical details about certain events and settings.
Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all characters, whether they are real historical or wonderful fictional, come splendidly to life, the atmosphere of 7th Century Ireland is beautifully pictured, and all these factors combined will keep you spellbound from beginning to end.
The tale is set in AD 672 in the period known as Laethanta na Bo Riabhai (the days of the brindled cow), which corresponds to the last three days of March and the first three days of April.
The book starts sedately when all of a sudden news arrives at Cashel that Princess Gelgéis of Osraige, betrothed to King Colgu of Muman, Fidelma's brother, has vanished in the lands of Laigin while travelling to meet her cousin, Abbot Daircell, at his abbey in the Cuala mountains.
With Princess Gelgéis are her steward, Spealáin, missing, and her Brehon Brocc will be later found murdered, Fidelma is summoned to investigate the abduction of Princess Gelgéis, and with her are her companion (husband), Eadulf, and their friend Enda, who's a warrior of the Golden Collar for King Colgu of Muman.
What is to follow is a tremendous and eventful intriguing mystery, where gold and silver mines in the Cuala are also playing an important part, a mystery that will provide us with quite a few twists and turns with conspiracy at the heart of it all, before it will end with a superbly worked out plot by revealing in a determined, exciting and clever fashion the plotters behind this conspiracy, with at their head a ruthless silent arch conspirator called "The Changer".
Highly recommended, for this is another fabulous addition to this amazing series, and that's why I want to call this fantastic episode: "Another Superb Sister Fidelma Mystery"!
May 1, 2021
Yet another enjoyable adventure following in the path of Sister Fidelma with her husband Eadulf and the warrior Enda accompanying her to rescue her brother's fiancee and resolve a multitude of mysteries. I just looked at title to sigh in amazement that I have been with this series from the first and have now reached #31. I love the endings where "all is revealed" in the formal court, and then riding back home the three remind me of The Cisco Kid program and how it ended with "Oh, Pancho!"
Reading these books bring back the memories of traveling through Ireland to visit the sites of these books.
Reading these books bring back the memories of traveling through Ireland to visit the sites of these books.
April 6, 2021
This is undoubtedly a better book than the previous entry in the series, the mystery was decent, even if I've got an impression that it is always some conspiracy now, never just a good old murder. In any case, this is a novel for Fidelma's faithful fans only, I wouldn't recommend it to a casual reader.
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November 13, 2021It's been awhile since I came across a new Peter Tremayne mystery– this one published in 2020. I hadn't realized he'd written so many in the Sister Fidelma series. This one is allegedly the 31st. The main character is a jurist trained in the old tradition of Irish law before "The New Faith" of Roman Catholicism was attempting to displace it. Set in Ireland in AD 672, Fidelma is called to investigate the disappearance of her brother's betrothed, Princess Gelgeis and the murder of one of her traveling party in the Kingdom of Laigin. Accompanied by her husband Eadulf ( healer and convert to Christianity) and a protective warrior Enda, she uncovers intrigue and local struggles to control the old gold and silver mines. I hadn't remember how much the author uses Celtic terminology and names to evoke the setting. I confess I was confused most of the time by the transliterated names which I can't pronounce. This plot seems much longer and more circuitous than some of the previous books. I was transported to another time and place but overcome by unfamiliar geography and place names. Perhaps it is the Irish mists and spirits from the older worlds that got me in trouble. However, in contrast Fildema always knew what she was doing.
January 13, 2025
Another fascinating trip through the mists of ancient Ireland. We follow Brehon Fidelma and her healer husband Eadulf, along with trusted companion Enda, a warrior for her brother, the King Colgu of Muman. The trio travel east into the mountains to find the lost fiance of King Colgu, the Princess Gelgéis of Osraige,, but they uncover a convoluted plot to overthrow the small kingdom Osraige, a dead behron, dead lawyer, dead boat captain and more.
From their first night at the local monastery, mysteries deepen across this valley betweenmountains. The arrival of a pigeon at the monastery with a warning started the entire series of events. As they ride through the steep mountains to visit the warlord for the area, they discover the mines turn out more than lead and copper, gold and silver have been discovered as well.
The ending is classic Fildelma in a courtroom with all the accused, all the witnesses, the secular and Christian leaders and likely the people responsible. Who will break first?
From their first night at the local monastery, mysteries deepen across this valley betweenmountains. The arrival of a pigeon at the monastery with a warning started the entire series of events. As they ride through the steep mountains to visit the warlord for the area, they discover the mines turn out more than lead and copper, gold and silver have been discovered as well.
The ending is classic Fildelma in a courtroom with all the accused, all the witnesses, the secular and Christian leaders and likely the people responsible. Who will break first?
November 22, 2020
In my opinion, it's not one of the better books in the Sister Fidelma series. I didn't find the mystery engaging; the exposition of the mystery was tedious with too many seemingly unrelated complications, not all of which were tied together at the end. Tremayne uses dialogue, interviews, and ratiocination to solve the mysteries, a technique I really like; however, because the settings are in ancient Ireland with uncommon personal and place names and center on a legal system unlike any we're familiar with, the dialogue can be formal, stiff, and even convoluted. As a rule, Tremayne's complex dialogue flows pretty smoothly, but I found this more convoluted and stiffer, even at times awkward, than usual. I often had to reread sentences to grasp their meaning, and there were too many textual errors, presumably the consequence of poor editing.
January 2, 2021
I have been waiting with great interest for this latest novel, but I must say that it has let me down enormously.
Much to my regret, since I have always been a great enthusiast of the saga, this novel has cost me a lot to finish. I found it extremely boring, with a plot that is already repetitive of previous novels (conspiracies to wage war between neighbouring kingdoms....) and with an already boring and tiresome description of the virtues and defects of the characters that Tremayne insists on telling us in all her novels, even at various chapters in each one.
Also irritating is the duplicity of the names of things, which the author (showing his great knowledge of the ancient Irish language) insists on naming in both their meanings; the ancient and the modern, making reading both tedious and boring.
The good, if brief, is twice as good, tells the saying.
I don't know, maybe the saga is running out, maybe not, but this last novel has left me with that impression.
Much to my regret, since I have always been a great enthusiast of the saga, this novel has cost me a lot to finish. I found it extremely boring, with a plot that is already repetitive of previous novels (conspiracies to wage war between neighbouring kingdoms....) and with an already boring and tiresome description of the virtues and defects of the characters that Tremayne insists on telling us in all her novels, even at various chapters in each one.
Also irritating is the duplicity of the names of things, which the author (showing his great knowledge of the ancient Irish language) insists on naming in both their meanings; the ancient and the modern, making reading both tedious and boring.
The good, if brief, is twice as good, tells the saying.
I don't know, maybe the saga is running out, maybe not, but this last novel has left me with that impression.
February 19, 2021
This one I am giving three stars. On the one hand, I have to give it to Peter Tremayne for such stamina: 31 books in the series including two anthologies of short stories. I have high praise for Tremayne's research on a period of European history that few people know about. The period we called the "Dark Ages" was actually more interesting than ever. I have also read Tremayne's non fiction -published under his real name.
On the other hand, as many other readers and reviewers know, keeping track of all the characters with "strange" sounding Irish and Saxon names that are rarely, if at all, used today is difficult. Who still names their son Eadulf? Or their daughter Fidelma?
Furthermore, this book is heavily serialized or dependent on readers having read earlier books. For example, Beccnat, one of Fidelma's college classmate, references events that predates the first book and Act of Mercy (book 9). If you know Fidelma's back story, then they make sense. The main plot of this book is a continuation of the events in The Seventh Trumpet. You should read that first before this one.
Lastly, it has become tiring that Fidelma keeps having to remind people of her legal and social rank. Yes, we know she's smart and learned. Yes, we know she's the daughter of a king and sister of another. Therefore, if a character tries to play dominance games whether an abbot or a local lord, Fidelma is not shy in reminding you. In this book, she turned the tables on the local lord in a sly way to the point where the lord can't do anything without looking petty and digging a bigger hole for himself. Maybe Tremayne should stop doing this. It is annoying.
All in all, I enjoyed this book but not enough for more than 3 stars.
On the other hand, as many other readers and reviewers know, keeping track of all the characters with "strange" sounding Irish and Saxon names that are rarely, if at all, used today is difficult. Who still names their son Eadulf? Or their daughter Fidelma?
Furthermore, this book is heavily serialized or dependent on readers having read earlier books. For example, Beccnat, one of Fidelma's college classmate, references events that predates the first book and Act of Mercy (book 9). If you know Fidelma's back story, then they make sense. The main plot of this book is a continuation of the events in The Seventh Trumpet. You should read that first before this one.
Lastly, it has become tiring that Fidelma keeps having to remind people of her legal and social rank. Yes, we know she's smart and learned. Yes, we know she's the daughter of a king and sister of another. Therefore, if a character tries to play dominance games whether an abbot or a local lord, Fidelma is not shy in reminding you. In this book, she turned the tables on the local lord in a sly way to the point where the lord can't do anything without looking petty and digging a bigger hole for himself. Maybe Tremayne should stop doing this. It is annoying.
All in all, I enjoyed this book but not enough for more than 3 stars.
January 7, 2021
This book was a soporific for me. I have been reading these Sister Fidelma books since the beginning. I love historical mysteries and how much more historical can you get than first century Ireland? Tremayne is an historian, and his books are as true to the era as you can find. I enjoyed watching Fidelma and Eadulf's adventures for years, but this one literally put me to sleep every time I tried to read it. There is just too much detail, and I keep reading the same things over and over. After 31 books, I know some of the customs of ancient Ireland. For example, I know that they always had a hot bath before the evening meal. It doesn't matter where they are, and believe me, Fidelma and Eadulf travel all over the place, they expect this service whenever they stay. I didn't need to read about this four or five times again in this book. The story is good, and the history even better, but I just had a little trouble keeping involved in the story. In hindsight, not a good book to start off my 2021 reading adventures. I think this will be 31
and done for me with this series.
and done for me with this series.
July 29, 2024
A good entry into the series. The mystery held my interest throughout even if the many different factions became confusing at times. I was glad to see the story focus on the mystery instead of banging away at how the New Faith wants to subjugate women like the last several books. I am with Fidelma and those who are against this tenant of the New Faith, but I also dislike having it repeated again and again. It's a mystery book. Concentrate on the mystery with the history sprinkled in. Like this one. I also like that there were several plausible suspects which kept my interest and kept me guessing.
A couple of reasons had me removing a star. Trying to make sense of all the warring factions and political intrigue at the end during Fidelma's roundup of the case was very confusing. Also, not all questions were answered. Who shot at Fidelma's part as they were traveling from Dicuil Dona's fortress to the mine keeper's place? At the time, it was insinuated that Aroc or Corbmac had done so, but the ending leaves a great deal of doubt. Yet, the moment is never addressed in Fidelma's case.
All in all, a good read and I look forward to the next one.
A couple of reasons had me removing a star. Trying to make sense of all the warring factions and political intrigue at the end during Fidelma's roundup of the case was very confusing. Also, not all questions were answered. Who shot at Fidelma's part as they were traveling from Dicuil Dona's fortress to the mine keeper's place? At the time, it was insinuated that Aroc or Corbmac had done so, but the ending leaves a great deal of doubt. Yet, the moment is never addressed in Fidelma's case.
All in all, a good read and I look forward to the next one.
March 12, 2021
Not the best of the Fidelma series. It starts off fairly strong, but by about the midway point it really starts to meander. Tremayne's description of the immidiate action is good as always - you always know who is where and doing what. The overall plotting of the mystery however isn't great.
Something about feuding kingdoms and a conspiracy to start a war. I confess that even after finishing I wasn't really sure who had done what and why, or what proof Fidelma had against any of them.
Part of this relates to a broader observation I have about mystery stories. It seems to me that the ideal length for a mystery is a novella. Short stories are often rushed - it's hard to build enough characters into such a short format. A full novel, however, is usually too long. The plot becomes convoluted. And if you end up reading it over a period of several weeks you've often half forgotten sometimes key events that happen near the beginning.
Something about feuding kingdoms and a conspiracy to start a war. I confess that even after finishing I wasn't really sure who had done what and why, or what proof Fidelma had against any of them.
Part of this relates to a broader observation I have about mystery stories. It seems to me that the ideal length for a mystery is a novella. Short stories are often rushed - it's hard to build enough characters into such a short format. A full novel, however, is usually too long. The plot becomes convoluted. And if you end up reading it over a period of several weeks you've often half forgotten sometimes key events that happen near the beginning.
January 22, 2024
King Colgu's betrothed, princess Gelgeis and her steward are missing, while brehon Brocc, who had been travelling with them is found murdered. The peddler who found his body is also killed in the same way shortly afterwards...and the body count does not stop yet...
Set in the hostile kingdom of Laigin, old enemy of Muman, Fidelma "Holmes" and Eadulf "Watson" find themselves in yet another dangerous adventure which includes conspiracy, as usual, gold and silver mines, large scale theft, a powerful warlord and his unusual children...even an old classmate of Fidelmas's, but is she friend or foe?
We get to know a new Abbey, and a new abbot, and a new set of brethren...but no penitentials this time.
One of the best cases of Fidelma and Eadulf, whose adventures, rich in historical detail and mystery, rarely disappoint.
Set in the hostile kingdom of Laigin, old enemy of Muman, Fidelma "Holmes" and Eadulf "Watson" find themselves in yet another dangerous adventure which includes conspiracy, as usual, gold and silver mines, large scale theft, a powerful warlord and his unusual children...even an old classmate of Fidelmas's, but is she friend or foe?
We get to know a new Abbey, and a new abbot, and a new set of brethren...but no penitentials this time.
One of the best cases of Fidelma and Eadulf, whose adventures, rich in historical detail and mystery, rarely disappoint.
August 3, 2021
The underlying commentary about the growth and spread of organized Catholicism and the paralleling themes of society's evolution drew me into a three-month binge reading of Sister Fedelma Mysteries--all 31 books. Because of those I have encouraged my friends to pick up the series. Unfortunately, the local libraries don't carry it and refuse to buy it, claiming the series is not on the New York Times Best Selling List. Kindle versions are not loanable, so unless compulsion lives strong in someone else's heart, the series will remain a sleeper.
Issues in this episode are not as timely, and are not as intriguing. It was a fast, easy read with very little to think about hidden under the plot. I enjoyed it. I look forward to the next episode if Tremayne decides to continue this series.
Issues in this episode are not as timely, and are not as intriguing. It was a fast, easy read with very little to think about hidden under the plot. I enjoyed it. I look forward to the next episode if Tremayne decides to continue this series.
October 25, 2020
Word comes to Colgu that Princess Gelgeis behan was found dead and she is missing. Fidelma, Eadulf, and Enda set off for Laigin to find the princess. In tracking her they are captured and their help is sought to solve a mystery. Fidelma agrees but insists finding Gelgeis is her first obligation. Dead boies start to pile up and more and more it seems the two mysteries are connected. Shapeshifters are a superstition of the mountain folk. The Shapeshifter's Lair is the latest Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma novels. Enjoyed it.
October 12, 2022
Fidelma and Eadulf must once again leave their son Alchu to search the Wicklow mountains for the missing princess Gelgeis, the betrothed of Colgu, King of Muman and Fidelma’s brother. The book gets off to an unfortunate start with a petulant Fidelma lashing out because she is bored with the quiet life of being a mother and a “dalaigh,” an advocate of the law courts. She is lucky that she has such an understanding author who presents her not only with a puzzle to solve but also a perilous travel adventure.
January 30, 2021
I've read just about all the Fidelma books, so I can generally suss out how the plot is going to unfold. I was pleasantly surprised when Peter Tremayne revealed how the mystery was perpetrated. I will confess to being a little disappointed in the pacing of the book as it seemed to drag in parts.
Overall, I recommend the book and the series. I enjoyed it greatly.
Overall, I recommend the book and the series. I enjoyed it greatly.
October 21, 2021
The Shapeshifter's Lair is good mystery with enough clues and red herrings to make the story interesting.
March 19, 2021
It was an enjoyable read, but I didn't think that the mystery wrapped up all that neatly. I never did figure out why one of the co-conspirators was even involved in the whole thing. I do like learning about the culture and legal system of ancient Ireland.
The number of typos was very annoying!
The number of typos was very annoying!
March 31, 2024
Another excellent Fidelma story, one with great plot twists and an unexpected ending. Also, I quite liked the political background, although it meant more violence than usual. Looking forward to reading the next adventure.
September 15, 2020
Challenging mystery as always but I got part of it with a lucky guess.
October 10, 2020
It's OK. Tremayne seems to be in a bit of a rut. Once again Fidelma thwarts an attempt to overthrow an established governing entity. More typos than usual in this book.
December 14, 2020
Enjoyed this book. Liked that the legal system was explained a bit more as well as succession .
December 20, 2020
This book should have 3 1/2 stars. It would be 4 stars but it needed a better proofreader. The story was a tightly written as the others in the series.
March 19, 2021
Another fabulous read in this series....and the last available till next year. Insert sigh here.
June 7, 2021
Another interesting adventure for Fidelma and Eadulf.
July 26, 2021
Another good entry in this series.
October 28, 2021
Love this series.
December 5, 2021
as good as ever
February 23, 2022
Last in series and the best.
April 12, 2022
"And who can say what a person's true shape is? The mind is the greatest shapeshifter of all."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews