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Sister Fidelma #17
A Prayer for the Damned
Super sleuth Sister Fidelma returns in the seventeenth historical mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of MASTER OF SOULS, WHISPERS OF THE DEAD and many more. PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA 'Rich helpings of evil and tension with lively and varied characters' Historical Novels Review, 'The most detailed and vivid recreations of ancient Ireland' Irish Examiner February, AD 668, and Cashel is full of distinguished visitors. Under the old Irish custom, Fidelma of Cashel and Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham, having been joined together for a year and a day, are to be married. But on the eve of the ceremony, the pious Abbot Ultán is found murdered in his chamber. Worse still - one of the most distinguished guests, the King of Connacht, is seen fleeing from the scene and charged with the murder. He demands his right to appoint Fidelma in his defence. Fidelma soon discovers that Abbot Ultán is not the pious man he was thought to be - indeed, many of the guests have cause to hate him. It is a long weekend of suspicion, fear and more death before Fidelma and Eadulf are able to reveal the truth behind Ultán's murder. What readers are saying about A PRAYER FOR THE 'Tremayne is unparalleled . Five stars ' 'The twists and turns kept me i ntrigued throughout this excellent book ' ' Keeps you guessing right till the end. Very well written '
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2006
28 people are currently reading
461 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 66 reviews
January 29, 2022
Read this book in 2007, and its the 18th volume, chronologically, of the amazing "Sister Fidelma" series.
Its February, AD 668, and Cashel is full with distinguished visitors, because according to the old Irish custom, Fidelma of Cashel and Brother Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham, are having been joined for a year and a day, are to be married.
But on the eve of that ceremony the pious Abbot Ultán is found murdered and running from the place of death is the King of Connacht.
This King of Connacht is now charged with the murder of Abbot Ultán, but he wants to plea his innocence and asks Sister Fidelma to defend him.
What Sister Fidelma soons discovers is that this Abbot was not so pious at all but seriously hated by people attending this feast.
A long weekend of suspicion will follow the investigations of Sister Fidelma, and assisted by Brother Eadulf they will encounter some interesting angles towards this murder.
What is to follow is an intriguing and marvellous Irish mystery, in which Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf after unravelling the threads of this web of murder, they will be able to tell King Colgú of Muman, who's Fidelma's brother, who the real culprit is of this murder and the truth behind it.
Highly recommended, for this is another terrific addition to this splendid series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Prayer For The Damned"!
Its February, AD 668, and Cashel is full with distinguished visitors, because according to the old Irish custom, Fidelma of Cashel and Brother Eadulf of Seaxmund's Ham, are having been joined for a year and a day, are to be married.
But on the eve of that ceremony the pious Abbot Ultán is found murdered and running from the place of death is the King of Connacht.
This King of Connacht is now charged with the murder of Abbot Ultán, but he wants to plea his innocence and asks Sister Fidelma to defend him.
What Sister Fidelma soons discovers is that this Abbot was not so pious at all but seriously hated by people attending this feast.
A long weekend of suspicion will follow the investigations of Sister Fidelma, and assisted by Brother Eadulf they will encounter some interesting angles towards this murder.
What is to follow is an intriguing and marvellous Irish mystery, in which Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf after unravelling the threads of this web of murder, they will be able to tell King Colgú of Muman, who's Fidelma's brother, who the real culprit is of this murder and the truth behind it.
Highly recommended, for this is another terrific addition to this splendid series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Prayer For The Damned"!
November 7, 2019
This series is unlike many other series for several reasons. First, it takes place in the mid 600’s in Ireland – a time when most of the world was in the ‘Dark Ages’ while Ireland itself experienced an ‘Age of Enlightenment’. Scholars from around the world attended Ireland’s Universities and other schools of knowledge, and while they were there, they also learned about the legal system.
Brehon Law, based on the texts called Fenechas were based upon civil law rather than criminal law. In other words, compensation, remediation, and redemption were the principles of the law and the learned judges and lawyers met every three years to update the laws to ensure they stayed current with the changes time and circumstance warrant.
For example, these laws were in existence in Ireland for centuries before Christianity appeared on the scene. Once it did, the laws then adapted themselves to many of the early Christian ideals, too. The struggles began when Christianity began to enforce stronger controls from Rome. In particular, the penitential aspects of the reforms in Rome began to interfere radically with Brehon Law. The penitential reforms that began in the mid to late 600’s were based on severe punishment from the Old Testament – scourging, flogging, capital punishment, imprisonment, and so forth.
In this segment of the Sister Fidelma saga, we learn a great deal about the Fenechas rulings specifically regarding women. This theme, along with Peter Tremayne’s great storytelling and ability to weave plots and subplots into a cohesive whole, gives this particular novel both its impetus and its fascination. I loved it and look forward to what Sister Fidelma and her partner Brother Eadulf will be challenged by next.
Brehon Law, based on the texts called Fenechas were based upon civil law rather than criminal law. In other words, compensation, remediation, and redemption were the principles of the law and the learned judges and lawyers met every three years to update the laws to ensure they stayed current with the changes time and circumstance warrant.
For example, these laws were in existence in Ireland for centuries before Christianity appeared on the scene. Once it did, the laws then adapted themselves to many of the early Christian ideals, too. The struggles began when Christianity began to enforce stronger controls from Rome. In particular, the penitential aspects of the reforms in Rome began to interfere radically with Brehon Law. The penitential reforms that began in the mid to late 600’s were based on severe punishment from the Old Testament – scourging, flogging, capital punishment, imprisonment, and so forth.
In this segment of the Sister Fidelma saga, we learn a great deal about the Fenechas rulings specifically regarding women. This theme, along with Peter Tremayne’s great storytelling and ability to weave plots and subplots into a cohesive whole, gives this particular novel both its impetus and its fascination. I loved it and look forward to what Sister Fidelma and her partner Brother Eadulf will be challenged by next.
April 19, 2022
Un'altra puntata delle peripezie investigative di sorella Fidelma, la religiosa, magistrato, nobile che muove i suoi passi nell'Alto Medioevo irlandese. Un personaggio come sempre originale e deliziosamente inverosimile che fa da guida, oltre che nella trama gialle, nella descrizione di una societa' inusitatamente originale e marcatamente libertaria rispetto al contesto occidentale del tempo. Lo sviluppo giallo e' molto intricato ma ben condotto e, al netto del solito dispiego di terminologia celtica, godibile.
May 2, 2021
He just keeps getting betterer and betterer.
September 20, 2010
The umpteenth in the Sister Fidelma series set in 7th c. Ireland. Fidelma and Eadulf's wedding ceremony is postponed by the murder of an odious abbot who had come to Cashel specifically to protest their wedding, being a proponent of the Roman way of thinking which demands celibacy for the Christian religious. But Ireland has no such rules, and Rome does not have an official ban on marriage among the religious either--and Abbot Ultan had other reasons for being among the highest ranking political and religious people in the land, all gathered together at Cashel.
But before he can make much more than a stir, he is stabbed to death and Fidelma, who is also a high-ranking lawyer besides being a religieux, is asked by the man accused of the crime to defend him. While Fidelma can find no one with a kind word to say about Ultan and motives are everywhere, no one but her client was seen leaving the abbot's room minutes before his death.
As usual, Fidelma and Eadulf work together to solve the crime, and of course more bodies join the abbot's along the way before Fidelma reveals all at the end. Enjoyable visit to Cashel as always, if somewhat predictable.
But before he can make much more than a stir, he is stabbed to death and Fidelma, who is also a high-ranking lawyer besides being a religieux, is asked by the man accused of the crime to defend him. While Fidelma can find no one with a kind word to say about Ultan and motives are everywhere, no one but her client was seen leaving the abbot's room minutes before his death.
As usual, Fidelma and Eadulf work together to solve the crime, and of course more bodies join the abbot's along the way before Fidelma reveals all at the end. Enjoyable visit to Cashel as always, if somewhat predictable.
July 13, 2024
People have gathered far and wide for a wedding in Cashel.
The story is fairly political at the outset--we learn about a group of Saxon brothers (Noavan, Berrihert, and Pecanum) seeking asylum and refugee status and Eadulf is asked to vouch for them. The main antagonist is Bishop Ultan, a misogynistic zealot who is very much against conhospitae and any other more progressive interpretations of Christianity. Most interesting is that we learn more about Fidelma's own views of her faith and choice to be a Sister. There are more elements of character development and intrigue than in some of the earlier installments of the series.
Tremayne also fills in details of medieval Celtic law that he has introduced in earlier volumes, such as the troscud, the ritual fast "to ensure the defendant accepts judgement." We are given details about the nuanced process--if the defendant agrees to settle and the plaintiff is notified and continues to fast, that forfeits the claim! These little legal details actual come to play an important part in the story. Funeral rites are also explained in detail as are cultural details tied to the Fenechus, the Brehon law system.
As Fidelma herself notes, it is an interesting case because there are so many suspects with a motive, at least for the first murder. That said, the actual culprit seemed a bit far-fetched for me and it relied upon a lot of information not revealed in the book. Still, definitely a good read and rewarding for those who are reading the entire series.
The story is fairly political at the outset--we learn about a group of Saxon brothers (Noavan, Berrihert, and Pecanum) seeking asylum and refugee status and Eadulf is asked to vouch for them. The main antagonist is Bishop Ultan, a misogynistic zealot who is very much against conhospitae and any other more progressive interpretations of Christianity. Most interesting is that we learn more about Fidelma's own views of her faith and choice to be a Sister. There are more elements of character development and intrigue than in some of the earlier installments of the series.
Tremayne also fills in details of medieval Celtic law that he has introduced in earlier volumes, such as the troscud, the ritual fast "to ensure the defendant accepts judgement." We are given details about the nuanced process--if the defendant agrees to settle and the plaintiff is notified and continues to fast, that forfeits the claim! These little legal details actual come to play an important part in the story. Funeral rites are also explained in detail as are cultural details tied to the Fenechus, the Brehon law system.
As Fidelma herself notes, it is an interesting case because there are so many suspects with a motive, at least for the first murder. That said, the actual culprit seemed a bit far-fetched for me and it relied upon a lot of information not revealed in the book. Still, definitely a good read and rewarding for those who are reading the entire series.
June 14, 2021
Seventeen books into the series, I finally got the conclusion early on. —
What makes this book especially good is Fidelma’s monologue at the end. This monologue isn’t the usual unemotional plotting out of her search for truth. This time she actually emotionally and philosophically discusses Rome’s disrespect and censoring of women. She corrects the Roman translation of the Gospels from the Greeks. Tremayne very nicely explains the mistranslation while leaving the reader to decide if the mistranslations were intentional.
This series has given me a whole new picture of where Ireland stood religiously and secularly in the 7th Century. And it has made me even more grateful that my father took a stand against the Roman Catholic Church of his childhood. —
What makes this book especially good is Fidelma’s monologue at the end. This monologue isn’t the usual unemotional plotting out of her search for truth. This time she actually emotionally and philosophically discusses Rome’s disrespect and censoring of women. She corrects the Roman translation of the Gospels from the Greeks. Tremayne very nicely explains the mistranslation while leaving the reader to decide if the mistranslations were intentional.
This series has given me a whole new picture of where Ireland stood religiously and secularly in the 7th Century. And it has made me even more grateful that my father took a stand against the Roman Catholic Church of his childhood. —
May 30, 2022
Fidelma is a hero for our times. Her adventures are always interesting. Took a few chapters to get into the story, but then it kept me engaged. Language place names make it a difficult read sometimes (I’d give it a 3.75)
I would prefer a little more local color, people sitting at the tables with conversation and food; descriptions of the places, the tapestries, the clothing/tools…
The story is really a modern one set in ancient times. I, personally, would like a little info on the background and research. How much of this is created by the author and how much recreated into a story from scholarly archeological research/discovery?
I would prefer a little more local color, people sitting at the tables with conversation and food; descriptions of the places, the tapestries, the clothing/tools…
The story is really a modern one set in ancient times. I, personally, would like a little info on the background and research. How much of this is created by the author and how much recreated into a story from scholarly archeological research/discovery?
May 12, 2024
p 226: "I believe lavender was brought to Britain by the Romans some centuries ago. They used the powers to scent their baths and hence we call if after their word lavare."
All of the titles in this series address the on-going politics of religion as well as the history of Ireland and other tidbits of interest. But I must admit that I often skim over the passages about religious struggles, especially the ones detailing the controversy over the conflicts with Rome.
The mysteries, however, are always engaging, and the characters are interesting. Eadulf was a little stronger in this volume (except by now I would think he'd be more comfortable on horseback).
May 5, 2025
A surprisingly good Sister Fidelma mystery that continues to absolutely refuse anything of her personal life unless it is absolutely necessary. A murder at the main character's wedding but we never get to see the wedding? Deeply irritating. Despite this, the author goes into theology and geographic orthodoxy in ways that have not been as strong since the original book. The mystery was very tangled and at times felt like it could have been one of at most three options (the suspects were triple that), and I ultimately did not get it, so A+ on that. Strong character studies and a fun look at Irish hierarchy. A good return to form.
February 19, 2021
This was probalby the most difficult case of Fidelma's career. And it all happens prior to a life event for her and Eadalf. I wasn't sure if they would solve the mystery before the end of the book. And yet just pages from the end, we have our murderer and several people will have been lowered in rank for the actions proir to the murder.
But DAMMIT! I wanted to know what Eadalf was going to say. Damn that astrologer from interupting.
But DAMMIT! I wanted to know what Eadalf was going to say. Damn that astrologer from interupting.
November 12, 2022
Absolutely awesome! really gets into why Irish women (and women around the world) lost so many of their rights due to the overrule of the Roman Catholic church over the earlier Celtic Christianity and what a loss that has been for the world. This is not in the story... it is the usual Fidelma's ability to solve a strange mystery and unusual murders, despite her wedding day needing to be postponed as a consequence... I love this series.
January 7, 2018
Sister Fidelma series, #17, and still a favorite of mine. A Prayer For the Damned has a surplus of suspects that keep the reader engrossed until the very end. The historical aspects also appeal to me, as do the points of law and the faith of that period of Irish history that appear to have been much more civilized than our society is today. If only time travel could bring Fidelma to us today!
March 23, 2018
Una saga que no defrauda.
Con una cuidadísima ambientación y un profundo conocimiento de las costumbres y modos de vida de la Irlanda antigua, esta saga policial siguen manteniendo siendo de lo mejor en su género.
En esta nueva entrega Fidelma tendrá que resolver un caso bastante enredado que ha echado por tierra la celebración de su boda con Eadulf. Como siempre, estupenda!
Con una cuidadísima ambientación y un profundo conocimiento de las costumbres y modos de vida de la Irlanda antigua, esta saga policial siguen manteniendo siendo de lo mejor en su género.
En esta nueva entrega Fidelma tendrá que resolver un caso bastante enredado que ha echado por tierra la celebración de su boda con Eadulf. Como siempre, estupenda!
April 23, 2020
An excellent book.
Told well, this is a fine tale. On the second (or third) reading it holds up well. I will not mention the enormously complex socio religious sweep of these stories because I have not spent the appropriate lifetime studying it’s complexities. The gist of it is enough to make these stories make some sense to me. You should read this.
Told well, this is a fine tale. On the second (or third) reading it holds up well. I will not mention the enormously complex socio religious sweep of these stories because I have not spent the appropriate lifetime studying it’s complexities. The gist of it is enough to make these stories make some sense to me. You should read this.
June 30, 2024
It's OK. He's a terrible writer, but the story's not bad. What I cannot fathom is how all his mistakes in Latin were allowed through. In edition after edition, I presume. There is barely a Latin phrase in any of his books without at least one basic mistake. Did he not check? Did the editors and publishers not check? How can this happen?
July 12, 2017
Complex and satisfying
Fidelma of Cashel solves her most complex mystery yet. Good plot twists and a host of interesting characters add interest along with a touch of ecclesiastical history and theological commentary. Another good read about Fidelma and Eadulf.
Fidelma of Cashel solves her most complex mystery yet. Good plot twists and a host of interesting characters add interest along with a touch of ecclesiastical history and theological commentary. Another good read about Fidelma and Eadulf.
October 18, 2017
Great read.
I was unsure who was guilty until the very last. All the facts were presented and the plot was clear. Fidelma is her usual logical self. There were quite a few suspects. I loved the ending.
I was unsure who was guilty until the very last. All the facts were presented and the plot was clear. Fidelma is her usual logical self. There were quite a few suspects. I loved the ending.
May 9, 2019
Well plotted and engaging but the true murderer was a little obvious. Still, the series is very well done with lots of information about 7th century Ireland and some interesting characters. A good mix of kind hearted characters and multi-dimensional characters to offset the evil ones.
June 3, 2019
Ho dato una stella perché è assurdo che io arrivi a leggere oltre la metà del libro e mi ritrovi con un grosso errore di stampa (una decina di pagine ristampate appartenenti ad un precedente capitolo) e la totale mancanza di 2 capitoli fondamentali del libro !!!!
June 28, 2023
A classic mystery with twists and red herrings and an interesting setting in early Christian Ireland. I found all the names unpronounceable, seems silly but having to constantly pause and decide how Prince Donennach of the Ui Fidgente should sound is a stumbling block
July 27, 2024
As always, Tremayne’s description of 7th c court life and monastic life is stellar. But the mystery is too complicated (for me, not Fidelma) the murders too numerous, and for goodness’s sake when on earth will Fidelma and Eadulf EVER marry? Tremayne is such a tease!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
This was a well written book. I enjoyed the story, setting and conclusion. I personally found some of the names too similar and at times got a little lost in the history of who was who but that didn't take away from the story.
April 1, 2018
I enjoy this series more about learning about the early Irish church & the culture than the mystery.
June 17, 2018
Liked this book a lot. Set in home turf just prior to formal marriage. Nice to see some humanity and real feelings for each of our dynamic duo. As usual also lots of historical facts and info.
July 26, 2018
Who "Spilled the bucket of beans" of the stone workers?
Who had the 6 nuns and the "brother" kidnapped?
Who shot the hermit monk?
Read!
Can not and will not say anything more!
Who had the 6 nuns and the "brother" kidnapped?
Who shot the hermit monk?
Read!
Can not and will not say anything more!
August 16, 2018
It was a good story but complicated by all the difficult language and place names.
February 8, 2021
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.False loves. Twists and turns.
May 13, 2021
These novels just get better and better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews