Sister Fidelma of Cashel is the central character in Peter Tremayne’s long-running historical mystery series set in 7th-century Ireland. She belongs to the religious community at Kildare but her background is far from ordinary. Born into the royal family of Muman (the ancient kingdom of Munster), she is the younger sister of King Colgu. She is also a trained dalaigh, or legal advocate, of the Brehon law courts, holding the rank of anruth. This combination of religious standing, royal connections, and legal authority gives her unusual access and influence when investigating crimes.
Fidelma is sharp-tongued, impatient with fools, and fiercely independent. She trained at the bardic school of Brehon Morann and earned her legal qualifications before entering religious life. Her knowledge of the detailed provisions of the Brehon law system allows her to navigate disputes that cross the boundaries between church and secular authority, between the five kingdoms of Ireland, and between Celtic and Roman traditions during a period when these tensions were at their height.
Her investigations take her well beyond Ireland. She has traveled to Rome, the kingdoms of Saxon England, and Gaul, solving mysteries that range from political assassination to seemingly impossible locked-room murders. Her companion Brother Eadulf, a Saxon monk she met at the Synod of Whitby, becomes her husband over the course of the series. Together they form one of the more distinctive detective partnerships in historical fiction, with Fidelma’s legal precision balanced by Eadulf’s practical good sense and his willingness to wade into danger alongside her.
Reading Order
See the complete Sister Fidelma reading order for all books in the series.