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eososray's review against another edition
4.0
I love Sister Fidelma. She is a highly intelligent and determined character that causes consternation amoung men of the era who are not used to her Irish ways. Just for that alone I find these books highly enjoyable but the author also evokes the era and history in his writing which I appreciate.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
2.0
Earlier this fall, I discovered Cora Harrison's Burren Mysteries (about a woman judge in Medieval Ireland who solves mysteries and falls in love with the king, etc). I finished these and encouraged Goodreads-style reader's advisory from the public librarian types. The problem* with reader's advisory is that you often have to trust the reviews and "advise" readers toward books you've never read. I would imagine this generally works out fine.
This time it did NOT work out fine**. The Sister Fidelma mysteries seem like a good choice, since they are also about a nun in ancient/medieval Ireland who solves mysteries and falls in love with one of her fellow monks (apparently that was cool back then). They seem like such a good choice that I gave the first book [b:Absolution by Murder|706476|Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)|Peter Tremayne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177464496s/706476.jpg|1717777] the benefit of the doubt despite (HERE ARE THE SPOLIERS) the eeeeevil lustful Lesbian killer. I mean, I suppose it was fairly well done, and how many books are there about women who solve mysteries in pre-colonial Ireland?!
Then I came to book two, slightly skeptical but ready for more fun. This time (MORE SPOILERS), I encountered the eeeeevil followers of "Mahomet." I get that Peter Tremayne is choosing groups who would have realistically been viewed as society's villains during the time he was writing about. However, there's gotta be a way to be true to history without making your readers cringe. At first, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and just figured the books a bit "outdated"...but seriously, these were written in the 1990s, not the 1890s.
I might, believe it or not, give this series one more try. On an airplane or something. With a later book. However: in addition to the above, these don't actually seem to take place in Ireland (Sister Fidelma being your ancient equivalent of a modern 20-something backpacker?), *and* the mystery kind of gets explained all of a sudden by Fidelma at the end. No additional points for either of those.
*Here I go dispensing opinions about RA despite never once having advised readers on leisure reading in my professional life. I advise panicky undergrads, mostly.
**Carrie, can I just be clear I am NOT giving you a hard time for the rec? I think this is somewhat hilarious.
This time it did NOT work out fine**. The Sister Fidelma mysteries seem like a good choice, since they are also about a nun in ancient/medieval Ireland who solves mysteries and falls in love with one of her fellow monks (apparently that was cool back then). They seem like such a good choice that I gave the first book [b:Absolution by Murder|706476|Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)|Peter Tremayne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177464496s/706476.jpg|1717777] the benefit of the doubt despite (HERE ARE THE SPOLIERS) the eeeeevil lustful Lesbian killer. I mean, I suppose it was fairly well done, and how many books are there about women who solve mysteries in pre-colonial Ireland?!
Then I came to book two, slightly skeptical but ready for more fun. This time (MORE SPOILERS), I encountered the eeeeevil followers of "Mahomet." I get that Peter Tremayne is choosing groups who would have realistically been viewed as society's villains during the time he was writing about. However, there's gotta be a way to be true to history without making your readers cringe. At first, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and just figured the books a bit "outdated"...but seriously, these were written in the 1990s, not the 1890s.
I might, believe it or not, give this series one more try. On an airplane or something. With a later book. However: in addition to the above, these don't actually seem to take place in Ireland (Sister Fidelma being your ancient equivalent of a modern 20-something backpacker?), *and* the mystery kind of gets explained all of a sudden by Fidelma at the end. No additional points for either of those.
*Here I go dispensing opinions about RA despite never once having advised readers on leisure reading in my professional life. I advise panicky undergrads, mostly.
**Carrie, can I just be clear I am NOT giving you a hard time for the rec? I think this is somewhat hilarious.
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
Fidelma is a pleasure as always. Funny how in her masterful revealing of all chapter at the end, she always seems to find some hidden relations - brother, sister, father, mother, etc. - but that always is the main impetus for the murders....hmmmm
molly_roanoke's review against another edition
2.0
Is this book more/less/equally randomly homophobic as the last one?:
Slightly less. In this one, the gay characters aren't murderers, just thieves? wtf Peter Tremayne??
Slightly less. In this one, the gay characters aren't murderers, just thieves? wtf Peter Tremayne??
capra's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jbleyle63's review against another edition
4.0
Tremayne's Sister Fidelma historical mystery series is fast approaching the appreciation level of Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael series for me. Who knew Ireland was so enlightened in the mid seventh century AD?
zombeesknees's review against another edition
4.0
A vivid historical mystery with compelling characters and a satisfying series of twists before the dramatic conclusion.
19minnie's review against another edition
2.0
Ja, beetje tegenstrijdig he. Eerst het eerste boek uit de serie afdoen als niet echt mijn ding, maar dan toch het tweede gaan lezen. Dit komt omdat ik deze uit de bieb gehaald had, en het toch wel heel mooie covers zijn. Ik had de stille hoop dat het volgende deel mij wel beter ging liggen, maar dit was niet waar.
ccwray's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
vexedfox's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0