The Chalice of Blood (Sister Fidelma Mysteries Book 21)

The Chalice of Blood

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How did the murderer escape? And what was the content of the manuscripts appa The brilliant new novel in the internationally renowned Sister Fidelma crime series by Peter Tremayne. And what was the content of the manuscripts apparently stolen from the scholar's room? Abbot Iarnla insists on sending for Sister Fidelma and her companion Brother Eadulf to investigate the killing. But even before they reach the abbey walls, there is an attempt on their lives. As the mystery deepens, Fidelma and Eadulf must also wrestle with problems of their own, which threaten to separate them for ever Hardcover , pages.

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Chalice of Blood , please sign up. Lists with This Book. There is something about Sister Fidelma that I really don't like - she's arrogant. She uses her position as a dalaigh of the second rank the way someone would use their 2: If that doen't work then she brings out the big guns Her poor, long-suffering husband Eadulf gets walked on, dismissed, generally put down like a dog with a severe case of worms.

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They've spl There is something about Sister Fidelma that I really don't like - she's arrogant. They've gone their own ways!! Colgu has got the two of them together to investigate the murder of a potential saint in some abbey not too far away Now I know that sounds highly critical but that leaves the door open for me to say that Tremayne does a very good job of taking a well-hammered scenario and adding a few new quirks that actually make the story quite interesting, even gripping. The predictable bits act like a hook on which he can hang a few twists and turns.

Sadly the villains are villainous and the goodies are - oh! There aren't that many goodies Well it is Ireland in the Dark Ages, after all! It's been awhile since I read a Sister Fidelma book so I think I enjoyed this one more than I have some of the others The author's writing style is a bit formal and pedantic and he tends to way over-use and over-explain words from the ancient language. These explanations are peppered throughout the book, often even occurring as part of dialogue that would make no sense. It would be like me saying, "I would like a mug It's been awhile since I read a Sister Fidelma book so I think I enjoyed this one more than I have some of the others It would be like me saying, "I would like a mug of coffee, a dark caffeine-containing beverage brewed from the ground beans of a plant from the Rubiacea family.

So that part gets old. But I have to admit I have enjoyed the evolution of Sister Fidelma from a young dalaigh it means lawyer, by the way who is also a religieuse nun to later books where she becomes a wife to Brother Eadulf a Saxon and mother. But still officially a Sister, as this is Ireland before the rule of Rome took the church by storm and many abbeys with both male and female religieuse co habitating and even raising families were still common. Thus, I put up with some annoyances.

Jan 26, Sharon rated it it was amazing. I found this to be a very satisfying book! The characters engaged my interest and are well-developed. The author's knowledge of ancient Ireland and the early days of Christianity contribute a great deal to the story line and educate the reader about this era and the details of its religion and government. The relationship between Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf is evolving as the story proceeds which adds an additional dimension to this fascinating story.

I have read other Sister Fidelma myste I found this to be a very satisfying book! I have read other Sister Fidelma mysteries by Peter Tremayne the pen name of an eminent scholar of ancient Ireland and the Celts and this book is one of the best so far. I fully intend to continue reading this series and encourage others to do so as well.

Jul 16, Susan rated it liked it. Sister Fidelma wants to leave the religious life behind and devote herself to the law. Her husband and father of her child, Eadulf, desires nothing more than the quiet life of an abbey monk. When a monk in the Abbey of Lios Mor is found murdered in his locked cell and the manuscripts he was working on missing, however, the two are reunited to investigate.

It does not take them long to notice something is amiss in the power structure of the abbey. The story is worth reading for its depiction of l Sister Fidelma wants to leave the religious life behind and devote herself to the law. However, I found annoying the frequent use of words in Irish followed by their English translation. The characters spoke repetitively, which made some parts feel very drawn out and boring.

There also was just not much going on plot wise.

The Chalice of Blood Sister Fidelma 21 Tremayne Peter 0755347250

The historical parts were the most interesting because I am not too familiar with medieval Ireland. Nov 24, Patricia rated it it was amazing. I re-read this 21 in the Sister Fidelma series, because I read it some time ago and then decided to read the entire series in sequence. It is not my favorite depiction of Fidelma, who manages to walk over everyone and insists on having things her way. But that makes her an excellent legal mind, so it works to a good end.

What I do like most about The Chalice of Blood is that it shows the devastation that results when books are destroyed, banned, or denied to the world for any reason. Surely the I re-read this 21 in the Sister Fidelma series, because I read it some time ago and then decided to read the entire series in sequence. Surely the freedom of the written word is a measure of any civilization, no matter the century. This story takes us back to the 7th century, but we can bear witness to attempts to suppress that freedom now, in Peter Tremayne has given us an exciting historical mystery novel along with some valuable lessons.

I found parts of this really annoying. There are lots of unnecessary quotes to explain plot devices and background that are extremely unsubtle and could just be in the text. I know 7th century Ireland is meant to be liberal in this respect but is her gender really no obstacle or consequence? I have read another Tremayne book and it was enjoyable but this was historic I found parts of this really annoying. I have read another Tremayne book and it was enjoyable but this was historical fiction by numbers - not a patch on Ellis Peters.

However, it did pick up at the end and I like that he has created a strong, female protagonist. It was worth reading to find out about Celsus - the historical note at the end was the best thing about it. Oct 27, Doris Mahala rated it it was amazing. Does Brother Eadulf have enough patient to save his marriage to Sister Fidelma? Will Sister Fidelma discover who is killing the brothers?

Will the Brehon accept the necessary documents that help tell the story? Where will this lead?

Horrors of horrors who would want to destroy precious, rare documents and books that have history, mythology of their ancestors? Read if you dare! Jun 26, Cindie rated it really liked it. My father-in law has difficulty reading some books because they make him angry. This would definitely be one of those books. The extent that some religious, or in this case the extent to which those who profess to be Christians, will go to prove their beliefs are pushing Fidelma away from Catholicism. Good book, glad I was able to read it without having to put it down very often.

Jan 14, Amy rated it really liked it. A badass lady in ancient Ireland solves a mysterious murder surrounded by political and religious intrigue. So much to like. I did not know this was a series prior to picking it up and still thoroughly enjoyed it. May 30, Ana Elena Romero rated it liked it. Jun 01, Malcolm Evans rated it really liked it. This is not a genre I usually read or am familiar with. Found it difficult to read at the start with many Celtic words and names index of characters was useful but once I got into the plot I found it intriguing and it held my suspense to the last pages.

May look for others by the same author. The best of the series I have been reading the series with increasig interest. Another great Sister Fidelma mystery The plot was quite complicated, and the resolution of the mystery was hard to figure out until the end. Recommend to those who love the time period and mysteries. Aug 12, Puzzle Doctor rated it really liked it. Strong entry into the series. Full review at classicmystery. Nov 24, Euan Pollock rated it liked it. Did everything that I wanted it too, without being spectacular. I liked the multiple plots intertwining, I thought that was impressive.

Twenty-first in the Sister Fidelma medieval mystery series revolving around a nun who is a lawyer and the husband who assists her in their detecting. My Take The primary theme here is religious intolerance, so antithetical to what Jesus taught. The negative need to destroy anyone who believes opposite your own beliefs. To burn any books which do not conform to your thoughts. Tremayne makes an excellent point in what he relates about Celsus, the book that is causing such a hurrah in the abbey as Ce Twenty-first in the Sister Fidelma medieval mystery series revolving around a nun who is a lawyer and the husband who assists her in their detecting.

Tremayne makes an excellent point in what he relates about Celsus, the book that is causing such a hurrah in the abbey as Celsus points out that: And why should God come in men in the form of one nationality and of one distinctive faith? I'm anxious to know how they decide. One of the recurring themes that I adore in this series is the Irish culture of the seventh century when the law was fair to all, women enjoyed equality, and the Catholic Church was tolerant.

Read a few of the books in this series and you too will wish for those "good old days". At least, if we could have someone like Fidelma around! Throughout the story and in her summings up in court, Fidelma always raises interesting issues that get me salivating to do research into religious histories and philosophies. One of particular interest is the translation of adelphos thereby raising the question of Jesus' birth and his siblings.

The Story A monk newly returned from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem is much changed in demeanor which excites concern amongst his brothers. Particularly from Brother Lugna, an adherent for Roman rule.

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Lugna is slowly pushing the abbey to a celibate and Penitential rule much to the consternation of most but Abbot Iarnla has no backing from the lord, er, lady of the land. Lugna certainly does provide Fidelma the opportunities to put him down as he continually interferes in her investigation. Then there are the many accidents on the building site, the attacks on Eadulf and Fidelma, thefts, murders, burnings, and a hijacking all confuse the issue. But in true Fidelma fashion, she sorts it out and sums it up at the end. It always makes such sense when she brings the facts together but I'll never get ahead of this woman!

Eadulf wants to retreat to an abbey community with their son while Fidelma wants to stop being a religieuse and devote herself to the law. It is her son, Brother Donnchad , who was murdered. And I'm drooling at the thought of those beautifully illuminated books and scrolls The Cover and Title The cover is a lovely marbled green with vertical bands of Celtic knotwork bordering the sides. A knotwork border frames an inset picture of a colorful landscape. Stone buildings surrounded by trees on the left with a river flowing inwards and a worked marble slab bordered in more knotwork laden with one closed book and another opened to beautifully illuminated pages and a gold chalice, a scroll rolled up at its base.

The title is what it's all about the cup of knowledge, The Chalice in Blood. Aug 30, Deborah rated it really liked it. The Chalice of Blood is the first book I have read in the Sister Fidelma series and there are so many that came before!

It won't be my last. I like the way Tremayne writes the character of Sister Fidelma. Some Goodreads reviewers seem very annoyed or put off by her, but I kept thinking about the TV series "Bones". Sister Fidelma is like Bones, logical and focused while she is putting the puzzle pieces of the mystery together. When she is annoyed by something or someone, she has very good reason The Chalice of Blood is the first book I have read in the Sister Fidelma series and there are so many that came before!

When she is annoyed by something or someone, she has very good reason for it. Did I ever enjoy this book! Within the structure of a mystery novel, it describes the history of books and their treasured status when they were so hard to come by and painstakingly produced. The story surrounds the work of Celsus, The True Word, a book that no longer exists, except as excerpts in Origen's volume refuting Celsus' premise that Christians are ridiculous.

You can tell by the subtle twinkle in Fidelma's eye that she maybe thinks that Celsus was right. This "heretical" book and so many others were systematically destroyed by the Church. The Sister Fidelma 20th Anniversary Collection. A dark and twisted Celtic mystery you won t be able to put down.

A page-turning medieval mystery of murder and intrigue. A captivating Celtic mystery of heart-stopping suspense. An unputdownable medieval mystery of murder and mayhem. A deadly Celtic mystery of political intrigue and corruption. A dark historical mystery filled with thrilling twists. A twisty Celtic mystery filled with treachery and bloodshed.

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An unputdownable collection of gripping Celtic mysteries. A sharp and haunting Celtic mystery. A riveting historical mystery bringing Medieval Ireland to life. Peter Tremayne is the fiction pseudonym of a well-known authority on the ancient Celts, who has utilised his knowledge of the Brehon law system and 7th-Century Irish society to create a new concept in detective fiction.

The World According to Anna. The Unfinished Novel and Other stories. From the Place in the Valley Deep in the Forest. A chilling medieval mystery set in 7th century Ireland. More books by Peter Tremayne.

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