Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews
by Editor
Page Four of FourValley of the Shadow by Peter Tremayne
St. Martin's Minotaur, March 2000.Hardcover, 269 pages.
ISBN: 0312209398.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
In A.D. 666 Ireland, Sister Fidelma is both a
religieuse and a daláigh of the Irish courts, which
is a bit like a French examining magistrate.
Fidelma's brother, Colgú of Cashel, the king of
Muman, sends Fidelma and Brother Eadulf to
the hidden valley of Gleann Geis on a diplomatic
mission. The people of Gleann Geis are mostly
Druids, but have agreed to allow the building of a
Christian church. Near the valley, Fidelma and
Eadulf come upon the site of a grisly ritual
murder of thirty-three young men, whose bodies
are arrayed in a circle. The chieftain of Gleann
Geis, Laisre, seems reluctant for Fidelma to
investigate the slayings. When Brother Solin, the obnoxious
secretary to the bishop of Imleach's northern rival, is
found slain Fidelma is the chief
suspect. Fidelma and Eadulf have their work cut
out for them -- they must clear Fidelma's name and
solve the riddle of the murdered men before it's too late.
Sister Fidelma's latest adventure further develops the theme of the historical struggle between the older, pagan beliefs of Ireland with the newer beliefs of Christianity, as well as the struggles between the more liberal teachings of the Irish Catholic church and those of Rome. Peter Tremayne (the pseudonym of famed Celtic expert Peter Beresford Ellis) does a brilliant job of integrating his detailed knowledge of the period into an absorbing mystery novel. Fidelma is intelligent, courageous and outspoken, yet sometimes her inner doubts and feelings slip through, making her a compelling character. With intrigue, assassinations, political maneuverings and a high body count, Valley of the Shadow has enough action and adventure to rival any modern day detective story. History buffs and lovers of a tightly-written mystery puzzle will definitely want to pick up a copy of Peter Tremayne's latest offering.
Return to the June 2000 issue of The IWJ.
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