Valley of the Shadow

A Sister Fidelma Mystery of Ancient Ireland

By: Peter Tremayne

Narrated by: Caroline Lennon

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In Ireland of AD 666, Sister Fidelma is sent by her brother, Colgu of Cashel, the king of Muman, to the remote valley of Gleann Geis, whose inhabitants still adhere to the ancient Druidic ways. Her mission is to negotiate with the chieftain, Laisre, for permission to build a Christian church and school in his territory. Fidelma's task won't be an easy one, though, as Laisre's clan is known for its hostility to the new religion and fierce adherence to the old.

Approaching the valley, Fidelma and her companion, Brother Eadulf, come upon a particularly grisly scene - the slain bodies of thirty-three young men, placed in a sunwise circle and bearing the marks of the ancient threefold death of pagan times. As an emissary of her brother the king, and with her position as a dalaigh - an advocate of the Brehon courts - it is Fidelma's responsibility to uncover the truth behind the gruesome murders. Within the forbidden valley, Fidelma embarks upon an inquiry that not only places her in the gravest personal danger but upon which rests the continuing peace of her brother's kingdom.

©1998 Peter Tremayne (P)2014 Audible Inc.

very good 👍

I believe the narrator fits the story and does a very good job. I like the murder mystery alongside an ancient religion based narrative.

Another great complex Fidelma mystery

This is yet another fine mytery in the Sister Fidelma series which I really enjoy. In this story, Fidelma appears to be sent to a remote pagan clan who are still part of her brother's kingdom to negotiate the building of a Christian church. Just before she arrives, and just outside the clan's valley, she and Eadulf come across what appears to be a pagan inspired massacre. Fidelma and Eadulf continue to the clan and discover other unexplained guests, followed by murders, and a false accusation against Fidelma herself. The plot always keeps moving and the mystery is complex and well laid out. I was always fully engaged in listening to this book and the plot never dragged. My main criticism of Tremayne's Fidelma series is that he tries too hard to make Fidelma be the ideal female character, which results in her character coming across rather humorless and wooden. That aside, this book and the overall series are well worth the read.

I've been waiting for these for a while

...and here they are! These are definitely in the historical novel genre and new readers or listeners should know that it is heavy on the historic. Many will probably be surprised at Irish civilization at the time of these books. Ireland was indeed a place that today we might call a precursor to modern Western civilization. Except that Ireland would be overtaken by Rome and other outside invaders. All would have to be developed from scratch again and we still haven't lost our barbarism that much of Ireland eschewed. I love the telling of the myths and stories of the more ancient beliefs. As the books go on the stories become more and more interesting and better written. One thing that is a gripe throughout the books is the relationship between the two main characters Fidelma and Eadulf. Fidelma always seems rude and dismissive to her friend and then lover then husband and father of her child. This book is one of a few that Eadulf gets to shine on his own merit.

A Great Historical Mystery Series

I have read many historical mysteries, but Sister Fidelma mysteries are one of the best that I have every read. Here characters are wonderful, and historical information is well founded. Peter Tremayne really knows the historical times in which these novels are written. This is a series of novels that I can't put down and wait to be able to read more.

Finally, Fidelma!

I am so excited that these books are on Audible now! I read and reread this series a while ago, and they're just as good now as ever.
The narrator does a fairly good job. I was glad to finally hear how some of the words and names were actually pronounced. ;)

Sr. Fidelma charged with murder

Early in Fidelma’s career she is sent on a diplomatic journey by her brother the king to negotiate the acceptance of a Christian presence in a region suspicious of the politics of the new religion. All appears in hand until she and Br. Eadulf enter the territory to find 33 religious slain and displayed as a Druidic warning. The fate of all Ireland rests on how she responds. A complex thriller in the Celtic world.

Historic details, Gripping plot

She is a fantastic narrator... the twists and turns of plot are fun and the Church history adds a unique layer to this series.

I Wanted to Like It, But...

Tremayne can accurately include all the small living details of the period he wants, but the premise he used to place Sister Fedelma in her position as the protagonist is heavily contrived and ignores the historical conventions of the period. I could think of three or four setups for her that would have been consistent with the period and placed her in the drivers seat as protagonist and made it a better story. The setup was so distracting that I could not suspend my belief long enough to be drawn into the plot. License in historical fiction is most definitely allowed and expected, but an author ignores conventions of the period at their own peril, and at the reader's displeasure. What a waste of a good narrator.