The Leper's Bell

A Sister Fidelma Mystery of Ancient Ireland

By: Peter Tremayne

Narrated by: Caroline Lennon

In November of AD 667, Fidelma of Cashel has returned home to her brother's castle to discover that a servant, her son's nurse, has been found brutally murdered in the woods near town, and her son is missing, presumed kidnapped or worse. Sister Fidelma, sister to king of Muman in Ireland, an advocate of the Brehon courts, and a religieuse of the Celtic Church, and her husband, Brother Eadulf, now must face their most personal and baffling case ever.

Is there a traitor at her brother's court? Are the Ui Fidgente, the old blood enemies of Fidelma's family, involved? And what is the role of the mysterious dwarf seen leaving the kingdom carrying a leper's bell? With few clues and precious little time, Fidelma must unravel this complicated puzzle in time to rescue her missing child.

©2004 Peter Tremayne (P)2015 Audible Inc.

My favorite genre

Now going back to book one. This may keep me busy for a while😁.

entertaining to the very end

despite the language challenges it was a wonderful read and my introduction to Sister Fidelma. I am looking forward to reading the first book in the series.

Marriage in ancient Ireland

Tremaine helps us understand the diversity of partnerships and marriage in ancient Ireland, and how they both built social cohesion and allowed for human nature over time. The disappearance of the son of Fidelma and Eadulf drives this mystery with a passionate energy not seen in the other Fidelma books. Always a great read!

This one's a corker!

Thrills and spills, multiple plots, Fidelma and Eadulf getting themselves in and out of trouble. I'm glad there wasn't too much mush, in the light of ... well, I won't say.

Absorbing Mystery

This is one of my favorite of Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma mysteries. The story is intriguing and the mystery is complicated enough to keep the reader guessing well into the book. Tremayne does a great job of weaving the political ideas and customs of a long-forgotten time into his story and brings late seventh century Ireland to life through his words. Caroline Lennon's narration is extremely well done. I highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series.