WHAT CRITICS SAY ABOUT THE SISTER FIDELMA MYSTERIES
The following opinions would appear to endorse Peter's aspiration about the stories:

We are taken on a wonderful journey through Ireland at a time when Christianity was the new' faith and Saxons still honoured their dead with funeral pyres and gifts to Woden. ... From the opening scene by the bay in Connacht to a boar hunt in the woods surrounding Cashel, Peter Tremayne brings ancient Ireland to life. You can smell the sea and feel the sting of the nettles. The plot moves forward rapidly with crisp dialogue ad carefully plotted action. Tremayne skillfully builds the intrigue and the conclusion is both surprising and completely believable. For the historical whodunit fan, this is a great read for a snow day or any day that screams out for escape! - Alice Hawrilenko, Kingston Observer, Massachusetts on A Prayer for the Damned..  
Rich in historical detail... Tremayne has produced another winner. - Publishers Weekly on A Prayer for the Damned.
Faithful fans of Fidelma will enjoy another chance to immerse themselves in Tremayne's detailed depiction of medieval Ireland. - Kirkus Reviews on A Prayer for the Damned.
Another stellar installment in the most authentically detailed medieval mystery series current being published. - Bookist (magazine of American Library Association) on A Prayer for the Damned
If there is anyone who has emerged from the crowded field of writers of medieval mystery to take the place of the late Ellis Peters, it is Peter Tremayne. – Denver Post
Detective books have covered many periods in history, none more successfully than (Peter) Tremayne with his much admired series set in 7th Century Ireland. – Oxford Times
Well written, fast moving and keeps the reader guessing through myriad twists and turns.’ – South Wales Argus on A Prayer for the Damned
Tremayne’s formidable mysteries… provides a fascinating and detailed immersion into a highly sophisticated culture as worthy of contemplation today as it was when that culture was the brightest beacon in the European `Dark Ages.’ – The Federal Lawyer – Journal of the US Federal Bar Association
Tremayne writes so authentically about this remote time period that readers will feel they are there in every way. His densely plotted stories are a delight.. (star review of Master of Souls) - Library Journal
Tremayne never fails to deliver a fascinating and intriguing read… For all fans of medieval novels, especially mysteries, Tremayne’s latest in the Sister Fidelma series is a gratifying read. Though not necessary to enjoy any of the books, it is helpful timeframe-wise, to start the series at the beginning. Even so, any one of Tremayne’s (books) is a delightful respite from the mundane offerings that are available today. Tremayne is a `Master’ of Mystery. - Anniston Star on Master of Souls
Talented author Peter Tremayne guides us back to a time when stepping outside your door was dangerous, when death could strike for no reason. This is a skilfully woven tale made up of several subplots guaranteed to hold your interest. Lifelike characters lay false clues and scatter red herrings across the trails by omission and lies. You’ll be hard pressed to decide who to believe. A well-written tale I’m pleased to recommend to anyone who enjoys a really well researched historical story with intrigue and mystery. - New Mystery Reader
The reader is left with the smug satisfaction of having digested a fairly erudite volume. There is also the satisfaction of having enjoyed the book... because of Tremayne's story-telling abilities and his talent at evoking scenes and atmosphere... Shots (on A Prayer for the Damned)
I have read most of the Fidelma Mysteries and Master of Souls is as fresh as the earlier books. I did not guess the ending so enjoyed right to the last page. Peter Tremayne breathes life into 7th Century Ireland. - Historical Novels Review (on Master of Souls)
The 17th novel of historical detection featuring the marvellous Fidelma and Eadulf (the Dalziel and Pascoe of their day) is rich in atmosphere, clever in the telling and drips with authenticity... this is another terrific novel of ancient Ireland. - review in of A Prayer for the Damned in from The Huddersfield Daily Examiner:
Tremayne's pitch-perfect 16th mystery to feature Fidelma of Cashel ....transports the reader to an unfamiliar time and place with a sure scholarly touch.  Publishers Weekly on Master of Souls
Fidelma gathers up all the loose strings of her investigation and brings the case to a stunning conclusion... Master of Souls- star review, a star is assigned to books of unusual merit, determined by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAMNED is a blessing for the millions of Sister Fidelma's devoted fans around the world. Tremayne's super-sleuth is a vibrant creation, a woman of wit and courage who would be outstanding in any era, but brings a special sparkle to the wild beauty of medieval Ireland. The author sets the scene with meticulous care and develops the plot with intelligence. He always plays fair with his readers, but surprises abound. Half the fun of the Fidelma series is trying to guess what this remarkable woman will do next. Well done! - Morgan Llywelyn, best-selling author of Lion of Ireland, Finn Mac Cool, The Last Prince of Ireland, Horse Goddess
What a concept! A seventh century Irish Nancy Drew in the guise of a young female cleric who is a trained dálaigh or legal advocate in ancient Irish law ... Fidelma is an original and complex character; brilliant, analytical, emotionally withdrawn, touchy and testy, and conflicted over her relationship with the Irish-trained Saxon, Brother Eadulf. As with the other books in the series, this is a good read, well-paced and suspenseful, sprinkled with Old Irish terms and fascinating detail of early Irish life, food, habits, dress et cetera. I confess to being a fan of the intrepid Sister and this collection of fifteen short stories provides an excellent opportunity for any reader to discover if he or she, too, will succumb to Fidelmania. I'm not surprised there's talk of a television series. An Irish heroine for both the seventh and twenty-first centuries, here is a character more credible and captivating than Xena the Warrior Princess!' - G.V. Whelan (aka the novelist O.R. Melling) writing in Books Ireland about The Leper's Bell and Whispers of the Dead.  
... an engrossing plot with the right blend of problem-solving and action to keep you hooked. What I also enjoyed was how the period comes alive - Peter Tremayne obviously knows his stuff. - Belfast News Letter
Fidelma's popularity is owed entirely to Tremayne's story-telling talents. His characters are vividly drawn, his narrative has pace as well as authority. He may be an expert on the ancient Celts, the Brehon Law system and 7th Century Irish history, but he also tells stories that bristle with intrigue and human emotion. Escapist, yes, well-crafted whodunits, most certainly, but this is also fiction with the ring of real history about it.' - Huddersfield Daily Examiner
The Leper's Bell is a gripping tale, full of life, interesting diversions, above all a great story that leads us through a maze of possibilities, until, in the end, when we think we have got out man, it turns out to be someone else. Peter Tremayne has served us well yet again. - The Tipperary Star
... Sister Fidelma is a hugely well-constructed figment of writer Peter Tremayne's imagination, she is rooted in the reality of 7th Century Ireland in which he sets her detective dramas. Since Tremayne launched the Sister Fidelma stories in the early Nineties, she has become a cult figure with even her own website. Much of that is doubtless owed to Tremayne's story-telling talents. His characters are vivid and credible, his narrative gripping and atmospheric. All of it is informed by his credentials as an authority on the ancient Celts, the Brehon law system and 7th Century Irish history. This new collection of 15 short stories offers intrigue and entertainment from a world that could so easily have influenced ours.
There is only one problem with the series - it's too long between each episode. Keep 'em coming, Tremayne. - The Anniston Star
Every now and again, you come across a book that is so uniquely different as it is accurate to its time period and Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma Celtic Mysteries series is just that. The Haunted Abbot is the eagerly awaited twelfth book in the series ... The lovely thing about Tremayne's books is his attention to detail. Historically, he keeps it faithfully true without it becoming stale. - Irish World (April 4)
... one of the most suspenseful and intelligent series of historical mysteries ... Tremayne continues to challenge readers with a compelling combination of church, cultural and legal history, buttressed by intriguingly complexed plots and a superlative cast of sympathetic characters. - Booklist, New York  
[On The Haunted Abbot]  This is a cracking whodunnit that offers a generous ration of clues, twists and shocks before the final page. - Coventry Evening Telegraph (UK)
We defy anyone picking up a Sister Fidelma mystery not to be hooked on these superbly written historical thrillers. Anyone reading the first page of any of the Fidelma mysteries will surely not put them down again until they reach the last page. While rich in Irish culture, the books have a world-wide appeal. We predict that it cannot be long before a television series appears based on the stories. - Raidió na Gaeltachta (RTÉ, Irish state broadcasting service) 
The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction, compiled by Mike Ashley, Robinson, London, paperback at £9.99. Just published. US edition appearing from Carroll & Graf, New York, in August.  Contains a full page entry on Peter Tremayne and Sister Fidelma.  Comments - this fascinating series is one of a kind ... no one else has worked in PT's time period.
Tremayne provides another authentically detailed instalment in his exquisitely crafted Sister Fidelma series… decidedly literate and intelligent whodunit… - Booklist on Act of Mercy
Tremayne delivers a satisfying cozy with a fascinating historical twist - The Drood Review of Mystery - on Act of Mercy
The world should be most grateful to Peter Tremayne … The cultural splendour of an age of golden enlightenment in Ireland, when Europe existed in the dark ages and when students flocked from all over Europe to be educated in Irish Monasteries is brought to life in the adventures of Sister Fidelma. - Ireland's Own  
Thedetail of the books is fascinating, giving us a vivid picture of everyday life at this time… the most detailed and vivid recreations of ancient Ireland. – Irish Examiner
Fidelma is straight out of the sleuth noir mould: dark, handsome, a qualified lawyer, an expert horsewoman ... Tremayne effortlessly brings forth information on the nitty-gritty of daily life in Celtic Ireland ... (he) has brought our colourful roots to life with (this) crime series ... - Irish Times (DublIn)
Fidelma would put Brother Cadfael to shame as she shows an uncanny talent for treading the right path amid a myriad of false trails, dead ends and pitfalls. - Irish News (Belfast)
This nun will run and run. Sister Fidelma is no Xena, Warrior Princess - as a lawyer she uses her intelligence and cunning, rather than brute force to solve mysteries. Evening Herald (Dublin)
The death of Ellis Peters may have put paid to any more Brother Cadfael mysteries. But fans of ecclesiastical whodunnits can take heart, for the monk detective has a worthy successor in the shape of Sister Fidelma . . . Our Lady of Darkness . . . is a riveting tale of murder, duplicity, greed ad slavery . . . Tremayne has created a great character in Fidelma and brilliantly conjures up the world she inhabits. I wonder what the chances are of her reaching the small screen like Cadfael? - Belfast Telegraph
Another cracking murder mystery yarn in the Sister Fidelma series ... Ireland's answer to Cadfael. This is masterly storytelling from an author who breathes fascinating life into the world he is writing about. - Belfast Telegraph on Smoke in the Wind
Tremayne's - wonderful creation, 7th Century Celtic nun Sister Fidelma .. he instantly plunges us into Fidelma's arcane but totally accessible world. - Publishers Weekly
Our Lady of Death is one of the best - an excellent mystery with rich helpings of evil and tension. - Historical Novel Review
I like Fidelma. She is intelligent, assertive and full of vitality. As a fan of the Sister Fidelma series of books, I was delighted to learn more about her background from the short stories - Hemlock At Vespers - Murder Past Tense
Sister Fidelma returns in another exquisitely crafted historical caper . . . Tremayne continues to provide a superior brand of medieval mystery that equals the best of Ellis Peters. - Margaret Flanagan, Booklist
Tense and gripping . . . a compelling, enjoyable adventure. - Philadelphia Inquirer
I like Fidelma. She is intelligent, assertive and full of vitality . . . I look forward to more Celtic mysteries! - Elizabeth M. Penn, Murder: Past Tense
I read Our Lady of Darkness which  gave me great enjoyment and interest. It is excellently done, with an admirable balance between intricacy of plot and persuasive characterisation. I wish it every success, and am sure it will be enthusiastically received. Tremayne . . . has the remarkable capacity to recreate a society of great interest and complexity so that its basic assumptions become clear and are an effective operating context for the characters and the action. It is admirable how he puts the picture together with such a sure and light touch. Readers with no previous knowledge of the period will come away entertained; but also, hardly aware of the process, historically informed. I'm sure it should do a lot here and else where to make people understand what Ireland is, and is about; and will improve general comprehension of the problems faced this century by a new nation-state derived from an ancient and distinctive, repressed but never eliminated, civilisation. - Professor H. David Rankin
It is clear that Peter Tremayne is thoroughly at home with the period about which he writes. Starting with a fascinating historical note, the book is crammed with interesting snippets of information that give the characters a credence. His style is racy, his dialogue sharp and with all the aplomb of a 7th Century Poirot, Fidelma amasses the facts to reveal the identity of the villain when all are gathered together ... I really enjoyed this book, Act of Mercy, the 8th in a series featuring Sister Fidelma. You can almost taste the salt water, feel the airless crowded conditions aboard ship. The characters are well drawn, each one with a particular weakness - spite, jealousy, cowardice, that sets them apart from the rest - and all the time Fidelma has to fight with her own emotions, resurrected by the presence of the enigmatic Clan. - Janet Mary Tomson, Historical Novel Review
The Sister Fidelma books give the readers a rattling good yarn, but more than that, they bring vividly and viscerally to life the fascinating lost world of the Celtic Irish. I put down The Spider's Web with a sense of satisfaction at a good story well told but also speculating at what modern life might have been like had that civilisation survived. - Ronan Bennett
I can well imagine myself becoming a devotee. The setting is refreshingly different and completely absorbing . . . a rich array of characters are very well described. Peter Tremayne . . . evokes perfectly the fascination of this distant age. - Maureen Carlyle, Shots
Hemlock at Vespers - this collection is an essential canonical text for Sister Fidelma acolytes. - Publishers Weekly
In the simultaneously sharp-tongued and full, womanly figure of Sister Fidelma, Tremayne has created a heroine whom many readers will willingly follow - Kirkus Reviews
A triumph! Tremayne uses many real characters and events as background, making it all the more convincing and fascinating. He succeeds remarkably in bringing the ancient world to life. - Mike Ashley, Mystery Scene
The background detail is brilliantly defined ... Wonderfully evocative - The Times (London)
The murders keep us on edge but really the gripping story here is the culture Fidelma represents - Kliatt
A brilliant and beguiling heroine. Immensely appealing, difficult to put down. It is reassuring that Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf will reappear. The intellectual and physical sparks that are ignited between them light up the pages. - Publishers Weekly
A treat for history buffs who devoured Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilisation and historical mystery fans who appreciate strong and intelligent female protagonists - Booklist
The Sister Fidelma stories take us into a world that only an author steeped in Celtic history could recreate so vividly - and one which no other crime novelist has explored before. Make way for a unique lady detective going where no one has gone before. - Peter Haining, editor Great Irish Detective Stories
I believe I have a tendresse for Sister Fidelma. Ingeniously plotted... subtly paced ... written with conviction, a feel for the times, and a chilly air of period authenticity. A series to cultivate. - Jack Adrian, editor Great Detective Stories from the Strand Magazine
Definitely an Ellis Peters' competitor ... the background detail is marvellous - Evening Standard (London)
One of the most interesting sleuths to come on the scene in recent years - Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
A 4 Star Recommendation - Crime Times (UK)
Tremayne's heroine is gutsy. She is funny. As she outwits the dull-witted and silences the foolish with a quick comment, the reader is inclined to murmur "Bravo!" The Spider's Web is the fifth book in the series. We can only hope there will be a dozen more. - Tampa Bay Tribune.
Move over Miss Marple, a new sleuth is on the case - Hampstead & Highgate Express
Sister Fidelma once again works her magic upon readers... Tremayne, as always, makes 7th Century Ireland seemed accessible and absolutely fascinating. But it is Fidelma's wit and force of character which really drives this series ... and the characters with which Tremayne peoples the abbeys and environs are varied and interesting. A complex plot and good characterisation makes this a winner especially for historical mystery fans who prefer intellectual style in their mysteries - Clare E. White in Writers Write (USA)
Fast moving - unputdownable! - Irish Democrat
A spunky 7th Century heroine... a picture of a world in transition ... richly detailed - Walnut Creek Times
Fascinating! If you enjoy a good mystery and like reading about history, you'll like Shroud for the Archbishop. And I know you'll like the Irish detective, Sister Fidelma. - Irish American News.
A Brother Cadfael on the distaff side! - Oxford Times
An invigorating and stimulating jaunt into the world of soluble murder and apparently insoluble church history. Peter Tremayne creates a seventh century nun who solves murder mysteries in settings of ecclesiastic grandeur, power bunting and intrigue ... Entertaining, well paced, interest-sustaining and vivid - Father Des Wilson, Andersontown News (Belfast)
I can easily see the characters being developed for a television series - South Wales Evening Post.
Tremayne uses his knowledge well... the books are superbly researched- The Crimson Circle (UK)
Absorbing... warmly recommended ... a good read with evocative atmosphere. Cross-ties.
Quite a girl, our Sister Fidelma. The plots are as clever as Fidelma but the real attraction is Tremayne's feel for the period; a chill, unforgiving time - Manchester Evening News.
A credible set of events set against an authentic Celtic background ... intriguing and compelling whodunnit which gathers pace to an Agatha Christie-style denouement - Coventry Evening Telegraph.
Tremayne spins a rollicking pacey yarn. - Nuneaton Evening Telegraph
Sister Fidelma is fast becoming a world ambassador for ancient Irish culture - Irish Post
An outstanding series. - I Love A Mystery.
The literary successor to Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael - Southern Star (Cork, Ireland).
A series which shows no sign of growing tired . . . two well-delineated leading characters - Murder: Past Tense (Historical Mystery Appreciation Society).
Strong historical whodunnits