It’s great to see Fidelma and crew again…
It’s hard to believe that Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma series is in its 36th book, and that means I’m really old! I remember picking up the first dozen or so books in this series in paperback, on business trips to the UK in the 1990s, since they were almost unavailable in the US. Then I more-or-less lost track of the series for a while, picking it back up only when there started to be occasional sales on the e-book titles. But I still maintained my love for Fidelma and her crew, even making my husband stop by Cashel when we were on (you guessed it) a business trip to Ireland. And the visit was well worth it. Although the buildings/ruins that remain date from a few centuries later, you can still sit on top of the big hill and daydream of Fidelma’s time to your heart’s content. I guess I’ve nattered on long enough, though, and this is supposed to be a book review and not a travelogue. So here goes:
Grave of the Lawgiver has all of the elements that I’ve loved throughout the decades: Fidelma’s sharp wits and clear thinking; some nicely-measured doses of Irish history, both political and religious; great Author’s Notes; sharp writing; and, of course, the mysteries to solve. However, these elements seem just teeny bit out of proportion in Grave. Don’t get me wrong – Grave is totally enjoyable, and I read it nearly straight through, in only two sittings. But it felt as if the tale had just a bit too much history (can’t believe I’m saying that), even though momentous things were happening, both in Ireland and around Europe. And also a bit too much of Eadulf’s angst – at times, I just wanted to tell him to get over it. And maybe a tad too little of the underlying mystery: the murder of Eadulf’s uncle, who is the Lawgiver of the title, and the disappearance of Eadulf’s younger sister. So…if you are new to the series with this book – be aware that it’s a little more wordy than normal, and give at least one more book a try. And if, like me, you already love the series, you’ll still feel right at home.
I’m knocking ½ a star off just for this single book. But keep in mind that for me, anything over 4 stars is still a firm “read this book” recommendation, and overall the the series is awesome. And finally, my thanks go to Severn House and NetGalley for my advance review copy.
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