Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN num: 9780451195593
ISBN number: 0451195590
Label: Signet
Manufacturer: Signet
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: October 01, 2000
Publishing house: Signet
Release Date: October 10, 2000
Sale Popularity Level: 266399
Studio: Signet
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The fifth book in the Irish medieval mystery series finds Sister Fidelma investigating a murder in a seemingly tranquil town, only to uncover a web of secrets that everyone wants to keep hidden. And now she must race to discover the truth before she becomes the subsequent victim....
'[Sister Fidelma is] a brilliant and beguiling heroine.'-Publishing houses Weekly
'The literary successor to Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael.'-Southern Star (Ireland)
'A treat for history buffs who devoured Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization.'-Booklist
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Rated by buyers 
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The author Peter Tremayne obviously has a great knowledge of Ireland in the 7th century and also on the Irish Law of the period. His Sister Fidelma book are attracting what can only be described as a cult following, but they are of interest to anyone who likes historical novels or mysteries. This series of books are set in Ireland in the 7th century, a time when there was total equality for women. The lead character is the beguiling Sister Fidelma. She is a brilliant scholar, a leading authority on Irish law and the sister of a king. This is also a period in history when celibacy was not yet a part of religious life.
In this, the fifth book in the series of Sister Fidelma mysteries the Sister is called to investigate a murder, in what on the surface seems to be a normal peaceful town. But while there Fidelma uncovers a web of secrets that everyone seems to want to keep hidden. What is worse Fidelma has a race against time to discover the truth, or she is likely to be the subsequent victim.
Rated by buyers 
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The Spiders Web finds Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf summoned to the valley of Araglin to investigate a double homicide. One courpse, that of the village chieftan is discovered with Araglin's deaf and mute citizen, Moen, standing over the body with a bloody knife. Upon arrival, Sister Fidelma soon realizes that the evidence does not add up to Moen being guilty of the murders. As Fidelma seeks to find the truth, more crimes are commited, and more dead bodies are found. Fidelma suspects the seeminly peaceful valley of Araglin to be brimming with secrets, lies, and deciet.
This novel set in Ireland in the year 666 has some very enjoyable qualities. The author's interpretation of ancient Ireland is intruging, stimulating, and thought provoking. His research goes beyond that of most historical novels, thus creating a world that has more than two dimensions. The mystery plot although fairly easy to decifer is enjoyable as well. However, the number of crimes and dead bodies that come into the picture as Fidelma investigates the initial murders is a bit over-done.
Tremayne's characterisations however, are not vivid or convincing. The character of Brother Eadulf is totally unbelievable. Eadulf is a high ranking Saxon monk, but his ability to find himself asking questions with obvious answers, in addition to his capability for putting himself and Fidelma in dangerious situations in unparalleled. Fidelma says that one reason she likes Eadulf is because of their ability to debate issues with each other on a friendly level. However, these so-called `debates' never come across like a debate at all. The interactions between Fidelma and Eadulf come across like Fidelma trying to teach a schoolboy a new concept, idea, or way of thinking. Eadulf rarely contributes anything worth debating in these conversations. He simply submits to Fidelma's supposed `higher plane' of thinking. Eadulfs constant lack of common sense is tiresome.
Fidelma herself could also use a bit of fine-tuning. She is supposed to be a strong-willed female heroine, but too often she comes across hotheaded and downright mean. Her interpretation of Christian theology is refreshing, but she often lacks tollerance of other interpretations and ideas. Too often female characters that are supposed to be strong roll models are writen as having cool demenors. Women do not have to be rude, brassy, and insensative to be strong willed. Unfortunately, Fidelma falls victum of these character traits without restraint.
Overall, The Siders Web makes for an interesting read, and escape into the year 666. The shortcomings of this book prevent it from being a great book, but still makes the series is worth exploring.
About my grading system: I interpret Amazon.com's five-star ranking system as follows: 1 star = far below standards, 2 stars = below standards, 3 stars = meets standards, 4 stars = exceeds standards, 5 stars = far exceeds standards.
Rated by buyers -
If Sister Fidelma buttonholed me at a party I would probably chew my lapel off to escape. Not that I didn't like the book-- I did, but she is a relentless and single minded character. And poor Brother Eadulf the Saxon-- always having to play Watson to Fidelma's Sherlock Holmes.
In this book she gets to be Judge, Advocate, Forensic Pathologist, Botanist and an expert at unarmed combat. Eadulf, on the other hand, sort of follows along providing occasional backup.
While I'm not sure that I totally agree with Tremayne's view of 7th century Ireland, the books give a good view of a time and place not usually dealt with in light fiction. The homicide body count in Araglin is quite high, not to mention other assorted lesser crimes from cattle stealing to allowing your animals to trespass on a neighbor's land and defecate there (very disapproved of). But depend on Sister Fidelma to sort things out!
Rated by buyers -
I really like the Sister Fidelma series, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others that I've read. I found the story strangely disjointed, and the storyline didn't flow smoothly to me. The premise is a good one. Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf are summoned to a neighbouring shire to discover who killed the chief. It was thought that a poor deaf, dumb and blind young man did it since he was found in the bedchamber with the knife that killed the Chief, and covered in his blood. But Sister Fidelma dug deeper and found a family so filled with hatred, deceit and lies that it was quite frightening! She peserveres and uncovers the killer, but not before four more bodies turn up dead. And Brother Eadulf was his usual dolty self. Don't really know why we have him in these stories - a romantic interest for Sister Fidelma?
Rated by buyers -
This is the fifth Sister Fidelma book I have read, and the highest complement I can pay Peter Tremayne is that I've started reading my sixth. As a fan of medieval fantasy and Arthurian literature, I find the Sister Fidelma books right up my alley. Mr. Tremayne captures the spirit and essence of the times and turns them advantage in telling his tales. I truly feel I have been transported to 7th Century Ireland! Mr. Tremayne's other life as a Celtic historian and scholar gives these books a realism they might not otherwise have.
"The Spider's Web" continues in the vein of the previous novels. Sister Fidelma is called in as an advocate to ensure justice is done in the case of a murder. In the spirit of all great detective series', things are not what they seem. The good sister delves deeper and deeper into the web, this time, as in others, with her sidekick Brother Eaudulf. More often than not, Fidelma and Eaudulf make enemies as they draw closer and closer to the truth. The web grows curiouser and curiouser until the final denouement. Simple, not particularly original, but still effective! And the plot in this novel is indeed a tangled spider's web.
To pat myself on the back, I was able to solve this one on my own, before having it spelled out to me. But, am I ready to leave Florida to become a 7th Century Irish religious sleuth. I don't think so, but Sister Fidelma is the only person who could actually make me consider it!!
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