Behold a Pale Horse by Peter Tremayne Series: Sister Fidelma #22
Published by Minotaur Books on July 17, 2012
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 385
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
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A perplexing case of murder and conspiracy in the pagan wilds of Northern ItalyIn 664 A.D., just after the events detailed in Shroud for the Archbishop, Fidelma of Cashel takes a unexpected detour on her trip home from Rome. While in the port at Genua (modern day Genoa), Fidelma—sister of one Ireland's kings and an advocate in her country's law courts—receives word that one of her old teachers, Brother Ruadan, is reaching the end of his days. Determined to see her old mentor one last time, Fidelma takes the treacherous journey to a remote abbey in the countryside—a place where the old pagan religion still has a hold and where even the Christians are often in bloody conflict with each other. But after she hears her dying teacher's last words, Fidelma's most dangerous adventure has just begun. With one murder after the next and a vicious war in the offing, it is up to Fidelma, alone and on her own, to unravel an extraordinary conspiracy before it is too late.
When Fidelma’s ship is wrecked and she gets washed up on shore at Genua (modern Genoa), her tedious waiting for another ship to get her home is interrupted by a dark adventure in the nearby mountains where war, treasure, and something evil is brewing. Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma series of Ancient Irish Mysteries takes a side jaunt into Ancient Italy.
Behold a Pale Horse is book #22 in the Sister Fidelma series and is a throwback to an earlier time chronologically just after the events of the second book. This would easily standalone or be read any time after book two.
Behold a Pale Horse opens with Fidelma kicking her heels in the seaport of Genua waiting for a ship that is going in the direction of Hibernia (Ireland). While she is standing outside her hostelry getting some fresh air on a wet night, she observes two men in cloaks sneaking up on a clerk who is walking by. Fidelma’s decision to disrupt what she perceives will be an attack lands her into another mysterious adventure.
The religious man she saves is a scholar returning with a book for his mountain valley abbey and it just so happens to be a abbey founded by Colm Cille, a famous bishop from her own lands and at the monastery resides her own beloved childhood tutor, Brother Ruadan. Fidelma joins the scholar and his two-person escort to see Ruadan. They shared that Ruadan was brutally attacked and left just outside the abbey. Those who did it are thought to be from another monastic house who have escalated a religious philosophical difference to violence over opposing beliefs. In fact, she is told the Trebbia valley where they are headed is rife with religious and political war talk as an exiled king is rumored to be returning to fight the current king who rules the region.
Fidelma and the others encounter danger along the way and she arrives in time to hear a cryptic warning from Ruadan before he is dead. She’s the only one who knows he did not die from his previous injuries and there is a murderer loose in the Trebbie valley. She learns of more deaths and the danger escalates. Can Fidelma solve the mystery before war and a killer finds her first.
Behold a Pale Horse introduced a new setting of seventh century northwestern Italy in a mountain region remote valley that is strategic as a secondary trade route to two warring kings and a place of warring loyalties toward the kings as well as two different religious ideologies. It was exciting and intense for the plot background and the historical features of the area were fascinating bits in the story that also played a role in the plot. I loved seeing Fidelma out of her element as the stranger who must cope with cultural and linguistic differences as well as not having her usual posse especially Eadulf to rely on. I love the clever whodunnit aspect that is made even more exciting by the war tension going on.
All in all, another splendid adventure and mystery for Fidelma from a series that I offer as a delightful temptation for historical mystery fans.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Ancient Italy would be a fun setting for a mystery. Glad to see the series is still going strong after 22 books!
I found it a fascinating setting and historical backdrop as most of my previous Italian historicals were of the Renaissance.
That is quite the setting, that would be fun
I love how this author really brings the past to life.
That’s an interesting setup for a story.
I agree. Its not the usual place and time for a mystery. 🙂
The setting sounds fresh and fun!
I loved getting away to 7th century Italy. 🙂
This is a long series, but that is awesome that it is still so good for you! Great review!
It sure is. I’m pretty sure I’ll be reading it for a couple of years to get caught up since he’s still adding to it. 🙂