While the Sister Fidelma series does not have to be read in series order, I do recommend it. I clearly skipped some major biographical details between Leper's Bell and the last one I read, and it detached me from the main character more than if this has been my first Sister Fidelma book.
I'd also recommend ignoring the list of "Principal Characters" that prefaces the book, unless you want some clues very early on in the story. That said, Tremayne is masterful enough to throw a curve ball just when you think you've figured it out.
In a way, this particular book seems more a Brother Eadulf mystery than a Sister Fidelma mystery, as we are given much more insight into his character and he propels the plot forward. Fidelma is weakened by the tragic kidnapping of her own son, but Eadulf is at odds with seemingly just about everyone as he is an outsider, a Saxon. Tremayne tries to use these weaknesses to develop his characters, but there is something missing, particularly when it comes to Fidelma. We never actually see her during her time of mourning, but instead only hear of it from Eadulf. When she does appear, she is the stoic, logical Sister Fidelma of the series, but given the story line, she seems mismatched. She wonders (somewhat obtusely) about the fiery outbursts of Eadulf and has only glimmers of introspection at her own excessive reliance upon logic.
That aside, the book is full of intrigue, duplicity, and all the other essential ingredients of a good mystery. Readers familiar with the series may find the religious-political historical commentary a bit redundant, but in this book we get a better glimpse of Eadulf's theology, rather than Fidelma's. In that sense, this is one of the more engaging books in the series, as Brother Eadulf's religious views challenge some of Sister Fidelma's, making for much more interesting interaction between the characters. ( )

Eadulf and Fidelma's infant son is kidnapped and the loss and investigation greatly strain their relationship. Two deaths occur and the Chief Brehan sees Eadulf as a likely suspect. More deaths occur as Fidelma collects the information required to resolve these difficulties. The mystery sustains until the final denouement in a good installment for this fine mystery series. ( )

A woman has been killed and the baby she was caring for is missing; a terrible crime, made more so by the fact that the baby is the son of Fidelma, the Brehon and sister to the King of Muman. She uses all of her logic and investigative abilities, but is unable to discover who took the child and why, and so she must just wait upon events to reveal the mystery to her…. I’ve read a number of Peter Tremayne’s short stories featuring Fidelma, but this is the first novel that I’d read; given that it’s the 15th in the series, I clearly have a lot of catching up to do! Mr. Tremayne depicts 7th Century Ireland in very believable terms, which is not surprising given that he’s actually Peter Berresford Ellis, an authority on ancient Celtic society, and Fidelma is a very strongly drawn character, someone whom one feels one actually knows in real life. Excellent historical mystery! ( )

De verzorgster van het zoontje van Fidelma en Eadulf wordt vermoord en het kind verdwijnt. Het lijkt er op dat een vijandig buurvolk het kind heeft ontvoerd. Er wordt op een gegeven moment zelfs een uitruil van gevangenen tegen het kind voorgesteld. Fidelma en Eadulf ontraadselen elk een deel van de geschiedenis en uiteindelijk is het gezin weer bij elkaar en zijn de schuldigen berecht.

Sehr interessant und auch spannend. Die Handlung spielt im Irland des 7. Jhd. und zeigt neben der Story auch historiengerecht den religiösen Wandel der Zeit vom Heiden- zum Christentum. ( )