Lentorama 2024: Clerical Crime Solvers

Day 2: Sister Fidelma

Today we jump back about 500 years to the time of Sister Fidelma, an Irish princess and legal advocate who solves murders on the side.

Fidelma was born into the royal family of Munster, and studied criminal and civil aspects of the Brehon law. After completing her studies, Fidelma became a nun and joined the mixed Kildare Abbey (home to both men and women) founded by St. Brigid in the 5th century. It does seem that Fidelma joined more to further her career than to express religious devotion, as she leaves the abbey at some point and goes by "Fidelma of Cashel" rather than be addressed as a sister.

As the series moves along, Fidelma's legal work sees her traveling into various corners of the Celtic world and beyond, and getting involved in cases at the highest levels of society. She also winds up marrying the monk she often works with, Eadulf, with whom she has a son.

I've not read any books in this series, but I have to say I'm interested.