Peter Tremayne is best known as the author of the Sister Fidelma series (and also as excellent Celtic historian Peter Berresford Ellis); I’ve read some Sister Fidelma tales, mostly in short story form, so was interested to pick up this collection of 14 stories, all but one of which are *not* set in 7th Century Ireland. Instead, here we have a story set in 8th Century Scotland, concerning the historical MacBeth; several stories set in Elizabethan England (featuring a detective called Hardy Drew - yes, referring to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew); and stories featuring the Napoleonic Wars, Dickens, Sherlock Holmes (5 of these!), the British Raj in India, a locked-room mystery on an airplane and, finally, a Sister Fidelma story not previously collected. All but the last were previously published in various anthologies and magazines, but I appreciated that they are all here, in one place. Mr. Tremayne/Ellis’s historical knowledge goes far beyond Fidelma’s time, and I would love to read more about his various characters in these tales. A very pleasant way to spend an evening or three; recommended. ( )

Fourteen historical mysteries...a break from his usual Sister Fidelma character, although one story is about her. Tremayne is a wonderful historical mystery writer! ( )

Peter Tramayne is probably best known for his Sister Fidelma mysteries which take place in 7th Century Ireland. This work is a compilation of 14 short mystery stories only one of which is Sister Fidelma. Several are Sherlock Holmes and then a smattering of others mixed over the last 2000 years. ( )