The Novice's Tale

Sister Frevisse #1

by Margaret Frazer

UNHOLY PASSIONS AND DEMONIC DEATHS...

In the fair autumn of Our Lord's grace 1431, the nuns of England's St. Frideswide's prepare for the simply ceremonies in which the saintly novice Thomasine will take her holy vows. But their quiet lives of beauty and prayer are thrown into chaos by the merciless arrival of Lady Ermentrude Fenner and her retinue of lusty men, sinful women, and baying hounds. The hard-drinking dowager even keeps a pet monkey for her amusement. She demands wine, a feast...

And her niece, the angelic Thomasine.

The lady desires to enrich herself and her reputation by arranging a marriage for the devout novice. She cares nothing for the panic and despair she leaves behind her.

But all her cruel and cunning schemes are brought to a sudden end with strange and most unnatural murder.

As suspicious eyes turn on the pious Thomasine, it falls to Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur detective, to unravel the webs of unholy passion and dark intrigue that entangle the novice and prove her innocence... or condemn her.

THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE NATIONAL BESTSELLING SISTER FREVISSE NOVELS!

PRAISE FOR THE NOVICE'S TALE

"Frazer uses her extensive knowledge of the period to create an unusual plot ... appealing characters and crisp writing." - Los Angeles Times

"A fast-paced and seamless story." - St. Paul Pioneer Press

PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FREVISSE MEDIEVAL MYSTERY SERIES

"It's a fine time to introduce yourself to this smart and sensible nun... Weaves a budding romance and a grand, unrequited passion with a bold and dangerous plot... A historical tale that teems with period detail. Great fun for all lovers of history with their mystery!" - Alfred Hitchcock Magazine

"I look forward to more murders at St. Frideswide." - Carolyn Thompson, The Mystery Review

"Frazer's books will be among those I read as soon as I see them... The author's note at novel's conclusion, in which Frazer reveals the historical facts and actual people behind the story she created, adds immeasurably to its interest." - Houston Facts

"Exquisitely written... a brilliantly realized vision of a typical medieval English village, peopled with full-blooded men and women who experience the human range of joys and sorrows. Suspenseful from start to surprising conclusion." - Publisher's Weekly

A Romantic Times Top Pick.

Twice nominated for the Minnesota Book Award.
Twice nominated for the Edgar Award.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Medieval, British Literature

229 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Margaret Frazer is a pen name used at first by Mary Monica Pulver Kuhfeld and Gail Lynn Frazer writing in tandem for a series of historical medieval mysteries featuring Dame Frevisse. After the sixth novel, the works are written by Gail Frazer alone, and the name has subsequently been used exclusively by her. A second series of novels by Ms Frazer set in the same time and place feature the player/minstrel Joliffe.

See also: Monica Ferris, Mary Monica Pulver

Series:
* Sister Frevisse
* Joliffe

Reviews

[C. (Comment, don't blank click reviews). · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I put work into reviews and comments are a reward. They are much nicer than an empty ‘like button’, please and thank you. *

I enjoyed everyone, the special 1431 setting, and originality of "The Novice's Tale". The characters who greet us aren't surly nuns barking at the trainee. They are loyal, designate places for conversing without rules, and marvel at the novice's piety. By that magical last third of a book, where there can be no thought of stopping, I considered four stars. A comment about motive two pages from the end, is flimsy. I will give three stars, expecting the bar to raise easily on the succeeding novels. There is a lot to praise.

Plotting, investigation, and action were impressive and intelligently-conceived. Because I am the novice at old periods, a people's modernity always surprises me; as if I equated anything before 1600 as cave-dwelling. I must grasp that pre-electricity and pre-plumbing times did comprise bright, organized, educated, fully-developed societies. People shine through best in historical fiction. We always recognize feelings and concerns, if an author composes from feelings and concerns instead of the physical and visual. If so, they not only have our ear but it feels like there is no separation from that period and us. The construct of their abodes and rules are incidental.

I am targeting numerous series introductions that have sat for years. I prefer stories past their preliminaries, down to the nitty gritty of their worlds. This campaign paves the way for better ones. The strongest description herein reminds us nuns are not stereotypes but people. “They had been ready for frightened women. It was easy to forget among the patterns of St. Frideswide's that the nuns were the daughters, Granddaughters, sisters of men who held their inheritance by right of arms and battle skills. Their daily life held little need for their inheritance of courage but their blood remembered”. What an extraordinary scene! My favourite!

[Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite different from Ellis Peters' Cadfael series, even given the obvious parallels (monastics & medieval England), The Novice's Tale is a well-done historical mystery with believable characters, motives, murderer etc. Frazer brings the rhythms of monastic life more into her stories than did Peters, which made it more realistic for me, and I like that the emphasis in her Sister Frevisse stories is not on Frevisse herself but more on the title characters.

Excellent, easy-reading summer book fare.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, quick read. I consider this the start of one of the better monastic-mystery-solvers. Seems to be historically accurate.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

Medieval history comes alive in this lush setting of a catholic nunnery where treachery and murder occur forcing the nuns of St. Frideswides led by the sharp, clever Dame Frevise to find the answers before one of their own is taken as the convenient scape goat for the crime.

The Novice's Tale introduces series protagonist, Dame Frevise, who grew up in a wealthy, powerful man's household and he helped hone her strong mind and spirit which does not suffer fools easily. Domina Edith recruits Frevise to find the answers to the poisoning death of a highborn guest of the nunnery. I liked Frevise from the get-go with her no nonsense, skeptical, and not lacking in humor manners. She's well educated, but also full of common sense and a stiff backbone even when standing against powerful men who try to push her around.

The murder victim was unlikable, but still not a likely candidate for being bumped off. I figured out who did it easily enough, but the motive wasn't completely evident to me until the reveal. I enjoyed being introduced to life in fifteenth century England and specifically the nunnery where the story took place. The characters of the sisters were engaging and well drawn as were the various guests and servants. I had no trouble picturing it all in my mind's eye from the seeming accurate descriptions of daily life to the dialogue, and to the customs including how investigations were handled.

Susan Duerden is a narrator I have enjoyed in past books and she was fabulous in voicing Frevisse and all the nuns giving them separate characters. Her male voices were good, but I preferred the female voices. She did great at the old terms and medieval dialogue. She paced well and caught the right tone for this mostly contemplative, steady whodunnit.

This was a solid start to this historical mystery series and I can't wait for more Dame Frevise and her fellow nuns solving murders in medieval England. Those who enjoy the historical mystery genre and look for authentic flavored backdrop, strong characters and deep story development should give this one a try.

My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lady Ermentrude comes to the St Frideswide convent to try and collect her niece, the novice Thomasine, pretty much no one is happy to see her. But apparently someone is unhappy enough to poison her and lay the blame on Thomasine.

This is an enjoyable historical mystery steeped in the rhythms of cloistered life. I liked Sister Frevisse and her pragmatic nature. The mystery was also a compelling one, though the clues were dropped in a heavy-handed enough fashion that I could easily pick up on them, even if I did not know what precisely they meant.

[Marysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: Borrowed from the library via Libby ebook
Content warnings: animal death, detailed descriptions of poison symptoms

I like reading about the medieval period and monasteries/convents. They always feel like a cozy setting to me, which probably all started with the Redwall series which I read in my youth.

I am a mystery fan, so put this and the Brother Cadfael books on my TBR after reading a couple others in the medieval mystery genre a while ago and enjoying the setting. Although I found this book on a cozy mystery list, I wouldn't personally quite count this book as cozy as the descriptions of death via poisoning are fairly graphic and prolonged. But I liked reading about the setting and medieval life. I really liked Dame Frevisse as the "detective", as she is smart, somewhat stern, but kind.

I enjoyed the mystery here. There were a lot of possible suspects and motives. The main person/motive I was looking at turned out to be a red herring. Although, I found certain aspects hard to follow/confusing, mainly how and when the nightshade was given. First they thought it was in the wine, then not because Maudelyn drank some and was fine, but then I guess they decided it was in the wine after all? Maybe only added to the goblet itself? I also don't see the point in trying to kill Chaucer as that would have obviously revealed them as the killers.

There was a really great scene towards the end where the nuns stood up against the men trying to arrest Thomasine by force, while chanting "Dies Irae."

I will probably read more of these.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The coziest of cozies, since it's set in a cloistered convent, yet this book manages to touch on Chaucer, Henry VI, the laws of entail and of marriage. It also introduces an unique detective, Dame Frevisse, the hosteler (guest accommodator) at the convent of St. Frideswide's, who is good not because she is innocent of sin but because she knows herself. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

[Althea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in the extensive 'Sister Frevisse' medieval mystery series.
Although it is definitely more a formula mystery than an historical
novel, I didn't find it to be aggravatingly ahistorical.
Set in 15th century England, the convent of St. Fridewide's is home to
Sister Frevisse, a devout but eminently practical nun. It's also home
to Thomasine, a young novice whose piousness goes far beyond the
ordinary. Thomasine is deathly afraid that her loud and obnoxious Aunt
Ermentrude will somehow drag her out of the convent to be married
before she can take her final vows. So when Lady Ermentrude turns up
dead, suspicion naturally falls on Thomasine - shy as she may be, she
definitely had a motive. And the official in charge of investigating
the crime seems loath to look any further than the quickest and easiest
suspect to hang the crime on (and hang). But Sister Frevisse has a
feeling that Thomasine is innocent - and it looks like it will fall to
her to try to find the actual murderer.
A fun and entertaining read.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a mystery set in a historical fiction setting, this series is the one of you. A few years ago, I've read the Reeve's Tale. And today, I've read the Novice's Tale by the late Margaret Frazer, who perished a year ago. In the Sister Frevisse Mystery series, we enter the world of Medieval England, when kings rule the world. Sister Frevisse is a hosteler for the St. Frideswide Convent. When Novice Thomasine wants to become a nun, it isn't what it seems. First her step-aunt torments her and makes a racket in the nunnery. Through Sister Frevisse's eyes, she witnessed everything in her church. When two people wind up dead in the convent, one night after another, it's up to Frevisse and her nuns to find out what happened and what went wrong, when they've piece together this twisted puzzle. In fear of Thomasine being in danger of the real killer, it's a matter of question of picking a certain poison and why. And the real culprit is a shocker of pure evil, and who would've been next to join the dead.

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first half of the book and then skimmed the rest. Not for me. I don't particularly like the mystery genre and this had all the usual flaws wrapped up in a medieval costume: half-baked characters, lackluster writing. This one additionally had an extremely slow start (the murder doesn't take place until 50%) and a forgettable detective. Just not for me.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat, tidy little historical mystery. I loved Sister Frevisse and Dame Claire and will definitely be reading more of this series!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Novice’s Tale
Dame Frevisse #1
By Margaret Frazer
Reviewed March 6, 2024


The Novice’s Tale is the very first book in the Dame Frevisse series. This and the next five books in the series were written by two women – Mary Monica Pulver Kuhfeld and Gail Lynn Frazer. From book 7 (The Prioress’ Tale) on, the books were written by Gail continuing under the pen name of Margaret Frazer.

Because it is the first in a series, the recurring characters are not as fleshed out as they will eventually become, yet at the same time show traits that will later be expanded upon – mainly the assorted nuns and novices of St Fridewide’s in Oxfordshire. Although the series main protagonist is Dame Frevisse (and I finally broke down and looked up why some nuns would have been called Sister, and others Dame, and it all has to down with family background), this first entry focuses a lot on Thomasine, a novice set to take her final vows in a few weeks.

Thomasine and her older sister Lady Isobel are orphans and heiresses, and though Isobel is happily married, Thomasine has made it known since childhood that she wants to be a nun. All would be fine except that Thomasine’s aunt, Lady Ermantrude, is bound and determined that her younger niece be removed from the nunnery and married. Why is not explained and forms part of the crux of the story.

Lady Ermantrude is quite an unlikable person, perhaps related to Mistress Cisly Thorncoffyn, an equally unlikeable character from one of the Joliffe stories, A Play of Piety. Without any warning, she shows up with her entourage of servants, escorts, baggage and pet monkey, takes up residence at St Frideswide’s, disrupting the peace and calm of the religious house. She is accustomed to brow-beating people to get her way, and even threatens to physically drag Thomasine from the premises, but before she can do that, Lady Ermantrude is stricken with some kind of madness, slips into a deep sleep, and just when it looks like she is going to recover, dies.

At first attributed to natural causes, the added deaths of one of her servants and the pet monkey lead Frevisse to suspect something more foul is involved. Unfortunately, the crowner (the medieval version of our coroner) is the kind to take the path of least resistance when it comes to determining who done it, and when the lady’s son shows up, angry and blustering that whoever killed his mother needs to be found and dealt with immediately, is only too happy to point the finger of guilt at Thomasine.

Frevisse is an enjoyable character, both deeply spiritual and with a common sense attitude. These two traits may not seem to go together, but the authors’ are able to blend them into a believable personality. That her parents were on the road a lot has given Frevisse a good understanding of how the real world works, and having been taken in by her uncle, Thomas Chaucer, following her parents’ deaths, has helped teach her how to deal with the upper classes as well.

A good start to a series I have been reading in no particular order made even more fun by showing me how it all began after already knowing the characters.

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read several of these books years ago, the ones available at the local library, anyway, and I remember enjoying them. So when I found a couple recently at Gardner's (a FABULOUS used book store in Tulsa not too far from my home), I picked them up.

The stories are set at St. Frideswide's, a medieval priory in Oxfordshire, in the 15th century. There was a real St. Fridewide's priory;just a hundred years after this story, it was dissolved by King Henry VIII; part of the church was destroyed and is now Tom Quad the priory church is now Christ Church in Oxford. (I've been there!)

A noblewoman named Lady Ermentrude, whose grandniece is a novice at the priory, comes to visit. Lady Ermentrude is well known for her vigor, in spite of her advanced age of 69, and her unreasonable temper. She suddenly leaves on horseback very soon after her arrival - a mystery there; and when she returns, she is raving that Thomasine, her niece, must leave the convent and be married. But her raving isn't simple anger; she is also seeing things that no one else sees, which are assumed to be demons come for milady's soul. Screaming in agony and incoherent, she is put to bed and after being doctored by Dame Claire, an excellent herbalist, appears to be recovering.

Then a servant keeping watch over her dies after eating some food and drinking wine meant for Lady Ermentrude; soon after, Lady Ermentrude dies also. The crowner arrives and wants to rule the deaths as accidental. But the nuns, particularly the prioress, Domina Edith, Dame Frevisse, the hosteler, and the aforementioned Dame Claire, do not think it is so simple - the symptoms indicate poison. But when evidence points to Thomasine, Dame Frevisse knows she will need to find the real murderer.

The murder mystery is quite clever; evidence seems to be leading one way and then there is an unexpected twist at the end. But as is usually in series mysteries, the real charm is in the characters and the setting. We think of medieval women as being the powerless pawns of men, and that was true. Yet this book features several highly intelligent women who have managed to obtain - and keep - a modicum of power in their own spheres, presented in a believeable way.

There is a particularly dramatic scene where

********

********

********

[Spoiler alert]

Sir Walter, the son of Lady Ermentrude, and his men are massed outside the church, fully prepared to enter the church and forcibly remove the novice Thomasine. The nuns have formed a physical barricade between Sir Walter and Thomasine, who is standing at the altar. The nuns are chanting the Dies Irae, a hymn used in the Funeral Mass, that speaks of God's judgment upon sinners (FYI, the Dies Irae chorus in Verdi's Requiem is particularly dramatic and terrifying - it's one of my favorites).

Anyway, this series is my catnip in many ways and this is a fun start to it.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in the Sister Frevisse medieval mystery series revolving around a group of nuns, Dame Frevisse in particular. The series is based in St. Frideswide's priory, a Benedictine order, in Oxfordshire. This particular story takes place in September in the Year of Our Lord's grace 1431.


My Take
Okay, do not read this too soon after reading her Joliffe series as it incorporates the same Bishop of Winchester in both series. I made the mistake of reading both at the same time and I kept waiting for Joliffe to appear or Basset to start directing!

That said. This is an excellent story full of twists, turns, and tremendous turmoil! Frazer provides all the necessary clues along with loads of red herrings which will keep you guessing as to the reason for the lady's death. The perpetrators are actually fairly obvious, but the how and why are not. I am so looking forward to the next in the series--- The Servant's Tale .

It's a time of growth for Thomasine. Thank god. Because she makes me a bit nuts with her obsessive adherence to rules, her childish outlook and reactions, her timidity, and her lack of intelligence.


The Story
From an enjoyable cose with Master Chaucer to coping with the demands of Lady Ermentrude, the day is rapidly deteriorating. For Lady Ermentrude is only happy when she is creating a fuss and poking at people. Yet something has changed as the lady suddenly decides to ride on to her great-niece's household. Now. This instant. And with a whirl, she and some of her household ride off.

Unfortunately, Lady Ermentrude returns to the priory the next day. Drunk, belligerent, and swaying on her feet. She is fuming and demanding that Thomasine leave the priory with her immediately. She fully intends to force her into a marriage and away from this "sinkhole of corruption". But Lady Ermentrude is in no shape to ride on as she misses stairs and staggers with the aid of Thomasine and young Robert Fenner to one of the guest rooms.

It's Martha's interference and nosiness that leads to her own downfall. Just as Lady Ermentrude's arrogance is hers. Unfortunately for Thomasine, it's Sir Walter's greed that fastens upon her and forces Dame Frevisse to apply her own intellect to discovering the truth as well as protecting her fellow nuns.


The Characters
Thomasine is a novice with a true devotion at St. Frideswide's. Lady Isobel is her older sister by five years and married some years now to Sir John with three children.

Dame Frevisse has recently been promoted to hosteler for the priory requiring her to interact with visitors to the priory. Domina Edith has been the prioress at St. Frideswide's for the past 32 years. Old, but very astute. Dame Claire is the infirmarian tending to the nunnery and any who ask her help. Father Henry is the priory priest. A young man and not scholarly, but deep in his faith. Dame Alys is the cellarer in charge of overseeing labor, land, and buildings as well as all that pertains to the kitchen. Martha Hayward is a former maid to Lady Ermentrude who has retired to live and work at St. Frideswide's. She has some kitchen duties and cares for Domina Edith's tiny, elderly greyhound. She gives herself airs and has been boring everyone for years now with her stories about Court. Dame Perpetua is in charge of the novices.

Thomas Chaucer is the son of Geoffrey Chaucer. He is also "one of the richest and most powerful commoners in England. Cousin to Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester. Powerful enough to have been on the King's Council. Uncle by marriage to Dame Frevisse through her Aunt Matilda. He's on his way to France to collect Lord Moleyns' heiress and the son of the now-deceased William Vaughan.

Lady Ermentrude Fenner is an old, powerful, and wealthy bitch. She's also Thomasine's great-aunt by marriage. And no one who comes within the orbit of the Fenner family is ever allowed to leave it as one never knows when one will be of use or profit to the Fenners. St. Frideswide's tolerates Lady Ermentrude as the Fenners donate generously to their coffers and larders. She has two ladies-in-waiting---one of whom was a spy planted by the queen. Sir Walter is her son and as bad as she. He greatly resents having to be here when he could be waiting for Lord Fenner to die---after all, he needs to ensure that his cousin doesn't disperse the lands or monies away from his inheritance. Robert Fenner is a great-nephew and does his best to shield Thomasine and the nuns from Sir Walter's intentions. He's also falling in love with Thomasine.

Master Montfort is the crowner more interested in expediency than truth. Until forced to it by Dames Frevisse and Claire.


The Cover
The cover is much too fancy for my impression of this nunnery. Burgundy marble is inlaid in recessed panels in granite columns which support the sides of a granite building punctured by a Gothic window with a diamond-paned stained glass insert in the peak of the window. Narrower, inlaid columns frame either side of the window while carvings of leaves square off the peak. Stepped moldings at the base of the primary columns and the window provide additional dignity with green marble panels inserted at the base. Through the window, we see a golden wine cup on its side, the bloody-looking wine puddled and dripping down the side of the rough wooden table.

The title is Thomasine as The Novice's Tale reflects her life and hoped-for future which this murder seems to threaten.

[Korin: A Crone Running Amok · Rating 3 out of 5]

The arrival of lusty, blaspheming dowager Lady Ermentrude at St. Frideswide convent in 1431 causes quite a stir, but before the obnoxious woman can get what she came for--her niece, the novice Thomasine--she is murdered. More murders follow & who has cause becomes more and more confusing.
A quick fun read

[Tamora Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of Frazer's Sister Frevisse mysteries, introducing Frevisse, hosteler to her priory and niece of Walter Chaucer (son of the poet and a figure of some standing in the court of Henry V's son). This mystery revolves around a young novice, Thomasine, who is within two weeks of taking her vows when her disliked aunt, one of the priory's most important patronesses, apparently goes off her chump, tries to drag her bodily out of the convent, has fits, seems to recover, then has more fits, and dies. During the hiatus between her aunt's fits, one of her servants eats food and drinks medicated wine intended for the woman, and the servant has fits and dies.

First arrives the coroner, who obviously wants to clear up the case and get on with his life. He wants to attribute the case to the victim riding around like a crazy person at her age. Then arrives the victim's oldest son, who wants to get back to a dying uncle before the uncle decides to leave his not inconsiderable fortune to someone else. Sir Walter wants the case cleared up, and he has fixed on the young novice as his mother's poisoner. He is determined to take her for execution, never mind the fact that she is on priory grounds and that later she even invokes the rite of sanctuary. (He also forgets what happened to Henry II, not long ago, when he violated church law.) Somehow Frevisse and her allies must uncover the truth before an innocent is killed.

I didn't love the book, which is why I rate it only three stars--parts were rushed and hard to follow--but it was a fun, quick read and I think I'll try the next one. Rather than being a thinking machine, Frevisse knows people and what makes them tick, something that always appeals to me, and I love Domina Editha, the very old, very powerful, prioress, who is at her most aware when she appears to be asleep. She wields authority like magic. She is beautiful. And Master Chaucer is a fun, worldly fellow I would like to see more of.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect Medieval Murder Mysteries are tough to write well. They’re set in a time where society and its laws were significantly different from today’s, so a mystery is not likely to look similar to what we would normally expect from a mystery. How does an author a) research and figure out how to do it plausibly for the setting while b) getting the readers to identify with the story and enjoy it?

I don’t know what the answers to those are, but Frazer gets it. Part of the reason I enjoy stories that are set in a very different background and culture from what I know is that it’s fun to learn about other cultures, even the ones that are strange only because of how long ago they existed. And she makes the characters come to life as real people. I don’t identify with the characters that much -- most of them are residents of a convent -- but they are still engaging and three-dimensional. And the writing is very descriptive and evocative. It’s not hard to see the rooms of the convent, nor to picture the conversations in my head.

My only real complaint about the story is that the setup takes way too long. The serious investigation part of the murder doesn’t start until 70% of the way through the book, and then it is necessarily rushed. The last 30% is great, but I wish it had started much sooner. A lot of the information was given in the long setup, but it might have been more interesting if it was moved to be part of the investigation.

Also, it feels a bit like a cheat for the solution to the mystery to involve laws the average reader isn’t going to know existed. That’s an extremely minor complaint, since the surprise is offset by my interest in it as another educational opportunity.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Frazer gave me a gift. I loved the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) and when I finished those books I never expected to come across another author who could create a character who struck me in the same way. Dame Frevisse is such a character. I love this strong female that is believable for the time. While I find reading about medieval life fascinating, I never fool myself that it was easy or particularly romantic. The lack of medicine and hygiene would keep me from wanting to go back, even if the appalling role of women in society did not. Frazer delivers dialogue without anachronism, and her settings and tone fit my imagination perfectly. Always forced to keep her sharp mind hidden, Frevisse is still able to effect change in her world. I am so excited that I have so many good books to anticipate reading. Thank you, Margaret Frazer!!

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't really pulled into the world of this historical mystery. I doubt I'll pick up the next installment anytime soon, but it's not out of the picture. There wasn't quite enough religiosity for me; in a book about nuns I'd expect more about their religious lifestyle! Dame Frevisse didn't come alive for me, but perhaps she gets better characterization in later volumes. I do dig the idea of a nunnery in 15th century Oxfordshire, and of course I adore the cover design for this series. Slap a gothic arch on anything and I'm happy.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh, the satisfaction of lying back, secure in the knowledge that you are in the hands of a master of language. In memory of the death of Margaret Frazer and in honor of her life, I am rereading my way through her canon. I was only a reader when I first found her. Now as a writer, I admire her craft as well. I find myself underlining passages that are particularly effective for further study to answer the question "how does she do that?"

[Mary Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a series featuring Sister Frevisse as the “detective.” Great introduction! Very fun medieval mystery with the wonderful, feisty nuns solving mysteries, saving lives and tending souls, not necessarily in that order.

[Mark Rabideau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most enjoyable, investigative mystery. Similar in a few ways to the mysteries of Brother Cadfael, with more 'grit' and deviousness. The one small down-side is that this tale takes a while before it really gets rolling....

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its always a challenge when first reading a mystery author. How clever are they? Are they going to be consistent and smart or quick and cute? How well do they present the setting, and how realistic and plausible are their characters? Are they supplying you with the clues you need to solve the case, or are they with holding details that would bring resolution?

This is an entertaining tale about a nunnery which has had its patterns disrupted by the arrival of travelers, and very disruptive travelers indeed. A young novice is the relative of one such intrusion and things begin to become more chaotic and strange with even the idea of demons being involved.

The case doesn't really take off for about half the book as our author slowly sets the tone and introduces characters, building a very believable and plausible historical setting with people behaving and thinking as they ought from that time period and setting. There is no 20th century heroine trapped in the past, no "free thinker" who just happens to agree with modern ideology. Each character is distinct but is of their time and culture.

Which is, apparently, the intent of the author, who states that she is trying to write people of and in their time to tell the tale of how they were back then, instead of how they would be today.

The language is obvious more modern, because olde English of not long after Chaucer's time is extremely difficult to read and understand. But the author conspicuously avoids modern phrases and words for the most part, which is good. She does, however, suffer from the same problem as Ellis Peters, where every character from every layer of class and society speaks essentially the same. Its a minor point, but kind of frustrating to me.

The mystery is not terribly challenging, and the investigators not tremendously talented, but it was an enjoyable and engaging enough read. There is a bit of foul play in which a couple of very important and key pieces of information are withheld from the reader -- information which would have made the likely and suspected murderer very obvious and easy to identify.

[Cas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this book a few years ago when I took a sudden interest in medieval monastic life and didn't actually start reading it until recently. It's a murder mystery novel, the first of its kind that I've read and I've thoroughly enjoyed it, although it feels to me the murder mystery part isn't so much for the reader to solve as they go along as it is for them to experience.

It's a very enticing read from start to finish, and has some powerful & awesome end scenes that Margaret Frazer manages to convey so well I could imagine them perfectly in the head, so much so the Irae Dies scene should rightly be something straight out of a movie.

It's a shame it cuts off and skips ahead right as Sister Frevisse finds the murderers - I feel as though it could have made for a very interesting and fulfilling scene to read, especially since we've been chasing them throughout the entire book.

The book ends on a rather monologue-ish note and slows down, but this I feel was necessary to grant closure on why everything happened the way it did.

[Novella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This got better later, once you get past the set up at the beginning which I thought was absurd. The year is 1431. I don't know what went one in those days but it seemed absurd that the nunnery would let such a blasphemous woman with her band of drunkards and thieves make themselves at home there just because she had a far-removed relative that was a novice soon to be taking vows there. No respect for what the convent stood for and the nuns acted like they were powerless to their lude propositions and drunken orgys day and night? that part didn't make sense other than a reason for them to be there.

After the murder, things picked up and the ending was sort of predictable but the motive was not as clear. Thomasine herself seemed a little too naive. Frevisse was a good protagonist.

Overall this was clean in language, nothing sexual explicit just implied and no real violence. I thought the characters were a little too one dimensional and nothing really vested me in them. This is another new series to me and I don't like making opinions based on the first in the series so I will check out the next book also.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this easy to read mystery that takes place in a nunnery in 1431. The plot was good, as well as the history. I enjoyed the characters and the book had a nice pace to it. Overall, a good book and I plan on picking up another one from this author.

[Roshni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically Cadfael with a female lead. A good, casual read for a plane

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginning to a series I will continue. I liked how the sisters were written. Well developed with room to grow.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely enjoyable all the way through! Pleasant and thought-provoking, quietly interesting, with just a smattering of creepy and eerie to top it off.

[Ariane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5