The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) [Paperback]

Margaret Frazer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries | Publication Date: August 1, 1995

Who could ever want to harm two young boys, ages five and six? When the boys are half brothers to Henry VI, King of England, the list is long and distinguished. A lady in their mother's household flees with the boys to St. Frideswide's and asks Sister Frevisse to offer then sanctuary. Unable to refuse children, she takes them in and conceals them. But as attempts are made on the boys' lives inside St. Fridewide's walls, Sister Frevisse realizes that from the ambitious and the wicked, there is no sanctuary...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'History fans will relish every minute.' Publisher's Weekly 'Exquisitely woven.' The Cleveland Plain Dealer 'Executes her exercise...with audacity and ingenuity.' Kirkus Review 'A good mystery...excellently drawn.' Anne Perry" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Margaret Frazer was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback for The Servant's Tale and The Prioress' Tale. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; First edition (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425148998
• ISBN-13: 978-0425148990
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret Frazer is a full-time writer. She has twice been a finalist for the Edgar(r) in the paperback original category. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal, June 19, 2001

By 

E R Hamer (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) (Paperback)

Margaret Frazer has done it again. In this story of two young boys, half-brothers to the underaged King of England, she blends her profound knowledge of the history and theology of late medieval England with a satisfying plot to keep the more sophisticated reader entranced. There are echoes of 'real' history--the princes in the tower--and lots of details that bring the characters and times to life. Above all, Frevisse is fully developed as a 15th century Benedictine nun--her theology is accurate and if her Latin is a bit shaky, we'd never know.

I'm tired of all the superficial 'medieval' mysteries that are just modern stories with a few knights sprinkled around--Frazer knows her stuff. This heroine recites her Hours, but thinks about her God as the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer would have. I have most of the series and will try to find the rest, for sure.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Royal Intrigue comes to St. Frideswide's, November 24, 2000

By 

booknblueslady (Woodland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) (Paperback)

Margaret Frazer visits St. Frideswide's at the time the prioress is near death in her book the Boy's Tale. The Boys are Henry VI half brothers Jasper and Edmund. They fled for their lives and are trying to make it to a safe place in wales. They were over taken and must claim sanctuary at the nunnery.

Sister Frevisse is able to figure out who they are and helps to guard them from danger. This is not an easy task because the boys are quite mischievous and the villain is persistent.

I am very fond of this genre and likely to overlook any glaring faults. It is really for pure enjoyment that I read these and Frazer has yet to let me down.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Much Tighter Tale this time, September 26, 2003

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) (Paperback)

I've been reading the Sister Frevisse series, and I found that this book is the best so far. The plot is much tighter, and the characterizations much more believable. All the action takes place within the walls of Sister Freveisse's nunnery and that helps keep the plot focused. In this tale, Sister Frevisse is drawn into political and court intrigue when two small boys with their retinue of five adults come seeking sancturary within the nunnery. All kinds of mishaps occur until finally someone turns up dead in a nearby creek. Sister Frevisse must set out to unmask the killer in order to protect the two little boys in her care.