Customer Reviews

The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries)

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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.

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.

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.

Reading this book is a joy. It's fast paced, with interesting characters, nice twists and a human nun, for a change. I enjoyed it so much, that I have already bought two more of Ms. Frazer's book. It's refreshing to find these entertaining and at the same time historically accurate mystery books.

Margaret Frazer's THE BOY'S TALE reads so much like history that I went to my copy of KINGS, RULERS, and STATESMEN to check some dates as to when the Tudor's acquired the throne of England. One can almost believe it is a true story, even though you know it is fiction.
Two young boys and their guardians arrive at the closter asking for help from outlaws. The boys are the sons of Owen Tudor and Katherine, the mother of the current king, Henry VI. Powerful people do not want them around to cause problems in the future. Whoever controls the boys may control the future of England. A marvelous murder mystery romance in the old tradition of romances.
A great read, that flows from killing to killing as the stakes get higher for Dame Frevisse and the nuns. Their beloved leader Dame Edith is dying and life within the walls is anything, but peaceful.
I am going through this series from start to finish on my Kindle. Perfect for bedtime enjoyment if you don't stay up too late to finish it.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.

I was serious when I mentioned in my review of The Bishop's Tale that I couldn't wait to read the next Margaret Frazer novel. So I picked up The Boy's Tale devoured it, for a second time. It was as exciting as the first time I read it.

Dame Frevisse is a captivating sleuth, humble and unassuming, yet intelligent and sharp witted. She can lock horns with the best of them: bishops, duchesses and know-it-all crowners.

In The Bishop's Tale, Frazer introduced us to medieval medical literature as Frevisse searched for poisons. In The Boy's Tale, she portrays the intrigues and scandals of Henry VI's court. The young king's mother has remarried in secret, without the approval of the regents in charge of Henry. More than that, she has had children by her new husband.

The king's half-brothers are in jeopardy by those who would control them and, through them, the king. For their safety, the Queen Mother sends them off on a journey to Wales as fast as they can travel. The first part of the book is told from the young boys' perspective, the excitement of traveling to far away lands; the confusion and frustration of riding for days while avoiding towns and well-traveled roads; and the horror of losing favorite servants in an ambush. Their governess, a young maidservant and the boys barely manage to reach the safety of St. Frideswide Priory.

Dame Frevisse recognizes the governess, Lady Maryon, from an experience several years before. Although she distrusts Maryon, she understands the boys need sanctuary.

Especially after attempts on the boys' lives are made outside the cloister. Fully aware of the situation, Frevisse wonders what will happen to the priory if it is learned the boys are there. She's managed to keep their identity a secret to everyone except Domina Edith, the aging, dying prioress.

There was never a shortage of political intrigue in any court of the English kings and queens, and from what I understand Henry VI was no exception. Frazer weaves a terrific story around the controversy and the danger to the king's half-brothers as people risk their lives to deliver the boys to Wales where they will be safe with their father's family. The interesting thing about the situation is that the boys have no claim to the English throne. Through their father, however, they have a strong claim to the French throne.

I enjoy the way Frazer can intertwine fifteenth century politics with the culture of the period in The Boy's Tale. It brings the series to a whole new level.

England in the summer of 1436. The King's mother Katherine of Valois, send her two little sons Edmund and Jasper (aged six and five) to safety in Wales from evil and ambitious men who want them out of the way. They are waylaid by thugs and must take refuge. with five members of their household, in St Fridewides Abby, where they are put under Dame Frevisse's protection, as Dame Frevisse is unable to turn away children. They become friends with a charge of the abbey of their own age, the Lady Adela. A series of mishaps followed by two murders leads Dame Frevisse to suspect evil is afoot in the Abbey and someone has infiltrated the sanctuary to try to harm the young princes. Another medieval murder mystery unravels. English history aficionados will find it of interest that the older of the two boys is Edmund Tudor, who will sire Henry VII, and therefore be an ancestor to all subsequent English monarchs. The author does well in capturing the sights, sounds, smells and culture of 15th century England.

My reviews on this series are getting repetitious, but here's another good one from Margaret Frazer about Sister Frevisse. A small party with two small boys asks to take sanctuary at the priory after being attacked on the road, but it becomes apparent they have not escaped danger when two more of their party are killed in the days that follow. It's obvious to Frevisse that dangerous politics is involved and she must find the murderer quickly. As always, Frazer is adept at characterization, and the impending death of their beloved prioress from old age adds poignancy to this story. Another excellent addition to the series.

Margaret Frazer is a master at historical detail. When it comes to an accurate evocation of the middle ages, she is unmatched in any genre. Of course, there's also the tightly plotted and compelling mystery story to enjoy, too.

This murder mystery is set in midievil times. The main character is very likeable, not because she is a nun, but because she does NOT fir the nun stereotype. This book might be enjoyed by people who liked the Father Dowling Mystery Series or who are interested in life in 15th century Europe.