Maiden's Tale [Hardcover]

Margaret Frazer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2009

A visit at the home of Sister Frevisse's cousin, Lady Alice, becomes dangerous - for this home houses a secret that has turned deadly. Alice is involved in dangerous political machinations with the Duke of Orleans and King Henry VI. Private correspondence has been routed through the Suffolks' home but now the messenger has been brutally slain. Can Sister Frevisse find the traitor and murderer before he strikes again?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'History fans will relish every minute.' Publisher's Weekly 'Appealing characters and crisp writing.' Los Angeles Times"

About the Author

Margaret Frazer was a finalist for an Edgar Award for The Servant's Tale and The Prioress' Tale. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Robert Hale Library H/Backs (December 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0709088515
• ISBN-13: 978-0709088516
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053,582 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

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another successful foray into the world of Dame Frevisse., July 22, 1998

By 

Steven Barnhart (California) - See all my reviews

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

The Maiden's Tale picks up shortly after the events of The Prioress' Tale. Saint Frideswide's abbot has put things to right in the abbey and has selected the new prioress who happens to be his sister. Dame Frevisse travels to London with the abbot in order to escort the new prioress back to the abbey. Once in London, Frevisse becomes involved in the intrigue surrounding the Duc d'Orleans, the Duke of Gloucester, and King Henry VI. We are treated to the return of many old "friends" from the previous books include Frevisse's cousin the Countess of Suffolk, the half-brothers of Henry VI, Jasper and Edmund from The Boy's Tale, and Frevisse's ecclesiastical nemesis, Bishop Beaufort. And of course, there's a murder or two to solve. Frazer excels at period writing. Her characters never seem to be 20th Century indviduals in a Medieval setting. Their attitudes and actions are completely consistant with the period. The entire mood is enhanced by the author's att! ention to details in things such as food and costuming. Although clearly part of a continuing series, the book can easily be read by a frist-timer who will likely then wish to read the previous outings. For those who like following the clues and beating the detective to the conclusion, this book may be less satisfying since a great part of its pleasure is in the reader's going along for the ride with the characters.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Medieval london brought to life, November 6, 2003

By 

L O'connor (richmond, surrey United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

This is one of the most enjoyable of the Sister Frevisse mysteries. Dame Frevisse journeys to London to meet the new Prioress of her convent, and stays with her cousin Alice, wife to the ambitious earl of Suffolk. here she meets Alice's waiting woman, jane, horribly disfigured by a massive birthmark, but determined not to be shut away in a nunnery. Dame Frevisse is most reluctantly caught up in the political machinations of Suffolk and Bishop Beaufort, and jane is involved too. The sights and sounds of medieval London are vividly described, you almost think yourself there. The description of a medieval banquet is particularly enticing, as each course is described you see the range of delicious food that was served in those days (where did English cooking go wrong?) Dame Frevisse herself is a formidable character, pious, intellectual and shrewd, inclined to be a bit disdainful of anyone who isn't as clever or as pious as she is herself, I love reading her adventures, but I'm glad I don't have to meet her, she'd terrify me. The supporting characters are interesting as always, and the plot is gripping. This is a delightful book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historical Series, February 13, 2001

By 

P. Bigelow (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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

This historical series is set in fifteenth century England and features Sister Frevisse. As this entry opens, Sister Frevisse is being sent to London to meet the new prioress of St. Frideswide. she is asked, by her abbott, to stay with a relative who may make a donation to the priory. Sister Frevisse finds herself in the murderous political machinations of Henry VI and the Duc d'Orleans. This is an excellent series and gets better with each entry.