Customer Reviews

The Outlaw's Tale

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While _The Outlaw's Tale_ is not quite as stellar as some of the series' other books, it's a well-told and often puzzling mystery story nonetheless. Its story is complex, and builds with a lesiurely pace that fits both its period and its primary setting: a well-off household in late medieval England. Though taken outside of the priory for the first (though not last) time in the series, Dame Frevisse is still her usual self: deeply compassionate beneath her acrid wit, and driven by a mixture of deep piety, rock-solid common sense, and restless curiosity. Hers is one of the few believable portraits of a nun in historical fiction, simply because she enjoys the contemplative life; she is also one of the most likable detectives in the mystery genre because of her compassion. Whereas most detectives sleuth to solve puzzles, Frevisse does so to help people and heal relationships. The book's final plot twist is, characteristically for the series, both unexpected and rather sad, yet satisfying as well. Its roguish outlaws'adoption of late medieval Robin Hood personae is both apt and humorously done, and its mix of characters is vibrant. Overall, this is a book worth reading in a series worth reading.

In this book we find Sister Frevisse on the road with another nun from St. Frideswide. They are waylaid in their travels by a cousin of Sister Frevisse. This cousin is one she hasn't seen for some time because he's been an outlaw . He has stopped his cousin to enlist her aid in getting him a pardon so that he can resume a normal life. While Sister Frevisse is waiting for an answer about this pardon she is lodging at the home of one her cousin's business partners and a murder is commmitted. Sister Frevisse is forced to jeopardise everything she holds dear to solve the crime. She enters a world of lies and deceit in order to protect some and expose others. Ms. Frazer does a good job of setting her stories in the period and the plot moves along in a way that is very compatable with this period.

I searched high and low for The Outlaw's Tale, the next book in Margaret Frazer's incredible series featuring Dame Frevisse. Finally I found and downloaded the Kimble version. The wait was worth the effort. The Outlaw's Tale delivers as much action as mystery.

The story opens with Dame Frevisse accompanying Sister Emma who is on her way to a family christening when they are take by a band of outlaws. They are treated well and Frevisse finds out to her surprise the outlaws are led by her cousin Nicholas, whom she hasn't seen in sixteen years or more. He swears he has changed his ways and implores her to write to their uncle, Thomas Chaucer (son of Geoffrey) to see if he can arrange a pardon for him and his men.

Frevisse is unsure but happy to help her cousin. Before all this can happen, the fragile, flibbertigibbet Emma is taken ill from her exposure to the elements. Nicholas arranges for them to seek help for her at the manor of a man with whom he has done business.

She is doubtful about what these business dealings might include but busies herself taking care of Emma. The widowed sister of the manor lord is eager to help and Frevisse discovers the reason why. There may be a connection between the widow and Nicholas or one of his men.

Frevisse finds her self in the middle of a family feud after a brutish, despicable man wanting the widow's hand in marriage is murdered. Despite her cousin's reassurances that he has changed his ways, Frevisse isn't quite convinced. Nicholas appears to be more involved with the family than he lets on.

The Outlaw's Tale is either a short book or an easy read because the pages flew by. I read it in two sittings over a weekend. I like the references to Frevisse's family and the memories she has of her childhood, since it brings her to life, which other characters similar to Frevisse lack. She is humble but not unassuming. She's someone with whom the reader can connect and root for.

I didn't find it to be as complex as the other Frevisse mysteries but as I mentioned before, it has action and suspense. I devoured it like all the others and am ready for the next.

While I did enjoy this 3rd volume of the series, it makes me realize that my habit of reading a series as the books come to me and therefore out of order does have its advantages. I've discovered that most authors take a few books to really hit their stride, and their best work comes later in the series as their characters develop. This is an example of exactly that - while the mystery was entertaining, it did not have the depth and intricacy of Frazer's later work in the series. Sister Frevisse is accompanying Sister Emma on a trip to her family to attend a christening. On the way they are captured by outlaws in the forest, and their leader turns out to be Frevisse's cousin Nicholas, a black sheep of the family who had been disowned by his father. He wants her to write her uncle Thomas Chaucer and ask for a pardon for himself and his band, to which Frevisse reluctantly agrees. But Sister Emma falls ill from exposure to the elements and they are forced to take shelter in a nearby town in the home of a friend of Nicholas's. When a murder occurs, Frevisse has to wonder if her cousin is not as repentant of his lifestyle as he claims. While the mystery is pretty simple compared to later volumes, Frazer's skill in characterization is evident through every book in this series, and this is no exception.

This is an early book in the long series of mysteries featuring Dame Frevisse, a nun. Frevisse is traveling with another nun when they are captured by Robin Hood-like outlaws, and her long-lost cousin is the outlaw leader. A murder takes place, and Frevisse figures out who is responsible. One of the
aspects I like about this series is that it is firmly set in the historical time of England's Henry VI and all the details of the politics and society of that period are carefully researched.

So happy to have this Dame Frevisse Novel. This one is hard to get apparently. These mysteries are so amazing in that they share what life was like in 15th Century England from the viewpoint of a Nun whose hobby is solving crimes !! Cool!

Margaret Frazer's THE OUTLAW'S TALE takes Dame Frevisse out of the convent. She is accompaning Dame Emma to a family christening when they are abducted by outlaws living in the forests.
The instigator of the plot is Nicholas, a cousin to Dame Frevisse who wants her to interceed with Thomas Chaucer for a pardon for him and his men so they can return to their homes. Dame Frevisse isn't impressed as to Nicholas's motives, but when Dame Emma becomes ill from exposure to the elements she agrees to write a letter to her uncle in return for shelter.
He takes her to the home of a manager who looks after the monies he has obtained to prepare for his future. When another citzen is robbed and later murdered many lives are involved and the stakes get high for Dame Frevisse to discover the truth.
The third addition to this series has many twists and an unexpected conclusion that will keep you turning the page.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.