A Play of Isaac (A Joliffe Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Frazer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 3, 2004 | Series: A Joliffe Mystery

Ripped from the pages of the award-winning author's Dame Frevisse novels...

THE MIDDLE AGES COME TO LIFE... TO BRING US MURDER

The year is 1434, and preparations are under way for the Corpus Christi festival in Oxford, England. Plays are a traditional part of the celebration, and Joliffe and the rest of his troupe are to perform Isaac and Abraham. Until then, their theatrical antics are in demand by a wealthy merchant who offers them an opportunity to ply their trade for room and board.

But when the body of a murdered man is found outside the barn door where the troupe is lodging, Joliffe must raise the curtain on the merchant's mysterious past and uncover the startling truth behind a murder most foul...

PRAISE FOR THE PLAYER JOLIFFE SERIES
"Everything I'd hoped to find: memorable characters, a meticulously detailed world, an intriguing crime, and a satisfying conclusion." - Roundtable Reviews

"Will entertain and confound you with its intricately plotted mystery and richly detailed writing... Ms. Frazer knows the fifteenth century and it shows..." - Romance Readers Connection

"Deftly drawn characters acting in a stage of intricate and accurate details of medieval life." - Affaire de Couer

Carefully and faithfully rendered, 15th-century England and France and all the political difficulties come easily to life... Medieval mystery fans will once again enjoy the clever player Joliffe and his adventures. - The Mystery Reader

PRAISE FOR MARGARET FRAZER

"Prepare to be enchanted as Margaret Frazer transports you back to the 15th century." - Romantic Times

"More than just a good read. The reader comes away sadder and wiser, knowing that what tehy've read is that stuff of real life. Brava!" - Historical Novels Review

"A smooth and absorbing saga of conspiracy and treachery in 15th-century England... A tantalizing secret turns out to have stunning political implications." - Publishers Weekly

"Finely plotted and subtly shaded. Frazer has the detailed substance that brings an era to life, while her characters' psychological makeup is as cunningly wrought as the historical background." - Publishers Weekly

"Margaret Frazer has quietly claimed her place as one of the preeminent writers of historical crime fiction, delivering the whole package - a good mystery, wonderful characters, and a fascinating period of history. Her novels are a dream to read." - Aunt Agatha's Newsletter

Herodotus Award Winner.
Twice nominated for the Edgar Award
Twice nominated for the Minnesota Book Award
A Romantic Times Top Pick.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Meticulous detail that speaks of trustworthy scholarship and a sympathetic imagination."—New York Times



"An exceptionally strong series."—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

About the Author

Margaret Frazer was a finalist for an Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback for both The Servant’s Tale and The Prioress’ Tale. The Sister Frevisse series includes The Novice’s Tale, The Servant’s Tale, The Outlaw’s Tale, The Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, The Murderer’s Tale, The Prioress’ Tale, The Maiden’s Tale, The Reeve’s Tale, and The Squire’s Tale. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (August 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425197514
• ISBN-13: 978-0425197516
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret Frazer is the award-winning author of more than twenty historical murder mysteries and novels. She makes her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, surrounded by her books, but she lives her life in the 1400s. In writing her Edgar-nominated Sister Frevisse (The Novice's Tale) and Player Joliffe (A Play of Isaac) novels she delves far inside medieval perceptions, seeking to look at medieval England more from its point of view than ours. "Because the pleasure of going thoroughly into otherwhen as well as otherwhere is one of the great pleasures in reading."

She has twice been a finalist for the Edgar(R) in the paperback original category.

She can be visited online at http://www.margaretfrazer.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A true feast -- January 6, 2005

By kellytwo

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Some years ago, the scuttlebutt was that a mystery had to have a murder in the first chapter. Not only the first chapter, but as close to page one as possible. If the story couldn't be made to fit that requirement -- too bad. No sale. And we'd have missed this marvelous book, in which the first murder doesn't happen until page 116!

Thank goodness that's no longer the case. A PLAY OF ISAAC by Margaret Frazer is not a fast-paced, whiz-bang type of story. It is layers deep, with full-bodied characterizations and lavishly described surroundings so that on nearly every page, one can see and hear and smell and taste- and almost feel the world in which the book is set. It's a lovely, languid reading experience that will stay with you for a good while after you've finished it.

In 1453, the world was fairly well run by the church. Most folks couldn't read, but could remember saint's days and church festivals-with a little help from the monks and priests who lived and worked in the churches and abbeys. Some of the bigger festivals, such as Corpus Christi, meant a holiday from work, so was an even bigger event. Adding to the teachings of the church, groups of players delivered morality plays, and it was not uncommon for several of these to be given in a day's time, by various minstrel troups in scattered locations throughout a larger city such as Oxford.

It is there we meet Joliffe and the others of his band of players: Thomas Basset, the playmaster; his maybe-widowed-maybe-not daughter Rose, and her son Piers, plus Ellis who has aspirations other than acting. He'd be Rose's second husband in a minute, if she'd agree. Rose cannot be a player, of course, but she's the costumer, scenery deviser, props master, chaperone, and general manager, nonetheless.... Even Piers plays many parts.

While settling in for the festivities, the troup is `discovered' by an Eden-child, Lewis, who may indeed be simple, but he uses the wits he has to better advantage than the so-called normal folks around him. He is a wealthy young man who is fostered by the wealthy, merchant Penteney family, and is even betrothed to their daughter, Kathryn. In fact, the banns will most likely be posted during the festival, in the presence of Lord and Lady Lovell, who will be visiting her parents.

In this tense time, with a weak king on the throne (Henry VI) the ever-constant threat of Lollardy is a grave offense. Along with the Lovells comes the first murder, and skeptical Joliffe mistrusts nearly everyone, although the acting crowner Barentyne seems reasonable and fair. Between them, they'll get to the bottom of the various mysteries, which may prove unsatisfactory to some readers, but are all perfectly sensible to the era in which the crimes take place.

If you're at all interested in theater, you'll relish the remarkable research done by the author, and attention to details paid to the still-somehat-young art of that time. It's amazing how sophisticated players and playing could be all those centuries ago.

If you need a fast-paced, shoot-'em-up type of story to keep you happy, this isn't that sort of book. If you like history, theater, words and characters about whom you'd like to know much, much more, then this is YOUR book. And soon, with luck, there'll be more to come in this new series by the author of the Dame Frevisse Medieval Mystery series. Read more ›

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific historical who-done-it August 3, 2004

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Thanks to Dame Frevisse, (see the SERVANT'S TALE) Joliffe and his fellow thespians (Basses, his daughter Rose, her son Piers and their friend Ellis) ply their trade in England of 14 34 though they have no patron. This wandering troupe lives to act no matter the hardship. They are in Oxford performing an inn and to act in a play for the Corpus Christi festival. Lewis, an Eden-child (a person who has Down's syndrome) is so excited with their role-playing that he invites them to be his guest at his home; his parents the Penteneys, enthusiastically endorse their son's invitation.

Master Penteney, a wealthy and powerful merchant, asks the performers to put on two plays in exchange for room and lodging. This is a sweet deal and the actors accept, happy to have rest from the road. They have the whole barn to themselves but when they wake up the next morning, they find the murdered body of a man outside their door. The authorities believe the victim was a heretic, a member of the Lollards. He came to speak to Master Penteney, who sent him on his way. At the feast, many guests suffer from food poisoning and Lewis acts out of character with nothing soothing him. The troupe falls under suspicion so Joliffe, needing to save their reputation, investigates.

Margaret Frazier, famous for her Dame Frevisse medieval mysteries, starts a new series in the same era that is as good as her first one is. Fans of Roberta Gellis, Sharon York, or Ms. Frazier will be shocked by how terrible actors were treated in fifteenth century England. A PLAY OF ISAAC is a terrific historical who-done-it that will please amateur sleuth and historical mystery fans.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-Paced, Entertaining, Gripping August 21, 2004

By readforteens

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This one is Frazer at her finest. Why paperback, though? I would think her sales would assure her a hardcover! Anyway, once again, she manages to wend her way through a complex mystery, and neatly draws the threads together at the end. Believable time-piece.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I hated for it to end June 4, 2006

By S. Rice

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've read this book a few times and still find it entertaining every time. I don't know how to explain it but reading this book is a happy experience. Ms. Frazer's writing makes me see everything so clearly. I enjoyed these characters and look forward to meeting them again.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Medieval Whodunit Series for Joliffe! August 31, 2012

By raisa

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is a satisfying little formula paperback, featuring a group of medieval players visiting town for a religious festival. Frazer is a mature mystery author. She does her research and doesn't show off with clichéd flourishes or affected dialect. Joliffe, like all "accidental detectives" of the genre, is predictably observant, curious, and brave. He's well-read and not above sarcasm, but not arrogant or annoying. Joliffe is introverted and protects his privacy from the "family" he travels. He also supports them unquestioningly, and together they have an affectionate friends-and-family dynamic that makes all the characters sympathetic. I enjoyed the glimpse into the world of travelling players. This is a "type" seen often in the genre, but usually in passing - it was fun to get involved so intimately with their daily life, sleeping in barns, hoarding their coins and mending costumes.

As a murder mystery, this is a good yarn but without much outright suspense and little sense of danger. I found the Down syndrome character to be written in a genuine and respectful way with a minimum of bias and baggage. I was not entirely happy with the moral outcome (which in part, seems to weigh the worth of a person with disabilities) but that was the point. I'm pleased to find this book and get started on a new mystery writer. It's a series I'm sure I'll come back to off and on over the years.