Customer Reviews

A Play of Isaac (A Joliffe Mystery)

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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.

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

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.

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.

Recently discovered the player series featuring Joliffe and immediately fell in love. Ordered and have read every book in this series and eagerly await the next installment. Frazer is a gifted writer who takes you back to medieval England, making it real with really great characters, descriptions and solid plots. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, read this series! If you just enjoy a well crafted adventure with characters you care about, read this book. Read this series!

Margaret Frazer opens a new series with the introduction of an old character in A PLAY OF ISAAC.
Joliffe and the company of players from A SERVANT'S TALE are in Oxford to perform for the Corpus Christi festival. They meet an old friend of Basset's who wishes to remain unrecognized, but invites them to stay in his barn during the festivities if they will perform for him and his guests. His ward, Lewis suffers from Downs, but is indulged and well cared for at a time when other actions would have removed him for public view.
The family is a close one with many of the world's goods and living is high for the time.
Until the body of a man is discovered outside the barn's door and the players know from experience they will be the first to be suspected of foul deeds. It is up to Joliffe to unravel the complicated relations and bring a killer to justice so the company can go free.
Margaret Frazer gives us an excellent look at the world of traveling players, the works they performed and the precariousness of their existance in a medieval world.
An excellent read and a fine beginning to a new series.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.

This is a spin-off from Frazer's Dame Frevisse series set in 15th century England, starring the traveling player Joliffe. Joliffe and his troupe are in Oxford for the Corpus Christi festival to perform the play Abraham and Isaac. They attract the attention of the simple-minded Lewis, ward of wealthy merchant Master Penteney, who offers them room and board in exchange for performances at his home. But a dead body is found outside the barn door where they are housed, and with the natural human penchant for blaming any itinerant travelers for trouble, Joliffe is determined to find the truth before they are accused of murder.

Frazer's 15th century world is fascinating as always, and the lives of traveling actors are meticulously detailed. As always, her books are full of side characters who actually existed, the mystery intricate, its solution satisfying, and the characterizations excellent. It's a good start to another series from one of my favorite authors.

I was not too familiar with Margaret Frazer's Dame Frevisse series (A few short stories, but that's about it.) when I happened upon this book but if they are of the same quality as this one I definitely will have to check them out. A PLAY FOR ISAAC deals with a small band of players in the 15th century and Frevisse immediately creates a group of characters you care about. Only 5 in the group, struggling along in a career that had as many downsides to it as perks, are set to play the feast of Corpus Christi and find themselves with room and board, are rare and happy occurrence. But of course things are going a bit too well and a murder has the players under suspicion and it is up to Jolife, a character who has made appearances in Frazer's Frevisse series, to solve the murder before the players become a too convenient target for the crowner to point a finger at. It takes a awhile for the mystery to get started as Frevisse sets up a nice portrait of the life of a traveling player with a very authentic feel for the period and while the mystery itself is not particularly challenging, it becomes very easy to get caught up in the daily life of this tight knit group and I look forward to other entries in the series.

I read all the "Tales Of . . ." books with enthusiasm. I was surprised to find this first in a new series so slow-moving. It was hard to find a plot through all the boring details. There was a surge of hope on pages 116 and 208, but this book never got going as far as I was concerned. Even Joliffe, from The Servant's Tale, lost his charming and witty personality in this one. It seemed as if the people using the Margaret Frazer pen name lent it to somebody else.

Interesting characters, but some logical flaws. Overall, fairly mediocre. Find a better book.