Customer Reviews

A Play of Knaves (A Joliffe Mystery)

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I read this book in less than 3 hours, because it held my interest completely and I just had to finish it. I read the previous three books about Joliffe and the players, but this is among the best by far. The interaction of the players is superb, with their easy friendship and good humored chiding. The new member of the troupe, Gil, can use some additional exposure -- and further development of what may be an interesting character.
I hate to give any part of the plot away, but consider reading the book because it is well written and beautifully researched. The crime and its solution are simply an added and well brought about bonus. A most for hystorical mysteries fans!
Enjoy!!!!

The book A Play of Knaves is one of a series of historical mysteries that follow the player Joliffe as he ends up in a variety of situations that require some serious sleuthing to stay out of trouble.

While it is not difficult to follow and enjoy the mystery of A Play of Knaves without having read the rest of the series, some of the introspection of the main character seemed misplaced because I had not read earlier works and had not yet formed a connection of any sort with Joliffe. I still felt like I hadn't by the end of the book either. It is very apparent that there is an arc through the series following Joliffe and this was just one small part of it, but since I was reading a book somewhere in the middle it ended up being just confusing to have those themes thrown in.

The historical mystery on its own was a fun read. I don't know much about the period so I'm not sure what of it is accurate and what not, but the characters were lively and fun and the mystery was definitely interesting, though I wouldn't call it gripping by any means. The dialogue was definitely not accurate for the times, but that was probably a blessing considering the year. A lot of the circumstance and background for a band of traveling players in the 1400's ended up being pretty interesting. And, the humor of the book was at times laugh out loud funny as their performances were described, plus they often had license to poke fun at figures in society that the average person could not.

A Play of Knaves was a light and fun read but might I suggest starting with A Play of Issac? That might make things make a lot more sense and you can follow Joliffe the player from the very beginning.

The Joliffe mysteries are every bit as enjoyable as The Dame Frevisse, but the nun gets the hadcover. huh!
Love Gil, the new player, and have found he does get more developed as the series goes on.
The titles are intriguing, and very apt.

Third in the Joliffe medieval mystery series revolving around a group of players who roam the English countryside in the early 1400s.

My Take
Beautifully crafted mystery which I can really appreciate after watching all those CSIs! We've come to expect that DNA and fingerprint matches along with cellphones and computers are necessary to solve crimes that it's almost more difficult to understand how they were ever solved before this.

I love Frazer's depiction of life in medieval England and the uncertain life of this family of actors. It's a unique way in which to create an empathy between the reader and her characters and helps us to better understand how precarious life was for those not of the noble class. Being on the outside of any local hierarchy, the players see the people in each town/village/city as though they are on a stage with their individual dramas never seen through to their ends.

It certainly makes me appreciate the Safeways of my world when I read of the meals Rose pulls together! It also makes me appreciate how far women have come in terms of their rights!! Eeek!

The Story
It is the year of Our Lord 1435 and after spending Easter week entertaining their patron, Lord Lovell's family, the players are asked to explore a problem that has cropped up in White Horse Vale. The bailiff can't find the core of the trouble and it is hoped that Joliffe's curious nature may help root it out.

Lucky for the players that Master Ashewell has some sway in Ashewell village when they first arrive as Father Hewgo comes ranting at them to leave. Instead Master Ashewell overwhelms the not-so-good father and invites them to camp in one of his fields where the subtle gamesmanship requires the players to placate all the "ruling" families. The politics of placating the Church are also played. And played to a most unnatural end with the first murder. A murder in which everyone appears to rejoice.

Being strangers with no obvious protection, Basset's players are very much at risk if the Crowner isn't interested in justice but speedy resolution. Fortunately, they have some protection in being Lord Lovell's players and the bailiff in White Horse Vale reports to his lordship.

The Characters
Lord Lovell's Players include Joliffe, writer, actor, musician; Basset is the leader of the group with his daughter Rosa who handles their money, mothers them, and ensures that their costumes are in order along with his grandson, Rosa's son, Piers, who acts in the female and male roles; Ellis is Rosa's hopeful lover--her conscience smites her often as she is still married even if the lowlife has run off and no one has heard from him; Gil is a young lad who joined from the home manor of Minster Lovell and, Tisbe, their very patient horse.

This story's characters include:
Master Lionel Ashewell who bought his way out of villeiny into a nice manor house in his village and his family: Mistress Ashewell and their son Nicholas. Walter Gosyn and his ailing wife Geretruda have a daughter Claire who wishes to wed with Nicholas. A mystery here as Ashewell and Gosyn are best friends and their children wish to marry. But, Nicholas is intended for Eleanor with Claire to Hal. Matches strenuously opposed by Nicholas and Claire. Master Kyping is the Lovell's bailiff and in charge of the murder investigations until the Crowner arrives.

Father Hewgo is the parish priest. In name only. I suspect the only man more despised is Master John Medcote, another who rose up in the world albeit under dubious circumstances. Hmmm, no one likes Medcote's family either. The wife, the daughter, Eleanor, or most especially the son Hal, a real chip off the old block.

The Cover
The cover is a bit odd. There's the running White Horse of Uffington in the hills in the upper half of the cover with a crowd of medieval-costumed people below and a huge thicket of white in between.

I suppose the title is entitled to be A Play of Knaves since there are two of them.

Lady Lovell sends the player's company to help a seward after a pilgramage takes her far from home.
Margaret Frazer's A PLAY OF KNAVES is a smooth paced read that will have you turning the pages to discover what happens next when a man with a multitude of enemies is murdered. Things are not right in the abbey lands, yet the tangled roots are deep in the past and present.
Gil has become a compentent member of the players adding to their ability to present different productions while holding his own with their undercover investigations.
This is the best of the Joliffe mysteries I've read to date.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.

(Note: I originally wrote this review on my blog in Aug 2009) I had read this last year, out of order (it's the 3rd book in the series), and remember that it did not make a big impact on me. Then this month I read the first 2 books, and re-read this just to keep the sequence of events straight. And I discovered that my perspective on it had changed - it's much easier to appreciate the smaller nuances of the characters when you know what took them to this point. Joliffe and his troupe are asked to go to Ashewell village to stage plays and undercover see if they can find out what drives the rivalry among the 3 wealthiest families in town - the Ashewells, the Medcotes and Gosyns. They discover hints of blackmail and deception, and just before they are to leave the Medcote patriarch, who was hated by everyone, is murdered. With no lack of suspects Joliffe is hard-pressed to find evidence on the killer, and then he strikes again, this time at the Gosyns.

Frazer's marvelous characterizations and rich background in 15th century England, particularly of traveling players of the time, make a fascinating backdrop for a twisted tale of murder that is resolved most satisfactorily in the end. When I first read this book last year I thought it paled in comparison to her excellent Sister Frevisse series, but now that I've placed it in proper perspective I find I enjoy this series just as much as the other.

Lord Lovell's players are called upon to once again do something for their sponsors. This time at Lady Lovell's request, Joliffe is asked to look into the affairs of three powerful families that are at each others throats and he quickly finds blackmail and murderous intentions that are soon acted upon. This one lacks the focus of the first two "Joliffe" mysteries, with too many characters and the motivation behind the killings ending up towards "serial killer" territory. The characters are still intriguing and the idea of traveling players lends itself to a lot of possibilities, but A PLAY OF KNAVES was weaker installment.

While I have enjoyed (for the most part) Margaret Frazer's series about Joliffe and the players, I found this book to be the most interesting. It is a very introspective book, focusing a lot on Joliffe's inner thoughts and feelings. Frazer's meticulous attention to detail creates a fascinating look at the life of common people of the time.