Customer Reviews

The Boy's Tale

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4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
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I've been reading the Sister Frevisse series, and I found that this book is the best so far. The plot is much tighter, and the characterizations much more believable. All the action takes place within the walls of Sister Freveisse's nunnery and that helps keep the plot focused. In this tale, Sister Frevisse is drawn into political and court intrigue when two small boys with their retinue of five adults come seeking sancturary within the nunnery. All kinds of mishaps occur until finally someone turns up dead in a nearby creek. Sister Frevisse must set out to unmask the killer in order to protect the two little boys in her care.

Margaret Frazer has done it again. In this story of two young boys, half-brothers to the underaged King of England, she blends her profound knowledge of the history and theology of late medieval England with a satisfying plot to keep the more sophisticated reader entranced. There are echoes of 'real' history--the princes in the tower--and lots of details that bring the characters and times to life. Above all, Frevisse is fully developed as a 15th century Benedictine nun--her theology is accurate and if her Latin is a bit shaky, we'd never know.

I'm tired of all the superficial 'medieval' mysteries that are just modern stories with a few knights sprinkled around--Frazer knows her stuff. This heroine recites her Hours, but thinks about her God as the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer would have. I have most of the series and will try to find the rest, for sure.

Margaret Frazer visits St. Frideswide's at the time the prioress is near death in her book the Boy's Tale. The Boys are Henry VI half brothers Jasper and Edmund. They fled for their lives and are trying to make it to a safe place in wales. They were over taken and must claim sanctuary at the nunnery.

Sister Frevisse is able to figure out who they are and helps to guard them from danger. This is not an easy task because the boys are quite mischievous and the villain is persistent.

I am very fond of this genre and likely to overlook any glaring faults. It is really for pure enjoyment that I read these and Frazer has yet to let me down.

Reading this book is a joy. It's fast paced, with interesting characters, nice twists and a human nun, for a change. I enjoyed it so much, that I have already bought two more of Ms. Frazer's book. It's refreshing to find these entertaining and at the same time historically accurate mystery books.

This murder mystery is set in midievil times. The main character is very likeable, not because she is a nun, but because she does NOT fir the nun stereotype. This book might be enjoyed by people who liked the Father Dowling Mystery Series or who are interested in life in 15th century Europe.