I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
A Play of Knaves
by
Margaret Frazer
historical mystery in a paperback edition that was published by Berkley on August 1, 2006 and has 276 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include A Play of Lords, A Play of Treachery, A Play of Piety, Murder Most Medieval: Noble Tales of Ignoble Demises, A Play of HeresyCoventry, Easter, plays, murder, spies, guilds, mercer, jealousy, Judas, theater, directing, acting, suicide, costumes, religious plays,, The Novice's Tale, The Servant's Tale, The Outlaw's Tale, The Bishop's Tale, The Murderer's Tale, The Boy's Tale, The Prioress' Tale, The Maiden's Tale, The Squire's Tale, Clerk's Tale, The Bastard's Tale, The Hunter's Tale, The Widow's Tale
Third in the Joliffe medieval mystery series revolving around a group of players who roam the English countryside in the early 1400s.
My Take
A 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 and Title
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.
