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
The Boy's Tale
by
Margaret Frazer
historical mystery that was published by Berkley Prime Crime on August 1, 1995 and has 233 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include A Play of Knaves, 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 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
Fifth in the Sister Frevisse medieval mystery series revolving around Dame Frevisse, a Benedictine nun with a talent for deduction.
My Take
Frazer effortlessly pulls us into an intriguing story about the medieval world of a house of nuns with its manners, mores, and style of living, and one that makes me want to dig deeper into the history of Owen Tudor. I seem to recall that his children are the start of the Tudor line of kings. This particular tale is incited by the secret life of Katherine of Valois and her second marriage with the meat of the story revolving around Katherine and Owen’s two oldest sons and the behind-the-scenes battle between King Henry VI’s guardians.
Politics is always dangerous and never more so than when you are the weaker side. This fact is what influences Dame Frevisse to keep the truth of Edmund and Jasper’s identities between her and Domina Edith.
Frazer portrayed the attention span (and expectations) of the two young boys very well!
I did love how Frazer teased us along, keeping Edmund and Jasper’s parents’ identity hidden, forcing us into assumptions with her hints.
I’m terrified that Dame Alys may be elected prioress after Domina Edith dies. She is stupid, short-sighted, and completely lacking in Christian spirit.
Adults should never lie to children.
An old Welsh belief in the “winding sheet” formed from the dripping wax of a candle. Death for the person to whom it points.
A story of bored children under threat and the jockeying for power inside this medieval nunnery. Ten women — a saint, three bright women, three silly ones, two average and a termagant eager to hurt. The Boy’s Tale slides back and forth between a look back at our own childhood and its strictures and the clash of normal human children and…gasp…a man with all the dangers they bring. Combined with Domina Edith’s end, all sorts of fears abound. Nor are those fears helped when murder occurs.
The Story
A small party of travelers is attacked near St. Frideswide and the more vulnerable of the party races for the abbey, desperate to reach its safety.
A dubious safety for the two women and the two little boys. Dangerous to the sisters inside. It’s politics behind this attack. Possession or death of the boys could swing the tide of power.
The Characters
Dame Frevisse is now the sacrist in charge of maintaining the priory church. Dame Alys is the oh-so-inappropriate hosteler while Dame Claire is the cellarer and has also taken charge of running the priory while Domina Edith lies dying. Sister Lucy is the only one who can remember when Domina Edith was not the prioress. Sisters Emma, Juliana, and Amicia are simply silly while Sister Thomasine has the makings of a saint, even if Frevisse dislikes her intensely. She is also their infirmarian. Part of the Benedictine rule is that the chores of the priory rotate amongst the women, whether they are capable or not.
Lady Adela Warren has been given to the Church. With other siblings and her lame hip, she is not needed to bolster her father’s power. So, at the age of seven, she is bound for the sisterhood. Then again, maybe not. Roger Naylor is the priory’s steward. He may not like Frevisse, but he does respect her, especially after their adventures in The Outlaw’s Tale! Tibby is a village girl in need of work and employed at the monastery to watch over Domina Edith. Father Henry is the priest for the priory. A simple man, his saving grace is his faith.
Edmund, six, and Jasper, five, are the oldest sons of Owen Tudor and Katherine of Valois, the widow of Henry V. The boys have had a very restricted life and have never been told the political ramifications of their existence. Well, they are only six and five! And they are bored, bored, bored.
Mistress Maryen certainly knows how to reinvent herself! First met in The Novice’s Tale, she is now the lady in charge of Edmund and Jasper’s childhood AND their flight to Wales. Jenet is the soppy nursemaid who doesn’t keep her mind on her charges. Sir Gawayn is in charge of their safe getaway and delivery to Wales. Will Tendril is his squire; Hery Simon is Jenet’s beloved; and, Hamon and Colman are the rest of their guard.
Alice is the Countess of Suffolk and Frevisse’s cousin. Her husband is deep in the circles around young King Henry and a member of the Royal Council.
Master Monfort is the Crowner and an idiot. Naturally, this also means that he hates Frevisse. Not only is she a mere woman, but she shows him up! Him!! Master Worleston is the sheriff and he knew Frevisse’s Uncle Thomas Chaucer. While murder is never good, it has provided him the opportunity to meet the niece of whom Thomas had so often spoke.
The Cover and Title
The cover is consistent with earlier ones, although missing the outermost frame of columns and moldings. The particulars in The Boy’s Tale are a simpler stained glass window divided into three parts: the bottom two shapes reflect the window’s Gothic arch with a repeating pattern of rounded triangular shapes of glass in red, blue, and green while the upper middle shape is a yellow background with a red cross of glass. The inset picture is of a folded paper sealed with red wax on the wooden table top with an elaborately hilted dagger thrust through the letter and into the table.
The title is a bit off as it is not one The Boy’s Tale, but a tale of two boys.
