Helpful Score: 3
This is my first Sister Frevisse book, wanted to start at the beginning of the series to see how the author develops. Liked the Middle Ages English and details without it being too difficult to follow. You can learn a lot of history while enjoying a very well-paced mystery. Details of cloister life were interesting as well. Very real ladies behind those walls. Will try to get the next in the series.
Helpful Score: 3
First in the Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries series. I have read better in the medieval mystery category. I didn't think the main character was developed that well and I didn't get attached to her like I do in the works I really enjoy. Also, the perpetrator was not much of a "mystery" to me. I am not the most astute in guessing villains but did so here! I have decided to try another 1 or 2 of her books to see if this changes.
Helpful Score: 2
Popular and well-written whodunnit.
Helpful Score: 2
The first Sister Frevisse mystery. A good mystery, in the style of Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael mysteries, though not quite on the same level.
Linell R. (Tinkersmell) reviewed The Novice's Tale (Sister Frevisse, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Very good story and well written. The time period is intriguing and easy to get lost in.
Helpful Score: 2
This is a historical mystery taking place in a convent in 1431. I am not sure exactly where in England it is but the what is inside the walls are what is important. In reading this you get the sense of the pace of prayer and work until the outside world intrudes.But there quiet lives are shattered when hard-drinking, cursing Lady Ermentrude comes to visit and is murdered. Sister Frevisse is the convent hosteler so she is assigned to clear the intrusion us.
Helpful Score: 2
In the same vein as Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael tales, this is a darn good series. Another medieval historical mystery.
Helpful Score: 1
The first in the extensive 'Sister Frevisse' medieval mystery series.
Although it is definitely more a formula mystery than an historical
novel, I didn't find it to be aggravatingly ahistorical.
Set in 15th century England, the convent of St. Fridewide's is home to
Sister Frevisse, a devout but eminently practical nun. It's also home
to Thomasine, a young novice whose piousness goes far beyond the
ordinary. Thomasine is deathly afraid that her loud and obnoxious Aunt
Ermentrude will somehow drag her out of the convent to be married
before she can take her final vows. So when Lady Ermentrude turns up
dead, suspicion naturally falls on Thomasine - shy as she may be, she
definitely had a motive. And the official in charge of investigating
the crime seems loath to look any further and the quickest and easiest
suspect to hang the crime on (and hang). But Sister Frevisse has a
feeling that Thomasine is innocent - and it looks like it will fall to
her to try to find the actual murderer.
A fun and entertaining read.
Although it is definitely more a formula mystery than an historical
novel, I didn't find it to be aggravatingly ahistorical.
Set in 15th century England, the convent of St. Fridewide's is home to
Sister Frevisse, a devout but eminently practical nun. It's also home
to Thomasine, a young novice whose piousness goes far beyond the
ordinary. Thomasine is deathly afraid that her loud and obnoxious Aunt
Ermentrude will somehow drag her out of the convent to be married
before she can take her final vows. So when Lady Ermentrude turns up
dead, suspicion naturally falls on Thomasine - shy as she may be, she
definitely had a motive. And the official in charge of investigating
the crime seems loath to look any further and the quickest and easiest
suspect to hang the crime on (and hang). But Sister Frevisse has a
feeling that Thomasine is innocent - and it looks like it will fall to
her to try to find the actual murderer.
A fun and entertaining read.
This is the first in a series of mysteries set in England in the 1400s. The sleuth is a nun living in a small rural cloister. Part history lesson, part social commentary, and part pure whodunnit, the books contain amazing details about daily life of that period. As the series progresses, the events of English history play out as the fictional nun interacts with well-known figures. Supporting characters come and go (one supports a spin-off series), but Sister Frevisse stays as interesting in the recent episodes as in the early ones. Although she would rather remain behind the cloister walls in the peace that comes with a predictable routine and a very short list of desires, she accedes to the world's demands on her wit and intelligence. This episode puts a medieval spin on an ageless theme: the lengths to which people will go to maintain social standing.
I was really disappointed in this book; it is the first in a long series, and I was hoping for a great list of books to look forward to. But, alas, it didn't hold my interest, so I guess it's a one-off.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well written. It got very exciting at the end where you could not put the book down until the even end. It is one of those mystery where you thought you knew who did it but at the end you were wrong.
LecClier K. (SierraK) -
First Book in the medieval mystery series featuring Dame Frevisse, a nun at the St. Frideswide's monastery. In this first story in the series, a very cranky Lady Ermentraud arrives at the monastery and is poisoned. Thomasine, one of the monastery's novices is niece of the noblewoman. When the local authorities want to find Thomasine guilty of her aunt's murder, Dame Frevisse gets to work to find out the truth.
I enjoyed the medieval setting and learning more about life in the monastery during hte 1400s.
I enjoyed the medieval setting and learning more about life in the monastery during hte 1400s.
Book 1
I enjoyed the characters and the drama, but I still knew who dun it!
I enjoyed the characters and the drama, but I still knew who dun it!
Good little mystery escape story. I very much enjoyed it and hope to read the rest of the series
This is an interesting book. Very different from usual reading material.
The Sister Frevisse series is one of my top favorites in the historical mystery genre. Margaret Frazer is an excellent writer, good detail, plot and characterization.
The first book in a new series. Sister Frevisse is sinfully good at discerning the mysterious of the soul...and solving the crimes of the heart.
I didn't think I'd be able to get into a mystery set with a group of nuns in the year 1431, but it was quite enjoyable. Good for cozy mystery lovers.
Jane C. B. (janebbooks) reviewed The Novice's Tale (Sister Frevisse, Bk 1) on + 86 more book reviews
Sister Frevisse, hosteler of St. Frideswide and amateur sleuth, is sinfully good at discerning the mysteries of the soul...and solving the crimes of the human heart. This book is the FIRST IN THE SERIES!
The Dame Frevisse mysteries are well written, entertaining and historically satisfying. Great series.
Did not enjoy reading this book. My understanding of the time in which is was set is poor.
Beverly B. (baeb47) -
(From back cover) It is the year of Our Lord's grace 1431, and the nuns of England's St. Frideswide sweetly chant their Paternosters behind gracious, trellised walls. But their quiet lives are shattered by the unwelcome visit of the hard-drinking, blaspheming dowager Lady Ermentrude, with her retinue of lusty maids and men, baying hounds, and even a pet monkey in tow. the lady demands wine, a feast, and her niece, the frail and saintly novice Thomasine.
What she gets is her own strange and sudden death.
Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur sleuth fears murder. The most likely suspect is pious Thomasine ... but Frevisse alone detects a clever web spun to entangle an innocent nun in the most unholy of passions - and the deadliest of deeds.
In the tradition of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, Sister Frevuisse is sinfully good at discerning the mysteries of the soul ... and solving the crimes of the human heart.
What she gets is her own strange and sudden death.
Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur sleuth fears murder. The most likely suspect is pious Thomasine ... but Frevisse alone detects a clever web spun to entangle an innocent nun in the most unholy of passions - and the deadliest of deeds.
In the tradition of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, Sister Frevuisse is sinfully good at discerning the mysteries of the soul ... and solving the crimes of the human heart.
Great suthor, great series!
Sharon S. (SharonS312) reviewed The Novice's Tale (Sister Frevisse, Bk 1) on + 475 more book reviews
TO THE PRIORY A LADY CAME FOR MISCHIEF AND FOR MURDER
It is the year of Our Lord's grace 1431 and the nuns of England's St. Frideswide sweetly chant their Paternosters behind gracious, trellised walls. But their quiet lives are shattered by the unwelcome visit of the hard-drinking, blaspheming dowager Lady Ermentrude, with her retinue of lusty maids and men, baying hounds and even a pet monkey in tow. The lady demands wine, a feast and her niece, the frail and saintly novice Thomasine.
What she gets is her own strange and sudden death.
Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur sleuth fears murder. The most likely suspect is pious Thomasine ... but Frevisse alone detects a clever web spun to entangle an innocent nun in the most unholy of passions - and the deadliest of deeds.
It is the year of Our Lord's grace 1431 and the nuns of England's St. Frideswide sweetly chant their Paternosters behind gracious, trellised walls. But their quiet lives are shattered by the unwelcome visit of the hard-drinking, blaspheming dowager Lady Ermentrude, with her retinue of lusty maids and men, baying hounds and even a pet monkey in tow. The lady demands wine, a feast and her niece, the frail and saintly novice Thomasine.
What she gets is her own strange and sudden death.
Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur sleuth fears murder. The most likely suspect is pious Thomasine ... but Frevisse alone detects a clever web spun to entangle an innocent nun in the most unholy of passions - and the deadliest of deeds.
