This is always a fine series with Frazer's attention to detail, fascinatingly real characters and superb grasp of history but it is seldom actually exciting - but there is a first time for everything. Every book has something different to enjoy and that is the new element here, as well as a look at London during the Jack Cade riots and a look at how Jews were viewed in those days. Racial and religious prejudice is never an easy subject to deal with, but by portraying the characters as warts-and-all as possible they seem like real people. Perhaps the hot-eyed friar is a cliché, but he is sadly a historically accurate one. I enjoyed reading about how a woman could be a businessperson in her own right (the Renaissance has a lot to answer for) in the Middle Ages, and the tense excitement of the riots had the urgency and immediacy of a news report. Surely the message here is "nothing new under the sun", and a topical flavour is imparted by depicting a time of political unrest and religious intolerance. Top marks as ever, although the abrupt ending could have been better managed.

Reviews of other titles in this series

The Servant's Tale, 2
The Outlaw's Tale, 3
The Bishop's Tale, 4
The Prioress’s Tale, 7
The Bastard’s Tale, 12
The Hunter's Tale, 13
The Sempster's Tale, 15
The Traitor’s Tale, 16