The
Traitor’s Tale
Dame Frevisse Mystery, #16
by Margaret Frazer
You could almost hear the roll of drums and
watch the storm clouds gather in The Sempster’s Tale (also
reviewed
on this site). Something big was about to happen next, and here it
is. Dame Frevisse is summoned once again from her cloistered life,
and is soon on her way to her cousin Alice, Duchess of Suffolk. Her
intriguing husband has been murdered, and now she fears for her life
and that of her son, hopefully to be the next Duke. Ostensibly, Frevisse
is with her cousin to bury her husband, but there is more going on
and soon she too is embroiled in it. The late Duke’s men keep disappearing,
but soon to appear is Simon Joliffe, in the pay of the exiled Duke
of York. The player cum spy and the nun must join forces to find a
mysterious list which supposedly names all the traitors who have conspired
with the French and lost Normandy. In the wrong hands, this list -
if it exists - would be deadly.
There is a lot of story in here, and it certainly shows that Ms.
Frazer is as adept at the big things in mid 15th century life as
she is at the minutiae. Here is a tale painted on a much broader
canvas than usual, and, in a way, a distillation of all that has
gone before. There is a lot of reading in it, and plenty of real
history presented to the reader in the most enjoyable way. For this
is classic history book stuff: Henry VI and the Hundred Years’ War,
Jack Cade’s rebellion, and the start of the Wars of the Roses. Treason,
plotting, and a traitor’s death - or a knife in the back - are never
very far away. Every book in this wonderful series has something
different to enjoy, and now we are shown a glimpse of how the momentous
events of 1450 affected the highest in the land, as well as those
who served them. If you thought school history was boring, then
you need to read this and discover just how well Ms. Frazer portrays
the curse of living in "interesting times", making it all seem as
fresh and vibrant as a news bulletin. Possibly the best in the series
to date, and that is saying a lot. Miss it at your peril...
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
|
The
Book |
Berkley
Prime Crime |
January
2007 |
Hardback |
ISBN13:
9780425213704 |
Historical
Crime - 1450 Various UK Locations |
More
at Amazon.com US
|| UK |
The
Reviewer |
Rachel
A Hyde |
Reviewed
2007 |
|