Margaret Frazer (1946–2013)

Set in London, amidst the Jack Cade Rebellion of 1450, and exploring the question of Jews in England (secretly, of course, as they were outlawed), Frazier provides a rich historical backdrop to the sordidness of murder.

In this installment of the series Dame Frevisse, a nun from the convent of St. Frideswide, has been sent to London on a trip meant to combine business for a relative and her convent. Once there, however, she is unwillingly pulled into a number of closely guarded secrets--all show more of which lead to obscure the true motives of a murderer.
On of the delights of ecumenical amateur sleuths is that they allow for contemplation of the difference between upholding the law and upholding justice--as well as consideration of human sins (even those that don't end in murder). Dame Frevisse proves to love justice and mercy, making her a thoughtful seeker of truth (and Truth). show less

The third installment of Margaret Frazer's Sister Frevisse series, The Outlaw's Tale is the best of the first three. This is my first time going to an audiobook for a volume in the series, and the experience was overwhelmingly positive. Susan Duerden's reading is excellent, and her voicings make the characters come alive.

Particularly striking in this book are the female characters who, very much beholden to their time, still manage a subtle defiance that flies under the radar. Frazer* show more doesn't resort to a clichéd feminist who is self-righteous and outspoken (not that it is a problem, but it gets tiresome as a trope), but instead illuminates what must have been much more common behavior in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. After all, when faced with a sword, even the most strong-willed might step aside if not equally armed. (
*Frazer = sadly deceased Gail Frazer with Mary Monica Pulver/aka Monica Ferris)

Sister Emma grates on our nerves and I did find dragging out her illness to be a bit tedious, but the audiobook really brought out the subtle and dry wit that accompanies much of Dame Frevisse's inner thoughts, particularly in regard to Emma. After the last book being VERY obsessed with the sickness that had taken over the convent, I was not enthused about a constant return to Sister Emma's "rheume."

There are some wonderful descriptions, including that of Dame Frevisse's uncle who has a "look about him that he belongs where he was." For whatever reason, the audiobook seemed to highlight these particular moments of character definition and description, and it is delightful.

Dame Frevisse has more opportunity for character development here because she's away from the convent, and she becomes embroiled (embroils herself, really) in a situation involving her cousin. There is a lot of self-reflection in regard to the choices she makes and that helps give her more dimensionality than was revealed in the previous two books.

I'm more excited to continue the series than I was, and I hope that the rest of the series continues with the same level of character definition and plot complexity. Unlike book 2, The Servant's Tale, which had so many characters it was hard to stay focused, this story does a much better job of focusing on a few key characters, with a good pacing of introduction to new ones, and actually threw me off the scent of whodunnit, so brava! show less

As much a fan as I am of Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series, I think it has met its match with Frazer's Sister Frevisse. Frazer's sense for character development is obvious at the outset, and she manages to create a colorful cast of characters who are not caricatures. Pious Thomasine becomes a murder suspect when her aunt Lady Ermentrude--who I pictured like the Red Queen from Alice and Wonderland--succumbs to her own "strange and sudden death" (that's from the back cover, so I'm not show more counting it as a spoiler!). There is also Dame Claire, the herbalist and someone who deserves a large bit of credit, as does the entire convent of St. Frideswide, and their leader Domina Edith. One of the contrasts with Tremayne's series is that Sister Frevisse, while a major player, is not the only player. Granted, given the fifteenth-century setting and the Benedictine context, Frazer has less to explain than Tremayne with his seventh-century tensions between the Roman and Irish churches. Those who like fast-moving plots may be a bit frustrated here, but Frazer does an artful job of making everything matter! Take your time with this one--enjoy each and every character as they are all important here and there. Quite a great first book in the series--I'll be reading the rest! show less

This book ignited a spirited discussion of what moral ambiguity is all about. There are all sorts of moral decisions being made at different levels and the story provides us with fodder for a rich discussion. Is it right to live a lie, sometimes, or not? Is it good to obey laws? Or sometimes not? Killing? Cover-up? Love? How do we make moral decisions? What factors in?
These questions are set against the terrible fundamentalism of an age which burned heretics. I became painfully aware, anew, show more of the oppression and persecution of Jews, which forms the structure of the plot.
A carefully constructed story, I'd say. show less