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The Novice's Tale (A Dame Frevisse…
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The Novice's Tale (A Dame Frevisse Mystery) (edition 1993)

by Margaret Frazer (Author)

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6051538,675 (3.61)40
UNHOLY PASSIONS AND DEMONIC DEATHS . . . In the fair autumn of Our Lord's grace 1431, the nuns of England's St. Frideswide's prepare for the simply ceremonies in which the saintly novice Thomasine will take her holy vows. But their quiet lives of beauty and prayer are thrown into chaos by the merciless arrival of Lady Ermentrude Fenner and her retinue of lusty men, sinful women, and baying hounds. The hard-drinking dowager even keeps a pet monkey for her amusement. She demands wine, a feast . . . And her niece, the angelic Thomasine. The lady desires to enrich herself and her reputation by arranging a marriage for the devout novice. She cares nothing for the panic and despair she leaves behind her. But all her cruel and cunning schemes are brought to a sudden end with strange and most unnatural murder. As suspicious eyes turn on the pious Thomasine, it falls to Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur detective, to unravel the webs of unholy passion and dark intrigue that entangle the novice and prove her innocence . . . or condemn her.… (more)
Member:nanivory
Title:The Novice's Tale (A Dame Frevisse Mystery)
Authors:Margaret Frazer (Author)
Info:Berkley (1993), Edition: Reissue, 240 pages
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The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer

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Showing 1-5 of 15 (next | show all)
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 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! ( )
  rebcamuse | Jun 6, 2023 |
I love this series. Sister Frevisse, the protagonist, is a nun in a small convent in medieval England. She loves the religious life and it is central to her identity. She is also unusually educated, and related to some powerful people, which is how she gets involved in intrigue and mystery.

The rhythm of the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours) governs her days when she is at home in the convent, and to a lesser extent when she is out visiting. Because she is educated, she understands the Latin in which the psalms are sung, and we get both the Latin and the English as she reflects on her prayers. ( )
  VictoriaGaile | Oct 16, 2021 |
So, why do we read mysteries? What is it we want from them? Whatever it is that I want: this one fit the bill. I look forward to reading the second one.
( )
1 vote MaryHeleneMele | May 18, 2020 |
The year is 1431 and the nuns of St. Frideside get an unwelcome visit from a rude, unpleasant woman, Lady Ermentrude. The novice, Thomasine, is close to taking her holy orders, something she has always wanted. She is related to Lady Ermentrude who brings a lot of people, dogs and a monkey. During her visit, she suddenly leaves to go to Thomasine's sister Lady Isobel and her husband Lord John. Ermentrude leaves in a temper and apparently went to Isobel and John in a temper and had a big fight with them. She seems very drunk when she returns and insists that Thomasine will leave and marry. Then while taking care of Ermentrude who collapses, one of the cooks eats and drinks what was for Ermentrude and dies badly. Ermentrude seems to recover and then collapses and dies. Her son wants the easy answer and blames Thomasine. It is up to Dame Frevisse to find the truth. Frevisse is related to Thomas Chaucer, a relationship that helps her when the son is ready to grab her up and hold her prisoner. I like this series.
  taurus27 | Sep 29, 2017 |
Took awhile to finish, but once I had the time to sit and read t went fast and was interesting enough. Loved the setting of 1431 England. ( )
  anglophile65 | Mar 8, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 15 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (2 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Margaret Frazerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Pulver, Mary Monicamain authorall editionsconfirmed
Duerden, SusanNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fournier, ChristianTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Grube, AnkeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Help us, Seinte Frideswyde!
A man woot litel what him shal bityde.
- Geoffrey Chaucer
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Mid-September in the year of Our Lord's grace 1431 had perfect weather, warm and dry.
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UNHOLY PASSIONS AND DEMONIC DEATHS . . . In the fair autumn of Our Lord's grace 1431, the nuns of England's St. Frideswide's prepare for the simply ceremonies in which the saintly novice Thomasine will take her holy vows. But their quiet lives of beauty and prayer are thrown into chaos by the merciless arrival of Lady Ermentrude Fenner and her retinue of lusty men, sinful women, and baying hounds. The hard-drinking dowager even keeps a pet monkey for her amusement. She demands wine, a feast . . . And her niece, the angelic Thomasine. The lady desires to enrich herself and her reputation by arranging a marriage for the devout novice. She cares nothing for the panic and despair she leaves behind her. But all her cruel and cunning schemes are brought to a sudden end with strange and most unnatural murder. As suspicious eyes turn on the pious Thomasine, it falls to Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur detective, to unravel the webs of unholy passion and dark intrigue that entangle the novice and prove her innocence . . . or condemn her.

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