A Play of Heresy

Joliffe the Player #7

by Margaret Frazer

From the pages of the national bestselling Dame Frevisse mysteries...

A FESTIVAL OF MURDER...

In the early summer of 1438, Joliffe and his fellow players have arrived in Coventry for the theatrical festival of Corpus Christi Day. Employed by one of the city's rich and powerful merchant guilds, they plan to present two of the many plays which will extravagantly depict all of God's Story in a parade of pomp and pageantry.

But even as they prepare to perform the Nativity, Joliffe may be called on to play a wise man off the stage as well. When the merchant Master Kydwa goes missing and is presumed dead, the cunning Bishop Beaufort calls on Joliffe's skills as a spy to uncover the mysteries of Coventry's elite. As suspicion falls on his own companions, Joliffe is drawn into the devilish machinations of a secret sect of heretics bent on destroying the Church. The players may be forced to present the harrowing of Hell, but will Joliffe be able to unravel a confession of corruption before Coventry's dark enigmas unleash a medieval massacre of the innocents?

PRAISE FOR THE JOLIFFE MEDIEVAL MYSTERIES

"If you are an historical mystery fan...you'll want to rush out and get this wonderful series ... Entertains and confounds with its intricately plotted mystery and richly detailed writing..." - The Romance Readers Connection

"Brings the period to lush life... Such richly imagined mysteries come around too rarely." - Roundtable Reviews

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2011

About the author

Margaret Frazer is a pen name used at first by Mary Monica Pulver Kuhfeld and Gail Lynn Frazer writing in tandem for a series of historical medieval mysteries featuring Dame Frevisse. After the sixth novel, the works are written by Gail Frazer alone, and the name has subsequently been used exclusively by her. A second series of novels by Ms Frazer set in the same time and place feature the player/minstrel Joliffe.

See also: Monica Ferris, Mary Monica Pulver

Series:
* Sister Frevisse
* Joliffe

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coventry for the Corpus Christi festival and plays is a bustling, energetic town where a missing spy and a murderer can be found. Margaret Frazer’s final Joliffe the Player mystery pulled out all the stops and delivered a medieval player’s world and town, intrigue, and a cunning mystery all in one. I was glad I tackled this series as part of the series reading challenge so I could get to this story which is in contention for my favorite of the series.

A Play of Heresy is seventh of the Joliffe the Player series that is a spin-off series from the earlier started and parallel time period Dame Frevisse series. There is a flow to the series that shows up when read in order, but each book could also be read standalone, as well.

Joliffe has been away from the company of traveling players who are his true home. He’s been spying for Bishop Beaufort. He had a few rough moments, but made his report and is now free to return to his friends and found family in the city of Coventry in time for the big Corpus Christi festivals and most importantly the lavish plays put on by the guilds. This is a big chance for his little group of players and he can’t wait to get back to the acting life.
But, his carefree feeling doesn’t last long when his espionage mentor orders him to help locate his missing Coventry informant and suspects a religious sect, the Lollards, are behind it.
Joliffe is welcomed back by the little acting troupe who are his found family. Master Basset shares that Joliffe’s late arrival means there is no part for him with the troupe and he must take the part in another of the festival plays. Joliffe takes the new assignment with wariness because his director was a former member of his own player group who ditched them many years before and now has fallen on hard times.

Joliffe is busy with the play preparations, but tries to listen in taverns and public houses, shops, and gatherings around Coventry for word of the missing informant or of Lollard conspiracies, but it is only accidentally that he learns of the missing man and his connections are close to Joliffe’s temporary play group. The missing man was murdered and another murder soon follows the discovery forcing Joliffe to get involved in an extended investigation along with his play work.

I’ve always enjoyed this series for the historical detail of medieval life and in particular the life of a traveling actor. Joliffe has been an intriguing character since his inception back in the Dame Frevisse series that only grew in his own series. His past is something of an enigma, but his wit and cleverness are his stock in trade. He’s a talented actor, but this book shows his further talents of working with other actors to better themselves and with reworking plays to better them, too. I was sad this was the last book in the series, but at least it feels like a good place to finish, too. Joliffe and the others have arrived at the height of a small troupe’s success with a firm sponsor in Lord Lovell and good acting jobs. Joliffe has become a skillful spy and murder investigator and resigned both careers of his life.

A Play of Heresy was set against the fascinating world of the Corpus Christi festival and the parade of plays performed by each working guild and their hired troupes of players so that each group takes on a portion of the Bible story with great pageantry and flair. This was pair with the volatile religious struggles of the time between the Catholic church and this splinter group, The Lollards, which I was unfamiliar with. All this historical background wove in well with the murder mystery plot. The mystery was one that wasn’t the most twisty this series has had since I was able to figure out the who and why.

So, A Play of Heresy ended the Joliffe the Player series on a high note for me. Medieval loving historical mystery fans really need to try this series and start with the earlier Dame Frevisse series for a different side of Margaret Frazer’s medieval world.


My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 2.16.25.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm neither an actor nor a Christian, so the fact that this book led me to understand now the Coventry plays could inspire the average person in the Middle Ages is a bit of a miracle in itself. The Sebastian character, with his fixation on the Lollards, grew tiresome. Still, I could not but shiver as I thought, "Transpose Muslim for Lollard and this could be a current tragedy."

We will never know what Frazer might have got up to with Joliffe the Player if she'd lived to write another book, but he's a sadder, wiser man than when we met. Now I have to re-read some of the Dame Frevisse books in which he appears, to see more of him.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

So wish she had lived to write a hundred more.

Have loved her books forever. Wondered after I finished all of them years ago why there were no more. Revisiting this series and the Same Freivisse series, was so satisfying...I loved them then as I do now. These are so solidly of the period, the detail, the plotting, the English...it is so like one was there! I love These books and so wish Ms. Frazer has lived to write dozens more...

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Play of Heresy
Joliffe the Player #7
By Margaret Frazer
Reviewed February 20, 2024


I am sad to report that I have read the last book in the Joliffie the Player series. *sniff…sniff* The good news is that I still have several more of the author’s Dame Frevisse books to go, and I’m told that Joliffe makes an appearance in a couple of them. So to borrow from Dickens, it was the best of times; it was the worst of times…

It is the summer of 1438. Joliffe, who has spent the past month on an assignment for Bishop Beaufort, is making his way to Coventry, his mission complete, and looking forward to being a player again. But fate has other ideas.

Just as he is approaching Coventry, where Lord Lovell’s Players are preparing for the Corpus Christi Plays which chronicle the stories in the New Testament, Joliffe is met by Sebastian, another of the bishop’s men and a man who in today’s parlance would probably be described as Joliffe’s handler. Jollife is told that Robyn Kidwa, a local merchant, has been murdered. What makes this of interest to Sebastian is that Kidwa was spying on Lollards, a heretical sect, for the bishop and was supposed to meet Sebastian, but the meeting never took place.

Sebastian tasks Joliffe with doing some sniffing around because he is certain that heretical Lollards are behind the murder. Joliffe, who takes a live and let live attitude so long as no one is hurting anyone else, suspects that the other man is overly obsessed with Lollards but agrees to see if he can find out anything.

Having arrived too late to take part in Lord Lovell’s Players play, Joliffe agrees to work with a former member of the company who now has his own company and can really use the help. During one of the rehearsals, Joliffe and another player stumble upon Ned Eme, the young man who was to play the Angel Gabriel, hanging from the Judas Tree, a prop belonging to another company. At first it’s thought that Ned has committed suicide, damning his soul for all eternity…but upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that he was murdered.

Is this all part of a Lollard conspiracy? Jealousy amongst the different guilds? Love gone wrong?

One of the more enjoyable aspects of this story was the detailing of how plays like the Corpus Christi cycle were put together – the concept, the rehearsals, how to be an effective player. I learned a lot about these medieval mystery and miracle plays, more than I’ve learned reading non-fiction books that touched on the subject.

As always, a well developed mystery wrapped in a historical setting that comes alive with the author’s deft writing. It's a shame that Ms. Frazer is no longer with us. I can only imagine what other adventures she might have had in store for Joliffe!

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Play of Heresy is the seventh and last novel in the Joliffe the Player mystery series, the author having died in 2013. As the story opens, Joliffe is on his way to rejoin the acting troupe which is in Coventry preparing for the performance of one of its Corpus Christi plays. Joliffe cannot escape Bishop Beaufort entirely as Sebastian, one of the bishops other spies, makes contact and directs him to look into the disappearance of a young Coventry merchant, who was an informant on Lollard activity in the area.

This story sees the welcome return of Joliffe as a player—acting, directing, and revising plays. It turns out, however, that there is no part for him in the play that his troupe is to perform—it seems that local citizens have dibs on certain parts. However, he does a role, or several roles in a play put on by another guild —a bad play directed by Will Sendall who had formerly been with Joliffe and Bassett in their troupe. Sendall is a downtrodden man but with Joliffe’s help he manages to inspire himself and the local amateurs. It was really enjoyable to read how the various components of medieval play were put together from sewing the costumes, the carts that were used as stages, the rehearsals and how the players had to try to teach amateurs how to act. Joliffe explains that a person should not play himself on stage, nor become someone else, but think how the person he is playing would act. Joliffe, who played many female parts, has to instruct a boy how to move as a woman—in this case the Virgin Mary.

During the weeks before Corpus Christi, Joliffe becomes acquainted with several local families and discovers some have been involved in Lollardy in the recents past. The missing merchant is connected with one of these families. Sebastian discovers that the merchant has been murdered, and is convinced that the murderer was a Lollard. But Joliffe is not quite so sure, believing that some personal motive may have been the motivating factor. When another murder occurs, Joliffe has to determine if it is connected and even whether they were committed by the same person. It is interesting that Joliffe was one of the first finders of the last murdered man and, as such, he becomes one of the jurors who must investigate the circumstances of the murderer. We also learn that pardons from the king can be purchased in some circumstances to excuse heresy and even murder. There are some good characterizations, such as Sendall and a local man who cannot seem to believe he is as good an actor as Joliffe tells him he is. All in all, I am glad that the series ended on a high note.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joliffe the player rides into Coventry in 1438, fresh from a spying assignment and back to his usual life as a player. Coventry is abuzz with its upcoming Corpus Christi plays, and Joliffe's company is engaged to play do the Annunciation and Birth of Christ with the shearmen and tailors. There's no room in their group for another player, so Joliffe goes to the weaver's play, Christ in the Temple. Amid all the play preparations, he is also assigned to find out who murdered the mercer Kidwa on his way to Bristol. And then there is another murder...

I love the Joliffe mysteries, rich with characters and the fascinating time and place. This one does not disappoint,

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joliffe is thankfully back to being a player again – acting, directing, and doctoring scripts for Coventry’s Corpus Christi pageant. The plays are sponsored by the various guilds of the city and, since the scope is considerable, many of the guild members are taking roles as amateur actors. When a merchant disappears on the road from Coventry, Bishop Beaufort directs Joliffe to investigate. The problem is that some of the amateur actors might be involved. How can the play go on if the cast is missing some of its key players?

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. As a former "player" myself, the author accurately captures the devotion to the play and one's fellow castmates. Margaret Frazer has a poetic turn of phrase and they fit into Joliffe's character. The mystery is excellent, not obvious from the beginning, but not so surprising to be ridiculous.
Love the historical setting and it's so important to read author notes IMHO, they explain a lot and help with the historical context. This is a definite recommended book for me.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I got this for free. The History in this series is very well researched but the stories are very weak and the mysteries are weaker still. Character development is nonexistent and they are flat and lack depth. Run to other books.

[Mary Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outdoor theatre in 1438! I was delighted by the details, even how she secured the needle in the material, how he lifted a thread from a splintered gate and the replaced it. I especially appreciated the thoughtful consideration of gladness and sorrow. There are wells of both within us. They mix.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it difficult at times to keep all the characters (except Joliffe and Sebastian) straight, but perhaps that was partly due to having the pick up and put down this book. I certainly enjoyed it enough to read another in the series - maybe going back to #1.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventh in the Joliffe the Player historical mystery series set in 1438 in Coventry, England. It's the season for the Corpus Christi plays, and the playing should be profitable in Coventry.

My Take
This story concentrates on the acting portion of the players involved with most of the action on Joliffe and his work with Will. We do get to eavesdrop on Joliffe's investigations of the people involved as he tries to find out what happened [and whodunnit] to Kydwa. We only encounter Basset and company now and again as they catch up with one another with all the joking and bantering to which we are so accustomed.

We also get a bit of Lollard history along with an insight into the more undercover guild tasks. Joliffe's meetings with Sebastian also teach us more of the maneuverings required of spies. And a crash course on how a murder or suicide is investigated. I think I prefer our system.

I do so enjoy Frazer's writing. It's a deft blend of the tragic and comic even as we vicariously live the lifestyle. Frazer creates believable and unique characters who embody the range of human faults. Joliffe's musings on the how and why of Kydwa's death are enough to drive you crazy with all the possibilities with an intriguing exposé on how punishment works when the crimes are interpreted.

The Story
The Bishop of Winchester has let Joliffe loose to make his way to Coventry. He's too late to play a part in the performance the rest of Lord Lovell's Players are in, but Basset has accepted a couple of other gigs for Joliffe. Much more useful really as Sebastian has a new task for him. The mercer Sebastian was to meet in Bristol never showed and Master Kydwa is from Coventry.

One of those promises is helping Will Sendell try to make something out of the worst play of all the guilds. All the dregs have settled onto Will, and he's looking forward to Joliffe's help with direction and coaching that cheeky Dick as well as his abilities to play First Prophet and Ane the Prophetess.

The field trips to find props give Joliffe plenty of opportunities to explore while the social aspect of hanging out after rehearsals makes his task easier as the tragedies pile up.

The Characters
Lord Lovell's Players include…
…Joliffe, writer, actor, musician — and now spy for the Bishop of Winchester; Basset is the leader of the group with his daughter Rosa who handles their money, mothers them, and ensures that their costumes are in order along with his grandson, Rosa's son, Piers, who acts in the female, demon-imp, and sweet-faced angel roles; Ellis is Rosa's lover — her conscience smites her often as she is still married even if no one has heard from her runaway husband in years; and, Gil is a young lad who joined from the home manor of Minster Lovell — perfect for those feminine roles. Basset is the only member of the troupe who really understands what Joliffe gets up to on these side trips. The LLPlayers are staying at Master Silcok's, a member of the Shearsmen and Tailors' Guild.

Sebastian is Joliffe's instructor and superior when in Bishop Beaufort of Winchester's service. And he's got it in for the Lollards. Master Fylongley is the bailiff while and the crowner is Master Grevile.

Will Sendell used to be a part of Basset's troupe until hard times caused him to choose to leave. He's been scrounging for bit jobs for some time since the troupe he put together fell apart. Master Eustace Powet and his nephew Dick are playing Joseph and the 12-year-old Christ, respectively. Master John Burbage is playing a Doctor in the Temple while Richard Eme will be pushed into Second Prophet. It's a perfect role for Richard — he can be as pedantic as he likes with Joliffe to offset him. Now if Will can survive his ideas of how the play should be performed!? Hew is playing one of the angels. Ned Eme is to play the other angel and Gabriel. Ted Maydeford is to play Mary, and it's Joliffe's sore task to ensure he is Mary.

Master Powet's is a…
…complex household. Mistress Byfeld is Master Powet's niece and owns the house; Mistress Anna Deyster has moved back home since her husband's death. Herry [he runs the shop] and Dick are her children and Master Powet's great-niece and -nephews. Old John and his children, Cecily and Robyn Kydwa, rent a room from Powet's niece.

The Cover and Title
Ooh, this is springy with its bright green border and delicate, scrolly corners! A light background showcases a couple buildings and a stage as the townspeople hang about or practice their parts.

The title refers to the Lollard belief that they are the True Men. A belief that truly is A Play of Heresy in these times.

[Evenstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly enjoyed the depiction of Medieval life combined with the depiction of theatre practices and explanations. This is a great book. Lots of information and an enjoyable story.

[Sharon Jacksack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow going in the beginning, but the last third is very good. I like how the author creates the atmosphere of an authentic 1400’s Coventry.

[Pinko Palest · Rating 1 out of 5]

pity that her very last novel is almost unreadable. Confusing and not up to her usual standards

[Vicki Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great combination of the player and the spy stories. I’m sorry to reach the end of the series, but it’s been enjoyable.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Play of Heresy" is a historical mystery set in 1438 in England. This is the seventh book in this series, but you can understand it without needing to read the previous books, and it doesn't spoil the mysteries in the previous novels.

While the mystery was enjoyable, I found the historical information extremely interesting. The author clearly did her research, but I never felt like I was being lectured to or given information not relevant to the story. The rich historical detail brought the story alive in my imagination and included how plays were run, how official murder investigations were done, and information about the Lollard's beliefs.

The "whodunit" element was guessable, though there weren't many clues. It's more like how a real murder would be solved than a clever puzzle-mystery. The characters were varied and had just enough of a human element to make them interesting even though we didn't get to deeply know them. The suspense was created by the mystery of whodunit and wondering if they'd be able to pull off a play that was poorly written and had few good or experienced players in it.

Though Lollards were viewed as suspect, Joliffe was not highly critical of their beliefs. (As in, people who share some of the Lollard's views aren't going to feel alienated by the storyline though it stays true to the beliefs of the time.) There was no sex. There was a very minor amount of explicit bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting and enjoyable novel.

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Play of Heresy is another enjoyable entry into the Joliffe the Player series by Margaret Frazer. These medieval mysteries take place in England in the early 15th century.

The story opens with Joliffe on the road to rejoin the band of players he belongs to after spy work for the Bishop of Winchester. The players are part of the city of Conventry's Corpus Christi festival at which the local townspeople star in a series of plays that cover the stories in the Bible. Just before arriving, he meets up with the bishop's master spy, Sebastian, who tells him there is some spying work for him to do while in Coventry in addition to his work as a player. The heresy in the title has to do with the Lollards (what we would consider precursors to the Church of England), who apparently are up to no good in Coventry. Sebastian has found that one of his other spies was murdered on the road to report. It is up to Joliffe to ferret out the culprit. Unfortunately for Joliffe, the deaths don't end there, and he is required to use all his wits and insight into human nature to see justice done.

I've enjoyed every entry in this series. Frazer writes extremely well in a style that suggests another time (no one says "okay" which drives me nuts in a non-modern story) without actually bogging one down with strange words and phrasings. Joliffe is as likable and sympathetic as always, and the other characters are well fleshed out and real.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last book of the Joliffe player series but not the best book in the series. I did appreciate the historical information and references found at end in Author's Notes.
While I am not privy to when this author was given her breast cancer diagnosis, I do believe she was saying goodbye to her player troupe in this book. There is a gathering at a tavern after the plays have been given (and murder mystery solved) where the players reminisce and tease one another going back to Piers as baby Jesus...so one knows we will not see this troupe again.
Joliffe could have seen much more action in role as spy, but that was that. I am circling back to one book in series I had not read and recently purchased and then it is a fond farewell. She probably enjoyed writing this one full of costume and stage direction since acting was something she enjoyed.

[Scot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frazer's strength is the historical contextualizing of her medieval mysteries. This one does that well. Seventh in the Joliffe series, it is set in Coventry, England, in 1438, as Joliffe joins the preparations for the annual Corpus Christi cycle of plays, performed on carts and moved about the city to a range of staging locations, in succession. We learn quite a bit about what plays were performed, how they were probably performed, and what roles guild members and townsfolk had in this annual ritual.

Joliffe is working on his own as an investigator a lot in this one, so though the familiar members of his troupe are present, they play minimal roles. For those interested in the evolution of Protestantism, the Lollard subplot is informative and helps drive the suspense forward.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail Frazer,author of a multitude of wonderful books about Medieval
England, lost her years long battle with cancer in February 2013. All of the characters I have grown to love in her books passed with her. I will miss the opportunity to look forward to the next book by Margaret Frazer.

I was fortunate enough to have met Ms Frazer and to have a wonderful conversation with her about her writing. She shared with me wisdom about the life of a writer and encouraged me to remain with my craft even when it becomes ridiculously hard.

I loved your books, Gail, and you are missed. Blessings to your memory.

[Daisey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series along with the Dame Frevisse stories that Joliffe spun off of. I enjoyed this book very much but, it lacked the spark that the other books have had. Joliffe spent too much time ruminating various things in his head. He spent a lot of time just walking around thinking - not a lot of doing. It made the story drag in spots for me. I missed the interactions with Basset and the other players too - the warmth of those moments was lacking in this book.

I enjoyed learning more about the plays done in medieval times and as usual Margaret Frazer brings that time period to life in wonderful ways.

[Sumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love the Joliffe mysteries this one did not engage me as much as the others had. Even though he had returned to his troupe, there was not as much interaction with them as I would have liked for I like them all.

For readers to whom the 'mystery' element is the meat of it, then perhaps this isn't the book for them. There is a murder and it gets solved, but for me the draw (aside from the characters) is the way the author can pull me into the time period and the way life ran and in this case how the pageants were created and carried out. She does good research and I think she has the knack of bringing that to life.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Next time I read this series, I hope I remember to switch to order and read this before #6, A Play of Piety. Lollards are not very interesting, and the playmaking is scattered among too many companies. #6 makes a better end to the series, if end there must be. I'm sad that I won't be able to learn more of Joliffe's history, but perhaps it is appropriate that he remain slightly mysterious. It doesn't hurt his allure any to be just a bit hazy about his name, his life before he joined the players, and his family (if any).

Lovely series, lovely characters.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This medieval mystery is the first by this author that I have read, and I liked it. The main character is Joliffe, a traveling actor who is also a spy. The book centers around the religious festival of Corpus Christi in Coventry, when the various merchant guilds of the town produced plays performed on wagons that were pulled to different sites. The characters, language and clearly drawn medieval setting are effective in pulling the reader into that period of history.

[William Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the excellent Joliffe series. The story drags just a bit in the middle. There is not a lot of character growth - this is more of a traditional mystery than some others in the series. There is a wealth of historical information, even more so than usual - and as Frazer always makes the 1400's come alive, it is a treasure. This is the best part and great strength of this book. It is much more fulfilling to read if you have already read the prior books in the series.

[Maren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the early books in this series where the player/writer Joliffe toured with his playing group and was able to solve complex situations along the way. However, he is now also working as a spy for a Bishop in addition to that work, and while that adds more complexity to his situation, it doesn't add more depth to what he is doing. Just more internal thought dialogue to himself and less time with the other players. I'm hoping the future books in the series balance this a bit more.

[Janet Ankiel]

The role of the various plays was as welcoming and as comfortable as a favorite pair of slippers. Frazer incorporates solid historical detail that urges the reader to pay attention to all historical elements as the mystery unfolds. As an aficionado of all.things medieval, the author reinforces this readers belief that the so called Dark Ages were not nearly as dark as one might think. Life was hard, but communities nurtured law and order with some success.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book came out at just the right time to be a perfect Christmas present for me, I was far too impatient to wait a couple more weeks. I bought it for myself, then sat down and read it. I’m addicted to the "A Joliffe the Player Mystery" series.

See my full review at Reading World.

[Al Mcphee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good; a Joliffe the Player mystery by Margaret Frazer, best known for the Dame Frevisse novels. A 15th century actor, who is also a spy for Bishop Beaufort, is commissioned to discover what happened to another spy who has disappeared. The story is balanced though the ending is weak. Good and somewhat more than a light read.