A Play of Isaac

Joliffe the Player #1

by Margaret Frazer

THE MIDDLE AGES COME TO LIFE... TO BRING US MURDER

The year is 1434, and preparations are under way for the Corpus Christi festival in Oxford, England. Plays are a traditional part of the celebration, and Joliffe and the rest of his troupe are to perform Isaac and Abraham. Until then, their theatrical antics are in demand by a wealthy merchant who offers them an opportunity to ply their trade for room and board.

But when the body of a murdered man is found outside the barn door where the troupe is lodging, Joliffe must raise the curtain on the merchant's mysterious past and uncover the startling truth behind a murder most foul...

PRAISE FOR THE PLAYER JOLIFFE SERIES
"Everything I'd hoped to find: memorable characters, a meticulously detailed world, an intriguing crime, and a satisfying conclusion." - Roundtable Reviews

"Will entertain and confound you with its intricately plotted mystery and richly detailed writing... Ms. Frazer knows the fifteenth century and it shows..." - Romance Readers Connection

"Deftly drawn characters acting in a stage of intricate and accurate details of medieval life." - Affaire de Couer

Carefully and faithfully rendered, 15th-century England and France and all the political difficulties come easily to life... Medieval mystery fans will once again enjoy the clever player Joliffe and his adventures. - The Mystery Reader

PRAISE FOR MARGARET FRAZER

"Prepare to be enchanted as Margaret Frazer transports you back to the 15th century." - Romantic Times

"More than just a good read. The reader comes away sadder and wiser, knowing that what tehy've read is that stuff of real life. Brava!" - Historical Novels Review

"A smooth and absorbing saga of conspiracy and treachery in 15th-century England... A tantalizing secret turns out to have stunning political implications." - Publishers Weekly

"Finely plotted and subtly shaded. Frazer has the detailed substance that brings an era to life, while her characters' psychological makeup is as cunningly wrought as the historical background." - Publishers Weekly

"Margaret Frazer has quietly claimed her place as one of the preeminent writers of historical crime fiction, delivering the whole package - a good mystery, wonderful characters, and a fascinating period of history. Her novels are a dream to read." - Aunt Agatha's Newsletter

Herodotus Award Winner.
Twice nominated for the Edgar Award
Twice nominated for the Minnesota Book Award
A Romantic Times Top Pick.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Medieval, Fiction, British Literature

312 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 3, 2004

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

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Play of Isaac by Margaret Frazer is the first book in the Joliffe the Player Series, a Dame Frevisse spin-off.

”Carefully and faithfully rendered, 15th-century England and France and all the political difficulties come easily to life... Medieval mystery fans will once again enjoy the clever player Joliffe and his adventures. - The Mystery Reader

"Finely plotted and subtly shaded. Frazer has the detailed substance that brings an era to life, while her characters' psychological makeup is as cunningly wrought as the historical background." - Publishers Weekly

The first book is set shortly after we have been introduced to Joliffe and the rest of the troupe in The Servant’s Tale (Dame Frevisse 02). The mystery is set up pretty much like the Dame Frevisse novels sans the cloister setting. We get to know the dynamics within the players troupe now they have their own series. I love Frevisse, but I think I will enjoy this almost just as much as it’s written by Margaret Frazer and set in the same universe. I will try and insert these into the Frevisse timeline to keep reading both series in the right order.

Themes: Oxfordshire, 1434, Corpus Christi festival, wealthy merchant, Lollards, Down’s Syndrome.

4.5 Stars

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Play of Isaac
By Margaret Frazer
Reviewed September 25 2023

The year is 1434 in Oxford, England, and preparations for the feast of Corpus Christi are underway. Joliffe, the main character in this new series (all right, new to me) is a player and his troupe is in Oxford to perform one of the plays that are a traditional part of the Corpus Christi celebration, Abraham and Isaac.

One of their performances attracts the attention of Master Penteney and his ward, Lewis. Lewis is what is called an Eden-Child – a simple soul who today would probably be diagnosed with Down's Syndrome. He is the heir to valuable lands, which causes some to wonder if the young man is being taken advantage of.

Seeing one of the performances, Lewis is taken with the players and would like nothing more than to perform with them. So Master Penteney, who in spite of what others may suspect truly cares for Lewis, agrees to have the players stay on the estate for a few days.

But misfortune occurs when the body of a murdered man is found nearby, and Jollife worries that he and his fellow players, because they are strangers and because players in general are looked down upon as an overall unsavory lot, will be easy suspects. Unfortunately, this is only the first mysterious death.

As with all of Margaret Frazer’s books that I've read so far, this story is filled with interesting characters and a detailed historical background that never gets in the way of the story. A few times, the pace was a wee bit slow, but I never felt the story dragging or the pace distracting in any way. On the contrary, it was like I was taking a stroll through a new and interesting landscape.

I also found myself caring very much for Lewis, perhaps because he reminded me so much of a cousin of mine, and reading the sections featuring Lewy (as his friends call him) brought back a lot of sweet memories of my own childhood.

Although I am not reading them in order, I am looking forward to reading more of Joliffe’s mysteries.

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first met Joliffe and his small band of traveling players in the The Servant’s Tale, the second mystery in the author’s Sister Frevisse series. Here we pick up the troupe six months later (in June, 1434) as they enter Oxford to perform one of its Corpus Christi plays. The members of the small troupe are: Basset, the elder statesman, his daughter Rose and her son Piers, Ellis, and Joliffe. Joliffe had given up his life as an Oxford scholar for that of an itinerant actor. In his preference for the open road, Joliffe resembles another medieval sleuth, Kate Sedley’s Roger the Chapman, who found a monk’s cell at Glastonbury Abbey too confining. Whereas Roger is directed by God to solve his mysteries, Joliffe is motivated by simple curiosity..

When the troupe first arrives in Oxford, they put on a performance at an inn which attracts the attention of Lewis, a young man described as an Eden’s child or idiot, by others. We would say he has Down’s Syndrome. Although he is relatively high functioning, he must be supervised at all times and his behavior is that of a spoiled child. He is indulged because he is the heir to rich estates but also because he is loved by those who have care of him. Lewis is so enchanted by the actors, especially the boy Piers, that he pouts and refuses to leave them until his guardian agrees to have the players stay at his house while they are in Oxford. The guardian, Master Penteney is a rich victualler who has an eye on Lewis’s estates, and intends to have his daughter Kathryn betrothed to Lewis. Even though Lewis has a heart condition and is not expected to live long, the general consensus is that it would be cruel to saddle a young girl like Kathryn with marriage to a man whom she has to care for as a child. Also, Kathryn is in love with Lewis’s younger brother, Simon, and anyone with any sense thinks that it is Simon she should marry.

Lest you get the wrong impression, the Penteney family and Simon are genuinely good people who love Lewis, who is sweet and has a zest for life. They are welcoming to Joliffe and the rest of the actors , and have them perform when they entertain Lord and Lady Lovell (I assume they were Francis’s grandparents)—who are also quite nice. Soon, trouble comes to this happy household when the body of a murdered man is dumped in the courtyard. Because the body is found next to where the actors were bedded down, Joliffe must investigate for fear that they will be accused because players are regarded as low, untrustworthy, lordless people. The plot also involves Lollards who had been active at this time, as well as the family drama involving Lewis and the impending betrothal—a drama that ends in tragedy. However, the aspect is not really developed until the last quarter of the book. Joliffe spends too much time walking around doing nothing. Too much “to and fro-ing.” I appreciate that as the first book in a series, the author wanted to establish his character, but I found this boring and pointless. I did enjoy the book overall—Joliffe shows promise as a sleuth and I liked the characters even the crowner (coroner) and I especially appreciated that we got an idea of what these Corpus christi plays must have been like, but because of the very slow pace of the first ¾ of the story, I rate it 3.5 rather 4.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor. Slight and insubstantial. Very amateurish writing and with no sense of time and place. I'm sure she had done her research, but she had no feel at all for medieval England. Very much an American view of English history - very clean and cosy and everyone thinking and acting with modern view-points. Contrast with Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death books, which do have a real sense of period. Wouldn't read any more

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

A band of traveling players make an arrangement to play for a local landowner in exchange for board until their upcoming Celebration they are playing. When a man is murdered and dumped outside the barn they are staying in, Joliffe investigates.

I love the historical detail of Margaret Frazer's works and this is no different. I like Joliffe and the players and enjoyed the dynamics.

This was the first in a new series and the mystery part was pretty week but will give it another shot.

[Sumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Play of Isaac is the first in the Joliffe series of mysteries.

Joliffe was introduced in Frazer's Dame Frevisse mysteries first as a member of a troupe of down--on-their-luck players and continues to pop up intermittantly in them.

In this story, taking place not long after the events that introduced them in 'The Servants Tale', the troupe is in Oxford. They have been invited to stay at the home of one of the merchants in exchange for some entertainment. To the troupe the deal is better than what they've been getting of late and they happily accept.

The ever curious Joliffe can't help but notice things and that's all to the good because not long after they arrive, they find a dead body outside the barn they're being housed in. Then a mysterious food poisoning strikes during a feast resulting in the death of Lewis, who was to be betrothed to the daughter of the house in spite of the fact that he had down's syndrome.

Joliffe solves the mystery, as he always does and almost as if by way of reward, Lord Lovell, a visitor to the merchant becomes their patron, giving them a guaranteed income in addition to his protection.

[Cheri Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought that I would ever find a mediaeval / renaissance mystery novel that I could not complete reading. Got to page 126 and I couldn't take it anymore.....it saddens me that I didn't like the book. There is nothing wrong with the writing style.....I did have to get used to her style though. It just didn't move, stays in one place too long. I will try the 2nd book. I'm just so used to Edward Marstons novels on the same subject (acting troupe) The Nicholas Bracewell novels. I just about cried when I finished the last book in that series. Such a beautiful series.
Oh dear, I guess I have spoken too soon. So disregard my bad critique for this book because this is a very fine read, Beginning may have been a little slow but wound up being a very 'good read'.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well written with lots of great description. I read the Dame Frevisse books awhile back, but couldn't get my hands on these at the time. I like Joliffe and his more-than-meets-the-eye character. I look forward to learning more about him.
One thing I really liked about the book is that it doesn't dwell on the grisly, lurid parts of the murders or paint everyone in black and white roles. It focuses on the characters, the motivations, and what is at stake for each person in light of the events.

[Vicki Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the characters and the background of this story. There's a level of detail about players in the 15th century that I found entertaining and informative. But the mystery is too small of a part of the story. I'll enjoy following the characters through the rest of the series, but I hope that mystery will be a larger part of the rest of the books.

[Meredith Galman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lackluster historical about an acting troupe in 1430s England. I gave it a try because I remember once liking Frazer's Dame Frevisse mysteries before I realized they were all the same, but neither time nor change of protagonist has improved her.

[Rosemary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but we gave up partway through as the writing style was too awkward. It may have benefited from some ruthless editing. It's very hard to find a medieval mystery as good as Cadfael.

[elizabeth mackessy-lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author and really love this character! Can't wait to read subsequent installments.

[Richard Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by this author, and I really liked it. Went back and forth on a score--4 or 5--because I bet I'll like others in the series even more, but why be cheap? It was a fun book, a pleasure to read, so let's give it all the points.

I've read more than a few mysteries set in medieval or renaissance times, and I find most of them are so dreary I can hardly get through them. I think that's intentional--the dreary part, not the "hardly get through them" part--but I don't like it. Maybe life was mostly dreary then, and this is, after all, a murder mystery, but it's not supposed to be a bad experience for the reader, IMO. It's supposed to be fun to read. And this one is.

Fun why, you ask. First, I generally liked the main characters, which include Joliffe and the others in the troupe. (I found the minor characters interesting and well drawn, too, FWIW.) They're not totally best buds, and so they bicker and annoy each other part of the time, but it's friendly enough, and they all look out for each other. They're pretty good people, too, or so it seems to me, with engaging backstories, though I didn't read the previous series where they showed up. In other words, I like to side with them and cheer for them. Second, the setting is well done, with the land, the town, the society, the economy, and pretty much all the details seemingly accurate. Anything out of place is beyond my knowledge. The story inhabits that setting in a way that I enjoy, kinda like when you have a really good diagram of a ship or something and you can say "Oh, that's how that fits together..." Scratches a brain itch. And third, it's a good mystery.

Joliffe and the troupe he's part of have a gig in Oxford for the Corpus Christi festival, and when they're kind toward a mentally challenged theater-loving young man, they get invited to his rich family's home (well, barn) to stay a few days and perform a little for the family and their get-togethers. A body is found outside the barn where they are camping, and though they aren't explicitly named as suspects, they know how precarious their position is, and Joliffe takes it upon himself to solve the mystery.

It's good stuff: good pacing, plenty of intrigue, no dry patches. Now that I know the characters, I'm eager to see more of their stories, as well as others by this author. Fingers crossed.

Recommended for those historical mystery readers like me who haven't already discovered these books.

[Rev. M. M. Walters · Rating 2 out of 5]

A small troupe of traveling players arrives in Oxford to perform at the Corpus Christi fair in 1434. While working the crowd before the time of their performance, they encounter the family of a prosperous merchant who has the wardship of a young man whom we would probably describe as having Downs Syndrome (in the book he is described as "simple"). This young man takes a shine to the players and wants them to perform for him. The merchant agrees and offers them hospitality in return for doing a play at a party he is having before the feast. Joliffe, on of the players, begins to suspect that the merchant and the lead player/manager are known to each other. As he ponders the connection, he overhears a private conversation between the two and another man. The next day, the dead body of this man is found outside the barn where the players are staying. The dead man is accused of being a Lollard (a follower of the teaching of John Wycliffe considered to be heretical). After their performance on Corpus Christi, the players are asked to perform again at a feast given by the merchant in the presence of Lord and Lady Lovell, the local nobility. During the feast, many of the guests are sickened and Lewis, the young man with Downs Syndrome dies. A weak heart, or murder? Both deaths are eventually solved, but it seems the evidence is obtained by lucky guess rather than forensics.

The book is atmospheric rather than deductive. We learn a good bit about the lot of traveling players but the book does not reveal a lot about how Joliffe solves the puzzle. Since we don't really enter into his thinking, we can't really solve the mystery ourselves which is always the best part of a mystery story.

[Judy King · Rating 4 out of 5]

In book one of a Medieval mystery series featuring a troupe of actor...traveling players...have been engaged to present one of the Biblically based plays presented in each if the churches of Oxford on the day if Corpus Christi.

Arriving in the city a week early, the players have taken to the streets to busk through the crowds with singing, juggling, story telling and other of their repertoire of skills and talents.

Along the way, Lewis, the nearly adult Downs Syndrome son of the local Lord is fascinated by them and cozens his father into allowing them to stay in the barn and perform at dinner. Thus begins an intense relationship between the boy and the players, and positions the players to be swept up into a series of murder and intrigue.

Lewis's character allows the author to demonstrate her extreme skill in portraying characters as she respectfully and lovingly describes the man-boy, his actions, his great joy and happiness, his expressions and attempts to manipulate his adoring parents and the man who cares for him.

I dont remember ever reading a novel with one if these special children. If other authors decide to attempt it, they need to be prepared to meet this high standard

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the fifteenth century, the story follows a very small troupe of players (five, six when you count the nine-year old son of the only woman--she doesn't act, but she does everything else) as they travel to various locations. In this novel, without a patron, they are entirely on their own, but they have been engaged to perform for the Penteney household and at the Corpus Christi festival in Oxford. The only problem is the murdered man outside outside the barn where they are staying at the Penteney's. And then there is the death of Lewis, a simple man, engaged to be married to Kathryn, a Penteney daughter, after everyone, including all the guests at the celebratory dinner, is sickened by spoiled sweetmeats. But only Lewis dies.

Suspicion falls on the troupe, and it is left to the player, Joliffe, to unravel the connections and sort out the clues before they may safely leave Oxford with their reputation clear.

I liked this is as much for its medieval setting and the descriptions of the adaptations and staging of the plays as I did for the mystery. Here's a hint to Joliffe's character: he does all the play adaptations and he speaks Latin.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I had enjoyed the Sister Frevisse series by Margaret Frazer, chose to give this series based on traveling players a try. Well worth the read. It takes time and pages to give the main characters enough essence so we know their motivations and back story. Margaret did this well, while still creating a plot around a double murder. She dealt with the uniqueness of a Down's Syndrome child well, given that period in time. Understanding the Lollard controversy, especially the translation of the Bible into the English language is difficult for us to grasp today, but in Oxford of 1434 very dangerous still.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this author’s Dame Frevisse novels and the featured character in this new series was introduced in those books.

Living with a troupe of itinerant players ( as the reader dies) is really an education into the challenge of just keeping yourself alive during the Middle Ages. As a poor student of history, I garner most of my historical knowledge through period novels. This book is rich in detail and I appreciated the crash course in the performing arts of the period.

Joliffe, the protagonist in this new series, is a complex character whose many facets are unfolding.
I am looking forward to reading additional books in this series.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A Medieval murder mystery affects an acting troop which has been asked to perform by a wealthy land owner after his simpleton ward becomes infatuated with the play and the players.
I had to get use to the language, as if I was reading a book written in a different century. I suppose that was because the setting of the book was 600 years ago.
At times I felt it was overly descriptive making the action slow at times. A lot of the conflict revolves around a religious group I'd never heard of. I love fiction that teaches me something new.
This is the first of a seven book series and I own the next three.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It seems well-researched and was a page-turner with engaging characters. I was stunned when Lewis died. Like, put-the-book-down stunned. I am mightily considering taking up the series.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book partially because of how different
the language was. It, to me, made it feel like I really was listening yo an old English tale. The mystery itself was not extremely hard to figure out, but how the characters get youths truth is often as interesting as who was the culprit.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good plot, interesting characters, horrible writing. There is a missing word on almost every page, usually an article. The author uses very poor sentence construction. She has a good story line with no continuity issues that I noticed. It is a shame her grammatical skills are so appalling.

[David Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more!

What fun, what natural charactors, what use of language. Frazer lets the story develop at its own pace, giving us an eye into medieval England; it's food, song, and religious tensions. And Joliffe, the hesitant detective, is a delight.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet but a bit of a snooze. The actual mystery is teeny tiny.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 4 minus. Enjoyed book. Historical fiction a favorite. Like the medieval period. Having the main character be a traveling player interesting.

[Anna Hood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this character, Joliffe!

[Anna Mussmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: An overly-educated, traveling medieval player (actor) realizes that murder has been done.

As a sketch of medieval life in a college town, the book is enjoyable. The style is polite and peaceful-- so peaceful that nearly the entire volume is devoted to developing the characters and setting. Fortunately, the characters and setting are interesting enough to engage the reader until the end. Unfortunately the book is over-written: the author does not seem to believe that "showing is better than telling," and provides rather pedantic explanations of what the characters are thinking, seeing, and doing. The book was also bit predictable-- the murder victim, although in the best of health for the majority of the book, seemed clearly doomed to me as soon as he stepped into his first scene. Rather short shrift is given to the mystery and very few clues are provided to either the sleuth or the reader. In addition, the protagonist's response to the conclusion seems underdeveloped. All in all, this is a reasonably pleasant book but far from stellar.

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure who/what pointed me towards this one but I am glad it/they did.
At almost 3 weeks, the book took me much longer to read than I would normally expected, especially with 2 long haul flights included which provided an extra 16 hours potential reading time.

Somehow the early story, although very readable didnt 'grab' me and maybe because of this read-a-bit-here-read-a-bit-there attitude to the book I tended to lose track of who was who, not only in the household but even in the players themselves.

I thought that as a whole the main scene took too long to set before the action started. Also,because this is the first of the series, it took a while to establish if Joliff, the central character, was a goodie or not.

After finishing the book, with all sorted for the best,(and we all love a happy ending- dont we?) I think that I would have scored this a 4*. However, realistically I have decided on a 3*

Please do not let that put you off reading it.It will not stop me going on with the series and I have the next already downloaded.

[Mike McAdam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I don't usually go for historical fiction but this was interesting and fun. It is about a troupe of actors in the 1400s that find a body on their doorstep (that is all you are getting - I don't do spoilers). The plot took some time to get going (like maybe 1/3 of the book before it starts) but the set up and characters and time period were all interesting so I wasn't bored waiting for the story to begin. There is a lot of set up. The characters are memorable and fun and the plot was interesting. Another thing I don't usually like is the everyday joe who turns into a detective (in this case an actor), but this was enjoyable enough that it didn't bother me. I read this book upon recommendation from a friend - I would never have chosen it. But I am glad I read it....

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since they have no patron, a band of traveling players in 15th century England is vulnerable to accusation when a murdered man turns up outside their door. They are in Oxford to dramatize the story of Isaac and Abraham for the Corpus Christi festival, lodging with a wealthy family because their ward, who has Down's syndrome, is entranced by the players’ performance. One of the actors, Joliffe, who has a flair for adapting plays for their tiny troupe, also has knack for investigating murders. A well-researched background of heresy and medieval property law in addition to a well-crafted plot makes it an interesting read.