The Apostate's Tale

Sister Frevisse #17

by Margaret Frazer

As the nuns of St. Frideswide's priory prepare for the welcome end of Lent, their peaceful expectations are overset by the sudden return of long- vanished Sister Cecely. Nine years ago she fled from the nunnery with a man. Now her lover is dead and she has come back, bringing her illegitimate son with her. She claims she is penitent, that she wants only to redeem her sin and find safe haven for the child. Neither she nor her son can be turned away, but their presence begins to stir doubts and questions in the hearts of some of the nuns about their own faithfulness to this enclosed life they've chosen to live. Sister Cecely may be penitent-however much Frevisse may doubt it-but fully truthful she is not, and as the apostate nun's lies begin to overtake her, dangers of more than one kind-and maybe murder-become an unwanted part of life in the priory.

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

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 2, 2007

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

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fitting capstone to the history of Dame Frevisse , who becomes Domina Frevisse by the end of the book, not out of ambition or desire but out of capability and duty. It is ever more clear why a strong, independent-minded woman like her could live her life as a nun--indeed, it's clearer than ever why she could not have chosen any other life and been true to herself. I even envy her sometimes. To know your duty and to do it, to know the joy of blessing God and make it the center of your life...it would not be enough for me, but sometimes I wonder why not, and when I closed the pages of this book, that was one of the times.

Frazer plays fair by showing us how the runaway Sister Cecely, the apostate nun of the title, had her life ruined by taking vows she could never keep. Cecely is selfish and shallow, but you have to feel for her, too: a passionate woman who needed a wider world than the cloister could offer.

The mystery hinges on some people's desire for land and others' desire for revenge and freedom. It comes late in the book, and it mainly makes the themes more poignant. If you are looking for a whodunit set in the Middle Ages, go read a Brother Cadfael book. But if you want the story of a woman gradually growing into wisdom and leadership, start at the beginning of the Dame Frevisse series and read right through to the end. (I may have to do that again someday!)

[Suzanne Schuckel Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've decided to make this my first goodreads review, not only because I've been fond of Sister Frevisse mysteries over the years (I don't think I've read all, but certainly most) but because, sadly, the author (Gail Lynn Frazer; Margaret was a pen name) passed away recently from breast cancer. Fittingly, this Frevisse novel -- I suppose it will be the last one unless someone takes over the series -- was my favorite. Others cover the plot well below; I'll just say that the prickly nature of Frevisse and the other nuns seems perfectly period to me and that one of the things that drew me to the series is that the characters seem realistic. The Middle Ages was a brutal time; no place for sissies! I will miss Ms. Frazer and her creations.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this story was very good, though not exactly a whodunit. This final instalment of the series is more an examination of the nature of anger: Cecely the renegade nun's unreasoning anger at everyone and everything, the MC's anger at her and other truthless people, the anger of other characters reacting to the apostate's lies and actions, as well as the secondary story of the girl who wants to be a nun and her mother. It also examines vocation, innate or found, and there is a shining meditation on the meaning of Tenebrae and its attendant ceremonies.

However, we still have non-religious, non-royal men walking around in the cloisters of an enclosed Benedictine house, and little knowledge of specific vocabulary of Catholic monasticism. One small example: one does not "curtsy" to the altar, but genuflect. As always, Frazer's mangled use of language cuts a star from this review because it was so constant and unnecessary as to really annoy. I began to wonder if perhaps English was Frazer's second language! Perhaps she was trying to create an "archaic" form of speech without the resources; for all her snide remarks in the Afterword about modern readers mistaking Victorian fiction for mideval literature and language, she obviously has not read many of the readily available mideval English texts, to go by the...dialect?...that she created for this book. The ersatz language rattles and bangs as nouns and adjectives become verbs and vice versa without need or reason. The book would have been much more enjoyable with a decent proofreader and editor. Frazer's favourite word seems to be "irk", used as a noun instead of a verb, so that Frevisse "lets her irk show" instead of, say, irritation or annoyance or frustration. The nuns respond to an event "with pleased exclaims" instead of exclamations or expressions of delight. Several times I tripped over something that occurred "without she meant it to..." instead of a more sensible structure. The uneven, often misused language (those prepositions!) really detracted from the reading experience. Even if she wanted her fractured "mideval dialect" in the mouths of the characters, the narration would have been improved by putting it in comprehensible English.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bleak work. Not bleak because poorly written. Bleak because of the outcome of human decisions. This is a story of an apostate nun, Sister Cecily, who had "escaped" St. Frideswide's nunnery with a man. She had had a child by him. Upon his death, she returned with her boy. While her words indicated she wished to return, as matters evolved, all was not what it seemed. And, in the end, much misery. . . . Sister Frevisse worked through the situation and assisted bringing closure, in the unique style to which readers of this sweries have become accustomed.

[Cherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty slow and predictable.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT was a bit tough finishing this because it was the very last in her series. I was determined to read the series straight through (not consecutively but in sequence) and the last few I had not yet read. This last one was non-political (compared to the ones immediately preceding) and set entirely in the cloister. It was clearly a chance for Ms Frazer to reflect on the growth of her characters and bring them to self-reflection. It also underscored some aspects of convent life (the deadly seriousness of breaking vows) that are sometimes forgotten in these more liberal times.
The story itself was a bit slow and frustrating at times, but for those who know and love her books it was a flaw easy to overlook. I am grateful for the time I have spent with Dame Frevisse, and be warmed by her shrewd and yet intensely spiritual ways. FOr me she reflects the constant battle for balance between the spiritual and enticing physical world.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most satisfying conclusion to a long-running series. I was so sorry to learn of Frazer's death, and I decided to reread both the Joliffe and Frevisse series in honor of her life and work. It was a long and satisfying project. I'm sorry there won't be any more books, and grateful that she produced so many.

[Cybercrone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story kind of dragged, and a couple real clangers.

Though she argues in the appendix that the *word* infect was already in use in the time of this book, it had a different meaning. Germ theory was not yet 'discovered' (the miasma theory is not equivalent) and the theory of contagion was hundreds of years away.

And she seems to imply that Jesus spoke Latin.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

Every bit as wonderful as the previous installments. If you have been reading the series, you know what to expect. If not, go start at the beginning. And I envy you.

I loved it and look forward to reading anything by Margaret Frazer, but especially the next in the series.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 for the book and a 5 for the series. I am so sorry to see it come to an end. And I do think many things point to "The Apostate's Tale" intentionally being the end to this series. Throughout the series spiritual matters are contemplated, but this book just seemed to delve deeper. Hints were also dropped, especially as to how it would all end, by the guidance given by Frevisse to the other nuns, even Dame Thomasine, whom most don't even stop to consider. Also, the fractured relationship between Frevisse and her cousin, Alice, is wrapped up nicely when Father Henry instructs her to write a letter asking for forgiveness as penance. Another clue the series is coming to an end is the introduction of the two new characters (Helen and Elianor) who, along with the two younger nuns (Johane and Margrett) depict the ongoing life of the nunnery and that while the nuns we know and love are growing old, St. Frideswide's will still live on when they're gone. And all the little loose ends were tied up, including Sister Emma. How sad she died. Now, no more of her silly, little, mixed-up proverbs.

On to the story itself. Nice to have the setting in St. Frideswide's for the last book since it is the place Dame Frevisse feels most comfortable and complete. It's also the home she shares with the other nuns who are now her family. A little bittersweet, however, knowing we will be parting for good at the end. Interesting premise as I knew Sister Cecely had left the nunnery, but no details had been previously given.

I'd say, as a woman today, it's hard not to feel some sympathy for Cecely, no matter her motivations (and I didn't like her at all in previous books). Frazer summed it up beautifully in her author notes at the end. Sister Cecely's life became a tragedy because it was forced upon her and she could not bear it. And I'm glad Dame Frevisse had the same thoughts, too, admitting not all of the blame could be laid at Cecely's feet.

I didn't like how Neddie was kept from Cecely. My sympathy was stirred for her (and other women of the era) at how easily their children could be taken from them, not to mention it would be hard on the child. I also believe Cecely's grief for Guy was heartfelt, yet no one took pity on her because they were too busy judging her. I also don't like how the nunnery's were like prisons. If a woman's heart wasn't in it, why make her stay? Seems very hypocritical. Why would the other nuns even want someone like that amongst them? And did the same rules apply to monks in medieval monasteries? Must they "escape", too, if religious life was not the right fit? Factual for the times, but glad it's different nowadays.

The mystery, itself, took a back seat in this entry, Alson coerced into doing Cecely's bidding is obvious at the outset. But because this was the finale to so much more than a "mystery" series, hardly unexpected. Frazer was more intent, and rightfully so, on wrapping up Dame Frevisse's life. And the end where she was elected the new prioress was only unexpected by Dame Frevisse herself.

Another hint this was probably meant to be the last in the series is the fact it was written well before Margaret Frazer died, six years, in fact. And entries in the Joliffe's series continued for four more years. So, obviously, Ms. Frazer was still writing. She did write four short stories (which I haven't read, not having a Kindle), but I was disappointed when reading the synopsis for the first that she is still Dame Frevisse and not Domina Frevisse. Must mean the short stories are set in time before the end "The Apostate's Tale". Well, I guess as prioress, she will not have as many chances to leave the nunnery, so I will just picture her growing old in the place she loves and wants to be, finally at peace.

[Carol Flatten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the sister Frevisse mysteries, but this has been my favorite. I finally had to research the exact meaning of apostate, ( the abandonment of religion by a cleric/nun), which I could not figure out from the reading. All of books I have read from the series have beautifully portrayed life in the mid fourteen hundreds, but this one really was more about the faith that a nun must practice and what she gives up to be a nun. In this one I learned more about the "offices" or many calls to prayer and worship than in the other novels and more about life in the cloister. As usual, there was a mystery to solve, this time of an attempt to murder, rather than an actual murder. And, the characters were so life-like that I could easily picture them

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here is a medieval mystery with Sister Fravisse of St. Frideswide’s priory as chief protagonist. I thought I might like it because of my fondness for Brother Cadfael, but was disappointed. I found it a slow read full of the Benedictine offices of the day - fussy little nun doings and much concern about meeting the proprieties. There is deceit and a poisoner in the priory so in among her prayers Sister Fravisse puzzles it out, applies her logical mind, and solves the crimes. The humility and sacrifice purported to be necessary to happiness and goodness of women was difficult for me to accept, even in a period piece like this one.

[Adelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Останній повнорозмірний детектив з серії про сестру Фревіссу, де підтягують деякі ниточки з попередніх історій, як і годиться. До монастиря повертається колишня сестра Сесілі, яка колись давно втекла з коханцем, а зараз ніби покаялася і вирішила жити знову чернецьким життям. Тільки не все так просто, бо фінансове питання і пов'язаний з ним кримінал ніхто не скасовував.
Трохи розхристане, як на мене, але Фревісса розібралася, а в кінці на неї чекає посада пріореси, окремий кабінет і пухнастий котик. Все схвалюємо.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will really miss reading in this series. And this one is one of the best in the series, because the author lets the reader into the mind of the protagonist, Sister Frevisse, showing her true spiritual experiences and devotion as she explores and reasons and investigates, and in contrast, reveals the mind of a selfish, superficial woman who looks with contempt on all that Sister Frevisse holds dear, pursuing a life of pleasure and profit at all costs.

[JulieB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, loved this series and am so sad this title is the end. Definitely a bit heavy in philosophizing and full of medieval Catholic tidbits; however, it’s fitting for how Dame Frevisse has grown through and into her role at St. Frideswide’s. The depth of research Fraser conducted for this series is incredible!

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apostate’s Tale
An interesting perspective of a “well-known” era. I enjoyed learning about a different aspect of the Medieval time. Frazer’s assortment of characters and motives made the suspense thick, although sometimes repetitive.

[Zoe Bibik · Rating 3 out of 5]

First one I read of the series. A little bit slow for most of the book, felt a bit like the first third could have been way condensed. Still enjoyed the mystery and it was a very refreshing take on a medieval story!

[Dene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good medieval who done it.

[Mary Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pages 123-124 are the core of this novel which examines our emotions and the importance of knowing what we are feeling. There are echoes of the first one in the series. Well done.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable end to the series with a fitting denouement, though it's not much of a mystery.

[Em]

Unexpectedly no murder in this one

[Charles Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent piece of historical fiction by an extremely talented author!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine ending to a fine series.

[Jill Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Apostate's Tale" is the seventeenth (and last--so far) of the medieval mysteries by Margaret Frazer that feature Dame Frevisse, a nun at the convent of St. Frideswide in Oxfordshire, England. In the spring of 1452, the nuns are enduring the final days of Lent when fasting adds to the everyday hardship of life in a small convent. They have three parties of visitors who intend to stay through Eastertide but are still barely scraping by on the guestgifts and other minor donations of provisions. Into this already stressed state rides Sister Cecely who was a nun at the convent but who stole away in the dead of night nine years before with a man, thus renouncing her vows, faith, principles, and soul. The apostate nun brings with her a young son. Cecely must endure the harshest penance in the harsh, final days of Lent, but she manages to catch the ear of one of the convent's other visitors Master Breredon and conspire with him to spirit her away yet again, this time with her son and some precious documents. Cecely claims to have married the man she loved, but trouble on horseback follows Cecely to the convent, and that trouble--her supposed in-laws--claim she never married her lover, that the child is a bastard, and, further, that Cecely has stolen documents of possession of several manors for her son. Cecely stages no end of fits for the nuns and is kept in a guarded chamber for the safety of all involved--especially her young son Neddie--and to prevent her escape. Dame Frevisse, meanwhile, is dealing with the convent's other guests, a would-be novice named Elianor and her mother, Mistress Lawsell, who would rather see her daughter married off than becoming a bride of Christ. Cecely's supposed in-laws, the Rowcliffes, have inconsistent stories about Cecely's past, particularly whether or not they knew she was apostate. Cecely spends her incarceration ranting against the convent and totally absorbed in her world of selfishness and fantasy. She demonstrates little interest in the wellbeing of her son, except as an object to gain pity for her, and the collective parties learn she planned to give the boy and his manors to Master Breredon in exchange for her own escape. Easter approaches, and the nuns including the saintly Dame Thomasine, undergo challenges of intense prayer, fasting, and crises of faith. Only the old servant Ela seems on top of the situation and serves as Frevisse's best ally and informant. Mysteriously, Breredon appears to have been poisoned but survives, then one of the Rowcliffes also falls ill and nearly dies. The men are united in blaming the evil Cecely, but how could an apostate nun--effectively imprisoned--obtain poison and contaminate the food of specific persons? Should Abbot Gilberd, brother to Domina Elizabeth, who is coming to render judgment on the apostate nun be warned of a possible plague outbreak? Did Cecely's cousin Dame Johane conspire to poison the men? Perhaps Cecely's special friend Alson is guilty of pitying too much and helping her old friend. Abbot Gilberd arrives with food aplenty to endow the Easter Feast, and the following days become even more tumultuous because Domina Elizabeth herself seems ill or distressed. Thanks to her remarkable sleuthing and the help of the convent's other guests and even little Neddie, Dame Frevisse solves the mysteries surrounding the apostate nun. How she does it and the fate awaiting Frevisse herself form the climax of the tale.

Of all the Frevisse stories, this one devotes the most time and attention to the details of medieval convent life. Set at Easter time, this is brilliantly done with insight and sensitivity into a "quiet" type of life in the few years of relative political peace in England leading to the Wars of the Roses. Dame Frevisse has been the reader's fearless leader throughout the series of books; and it is fitting that we see her completely immersed in life at the convent and how she deals with the challenges of the novice's reluctant mother, the saintly sister's crisis of faith, Domina Elizabeth's faltering steps as the convent's prioress, and the case of the apostate nun.

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this last full-length novel, the sister Frevisse series has come full circle returning as it began in The Novice’s Taleto focus on the life, temporal and spiritual, of the nuns at St. Frideswide’s priory. Dame Frevisse, an intelligent and strong-minded woman, freely chose the convent life as she constantly strives to achieve a closeness to God through solitude and prayer.

Others were forced into that life. One such was Sister Cecely who, nine years before, ran away with a man and bore him several children, only one of whom, Neddie, survived. When that man, Guy Rowcliffe, died, Cecely returns to the convent with her child, claiming to be penitent and seeking a safe haven for Neddie. The convent was obliged to take her in, but it soon becomes clear that she is not seeking redemption but a temporary refuge. She claims the Rowcliffes are seeking to steal lands to which her son is entitled. Guy comes from gentry and his kinfolk track her down, demanding to take custody of her son. It turns out that Cecely had also arranged to meet a man and turn over marriage rights to her son to him so she could run off to London.

When two men become violently sick, poison is suspected and Frevisse must untangle various claims, legal and otherwise, in order to identify the culprit or culprits. While the plot is interesting enough as Frevisse discovers that the Rowcliffes may have some hidden motives, the strength of this book and this series is the portrayal of medieval people as varied as people nowadays— “some wiser, some more foolish, some skilled one way, some skilled another—all living a complex and multi-layered life.” Guy’s family are pretty decent folk, even if his uncle can be gruff and blustering. They are a family that truly like one another and have affection for Neddie. The focus here is on the nuns, and their desire, or at least acceptance of a convent life. Frevisse desires the confines of that life while Cecely’s tragedy is that she was forced into a life that was unsuitable for her. Her presence causes other nuns to question their commitment to convent life, asking for Frevisse’s counsel. Cecely’s cousin, Johane, forced into the convent at the same time, has grown into her vocation, while Domina Elisabeth has been worn down by the burdens of her office. As a fitting culmination to the series, Frevisse becomes Domina Frevisse—not because of ambition (she being the only vote against her election) but because of her ability.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Frazer is the rare modern author who can keep things fresh, complicated, and compelling after well over a dozen mysteries starring the same character. She weaves former characters (such as the apostate nun of the title) back into the book with the perfect amount of recapping for new (or forgetful!) readers. As always, the historical research appears impeccable. And she can make you care for a character that can be unlovable, is (although a nun) imperfect (and knows it!), and make a reader who never contemplated a vocation understand something of what drew Frevisse to the life of the cloister.



All that, of course, is about Margaret Frazer and the series. This book specifically is a nice return to the setting of St. Frideswide's after several works where (in the main) Dame Frevisse travels far and wide. It's nice to touch base once in a while...even if a lot more murders than you'd expect occur in a nunnery! It's also a rest to contemplate the inner politics and inner searching of the nunnery rather than focus on the outward world Dame Frevisse has (to her chagrin) been involved in, exciting as such intrigues between kings, bishops, etc. etc. may be. Hopefully the companion series involving Joliffe may include more of that.



Although the whodunnit itself in this work may be a trifle more easy for the reader to pin down (even before Dame Frevisse), that's actually fun once in a while as well.



Finally, the revelations at the end, that have nothing to do with the specific mystery here, leave me desperate for more. Reading the author's website at www.margaretfrazer.com concerning her recent blocks to writing make me shy away from begging for haste on a new Dame Frevisse work (I guess we're due a Joliffe one next anyway), and that's not something I've ever done anyway (bug an author), but I do care so much about the character that it would otherwise be tempting! I do hope that the continuation of the Joliffe series, much as I enjoy it, does not mean that the Dame Frevisse series is winding down...I hope to see much more of both of them, and in fact more collaborations between the two.

[janaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book was great, it was a bit hard to get through. still loved it though.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeenth in the series. Dame Frevisse, the heroine, is a nun in the convent of St. Frideswide (gotta love these medieval names) in Oxfordshire, and the the time is Holy Week 1452. Dame Frevisse is a niece of a son of the great writer Geoffrey Chaucer; this could account for her spunk, inquisitiveness, droll sense of humor, and ability to think outside the box. It also explains why each title in the series sounds like it could also be a title of a new supplement to the Canterbury Tales.

If someone just picked up this book without getting to know Dame Frevisse through the earlier installments, I think they might get bored, as the mystery component is fairly limited in this volume. The plot focuses on the return of an apostate nun, Sister Cecely, to St. Frideswide. Nine years earlier, in a moment of hot lust, she ran away with a man passing through; now she returns with a small boy, claiming sanctuary and in the middle of a struggle over the inheritance of some manor lands. Cecely has broken some very strong taboos, and while she is being held for questioning by the Lord Abbot, a series of unfortunate poisonings begin to put a serious damper on life at the convent. In some intriguing subplots, the Mother Superior is headed into a serious depression (we're talking clinical depression), and a young girl shows up determined to become a novice over her mother's strong objections.

This book's true value lies in the reflection it encourages over the tension between submission to communitarian discipline for the good of the all versus the rights and wishes of personal freedom and fulfillment. The author is wise enoguh to let us see the struggle going on with regards to this tension in both Frevisse and Cecely, and also in the Mother Superior and the would be novice, and leaves it up to us to consider how we might personally react if we were living in such a social system.

[annapi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Frazer has produced a great mystery with the wonderful characterization and in-depth research that brings the 15th century to life. St. Frideswide's priory has to deal with a prodigal's return, as the apostate nun Sister Cecely, who had run away with a man nine years ago, returns with her bastard son when she has nowhere else to turn. But her protestations of penitence are proven to be lies when her deceased husband's family arrive at the priory demanding the return of deeds she has stolen, as well as custody of her son. The prioress decides to wait for her brother Abbot Gilberd's judgement on the matter; but while awaiting him, one of the guests, the man who was to assist Cecely in escaping once more, is suddenly poisoned. When a second poisoning occurs, Dame Frevisse must race to discover the truth before another attempt is made.

Another vivid and masterful tale, the only reason I gave this 4 1/2 stars rather than 5 is some trace of what appears to be sloppy editing - in Cecely's thoughts there are phrases that keep repeating to the point of annoyance, though it's possibly deliberate on the author's part in showing the character's obsession; there is also another paragraph repeated almost word for word with another character, which make me think that in the rewrite or editing these minor flaws were missed, maybe due to haste? Regardless, the story is another gem in the series, but there is a finality about it the way it ends that makes me uneasy that the author may not write more. I so hope that fear is unfounded, as this is one of my favorites.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one in a series of medieval mysteries by Margaret Frazer that center on Sister Fravisse at St. Frideswide’s priory. The Apostate's Tale focuses on the people in the cloister of St Frideswide’s. The mystery centers upon an apostate nun who returns with her son, those who come in search of her, land deeds, and poisonings... Sister Fravisse applies her logical mind to solve the mystery.

Through the story one gains insights into the life of a nun and regimented spiritual disciplines. In Betti Cogswell's review, she writes, "The things I particularly like are some of the insights that few people have into what makes a nun, and what others hate about it. Life in a cloister is not freedom from self, but the honing of self, if one is called to the life. Thus you are given glimpses of all levels of contemplative life, from ex sister Cecely who ran away because she hates the narrowness of the cloister, and is totally self-centered; to sister Fravisse who chose the life and has learned the secret of the centered prayerful life in spite of self."

The story seemed to move slowly, yet life in the cloister moves slowly... in the end, I'm glad to have read the novel.