The Hunter's Tale

Sister Frevisse #13

by Margaret Frazer

FAMILY SECRETS AND A LEGACY LOST...

In the summer of 1448, when Sir Ralph Woderove is found murdered near his estate, not even his family mourns. A hard, vicious man of many quarrels, Sir Ralph could have been killed by almost anyone. And though the consensus is that his soul has surely gone to Hell, Sir Ralph will continue to infuriate his heirs in death through the grossly inadequate terms of his estate's settlement.

It falls to Dame Frevisse to escort Sir Ralph's widow and daughter back to their manor, when another death occurs under questionable circumstances - making it clear that not all grievances have been laid to rest. And as family secrets are dragged out into the light, Dame Frevisse realizes that there is a murderer among them who will not rest until the Woderove legacy has been settled once and for all...

"Beautifully written and captures the essence of the characters in a way that's bittersweet as well as accurate." - The Best Reviews

"Frazer's latest will please both Frevisse afficionados and historical mystery readers new to the series." - Booklist

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

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 6, 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

[Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Sister Frevisse book I've read and the 13th in the series, so obviously these don't need to be read in order.

Frazer is a terrific historical writer: the 15th century she presents is vivid, realistically peopled, and the research she obviously does (yay her!) never gets in the way of the story. Sister Frevisse is not the center of attention in these books which gives a broader perspective to the series, and Frevisse herself reads like a real nun. Although she is driven to find the truth of various situations in which she finds herself, that drive comes as much from her faith as from her personality (as opposed to the obvious comparison in Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries which I greatly enjoy but where Cadfael is, frankly, just kinda nosey sometimes).

Also, where Cadfael's faith is naturalistic and personal, managing to coexist within the strictures of the Roman Church, Frevisse is truly a Religious: she takes comfort and structure from those same strictures. It's a nicely subtle counterpoint that quietly acknowledges the medieval reality of Catholicism and the structure it gave to all medieval thought, for better or worse. Where Cadfael, existing 300 years earlier, vividly hearkens back to the personalized naturalism of Celtic Christianity, Frevisse is firmly rooted in the more rigid and, by then well-established, Roman tradition of her own era.

In this book Frevisse encounters a family that suffers more from the murder victim's life than from his murder. The pacing is gradual, having an almost medieval feel, but it is a purposeful rather than slow read. Like certain Agatha Christie mysteries the various reveals aren't terribly surprising but the results of those reveals are the real conclusion: The Hunter's Tale is not so much a Whodunnit as it is a How-will-we-live-now, which by the end of the book proves a far more fulfilling conclusion.

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this series, which I've read in order; some installments have felt weaker or more tedious, but I think "Hunter's Tale" was well done. I love well-written historical fiction and mysteries, and Dame Frevisse has the additional attraction of being very human - aware of her own faults and honest about them. Frevisse has got a sharp wit and is not afraid to show her intelligence, which was not always welcome and certainly never encouraged for women in 15th century England; as I've read through the series I've seen her sometimes chafing at the restrictions of her vocation, which adds to her humanity and interest as a reluctant heroine solving mysteries.

As a nun who periodically must leave the seclusion of the cloister to venture into the world, often among the landed classes and nobility, Frevissse witnesses human dramas large and small; thrust into matters unwillingly and unwittingly, she feels compelled to find the truth when confronted with some evil. In this book, Sir Ralph has been murdered while on a hunt, but the twist is that he was so vicious and hateful to his family and created such misery for all of those around him that no one mourns and no one WANTS the truth. When other deaths follow, Frevisse feels compelled to ask questions and try and find the truth, but is faced with the inevitable fear, broken spirits and pain that such a hateful man has left in his path. I found Frazer's portrayal of the wounded family members left behind moving, powerful and uniquely timeless.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for a holiday read- 15th cent England, despised knights, plucky nuns... As far as historical mysteries go this was very enjoyable, the hero, Dame Frevisse, is very likable (and more believable than Sister Fidelma)

[Marilyn Fontane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hunter's Tale by Margaret Frazer is interesting because in a series of mysteries centered around Sister Frevisse, she is not the person to solve the crime or even truly investigate it. I think, but can not say for certain, that this is unusual for this character. She and her companion sister go to the home of a recently murdered, and truly hated by everyone, lord of the manor and hunter, to comfort the bereaved (or relieved) wife. She finds that the woman is not mourning the death of her husband, but in fact is still afraid (as are all the other members of her family). No one is searching for the murderer, which Frevisse finds strange since she certainly wants to know, but the others do not seem to really know who the murderer is either; they are just happy the Hunter is gone. Frevisse realizes what the woman wants is for her to "protect" her from a suitor, but the suitor seems to genuinely like her.
A second death occurs, again maybe a murder, but the perpetrator is deemed innocent by a jury, and everyone accepts their decision, although contrarywise everyone mourns this death.
Finally, near the end of a long story, another murder occurs, this time by a hunting dog, a wolfhound, loved by the family. And once again, as with the hunter, no one feels badly about this death. Relief seems instantaneous. Frevisse wants justice, but the family finds another way of solving all the problems.
It is a strange, haunting, slow tale, making one question just what justice really is. The beauty of the novel lies in its historical setting. Details of life in the mid 1400s are unostentatiously presented so that the reader feels like s/he is living at the time. The life of a nun, the life of a woman without choice in her marriage partner, the life of a hunter, the life of a dog keeper, all seem natural and reasonable. The duties of religion, both by ritual and by feeling, are examined. It presents a real slice of life in the telling of an extraordinary event. Not much action. But it is extremely thought provoking--which should be appropriate for a nun--if not for a murder mystery.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished The Hunter's Tale by Margaret Frazer, book 13 in the Dame Frevisse series.

It's the summer of 1448, and nobleman Sir Ralph Woderove gets murdered in a brutal way. Nobody's shedding tears over this guy as he was a real piece of work. Frazer, as per the usual, does an amazing job of dropping you right into medieval England. I swear, you can almost smell the place – pigsty and all!

Dame Frevisse, my all time favorite fictional nun, has to travel outside of St. Frideswide’s once again in this tale. The murder mystery (as always, it doesn't stay with just one murder) is well plotted and I couldn't guess beforehand who did the deed. Frazer digs into some pretty heavy stuff like justice and family drama, but in a way that fits right into the story.

What I love most about this series is how the author brings history to life without making it feel like a boring lecture. You're learning about medieval life while you're caught up in this gripping mystery.

If you're into historical mysteries (and nuns), I would really recommend you let Dame Frevisse take the wheel.

5 Stars

[Laura Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

After waiting a bit to receive the book, this one was a little disappointing.

It took way too long for the story to unfold. Almost the entire beginning quarter was taken up with the Woderove family and Dame Frevisse played little part. Even as her appearances grew, the story was unsatisfying. Way too much repetition. Over and over, Dame Frevisse and Hugh are agonizing over the same facts and feelings. In fact, "The Hunter's Tale" read a bit like an overwrought, rather morbid, soap opera.

The one plus was Sister Johane. The reader (and Dame Frevisse) were treated to an insightful look at her character. I hope she plays an important secondary role again in at least one of the remaining books.

The ending wasn't altogether satisfactory, either. On to the next and hoping it's better.

[Harriet Lindblom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #11 of Margaret Fraser's Dame Frevisse mysteries. Only a few to go. I'll be sorry to leave her, as I love her sense of curiosity, her sense of justice, her sharp intelligence, her modesty her humor and her piety occasionally tempered by doubt. And a bonus is the knowledge her readers will gain about Medieval times from her rigorous scholarship. This story is one of the best in the series, and calls into question what is real justice.

[Adelais · Rating 3 out of 5]

В цьому детективі наша улюблена черниця дама Фревісса приїжджає до господи нещодавно вбитого лицаря, а там всі раді, що той помер, і жодної справедливості не шукають. Навпаки, навіть бояться, що тепер ним скривджені ще й помстяться, бо дядько був непересічною гидотою. Тому Фревіссі виходить розслідувати вбивство через небажання інших, і сильно щасливого фіналу ми не дочекаємося. Гарна розповідь, але хотілося б ще радості якоїсь для присутніх.

[Luanne Castle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written novel about medieval days. I really got a feel for what it was like to live in that time and place, and I learned about medieval dogs and hunting, as well. The mystery was ok, not great. I would read another Sister Frevisse book because history in this light-hearted fashion is a good read.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark throughout and no happy ending... but haunting.

[Jim Standridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I missed this series? I found it by happy accident and it reminds me of an updated Chaucer (wandering through the middle ages and discovering tales from various citizens.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I missed this series? It reminds me of an updated Chaucer and I really enjoyed this book; only 24 to go!

[Katherine Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of her best

I read her two series again and again. The details of life at the time, in particular the nuns' lives, are compelling.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medieval mystery with a victim no-one mourns.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing fabulous, but I like it.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spied this one at the library, so picked it up, not realizing it's the latest in a fairly long series. I liked it well enough, I'm going to start at the beginning

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent addition to this fine series.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great plot but as usual with Frazer's books the technical writing is disappointing.

[evelynn :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

took five chapters to get good. stupid ending ://

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirteenth in the Sister Frevisse medieval mystery series and revolving around a Benedictine nun with a head for puzzles. The story is set in St. Frideswide's nunnery in northern Oxfordshire in the mid-1400s.

My Take
Frazer catches us up on what's happening at St. Frideswide's along with an unexpected expedition…sigh…it's a sad tale and difficult for Frevisse as it goes against what normally feels right. And I'm all for the final decision. It's only fair.

As usual, Frazer delivers a compelling story with characters you love and hate along with a healthy dose of showing us what life was like in the mid-1400s in England from providing food for the table, working with hounds, an insight into arranging marriages, and most importantly, a peek into one small area of law that can have such far-reaching consequences. It certainly makes me appreciate living in our world today.

An interesting look at Hugh's contemplation of his mother's bitterness and the threats she made to Sir Ralph. I don't really see what this particular scene contributed to the story. It's so sad when a parent is so incredibly horrible, and as Frazer says, a waste of a life.

Frazer sprinkles some tidbits about what the other nuns think of Frevisse's detecting.

Such a hot mess of betrayal and support. And such a twist of an ending.

The Story
It's a cruel, hard man who delights in tormenting all around him. So it's without grief that the family regards his murder. You'd be hard put to find anyone who did feel any sadness. Not even the hunting dogs on whom he lavished such care.

Still the darkness doesn't lift from this close family, and it gets darker still with another death and a stalking.

The Characters
Dame Frevisse has embraced the cloistered life and would prefer to never leave again. Yet when she's in the world and confronted by a mystery, it's beyond her ability to resist learning the why. Sister Johane is her companion on this trip, mostly from her experience helping Dame Claire with the healing side of things. Domina Elisabeth is still in charge; Father Henry is still their priest; also Dames Perpetua, Emma, and Juliana; and, Sisters Amicia, Margrett, and Thomasine who is well on her way to sainthood. Malde is the servant in trouble.

The family
Hugh Woderove, a second son, is probably closest to their father, Sir Ralph, but only because Hugh loves the hounds and hunting as much as his father. Master Basing was the houndmaster before he died. Tom is the heir and his father's steward. He's also ready to meet his father yell for yell. Miles is the first grandson and serves as the woodward, hated simply because Sir Ralph hated his son and his wife. Lady Anneys is the rock in all this, coping as best she might. Elyn is the oldest daughter. Lucy is the middle daughter and quite chatty. Ursula is the youngest and staying with the nuns in St. Frideswide. Helinor is the cook while Alson is a kitchen maid. Gib and Duff are servants.

The dogs
Well, they are more important than family, after all. Bane, Brigand, Skyre is not yet trained, Bevis, Sendal, Sudden, Melador, and the pregnant Baude. Degory is the dog boy.

Father Leonel conspires with Tom to aid the villagers. Hary Gefori is the hayward's son. Lucas is the village reeve.

Sir William Trensal is the best Sir Ralph does as a friend; he's interested in hunting as well. He's also one of the executors. He's married to Elyn Woderove, his second wife and two years older than Phillipa, Sir William's daughter, who is intended for Tom. Master John Selenger is Sir William's steward and brother-in-law from his late, first wife.

Master Wyck is Sir Ralph's attorney. Master Hampden is the crowner.

The Cover
The cover is split vertically with the right half a deep, subdued purple with info, the title, the series name, several blurbs, and the author's name. It's the left half that does the pretty with a wooded scene bordering a grassy path on which a horse is grazing and a wolfhound is curious over the man lying in the path.

The title is The Hunter's Tale, for they went a'hunting, and while one doesn't return, the rest have a tale to tell.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading my way through this series in order, this being #13 in the Dame Frevisse Medieval Mysteries, known as Sister Frevisse series on Goodreads.  I love the time period as well as Frevisse's sharp mind and the various situations and crimes in which she becomes involved. The first book in the series, The Novice's Tale, was set in 1431 and The Hunter's Tale is set in 1448, so throughout the series is seen the passing of time in the nunnery, the lives of the sisters, and the history of England.

This one would not be rated as one of my favorites though I still enjoyed the read.  Not enough of a mystery and the bad guys were too evil.

Though Frevisse is a nun, religion is a minor part of these mysteries, with some mention of prayer and the daily offices and an occasional sentence in Latin, followed by a translation.  I certainly wouldn't classify these as religious books.  For a comparison I thought of Jan Karon's Mitford Years series which I enjoyed (the first 4) but were too religious for my taste.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting... can't remember the last time I read a murder mystery based in the middle ages. I wasn't familiar with the series, just picked it up at random, but it was easy to get into without being familiar with the characters etc.

It's been a week or so since I read it so apologies for forgetting names -- overall a nice amount of attention was given to characters, though I think the mom was a bit overdone. I felt like I was being hit over the head with "SHE HAS BEEN HOLDING IN ALL HER EMOTIONS FOR SO SO LONG. THEY ARE SO WRAPPED TIGHT." I would have liked to see a little bit more of her dimension as a character?

I don't think the murder itself is vastly... surprising in who ends up being the killer etc. but it's well composed and, I think, more about getting to know the motivations of the characters rather than "whoa, it was the nun all along!" (I'm joking. It wasn't the nun.)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A standout among the Sister Frevisse mystery novels, this entry in the series leads to an ambiguous outcome in relation to justice--man's and God's--that is somewhat disturbing to Frevisse but may be satisfying to the reader. Fine insight into the possible lifelong effects of an abusive, powerful father upon his wife, children, and the household and workers he controls. Also an interesting look at the machinations of a man without integrity to gain power and the near-helplessness of a woman he targets.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the most memorable of the Dame Frevisse stories, but still worth reading. The inspiration for the book came from the author's desire to show how dogs, especially hunting dogs, fit into the lives of wealthier people. I was confused most of the time trying to follow the multitude of suspects, all of whom hated the victim, and a complicated subplot involving a will. Still, a satisfying read. On to The Widow's Tale in my desire to honor Margaret Frazer's memory by reading all the books in order.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been rather a long time since I read a book from the Frevisse series, and I know for certain had I picked up this book today having never read one previously I would have abandoned it due to boredom. This particular book is very, very slow. Knowing, however, there is just one other book from the Dame Frevisse series I have yet to find I decided to savor the pace since there would be no more coming. I do think I have enjoyed the Joliffe players series more, but Frazer's books are hard to find. This book has interesting family dynamics true to the historical period.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had potential, but Frazer just kept harping on how much everyone hated the murder victim that why would anyone bother trying to figure out the crime? And not that it was particularly surprising who did it in the end. Dame Frevisse didn't really understand why she was involved but then starts investigating the murder anyhow? Not very convincing. Interesting plotting and positioning for power during this feudal time, but it needs a lot of editing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good but depressing. A cruel man, who made his family miserable all his life, is murdered and no one grieves or is concerned with finding out the murderer's identity. In fact, no one wants to know because it must have been one of the family. But even after his death, this man's cruelty continues, abetted by others, through what is in his will. In the end, Dame Frevisse unravels the mystery and the family begins to heal.

[Katie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Frevisse mystery so far. Beautifully done. The characters are vibrant, and I loved them; the atmosphere of the book perfectly matched the plot. Frevisse & Johane's relationship was also really well done. And finally, on a craftsman's level, I liked how Frazer bookended two murders of unredeemably bad people around an accident that took somebody everyone in the book cared deeply for. The contrast was masterful.

[Karlicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good mystery in that I didn't know the killer until the end (though others figured it out a bit quicker). There were some good plot twists and the historical setting seemed well researched and believable. The characters were fleshed out enough. It just wasn't very exciting and doubt it will be memorable a year from now. Not a bad book, but not a great one either. Not sure if it was good enough to make me want to read more of her work.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the darker books of the series. Oddly enough, Dame Frevisse is not the strongest woman in the story, nor does she succeed in bringing the murderer to trial. All is resolved at the end, but less in a storybook way and more the way many families confront their secrets and go on. Frevisse and Sister Johane--I suspect we'll hear more of her--are lucky to have the cloister to go home to.