The Prioress' Tale

Sister Frevisse #7

by Margaret Frazer

DARK CORRUPTION AND THE PENITENCE OF DEATH...

Under the harsh hand of its newly elected prioress, St. Frideswide's has become a place of deadly sin. The corruption has grown subtly and slowly, but it has found fertile soil in the rage and greed of Domina Alys, who has turned the priory into a boarding house for her relatives, the Godfreys. Dame Frevisse is horrified to discover that the modest stores of the priory - desperately needed if the nuns are to survive the coming winter - are being completely consumed by the rapacious Godfrey clan.

But the Godfreys bring with them more immediate Torture. Madness. Kidnapping. Murder. The sanctuary of the cloister has been violated and even the holy rites of the nuns have been ripped apart.

Despite the growing crisis, Frevisse's best efforts to save the nunnery from itself are met with scorn and torment as bitter hatreds and old rivalries turn nun against nun. Suspicion, paranoia, and despair clutch the cloister's heart. If Frevisse cannot unlock the riddles of penitence for her prioress and for herself, then St. Frideswide's may be no more...

NOMINATED FOR THE 1998 EDGAR AWARD

PRAISE FOR THE PRIORESS' TALE

"When this series debuted, its publisher hailed Frazer as the logical successor to Ellis Peters... With a number of strong books already under her belt, Frazer may actually make her publisher's dream come true." - Star Tribune

"Often chastised for her disobedience and made to do penance, Sister Frevisse's curious nature still wins out as she uses logic and her intelligence to sleuth with the best of them." - Rendezvous

"Frazer is writing one of the most consistently excellent historical series in print today." - Murder Ink

"Clearly, the setting is the star here, and Frazer is generous with her details of abbey life." - Publishers Weekly

"Margaret Frazer continues her splendid series of medieval mysteries... She has a sure grasp of the realities of medieval Its careless cruelty, effortless hypocrisy - particularly in matters of religion - and its disregard for women who could wield influence only in the most indirect ways." - MLB News

PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FREVISSE MEDIEVAL MYSTERY SERIES

"A smooth and absorbing saga of conspiracy and treachery in 15th-century England..." - 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

"Exciting writing, colorful characters, and historical accuracy." - St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The setting brims with historical details... A brilliant study of human nature... Ms. Frazer reveals her genius... Highly recommended." - Historical Novels Review

"Mystery... Suspense... Frazer executes with audacity and ingenuity." - Kirkus Reviews

A Romantic Times Top Pick.

Twice nominated for the Minnesota Book Award.
Twice nominated for the Edgar Award.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Crime

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

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

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere along the line by this point in the series, the nuns have all become slightly more like caricatures of themselves - so Sister Thomasine becomes a saint instead of a highly pious, scared girl, and Dame Alys becomes an incompetence tyrant, from a forceful, if efficient, cook. Nevertheless, the tension in this book rumbles along nicely making it a good light read.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventh in the Sister Frevisse medieval mystery series revolving around a group of nuns in a priory near Oxford.

Nominated in 1988 for an Edgar Award for "Best Paperback Original".

My Take
Oh, I've just been dying to find out what's happening in St. Frideswide's now that Dame Alys is the prioress. And she is definitely running true to form. The priory is falling apart, prayer is a nuisance, and the Benedictine rules are falling out the window so fast it looks like snow.

She's talking relatives into entering as nuns and she got her aunt to commit a chunk of money and come to live there. Money that is supposed to be used for her aunt's living expenses for as long as she lives. Instead Alys is spending it fast on luxuries for herself and material enhancements to the priory itself. Some of it is having to be spent on entertaining all the relatives who come to stay. Including her loud mouth cousin who is just like her. More interested in getting what s/he wants and damn the rest.

Most of the novel is Alys whining, bitching, and moaning about what she will have, must have, needs to have and finding all sorts of excuses as to why. She complains about how stupid the other nuns are as well as those few who are too much above themselves. No one is allowed to disagree and she is quick to find fault and punish.

On a side note, I must say it's awfully irritating that the series is named "Sister Frevisse" and yet she's addressed as "Dame" in the book. Why not just name the series "Dame Frevisse"?

Lady Eleanor makes an interesting point about Domina Alys that her heart is in it but not her mind.

The Story
It's a losing battle for Domina Alys. She needs Sir Reynold's support to keep the mason and to ensure that he fulfills the promises he's made her, but he and his men are eating and drinking the stores that should have seen them through the winter and they are increasingly doing wrong. Kidnapping a woman off the streets to force her to marry one of their own. Beating and torturing a mad man they find. And Domina Alys is complicit in that she allows them to continue.

In between, Domina Alys delights in hurting those around her, ensuring that they all understand where they stand in the pecking order.

It's murder that brings it all to a head. I was kinda hoping for a brain tumor...

The Characters
Dame Frevisse is currently serving the role as hosteler. She is an intelligent woman who does not brook fools gladly. A sin of which she is heartily aware and for which she keeps doing penance. Dame Claire is just as intelligent but with a more humane outlook; I suspect her absorption in herbs and healing probably helps.

Sister Thomasine is the saint in the group and, as we learn, extremely observant. I wouldn't be too surprised if she ended up as prioress one day. Dame Perpetua is another of Frevisse's allies although her time is taken up with teaching Lady Adela and disciplining the novices. Of which there are none at the moment. Lady Adela is a ten- or eleven-year-old living at the priory (see The Boy's Tale ). She has a malformed hip and it is doubted that her father will bother with trying to find her a husband. Domina Alys' hope is that she will enter as a nun and they'll get her dowry. Frevisse and Claire are praying not.

Sister Emma and Sister Amicia are squealers with most of the sisters loving the relaxation of the rules and too inclined toward the worldly. Dame Juliana is cellarer and worried about replenishing the stores. Sister Johane and Sister Cecely are Godfreys. Relatives of Domina Alys, the too, too intimidating nun who lucked into the prioress role simply because she intimidated everyone else. Katerin is the dim-witted servant girl whom Alys has taken for her own personal servant. Father Henry is the slow, but honest priory priest.

Ela is the head of the guesthall servants. Master Robert Naylor has been the priory's steward for years. A good one, but he's had enough of Domina Alys.

Master Porter is the hapless stone mason who is very angry over not being paid for the work he's doing to build the bell tower Domina Alys just had to have. Edmund Harman is a clerk to Joice's uncle.

Lady Eleanor Godfrey is Alys' aunt and has retired to live in the priory after donating a corrody, a set sum of money intended to keep a lady in comfort for the rest of her life. Margrete is her very long-term maid. Sir Hugh is her son and Reynold's second-in-command.

Sir Reynold Godfrey is another of Domina Alys' cousins and has taken up residence at the priory, eating them out of house and home. For all that he promises to replenish it. Because they can't leave a single stone unturned, they've kidnapped a young woman whom Benet Godfrey had met in London earlier. Joice Southgate is the daughter of a wealthy draper and has a large dowry. She is however about to be betrothed to Sir Lewis Fenner. A dowry that Reynold would prefer to see in Godfrey hands.

Joliffe makes an appearance; last time he showed was in The Servant's Tale . It seems that the players have disbanded and he's footloose and fancyfree. I'll bet Joliffe is still working for the bishop, however.

Abbot Gilberd leads St. Bartholomew's Abbey in Northampton to which St. Frideswide's looks as its daughter house. His interference would heavily displease Alys.

The Cover
It's another of the new covers. This one has a colonial blue background with a squared inset framed by heavy carving at the top corners and lesser carving at the top center and bottom corners. The scene within is of two buildings---I'm guessing it's meant to be priory buildings. The one on the left is a two-story stone building with lovely Gothic windows while the other has a thatched roof which covers an exterior, pillared walkway.

In front of the building, a nun is talking to a hooded man mounted on a horse while a third person in secular dress is peeking out of an upstairs window.

Oh, it's definitely The Prioress' Tale. My suspicion is that she'll be out on her ear or demoted by the next book! Hee-hee.

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book; it is a good portrayal of life in a convent in the medieval period. The characters were believable...found myself wanting to slap more than one of them! As a murder mystery, however, it is a little lacking. The murder occurred late in the book and things moved very quickly after that. I would have preferred it if Frazer had devoted more time to solving the mystery. The ending felt a little forced. All in all, it was a good read and I will be looking for more in this series.

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an unexpected turn of events, Sister Alys is now Domina Alys, having been elected as the new prioress of St. Frideswide. A harridan, the kitchen staff had lived in terror of Alys when she was the cellarer. With her new found power, the rest of St. Frideside’s inhabitants fall victim to her intractable temper. And Dame Frevisse is a particular target of the prioress’ wrath. She wants St. Frideswide to become a wealthy priory. Domina Alys does love St. Frideswide, but that love expresses itself in worldly forms—a tower, a fountain ,etc. But such things need money. Alys has a plan to obtain these funds by allowing her relatives, the Godfreys, to stay at St. Frideswide’s. An aunt, Lady Eleanor, have given a corrody (sort of like an annuity)) to live in the priory. But that’s not enough money so she has another relative, Sir Reynold and his men use the guest hostelry—but their stay is indefinite and it soon becomes apparent that they are eating up the priory’s reserves of food and other necessities.
3.5⭐️

Sir Reynold and his men then brings further trouble when they kidnap a young woman with the intent to force her to marry one of their own, Benett. The woman is the daughter of a wealthy merchant and is intended to marry a member of the Fenner family. The Godfreys and the Fenners are like the Hatfields and McCoys, fighting over various properties. Members of the Fenner clan have appeared in other books of the series, and with one exception they are not an admirable lot. If anything, the Godfreys are even worse—with the exception of Bent. But Domina Alys puts her foot down and won’t allow the girl to be forced into marriage. She eventually is outraged to discover that Sir Reynold, Lady Eleanor, and the latter’s son have plans to provoke an open war with the Fenners. When someone is murdered, Frevisse steps in to solve the mystery and fighting is averted when the abbot and Sir Walter Fenner ride to the rescue. Frevisse has the help of Joliffe the player—he just doesn’t happen to turn up but is working as a spy for Sir Walter Fenner. (The Joliffe and the Frevisse series overlap somewhat, although the Joliffe series ended a year before the current volume opens, but some of the details are inconsistent. In the last Joliffe book he was was a spy for Bishop Beaufort. Here, he says the acting troupe disbanded a while ago, but there is no mention of Beaufort. So it is inconsistent to believe that he suddenly became a freelance spy.). However, the book is pretty well done with interesting characters. From her author’s notes, it is clear that she wished to dispel the idea that England was a land in chaos and lawlessness during this time. Rather, the behavior of the Godfreys was an anomaly which would not be countenanced by those in authority.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joliffe returns! I liked this one even though it was super slow.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

No romantic picture of medieval priory life, this mystery novel is peopled with Sisters one can like--or not. Even the protagonist isn't totally sympathetic. But the mystery presents an engaging puzzle, complete with kidnapping, murder, betrayal, and greed. So what else is new in mysteries? The Medieval priory background is well done and totally believable.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favorite in the Sister Frevisse series, this entry tells of what happens when Dame Alys is allowed to run St. Frideswide's. Chaos and murder ensue. This is a great series.

[Linda Finlayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this series every few years. It is just the right combination of piety, historical accuracy, and mystery.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prioress’ Tale
Dame Frevisse #7
By Margaret Frazer
Reviewed February 23, 2024


When I started reading this book the other day, I didn’t realize right away that I had read it once before, and thanks to Goodreads I was able to refresh myself as to when that first reading was (2015) and what I thought of it (I liked it). Back then, I wrote, “This introduction to the Dame Frevisse series has made me eager to delve further into this series,” but it took several more years before I could make good on doing that. Back then, my interest in 15th century England hadn’t exploded into the full-blown fascination that it is today, so a re-read was definitely in order, especially as I’ve come to know and love so many of the characters from both the Dame Frevisse series and the Joliffe series.

Speaking of Joliffe (my favorite traveling player-turned-spy), although originally written in 1997, this book chronologically follows A Play of Heresy, which was written in 2011 – more than 10 years later. Although the author has tried to tie things together when it comes to Joliffe, who has a prominent role in this story, there are a few minor inconsistencies but nothing that was too glaring or distracting.

Domina Alys, the domineering, bullying prioress of St. Frideswide’s, is one of those characters you love to hate. She may at heart love St. Frideswide’s, but it is a malignant, narcissistic kind of love that blinds her to what it truly means to serve God and her Church. Instead, she is more interested in worldly prestige and building up the nunnery into a place to rival Coventry and other places of pilgrimage, and to do this, she has allowed members of her extended family, the Godfreys, to take up residence at the convent and turns a blind eye when they run amok.

Matters become worse when Sir Reynold and members of his entourage return from what has been nothing less than a raiding party, bringing with them a young girl, Joice, who he intends on forcing to marry a family member, Benet (the only halfway decent person in this lot of scoundrels) and is willing to make it a marriage by rape if the girl doesn’t agree. You see, she’s not just some lowly peasant, but the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and marrying her would bring an influx of money and land into the Godfrey clan.

Petty vengeance, corruption, and eventually death all rear their ugly heads at St. Frideswide’s, with Domina Alys slowly losing her grip on things and taking out her anger and frustration on the nuns, especially Dame Frevisse. Things come to a head when Joice’s uncle and the bishop both arrive at the priory to find out just what is going on…and why.

-0-0-0-

Original review, posted August 3, 2016

As much as I enjoy medieval mysteries, I've never read any by Margaret Frazer, so this book served as an introduction to her books, and I have to say that I was quite pleased.

The newly elected prioress of St. Fridewide's -- Dame Alys -- is about as vain a woman as can be found. She runs her priory with the proverbial iron fist, with little thought given to Christian charity. Then some of her relatives show up and are given carte blanche, eating the nuns out of house and home, and running roughshod over the locals. All this leads up to abduction, murder, and the violation of the holy foundation. It is up to one of the sisters, Dame Frevisse, to help solve the mysteries, all while on the bad side of Dame Alys for daring to question the prioress's actions.

This introduction to the Dame Frevisse series has made me eager to delve further into this series.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was as chaotic and disheartening as Domina Alys' rule. I really hated the parts told from her POV. Very grating personality which comes through very well in Frazer's writing.

I was annoyed at one point with Dame Claire. She was arguing with Frevisse about Alys and how Frevisse only focuses on the negatives. Her point is valid, but Claire was also being stubborn regarding the motivation behind Alys' faults. Being willfully ignorant is no better than Frevisse's stubbornness.

This particular entry was barely a four star rating. I was glad to see Sister Thomasine had a larger part to play in this story which is the main reason I rounded up the rating. I know she annoys Frevisse at times and I even understand why, but I really like her character. And there is definitely more than meets the eye to Thomasine, as Frevisse is continually finding out.

I was really hoping Domina Alys would be gone by the end. The only plus. I can't imagine she'll be around long enough to spoil the next book.

I did like the mystery as well. A lot of red herrings which throw the reader off the scent of the real killer. And I think I was as shocked as Frevisse when finding out Lady Eleanor's true colors. Frazer did a wonderful job in weaving the plot to a satisfactory conclusion.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure when I read my first historical mystery, likely it was a Brother Cadfael, but I became enamored of them upon finding them. I was glad to find this series. I read book one, have been looking for others, but only found this one, book 7. Leapt ahead in the timeline, plenty has happened and I might need to go back to the beginning to find out what the heck occurred.
I liked the Prioress in the first book, but she's passed on and a new one is in her place and definitely unlikeable. It reinforced my thoughts on organized religion. Just because you are religious, does not make you spiritual and a good person. Power corrupts and using that power in the name of religion/God, well....
This is a really good mystery, with a lot of intricacy. It's a short book, but the intricacy makes it feel more full and a longer read.
For all that this is only 256 pages, it took well over a month for me to finish it. It's a paperback and those tend to be my back patio or mid shift books. I worked a few mids in January, had finished one book and started this one towards the last mid shift. Then it snowed a lot this year, so no real back patio time. I started reading down in the mancave when the timing fit and that allowed me more reading time.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prioress’ Tale by Margaret Frazer is the seventh book in the Sister Frevisse Series.

"Within the graceful prose rhythms that have garnered her two Edgar nominations, Frazer's tale of 15th-century nun Dame Frevisse transports the reader to a medieval England made vivid and a world of emotions as familiar then as now." -Publisher's Weekly.

Dame Frevisse continues to suffer under the reign of Domina Alys as prioress of St. Frideswide’s. The prioress clearly has it in for her (and Dame Claire) as the priory is severely miss managed and overrun with the freeloading Abbott clan (Domina Alys’ kin). Sir Reynold and his men are nothing but trouble where Domina Alys still hopes they are the solution to all her problems.

Poor Frevisse. Her faith is tested once more. Chaos and murder within the walls of St. Frideswide’s. Loved it! These books are so well written and entertaining they read like candy.

Themes: Oxfordshire, 1439, the feud between the Abbott and Fenner clan, an abducted girl, Jolyffe is back! a madman.

5 Stars

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Frevisse is not her prioress’s favourite sister and when sister Frevisse. Confesses to s minor fault in chapter she is whipped, ordered to fast and submit to further punishment after every office by her fellow nuns and relieved of her duties as hospitaller. The prioress’s relatives have been to visit and eaten nearly everything in the stores anyway and still been allowed to stay at further cost to the house. Then Sir Reynald returns form a days hunting with a young woman betrothed to the family’s enemy. A few days later he returns with stores of food for the house but it turns out all has been stolen, and one of his men has been killed after killing a villager. That evening Sir Reynald is found dead in the cloister. Sister Frevisse is able to suss out the murderer just as the Abbot shows up to assess the activities of the house. Good read, especially for readers of Brother Cadfeal.

[Adelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

А в цій книзі серії відбулися вибори! І почалася чортівня, у якій уже не дуже важливо, хто саме вбивця і вбитий. Чортівня почалася цілком світська, бо якимось чином несподівано обрана дама Аліс має величезні плани (включно з фонтаном), але бюджет не витримує ані грандіозних задумів, ані купи родичів новоспеченої абатиси, які раді скористатися статусом Аліс і всіляко побешкетувати. Далі будуть розборки між ворогуючими кланами, але мені більше до душі припали роздуми черниць, чи вистачить у них припасів на зиму і взагалі як молитися у такому гармидері.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just reading of Sister Frevisse's life bring calm to mine, though there is little calm in hers. Everyone has a secret and those of several within and visiting the convent create the double mystery and death in this book. Glad to have traveling player Joliffe show up, adding both insight and a touch of humor to the anger and sadness in the priory. Interested wrap-up that makes me want to read the next for the unanswered questions about the convent, itself and Sister Frevisse.

[Harriet Lindblom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The continuing series of .mysteries and murders that take place in medieval times at St. Frideswides Nunnery in England, featuring the indomitable nun with an inquiring mind, Dame Frevisse. These are all beautifully written with carefully constructed mysteries and colorful characters. They explore the universal mysteries of the human heart.
This story is on the dark side of human nature, but mixed with hope. Hard to pick a favorite, but this is one of the best in the series.

[Carol Flatten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sister Frevisse mystery delved more deeply into the characters of the priory and the visitors who were involved in the story. Once again, she wrote so very well that I was not able to pick out the murderer. I will be waiting anxiously for the next book to see what happened to Domina Alys and all the other sisters.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Need to know what happened after Dame Alys became Domina Alys!

***

I'm a bit disappointed, for several reasons. The mystery is barely even there. The lapse in time from the last book makes this one the culmination of a lot of events we aren't witness to, which makes it feel rushed. the characterization of Alys isn't as strong as I was hoping, though there are glimpses.

Everything felt a bit rushed and scattered in the second half, though the first half was good.

[Nancy G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story and I found it compelling, but I was left without some important aspects of closure. I read the next book to get that closure and it was glossed over without detail which I found disappointing.

[Sienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

light & fun

[Aylin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book last year, Loved it!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful author. Rich atmosphere, wonderful characters, interesting plot. Such a gift Fromm such a talented author.

[Donna Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun summer read

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot and an engaging story. Unfortunately, there is the usual poor writing full of typos and missing words and one case of the wrong character name.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another volume in an excellent series. This one contains some shocking details of life in a convent.

[SBC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite reads in the Dame Frevisse series. I really enjoyed the nunnery setting and it was interesting to read about life from the perspective of Domina Alys, a character who had been presented previously as choleric, obnoxious, and vain. I enjoyed the way her voice rang so true in her narration, how she perceived things, the challenges she faced (which showed she wasn't all bad), and the final epiphany she has about the danger inherent in her (and her family's) way of perceiving the world.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prioress’ Tale
Dame Frevisse #7
By Margaret Frazer
Reviewed February 23, 2024


When I started reading this book the other day, I didn’t realize right away that I had read it once before, and thanks to Goodreads I was able to refresh myself as to when that first reading was (2015) and what I thought of it (I liked it). Back then, I wrote, “This introduction to the Dame Frevisse series has made me eager to delve further into this series,” but it took several more years before I could make good on doing that. Back then, my interest in 15th century England hadn’t exploded into the full-blown fascination that it is today, so a re-read was definitely in order, especially as I’ve come to know and love so many of the characters from both the Dame Frevisse series and the Joliffe series.

And speaking of Joliffe (my favorite traveling player-turned-spy) although originally written in 1997, this book chronologically follows A Play of Heresy, which was written in 2011 – more than 10 years later. Although the author has tried to tie things together when it comes to Joliffe, who has a prominent role in this story, there are a few minor inconsistencies but nothing that was too glaring or distracting.

Domina Alys, the domineering, bullying prioress of St. Frideswide’s, is one of those characters you love to hate. She may at heart love St. Frideswide’s, but it is a malignant, narcissistic kind of love that blinds her to what it truly means to serve God and her Church. Instead, she is more interested in worldly prestige and building up the nunnery into a place to rival Coventry and other places of pilgrimage, and to do this, she has allowed members of her extended family, the Godfreys, to take up residence at the convent and turns a blind eye when they run amok.

Matters become worse when Sir Reynold and members of his entourage return from what has been nothing less than a raiding party, bringing with them a young girl, Joice, who he intends on forcing to marry a family member, Benet (the only halfway decent person in this lot of scoundrels) and is willing to make it a marriage by rape if the girl doesn’t agree. You see, she’s not just some lowly peasant, but the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and marrying her would bring an influx of money and land into the Godfrey clan.

Petty vengeance, corruption, and eventually death all rear their ugly heads at St. Frideswide’s, with Domina Alys slowly losing her grip on things and taking out her anger and frustration on the nuns, especially Dame Frevisse. Things come to a head when Joice’s uncle and the bishop both arrive at the priory to find out just what is going on…and why.

-0-0-0-

Original review, posted August 3, 2016

As much as I enjoy medieval mysteries, I've never read any by Margaret Frazer, so this book served as an introduction to her books and I have to say that I was quite pleased.

The newly elected prioress of St. Fridewide's -- Dame Alys -- is about as vain a woman as can be found. She runs her priory with the proverbial iron fist, with little thought given to Christian charity. Then some of her relatives show up and are given carte blanche, eating the nuns out of house and home, and running roughshod over the locals. All this leads up to abduction, murder, and the violation of the holy foundation. It is up to one of the sisters, Dame Frevisse, to help solve the mysteries, all while on the bad side of Dame Alys for daring to question the prioress's actions.

This introduction to the Dame Frevisse series has made me eager to delve further into this series.

[Jill Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The forward-thinking leadership of Domina Edith has passed away from the medieval Priory of St. Frideswide's, and their new leader--Domina Alys--is an altogether different kettle of fish. Domineering and skilled at tormenting, Domina Alys holds a special dislike of Dame Frevisse, the heroine of Margaret Frazer's masterful series. But then, Domina Alys has always despised any of the nuns with intelligence, gifts, or talents beyond hers and that includes all of them. It is 1439, and Alys has set about building St. Frideswide's into the type of priory she thinks it ought to be--one with a bell tower, finer food, and a showy face to present to the greater world. She enlists the help of Reynold Godfrey (her cousin) and all the Godfrey clan, but they begin inauspiciously with the kidnap of a local girl and by alienating and driving away Master Naylor, the Priory's long-standing and most excellent steward. Food and other stores are being depleted at an alarming rate, the Godfreys are constantly battling anyone at hand including the stonemasons building the bell tower, and rivalries with other families are brought to the Priory's doors. Reynold promises his cousin that he'll bring the materials, food, and wealth his cousin demands; but the unknowing Domina Alys doesn't question his methods. Mayhem--and finally murder--ensues. Frevisse errs and is painfully punished, yet it is up to her to solve the mysteries of the kidnapping and murder and to oust her Prioress' miserable family. Fortunately, the player Joliffe, Dame Frevisse's old friend now temporarily a wandering minstrel, turns up and does a bit of sleuthing of his own. Can the mysteries be solved, and, more critically, can they be solved before St. Frideswide's reputation and existence are destroyed? Frevisse and Joliffe evade Domina Alys's wrath to do their best to resolve The Prioress' Tale.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Frazer in The Prioress' Tale creates an interesting slice of medieval of life at the 15th century priory of St. Frideswide. The characters are ones you will want to meet again in other books.
Domina Alys is single minded, mean spirited and petty in her vision of an improved priory. Those who do not join forces with her are her enemies, chief among them is protagonist, Sister Frevisse an intelligent and likable nun who is much worried about the downward direction the priory is taking. She rightly believes that nothing is as it seems to be.

The mystery itself almost seems secondary to the story of the characters and the priory. Frazer slowly builds to the mystery. In fact, the murder does not occur until late in the book. There are other secrets to be revealed besides "whodunit".

This is a good quick read and I am looking forward to reading other Margaret Frazer books in the Sister Frevisse series.

[Brenda Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Frazer's Sister Frevisse mystery series is a treat to read. She has done her research about life in the 1400's in an English nunnery. Sister Frevisse, a nun at St. Friedeswilde priory, notices everything and understands people's weaknesses and strengths. When the head of the nunnery, Domina Ayles extends shelter and food to her cousin and his men, trouble brews which leads to murder. Sister Frevisse must try to solve this crime in order to save innocent people and her own priory.
Margaret Frazer's writing style helps evokes the feeling of what life might have been like so many hundreds of years ago. If you can, read this series in order to see the evolution of the characters who live in and around St. Friedeswilde.