The Troubadour's Tale

Oxford Medieval Mysteries #5

by Ann Swinfen

When Nicholas Elyot and his friends set out to spend the Christmas season in the country, they are prepared for a hard journey in winter weather. They are also wary of violence on the road, for these are troubled times after the Great Pestilence, when bands of dispossessed and desperate men roam the countryside of England. It is not surprising, therefore, when the troubadours hired to provide entertainment at Leighton Manor are attacked in Wychwood. Yet why should this insignificant group draw the attention of outlaws, who are searching for something? Is one of the troubadours not quite what he seems?

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

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2018

About the author

Ann Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She read Classics and Mathematics at Oxford, where she married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for an MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer.

She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.

Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.

She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.

Reviews

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oxford Mysteries by Ann Swinfen and featuring bookseller Nicholas Elyot is fast becoming one of my favorite series and a go to for a feel good moment. The latest, number 5, The Troubadour's Tale, definitely reinforces this. These books are set in the 14th century in Oxford and we get a look at what life was like at that time.

Nicholas lost his wife during the Great Pestilence and is raising his children with the help of his sister Margaret. In this book, Nicholas is returning to his childhood home to be with his Mother for Christmas. Swinfen, highlights many of the traditions found at that time which I find intriguing.

There is excitement to go around, but I love these books because in many ways Nicholas seems like such an ordinary guy.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to each book in this series of Oxford book seller "Master Elyot" and his family. This one presents a very arduous and brave journey through the snow to the manor where his mother resides in the home of his cousin for the Christmas celebrations. Without the armed escort, Nicholas and his family could have been slaughtered by murdering rogues and are later threatened repeatedly by the presence of French mercenaries on a mission. The customs in food, song and dance are portrayed with careful historical accuracy. A great deal happens on this holiday trip and the family is happy as they approach Oxford: "The sun, which had been somewhat reluctant all day, lurking behind a veil of cloud, suddenly broke through, spreading a misty golden light over the scene before us...All the spires and crenellations of Oxford gleamed and sparkled, frosted over with glittering snow, so that the whole town seemed dreamlike, a jewelled casket, an unimaginable paradise."

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. The only problem with Ann Swinfen’s historical novels is that they end! I will miss Nicholas Elyot very much, and look forward to his next adventure. This was one of the best, with her usual glorious descriptions of weather and landscape, and a wonderful depiction of what a Medieval English Christmas must have been like. The characters of Emma, Jordain, Margaret, and Alysoun continue to be endearing, and other members of the cast, such as Peter Winchingham, the Black Prince and the troubadours, among many others, were intriguing and fun. I always learn so much from Ann Swinfen, this time the text of the medieval lyric, Lullay, myn lykyng...When I watched a video on YouTube of it being performed by a boys’ and men’s choir (couldn’t find details of who performed it or where or when), it was so familiar. I must have it on a CD somewhere. I also miss Kit Alvarez from The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez, another favorite historical fiction series. Now on to other novels by this author. I highly recommend Ann Swinfen’s blog.

[Dorothea Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The troubadour’s Tale is a great read! Swinfen never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge of the period! I especially enjoyed the musical instruments that were mentioned and used in the novel.
The story was filled with intrigue. I really enjoyed reading more about the Black Prince.
I’ve read these novels in quick succession and she manages to surprise me with her plot twists!
Anne Swinfen please keep writing them!

[Ivor Armistead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a piece of historical mystery fiction where the history outshines the mystery, but that’s just fine. Ann Swinfen paints a vivid and enchanting picture of 14th century Christmas time in rural England. From the arduous journey from Oxford to the Elyot family farm to the gathering of greens in the forest to the church services to the celebratory feasts, we are immersed in charming tableau of life six centuries ago.

In my review of the prior Oxford Medieval Mystery, “The Huntsman’s Tale,” I said that I preferred Nicholas Elyot’s Oxford persona over his rural self, but that may have been my own prejudice for bookshops over barns. In “The Troubadour’s Tale,” Nicholas, his family and friends are well placed. Thank you again Ms Swinfen.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining tale of Christmastime in 14th century England. Although I did wonder at the wisdom of all those people traveling just to see the mother, I suppose it was not unusual for the time period. The author has created some memorable characters in her historical fiction, and I look forward to the next one.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series quite a bit. I would probably give them a 4.5 actually.
I am looking forward to finishing the series with one further book. Fast moving action with good insight into the characters and a fun look into the time period in Oxford and around the countryside in 14th century England.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are my go to books for bedtime reading. I love the slower pace and really enjoy the books. So sad to only have one more to go.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have greatly enjoyed all the Oxford Medieval Mysteries and this one is no exception. The author's fine afterward discusses the "little ice age" which could have been having an effect on winter travel and other historical facts of that period.

Nicholas and his family, as well as his friend Jordain and Emma and her aunt and cousins are invited to Peter Winchingham's manor in Leighton for the Christmas season. Nicholas and Margaret's mother had been too frail to travel to them in Oxford with the harsh weather they are having so they agree.

Despite extensive preparations the trip is fraught with peril from both the elements and outlaws. Deputy sheriff Cedric Walden had offered to travel with Nicholas' group for safety, which ended up saving their lives. The whole trip was fraught with peril, as the French Troubadours invited to Leighton Manor were also attacked, and that sets the stage for most of their visit.

The ending is unique with Nicholas and the Black Prince again fighting together against treasonous mercenaries. All ends well and made for a delightful read.

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas 1353, Nicholas Elyot and his family travel from Oxford to his old family farm of Leighton to enjoy the seasonal festival with his cousin (who now runs the farm) and his mother. The weather is dire with snow drifts, blizzards and rumours of vagabonds on the road.

Travelling with a group of soldiers, the family are able to survive an ambush and are grateful to arrive, frozen but relatively unscathed. A group of troubadours have been engaged to entertain the family and guests at the Manor House throughout the twelve days of Christmas but they have also been attacked. This seems to have been a targeted incident rather than a random one and Nicholas begins to see some holes in the tale they tell of what happened to them.

When there's an attack in the village more people are drawn into the mystery and Nicholas once again shows his mettle as his inquiring mind takes him down a road that leads to conflict. Fortunately, he still has some influential friends beyond the borders of Oxfordshire.

I have so enjoyed this series of books and have savoured each one – one more to go. The time line is consistent and each of the novels follows fast on the heels of the previous one. I am willing Nicholas and Emma to get together whcih would bring them both happiness as well as his sister Margaret and his children, Alysoun and Rafe.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical novel

I have to say, Ann Swinfen is a favorite of mine. I anxiously await her next offering. This series, in particular, is well researched and written as if you are there.
The 14th century setting in England is a turbulent time. The characters are well described and the dialogue is apropos to the era. The plot takes us on a Christmas time holiday from the main character, Nicolas's, hometown Oxford to the country to spend the holiday with family and friends. As always, there is adventure and a mystery to be solved, this time involving traveling troubadours.
The story is rich in traditions of the time, including the food and religious rites if the season. The danger of travel is brought to light. The hardships of daily life mixed with religion and politics is well documented. Swinfen does a creditable job in her writing while keeping you riveted on the main plot. Hard to put down.
Absolutely recommend to readers of historical novels. The series is outstanding!

[Hart_D (ajibooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. This book is about Nicholas and his family and friends traveling to spend Christmas with his family in the countryside. Of course Nicholas gets himself involved in other people's problems again, this time as a result of his friendship with Peter Winchingham, the merchant he met in book four. Peter's daughter has hired troubadours who are secretly spies.

I'm not a student of history, just a reader of historical fiction, but I do like games. These troubadours have a lot in common with bards from RPGs, which is pretty great.

Nicholas's relationship with Emma moves forward a bit, and they kiss for the first time, but he still isn't sure if he should be with her. She definitely seems to be part of Nicholas's family here.

There is a surprise at the climax of the story, which I didn't see coming at all. I don't even want to hint at it, but it made me laugh out loud.

Overall this is quite a cozy installment of the series, with a lot of nice domestic details. I look forward to the next book.

[Marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always enjoy Swinfen’s descriptive powers and her knowledge of the era, but this novel suffers from too much of a good thing. The plot is often buried beneath a surfeit of descriptive passages and redundant action (how many times do members of the family bundle up and head for the manor house, the farm, the village?). The phrase ���You’ve got the right of that” is used repetitively and is not supported by other colloquialisms of the time that might have added some variety to the dialogue. The plot is thin and unevenly developed; there is too little attention paid to keeping the reader curious and engaged other than oft repeated musings over the contents of “the letter.” The plot resolution is delivered in a rushed “data dump” near the end for which the reader has been left unprepared. The family is still charming, the Christmas customs interesting, the hardships illuminating, and the forays into Latin and Middle English enjoyable. I’ll still read the next book, but this one is pretty weak and needs some editing.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, love, love this series. And this book was no disappointment. Winter 1353 is very cold and snowy in Oxford and the environs, so Nicholas Elyot's mother is unable to come and spend Christmas with his family and friends. So instead they set out for his cousin Edmond's farm, where Nicholas and his sister Margaret grew up. Their journey is beset by dangers, but they real mystery begins later, at the manor closest to the farm. A new owner is settling in, and has invited a group of troubadours to the manor to entertain during the festive season. But danger and mystery follows in their wake . . . . Wonderfully atmospheric. The reader vicariously experiences the dangers and joys inherent in 14th-century life. Excellent. Highly recommended — but start with the first book in the series.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many TV series have a 'Christmas episode' where the characters celebrate the season and interact in soap-operatically interesting ways but with an overall heartwarming seasonal vibe. This book is essentially "Oxford Medieval Mysteries - the Christmas Episode'. While there is a mystery and some occasional flashes of action, most of the book was taken up with the difficulties and dangers of travelling to be with the relatives of Christmas (medieval Little Ice Age edition with a lot of snow) plus a lot of detail about how Advent, Christmas and Epiphany were celebrated in the 14th C. I found it as fascinating and interesting as the rest of the series despite the relative lack of 'action', but it would have been a better read in December rather than in February.

[Gary Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth of Ann Swinfen's Oxford medieval mysteries. A lovely, exceptionally well researched book. Carefully crafted. Set in the mid-1300's in Oxford England and surrounding areas. The time is the Christmas season. The main character Nicholas Elyot is a widow who lost his wife in the great plague a few years ago, leaving him with two small children. This mystery revolves around a small group of Troubadour's attacked on the way to a manor where they were to preform during the Christmas celebrations. More I will not tell, lest I ruin the plot and other wonderful things. I highly recommend the entire series. It is important to start at the first book since both the story and characters evolve and grow in each one.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read about life in the 14th century, following the Black Death. This story takes place at Christmas and Nicholas Elyot takes his family and friends back to Leighton as his mother is too frail to make the trip to Oxford. Ms Swinfen does an excellent job of describing the mundane tasks of medieval daily life, such as preparing food, cleaning house, medicine and travel, as well as showing us the social mores of the time. I love her level of detail. In this book she describes the harrowing ordeal of taking a trip during the winter (although I've heard horror stories about the M-1). Altogether another good mystery with emphasis on social history and the progression of various love interests throughout the series. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

Although I found the beginning a bit slow going - it may have been my mood rather than the writing - I was soon immersed in the worlds of Nicholas and his family and friends. The contrasting settings of city and countryside, servants and The Black Prince, manor houses and modest cottages, are interwoven naturally, with fascinating insights into music and theology, political intrigue and family life - and a developing romance between two people whose pasts make them wary. And Oxford! Oxford, with its gleaming spires and street level commerce. I hope the next in this series isn’t too far away!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Elyot story is set at the family farm during the Christmas season. The historical detail and subplots add to an already intriguing story, especially how historical customs are introduced. While some friends are absent from this story, other characters are further developed.
Threats from France to Edward, the Black Prince land in Nicholas’ lap but not before a harrowing trip from Oxford to the family farm. Dealt with from the Sheriff’s men in escort, the family and friends arrive. Marauding, spies, kingdom rivalries, abound amongst friends and budding lovers in this fifth Nicholas Elyot tale. Looking forward to more in this series.

[Argum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our new friend Peter has purchased Leighton manor and comes to Oxford bearing greetings from the family. Nicholas and company set off for Christmas on the family farm. After a harrowing journey that has great detail about duty of hospitality and outlaws, a great look at Christmas traditions is provided. Troubadours are expected much to the delight of Nicholas's latest book order. But things are not all smooth when the troupe is attacked in the manor yard. Clearly it was not regular bandits when they try again to gain entry to the house. Treason may be afoot. Loved seeing a country Christmas here.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this medieval series featuring Nicholas Elyot, Oxford bookseller, and his family and friends. In this adventure, Nicholas and family are off to the countryside to Leighton Manor for Christmas, since his and his sister Margaret's mother is too ill to make the journey in to Oxford in the harsh winter weather. Filled with intricate details of 14th century England after the plague, the author has an uncanny ability to place you right in the middle of the time and place and features a merry cast of recurring characters as well as interesting new ones.

The series is also brilliantly narrated by Philip Battley.

[Raymond Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story set in the 1350’s at Christmastide in a winter snow setting. I cannot express enough how much I have enjoyed this Oxford medieval historical crime series.

Nicholas Elyot gets into a couple of scrapes once again with some unfriendly characters but also has some pleasant Christmas experiences in his home village of Leighton. There’s some warm contact with Emma who is also included in the visit to Nicholas’s family reunion at this special time of the year and some unusual goings on with the troubadours that have been asked to perform over Christmas at Leighton manor by its new owner Peter Winchingham.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read if predictable in that it covers familiar ground both in the setting and the plot. Nicholas Elyot and his family journey to his cousins farm and meet with the new lord of the manner who we encountered in the last book. Troubadours have travelled to the manor to perform over the Christmas period but are set upon in the manor grounds. Plotting, infiltrators and traitors are all uncovered. Nicholas is drawing closer to Emma but with the pair ever become a married couple. We'll see what the last book, before the author's untimely death, has to unveil.

A tale worth 3 stars as I'm on the mean side.

[Hebby Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I love all of Ms. Swinfen's books, this was probably my least favorite of the Oxford Medieval Mysteries, as I felt most of the real action to do with the mystery surrounding the Troubadours took place offline in the book. As far as a touching account of a medieval, county Christmas, however, it was awesome. As always, Ms. Swinfen's grasp and use of historical details makes for such easy and enjoyable reading. You feel as if you're transported back 700 years, which is quite an accomplishment.

[Alissa McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve now listened to the entire series and I’m looking with great anticipation for book 6. The writing has gotten better with each tale and I'm still enchanted with learning more details about life in medieval England. Philip Battley's narration makes it that much more fascinating with a voice like pure honey; his voice has that same silky baritone as Kenneth Branagh's. As an aside, if you've not listened to Audible's "Heart of Darkness" narrated by Sir Kenneth, you have missed a singular delight.

[Erich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb Historical

As the 5th tale in the series, it seems as though the author cannot fail at her craft. The characters are so endearing, so lifelike, that one cannot hope not to be immersed from the beginning. You root for everyone from the lowliest servant to the highest lord.

The historical accuracy is incredible and where departures are necessary for the sake of the story, even those asides are presented in such a way that unless you're a scholar of the era, you will not notice the deviations.

First Class writing.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful Book

This one was very good. I so appreciate the scholarship of Ms. Swinger though I do not alwAys understand the politics of the era myself! The characters in this book are fully rendered and compelling and the circumstances and settings are fully developed...if only I could write as well as she does, after the next and last tale in this series I would continue it myself! I am so sad to see it end and will savor book 6 with both joy and sadneds. Read this series. It is absolutely wonderful.

[Kivrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one because it was set at Christmas, and the description of the holidays was wonderful. It was fascinating to read about the traditions and as always, I felt like I was part of the family.

As usual, our hero manages to get himself mixed up in some dangerous political intrigue but triumphs in the end. And progress is made on the romantic front as well...not a lot, but some.

[Alicia Marsland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accurate background enhances Christmas mystery

Too few people know these days about the combined rigors visited on Europe (especially in the north) by the plague and the Little Ice Age. Yet this story shows people still loving, enjoying life and worshiping as they had before, even while facing new changes to come. Gorgeous description of The celebrations of Christmas at that time, minus the Christmas tree, a later development.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of Nicholas and family along with friends traveling to the family farm for Christmas. The manor is now owned by Peter Winchingham, who has invited a troupe of troubadours to perform during the holidays. They are being pursued by French mercenaries but Nicholas and company save the day with the help of a surprise visitor. I've had issues with the writing in the series but this installment was well written and well plotted.