The Apostate's Tale:
(A Dame Frevisse
Medieval Mystery)
by Margaret Frazer
The return of a long disappeared nun.
Spring of 1452 brings fretful
weather but nothing as
worrisome as Sister Cecely, a nun who long disppeared from Saint
Frideswide's priory suddenly returns nine years later with her
illegitimate son. Dame Frevisse serves as the hosteler in care of
guests. As the nuns prepare for easter, Cecely's presence tries
the patience and spiritual practice of the nuns. Followed to the
priory by men from her past, Cecely's postion becomes even more
tenuous. When suddenly sickness turns two men ill, Dame Frevisse
sets about investigating the illness and whether this might actually be
a case of attempted murder. Who would want to kill these men
whose positions are at such odds with one another?
THE APOSTATE'S TALE
is a mystery that will medieval enthusiasts feel
right at home. The historical details center around the theology
and the daily lives of the nuns in their attitudes, inner thoughts and
the practice of the Daily Office as the center of their day.
Although the answer to the mystery itself is fairly obvious, the thrill
of the mystery centers upon Margaret Frazer's look into the historical
and spiritual details that lead up to the mystery. Margaret
Frazer's juxtaposition of Dame Frevisse and Sister Cecely offers an
insightful look into the world of women in the Middle Ages through a
medieval perspective. Although modern readers might not hold to
the medieval view of apostacy, Margaret Frevisse does an excellent job
at making this idea accessible to new readers and medieval junkies
alike. Without resorting to a preachy tone as part of the
narrative, the idea of apostacy and its ramifications unfild as part of
the plot and characterization. Characterization gives this
mystery a wonderful depth, not only in the contrast between these two
main characters but also in the presentation of Cecely's son and Dame
Thomasine, the nun known for her exemplary holiness. Margaret
Frazer's intriguing look into the idea of good, evil and innocence not
only adds to the medieval historical setting but also gives this
mystery a satisfying refreshing depth in a genre in which a dead body
is little more than a plot device for the mystery itself and the
aggrandizement or self-actualization of the sleuth. Margaret
Frazer's THE APOSTATE'S TALE
is a refreshing change of pace for mystery
buffs and a welcome familiarity for medievalist enthusiasts in its
multi-leveled historical authenticity. If you happen to be both like I
am, this book a pure delight.
Publisher: Berkley
(January 2009)
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