[.uk] The Reeve's Tale (Sister Frevisse) (ISBN 0425176673)

Excellent mediveal mystery !!!!!:
This is the first book of this author that i read. I picked up the book purely because it was set in the 15th century England and wanted some idea about a typical English village of that time. And I was not disappointed. Very well written and good characterisation. The story starts slowly but I think this is required for a sound understanding of the settings, the characters, their relationships and their respective roles in the village. In addition to the intriguing mystery, the descriptions of the local governemnt and the role of church in those times is a good learning. In particular, the judicial process of those times has been described well. The dialogue is sharp and at times, witty as well. But dont look for a murder from the first chapter. Be fascinated by the judicial process in the beginning and then get into the nystery as it starts to develop and soon couple of corpses appear. The finger of suspicion does point several ways. Also, there are several sub plots as well. A very engrossing book. Worth reading for the description of the village life, the court and judicial process,and the lifes of the ordinary people. You will not be disappointed in reading this.

My favorite medieval mystery series.:
This is one series that really deserves the comparison with Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series (first book, A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael). Fortunately, I don't believe in hierarchies, because I'd be hard-pressed to choose between the two. Frazer is a very gifted writer and these work both as historical novels and as mysteries. Since Frevisse, like Cadfael is a Benedictine, it is interesting to see glimpses of how the order had changed over the centuries. This is typical of Frazer: the characterizations are excellent and often complex, the background is well drawn and the story is gripping. Frevisse, having more experience in dealing with the outside world than most of her sisters is sent to serve as temporary representative for lands that her convent co-owns. This is a complex job; she must manage to work and share authority with people whose interests are opposed to the convent's. Frazer gives us a vivid account of the machinations that underly the struggle to control land and wealth, even among the peasantry.

The best Frevisse yet:
In my opinion, this is the best mystery in the Sister Frevisse series of mysteries. Why is this so? Well, firstly, there are several deaths, with the finger of suspicion pointing several ways. The identity of the guilty party is not certain until the end. (If you knew who it was without peeking, don't tell!). Secondly, there are several sub-plots each with their own mysteries. There is the uncertain fate of the nunnery's steward who has been accused of being a serf and thus stands to lose his freedom - and that of his children. We do not know who accused him, and why. There is also the mystery about a certain very prosperous man in the village and his wife and family. What are his intents, and those of his wife? Was she really guilty of all that the village gossip alleged? There are other puzzles to follow - such as who will get a certain piece of land, what will happen to the harvest, and so forth. The depiction of village life, which includes several scenes of cases being decided by the elders, is alone worth reading this novel for. It is rare that mystery novels set in the medieval era focus in such detail on the life of ordinary villeins (the proper term) and free peasants. I look forward to reading more of Sister Frevisse's adventures. The series will not appeal to all, including those who are more knowledgeable about the period and/or tired of medieval mysteries using nuns or monks as sleuths. To enjoy this book, you must like medieval mysteries and enjoy reading about the nitty-gritty details of convent life (some of which can be less than pleasant).

I Agree, the best in the series so far.:
I do agree that this is the best Sister Frevisse mystery I've read so far, but they have been getting better and better. I found that this one moved a lot quicker than previous ones, and that was because of the many plots and subplots that were interwoven in the fabric of the story. I also enjoyed the realistic look at medieval English village life. It also is well-researched and gave us a clear idea of what illness outbreaks were like back then. In this book the little village is hit with a measles outbreak, and many children get sick. Another thing that I liked about the book was that it was out of the nunnery entirely. In this book, Sister Frevisse is actually out in the village trying to do the job of the bailiff while he is under house arrest for an allegation of being a villein (serf) on the lam. We meet some very interesting characters and as usual Ms. Frazer's dialogue is crisp and intelligent. An excellent addition to the Sister Frevisse stories.

Best yet!:
This is by far the best entry yet in Margret Fraser's series. The book is very well researched, the characters are fascinating and ring very true. A wonderful slice of Medieval village life, and a terrific mystery as well.