The Widow's Tale

by Margaret Frazer

Book Overview

Dame Frevisse is embroiled in political intrigue when she aids a widow who is holding on to secret information that could be damaging to the lords closest to the king.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425202380
• ISBN13: 9780425202388
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 266 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.3" x 6.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

What fun - and it didn't keep jolting me with historical blunders!

With the death of her beloved husband, Edward, Cristiana Helyngton thinks her world has come to an end. Unfortunately it's only the start of her troubles. Her unscrupulous brother-in-law promptly and secretly obtains custody of Cristiana, her lands, and her two daughters, by representing Cristiana as a madwoman to the powerful Duke of Suffolk. With her brother off to Ireland in service as a knight to the Duke of York, Suffolk's political adversary, there's no one to protect or rescue Cristiana as Laurence Helyngton carries her off to confinement in a convent. There she lives in prescribed and bitter penitence, half starved and terrified on behalf of her girls. She knows that Laurence plans to force 12-year-old Mary to wed his son, securing the deceased Edward's estate under Laurence's control. After that he intends to place 8-year-old Jane in a nunnery, unless she's needed to replace Mary if the older daughter fails to seal the marriage by producing an heir. But Laurence Helyngton has made one huge mistake. He's committed his sister-in-law to St. Frideswide's, where Sister Frevisse is hosteler. The gifted amateur detective soon suspects things aren't exactly as Cristana's "guardian" has described them. As she and Domina Elisabeth are drawn ever more deeply into the Helyngtons' escalating conflict, Frevisse realizes that people far more powerful than Cristana and Laurence may stand or fall based on its outcome. Among them is Alice, Duchess of Suffolk, Frevisse's estranged but still beloved cousin; and possibly King Henry VI himself. Margaret Frazer's meticulously researched history, well-drawn characters, and credible plots have me reading her mystery novels eagerly, and that's remarkable because this genre usually leaves me cold. Dame Frevisse stories are an absolute delight, from first page to last, as Frazer immerses herself in the details of medieval life and takes me along for the ride. Can't wait to get my hands on another!

A seamless tale of treachery and murder.

This medieval series set in mid tenth century England are wonderful history lessons, as well as some very-well crafted mysteries. This particular book is set in the spring and summer of 1149 and most of the action occurs in and around Hertfordshire. We have the story of a young widow and her fight to keep her children and her lands away from some very unscrupulous relatives after her husband dies. Cristiana is not a heroine that readers will immediately like, but the tragedy of her story cannot fail but to touch people, as it does Sister Frevisse. This story also places Sister Frevisse in a very difficult situation. She must choose where to place her loyalties and she must also decide whether a piece of correspondance should be made public or not. I highly recommend this series to any lovers of Medieval fiction. Ms. Frazer's research and knowledge are impeccable. She's also a first-rate storyteller.

A top-notch entry in an excellent series.

This is one of my favorite series and this novel is as good as any that Frazer has written. Both her continuing characters and her new characters are interesting and well developed. The mystery is well done, and the story is wrenching but believable. (This is one of the saddest stories that I have ever read.) I would recommend this series to fans of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael. Of all the series that have been likened to his, this is probably the closest in spirit. The characters are believably Medieval and Frevisse is a nun with a real vocation; the spirituality of the characters is portrayed very well - deep and real but not saccharine.

a fantastic installment is a good series

In the spring of 1449, a young widow is brought to St. Frideswide. Accused by her in-laws of being wanton and deranged, the widow, Cristina Helynton, has been sentenced to spend her days at St. Friedeswide's in contrition, the hope being that she will show penitence for her ways and take the veil. The nuns are in a twitter to have so scarlet a woman amongst them; but as the days pass, and Cristina proves to be both docile and quiet, a new disquiet fills some of the nuns -- Dame Frevisse especially. For something about Cristina's demeanor suggests that she's not so much penitent as bidding her time. What the nuns don't know is that Cristina is a woman deeply wronged: kidnapped, falsely charged and imprisoned, Cristina has been torn away from her home and her two daughters because of the greed of her dead husband's cousin, Laurence Helynton. Now, Cristina, torn between fear for her children, grief for her dead husband, and anger at her relatives, waits for her brother, Sir Gerveys, to rescue her and to help her regain her daughters and her former life. For Cristina has one ace up her sleeve: an incriminating letter that the Duke of Suffolk would pay dearly to have in his possession... A gripping tale of evil and sinister doings during a period of great political uncertainty, "The Widow's Tale" was a fast paced and compelling read -- so engaging a read in fact that, once again, I found myself glued to the pages until I reached the very end of the book. Margaret Frazer does a first rate job of painting a vivid picture of both secular and religious life in fifteenth century England. And she does an equally brilliant job of giving us a good idea of what was going on politically as well. Also well done was the manner in which she brought all the characters, both primary and secondary to life. But best of all was the manner in which the mystery subplot was executed: suspenseful and full of clever twists and turns. So that in all, I'd vote "The Widow's Tale" a read not to be missed.

fantastic medieval mystery

Though he spends a lot of time at the royal court, Edward and Cristiana Helyngton have been have been happily married for years raising two preadolescent daughters Jane and Mary. However, in 1449 when Edward returns to Hertfordshire from his latest stint with the royals, he is very ill. His avarice cousin Laurence, coveting Edward's larger estate, demands the ailing man place Jane in a nunnery and marry Mary to his son Clement. Edward says no, but soon afterward, he dies. Cristiana is unable to grieve her loss because Laurence abducts her and places her in St. Frideswide's nunnery. Dame Frevisse sees Cristiana as another dumped obligation, but soon events take deadly twists. Before dying Edward entrusted his beloved spouse with a secret that could destroy the noble inner circle. Cristiana will use that knowledge to risk her life in order to save her children from her vile in-law. The imperturbable Sister Frevisse feels caught in a growing storm in which those who know the truth are subject to murder but she realizes if revealed could lead to civil war. The fourteenth Sister Frevisse medieval mystery is a fantastic refreshing entry as the "unflappable" nun finds even she feels overwhelmed with the momentous events swirling around the widow who will do anything perhaps even murder to protect her children. As usual Margaret Frazier provides an action-packed story line that focuses deeply at mid fifteenth century England starring a terrific protagonist. However, the machinations in a deadly game between nobles, Laurence, and Cristiana make for a fabulous WIDOW'S TALE that shows why Ms. Frazier has received Edgar nominations for this series (could this be her award winner?). Harriet Klausner