Coincidentally this is the second nun-detective mystery in a row for me, following Boucher's Rocket to the Morgue. It is the 10th (or so) in the Dame Frevisse series, but the first I've read. Other than a passing reference to one prior mystery, the book is easily read on its own.

There are two ways that mysteries about a nun detective in medieval times might go - quaint and cozy, or deep historical. From this entry, Frevisse appears to be definitely not the former, and more the latter, trying to capture how people lived, dressed, ate, and such in the 1400s. Two-thirds of the book is lead-in to the eventual murder. The emphasis is more on land ownership, arranged marriages, and inheritance, all driving a story of marriage falling apart. I found this OK but rather slow-going. When the murder occurs, then all hell breaks loose for the rest of the book. This was fairly powerful and the main reason I will try another in the series. The detection is fine albeit brief. The main negative is a final scene with a pat ending that is out of character with all that has gone before.

Recommended for history / mystery fans. ( )

Not her best. Not even second best. It was rushed and contrived, noticeable towards the end. Some of the characters were engagingly described, and the conflicts were real enough, but despite the adjudication tidbits and C-section note, the others in this series hold to a higher standard. ( )

Squire Robert is not exactly thrilled with his lot in life, most especially his wife, but he has made peace with it and is delighted with his children. All this threatens to be ruined though when he finds his heart straying after his ward and his wife determined to be as difficult as she may over a business arrangement with the neighbors. She can be truly difficult. Enter Dame Frevisse.

What I loved about this story was that I was more than three quarters through the book and I had no clue who would be murdered and who would be the killer. You might think that would be bad, but I love the scene setting and character explorations the author does. Truly transportive. As for the ending, I could quibble, but what would be the point? It was an entertaining read. ( )

"The Squire's Tale" is the 10th book in Margeret Frazer's Dame-Frevisse-series about a nun solving murder mysteries. It works as a stand-alone-read, though, references to previous books being slight.

Robert Fenner has made a fortunate marriage with a wealthy widow bringing him wealth, land and three children; but unfortunately he does not love his wife. And right now he's continually quarreling with her about his wish to settle a justified claim on his lands by arbitration.

Part of the proposed settlement is his young ward Katherine - Robert has the right to marry her to a man of his choosing (rather than hers) who will then legally come into possession of her whole inheritance. But her wealth provokes attempts of abduction, and Robert sends her to the nunnery of St. Frideswide's to keep her safe.

When Katherine is called back to be presented to her prospective bridegroom during the arbitration proceedings, Dame Frevisse accompanies her. She is caught up in the fight between Robert and his wife Blaunche about the arbitration that unsettles the whole household. Meanwhile, Robert has to suppress his secret love for Katherine and take his unruly stepson Benedict in hand. So it's no wonder that one morning, a member of the household is found murdered.

I had difficulties summing up the plot because so many things are going on: though the murder takes place after about 2/3 of the book it's never boring or verbose. The events leading to murder unfold slowly at first but with an ever increasing pace, and they are as varied as to include a secret love, attempted abduction, legal proceedings, family life and household management etc.

The story is narrated from Robert's and Dame Frevisse's point of view alternately, and the chapters complement each other very well. The characters (major and minor) are rounded and possess depth; we can share their sentiments but they always stay true to the beliefs of their time in which we don't share any more. I think that's one of the best features of the novel (as of the whole series); I simply can't bear medieval detectives who just happen to be monks or nuns for the sake of a picturesque setting. Dame Frevisse's life, on the other hand, is guided by her religious beliefs, her involvement in murder mysteries being an unwelcome distraction. And she holds fast in the medieval Christian belief which is so strange to the modern reader - unbaptised children being condemned to hell without hope of salvation, the need to carry out certain rites to assure a soul's salvation etc. But this strangeness doesn't make her unlikeable, she is a person with compassion and common sense and very real to me.

As always, Margaret Frazer excels in the description of everyday medieval life without making it feel like a history textbook. I could immerse myself in the story because the setting was painted in distinct detail. To read about life in the middle ages in an entertaining way is a real boon.

The murder itself is placed late in the book and quickly - and neatly - solved but this is not a shortcoming but rather a logical consequence of the book's layout. It's one of my absolute favourites, and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in historical mysteries. ( )

Not my favorite of the Sister Frevisse novels: I found the plot confusing, and some of the characters hard to differentiate. Still, the book is worth reading for its vivid recreation of a distant time and place. ( )