The Lovell family and their manor of Minster Lovell were not made up for this story.  The effigy of Lord Lovell mentioned here is still in the parish church, and the ruins of their lovely manor house can still be visited beside the Windrush River under Wychwood in Oxfordshire.  I recommend it.

As for Lionel Knyvet’s affliction, epilepsy has been known throughout history.  It takes many different forms and is better understood now than ever before, with ways to often control the seizures, but through most of the centuries it was seen as either a mental disease – madness – or else as a spiritual one – possession by either demonic or shamanistic spirits, depending on the culture in which the person lived (and lives; such beliefs persist in many places) – or of course as madness brought on by demonic possession.

In medieval English law, madness was a recognized defense.  The legal ramifications of Lionel’s supposed crime, given he had apparently committed it while mad, were as compassionate as laid out in the story.  Instead of a legally-recognized madman’s property being seized into the king’s hands and lost after he was found guilty of committing a crime, his property would be held in trust for him, in the hope of him regaining his wits, whereupon his property and his freedom would be restored to him.

Of course the law also includes a warning to beware of someone feigning madness in order to avoid punishment, which goes to show that human nature holds true through the years – and that medieval lawyers and juries were no fools.

– Margaret

Kindle Edition / Nook Edition
Other Editions

“The Stone-Worker’s Tale” and “Winter Heart” have been added to the Master Chronology of Frevisse and Joliffe Books. Both stories take place in 1454, two years after the events of The Apostate’s Tale.

– Margaret

A book trailer for The Murderer’s Tale.

Other trailers:

The Outlaw’s Tale
The Bishop’s Tale
The Boy’s Tale

The Murderer’s Tale has been released for both the Kindle and the Nook. It can also be read on any iPad, Android, Windows PC, Mac, or Blackberry device using either the free Kindle Reading Apps or the free Nook Apps for those platforms. It will also be available through the iBookstore shortly, but Apple takes much longer to process new e-books than Amazon or B&N.

THROUGH A MURDERER’S EYES…

Caught under the tyrannical thumb of her new prioress, Dame Frevisse finds welcome relief in leaving St. Frideswide nunnery on pilgrimage. But the road brings with it unwelcome company: The wealthy Lionel Knyvet has been possessed by a foul demon. Seeking relief from the horrific terrors visited upon his body each fortnight, Lionel has dragged his entire household on an endless pilgrimage across the breadth and length of England. Frevisse wants nothing more than the peaceful bliss of travel, but must instead endure the incessant chattering of a mob.

Lionel’s possession, however, may only mask a darker sin. When the pilgrims make their way to the manor house at Minster Lovell, Frevisse begins to unwind the bitter poisons of jealousy and betrayal eating at the hearts of both Lionel and his brother Giles. Against her will, the innocent nun is drawn into the vilest depths of the human soul and there she unlocks the mysteries of a blackened heart. But even when the truth comes out, can justice be done? The pure of heart will find no peace when murder and death come knocking at the manor’s door…

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PRAISE FOR THE MURDERER’S TALE

“Frazer has created the most despicable villain since Iago.” – Patricia W. Julius, Detective as Historian

“Historical readers will be charmed with the story; feminists will be delighted with the strong female characters. Ellis Peters has a worthy successor in Margaret Frazer.” – Meritorious Mysteries

“Expertly captures the flavor of the period with vivid descriptions and creates dimensional characters true to the times.” – Rendezvous

“A diabolically smooth and logical frame-up… Frazer springs substantial surprises. A moving portrait of how afflictions torment body and mind and a meditation on selfless friendship. It’s a treat, with memorable characters and a thoughtful, bittersweet ending.” – S.M. Tyson, The Armchair Detective

The Murderer’s Tale was the last book that my then-co-author and I wrote together, before she gave up on medieval England and went to cozy needlework shop mysteries.  We planned the book together, meaning from the very first to tell the story from the murderer’s point of view, and thereby came the parting of our ways, I think.  She had always said she wanted to write light murder mysteries, murder mysteries that were essentially cheerful – what are now called cozies.  I seem to be of a darker nature; nothing about murder seems cozy to me, and when – as was our wont – I began the first draft of Murderer’s inside the title character’s head, it was a nasty place to be.  Given the crimes Mary and I had planned for him, how could it be otherwise?  Nor did he get any nicer as the book went on.  Unfortunately, he proved too much for Mary.  She hated him so much that she finally refused to have anything to do with his chapters at all.

Now I have said elsewhere that I don’t identify with only my main character – that I identify with all my characters, turning inward on myself to find some part of me that — if cultivated instead of bypassed – could become what this character is.  Then I explore that part of me, and it becomes the warp on which I weave a character.  So exploring and creating Giles was not a pleasant experience for me.  Nor was doing the same with Domina Alys in the next book.  But it seems to me that if I am going to write about murder, then if the story is going to be worth telling at all, I have to look at the ugliness within a murderer, and not only the ugliness within a murderer, but the cruel changes that ugliness makes in the lives of the people around him or her.  Hence, as Dame Frevisse is forced to deal with murders over the years, she grows and deepens.  And because, through her, I have had to look far closer and deeper in the dark hearts of murderers (meaning into the dark corners of my own heart, as it were), I’ve grown and changed, too, have come to value kindness and generosity of spirit with far more passion that before and have a very focused hatred of cruelty.

This leads to occasional odd moments, such as when – working at the rewrite of a later book in the series – I found myself railing at the murderer for the cruel, vile, treacherous way he had killed his victim.  How could he do such an ugly thing?  How could he . . .  Oh.  Wait.  I was the one who had written the scene that way.  The whole thing was my fault.

So maybe it’s best if you just forget what I’ve said above about me being part of all my characters.  It could make the next time we meet rather awkward if you find yourself wondering “Who is she today?”

– Margaret

My Winter Heart Blog Tour is coming to its end, and I can’t believe how much fun I’ve had.  As an author, I cheerfully spend most of my time alone, immersed in my work.  Over the years, signings and suchlike have drawn me out only occasionally.  So this venture into the cyber-world has been an adventure.  Thank you, one and all, for sharing it with me.

Looking ahead, I’ve been selected to speak at the Historical Novel Society Conference in San Diego, CA, which will take place June 17th thru 19th, 2011. Among other things, I’ll be moderating a panel:

Keeping a Series Fresh
Saturday, June 18th, 2011
8:30 – 9:30 AM

I’ve been doing some light reading to familiarize myself with the matter. What are your thoughts? What keeps a series fresh for you? Drop by my Facebook page and join the discussion.

REVIEW ROUND-UP

This was my first exposure to medieval mystery, and I have to say, I was highly intrigued.  It took a little while to get into the story, as the type of language and pacing is a little different than a contemporary mystery novel, but once I adjusted my mindset, I flew through this book.  I was excited to see Domina Frevisse at work, to learn her line of reasoning and type of logic.  I really enjoyed her as a character.  We do not learn much about her personally in this book, but it is not necessary for us to feel a deep connection with her in order to appreciate her character.

I really loved the setting of this book, as it was so unique.  Medieval mysteries are a highly specified genre, and the only other author in the genre I am at all familiar with is Michael Jecks, so chances are readers who like his work will also like works by Frazer.  This story is one from a series starring Frevisse, but it also works well as a stand alone book for readers like me just getting acquainted with Frazer’s work.

Before now I had not read any of Frazer’s Dame Frevisse or Player Joliffe mysteries, though I’d long wanted to! This is a novella, so it’s a very quick read and a great introduction to Dame Frevisse for anyone who’s not familiar with the series. It’s different from most other historical fiction I’ve read in that, one, the main character is a nun, and so most of the story takes place inside a nunnery, and two, it paints a vivid and realistic picture of life in a tiny medieval village, and it’s not all quaint and dreamy. It’s winter, life is hard. Crown officials are seldom seen, and it’s up to the village to keep its own peace. I enjoyed it, and you know me–anything that educates as well as entertains me gets a thumbs up in my book!

Margaret Frazer brings medieval England to life.

I absolutely love the Dame Frevisse novels!

Sister Frevisse, now Domina Frevisse as prioress of St. Frideswide’s, has more to worry about now that she is responsible for the whole priory. But she always has time to solve a murder! When Master Naylor comes to her with the problem of Tom Kelstowe, she cannot help being intrigued. Tom had disappeared after being accused of rape, and under the law to flee is to admit guilt. But he returns claiming he was kidnapped, and though doubtful, Frevisse gives him a second chance. Then a murder occurs.

Frevisse is as sharp as ever, and Frazer’s characterization and historical background as good as ever, in this short (too short!) return to St. Frideswide’s and our old familiar friends. I just wish the visit had been longer to prolong the pleasure her books always give me.

If you’ve ever wished you could drop in on 15th century England, reading a novel by Margaret Frazer is almost like being there. Witness the author’s new novella, “Winter Heart,” which features an old friend, Dame Frevisse, now become Domina Frevisse.

This beloved heroine is once again confronted with murders, poisonings, and other crimes near St. Frideswide’s priory. If Frevisse fails to find the guilty person, an innocent man may be condemned. Fortunately, in becoming the head of the priory, the nun has lost none of her detective instincts, and Frazer leads us skillfully to a satisfying conclusion of the plot.

I particularly enjoyed the setting of “Winter Heart,” the flavor of Benedictine hospitality as well as devout faith of the nuns, the interplay of various medieval people and personalities. Frazer speaks at the end of the book about “the pleasure of going thoroughly into otherwhen as well as otherwhere….” You’ll find plenty of both in this tale.

In this novelette we find Domina Frevisse balancing the responsibilities of Prioress with her talent for solving crime. A young man in the village is missing after being accused of rape. Things about his disappearance do not add up, and cause Domina Frevisse to delve into the mystery. As usual the plot is well thought out and well executed. You also always learn about history in Ms. Frazer’s books in an interesting and informative way. I love the interaction of Domina Frevisse with the characters we know and love from her pre-Prioress days. I wish the book was longer so that I could have enjoyed it for a longer time!

– Margaret

For today’s pit-stop on the Winter Heart Blog Tour, Tiffany Harkleroad offers a full review of Winter Heart for those of you still on the fence regarding the story.

– Margaret

I remember, in my early days in St. Frideswide’s, a morning when I had to leave off my writing for the day, dress in “office clothes”, and go to stand on a corner waiting for a bus to take me to yet another temp job. The day was February at its most bleak: grim, gray, cold, and slush-ridden. Traffic roared past, and all the buses were full or, when one paused with at least standing room left, I failed to scale the dirty snowbank faster than others eager to crowd into the fusty heat beyond the hissing doors. As one bus after another came and went – with nothing to be won by actually getting on one except a day in a cubicle under merciless fluorescent lights — I thought (quite pathetically, as I recall), “I want to go back to my nunnery!”

Historical Tapestry is hosting Why I Love Life in a Medieval Nunnery today.

– Margaret

The technical difficulties we were having a couple days ago seem to have been largely resolved. Which means I’m now retroactively appearing at Karen Johnson’s Release Notes. Take my hand for a little double-layered time travel, as we go Falling Into Medieval England.

– Margaret

I’m joining Jeri Westerson, author of the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series, and Getting Medieval. Jeri’s hosting my thoughts on the Joys of Research. If there’s anything that I enjoy in the same degree that I enjoy writing, it’s the research that goes with it…

– Margaret

At Let Them Read Books, Lady Q has been entertaining me with her Tour d’Italia — a literary tour of Italy. Winter Heart, of course, is a bit further afield, but she has nonetheless been kind enough to host me today with a brief discussion of where this particular story came from. She also offers a very charming review for those of you still pondering the novella’s virtues.

– Margaret