The Traitor's Tale

by: Margaret Frazer

Published by: Berkley Prime Crime

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

The Traitor's Tale, 16th in the series of Dame Frevisse Medieval Mysteries, is set in the summer of 1450 as the Hundred Years War wound down, amid riots against King Henry VI, murders, political plots and the loss of English territory in France.

Dame Frevisse is called out of her cloister to assist her cousin, Lady Alice, recently widowed by the brutal murder of her husband, the Duke of Suffolk. Lady Alice however is in need of more than Frevisse's emotional and spiritual support--she also needs her skills in solving plots and mysteries. Several of her retainers are missing or murdered, and she fears for her young son. One of the missing is Burgate, her husband's secretary, and there are tales that the Duke of Suffolk wrote dangerous letters shortly before his murder that were entrusted to Burgate--but no one seems to know where he is.

Simon Joliffe, player and spy, crosses paths with Frevisse and Lady Alice's retainer Vaughn in pursuit of some similar information that may help or hinder his employer, the exiled Duke of York. Travels across the kingdom, riots, beheadings, stabbings, hidden parcels, and behind-the-scenes political machinations, all weave through this book like the fine-patterned satin on a Duke's doublet.

Armchair Interview says: Fans of historical fiction will also find much here to enjoy. And, the author has notes listing several sources for her "plots."