Search - The Novice's Tale (Sister Frevisse, Bk 1)

First in the Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries series. I have read better in the medieval mystery category. I didn't think the main character was developed that well and I didn't get attached to her like I do in the works I really enjoy. Also, the perpetrator was not much of a "mystery" to me. I am not the most astute in guessing villains but did so here! I have decided to try another 1 or 2 of her books to see if this changes.

The first in the extensive 'Sister Frevisse' medieval mystery series.
Although it is definitely more a formula mystery than an historical
novel, I didn't find it to be aggravatingly ahistorical.
Set in 15th century England, the convent of St. Fridewide's is home to
Sister Frevisse, a devout but eminently practical nun. It's also home
to Thomasine, a young novice whose piousness goes far beyond the
ordinary. Thomasine is deathly afraid that her loud and obnoxious Aunt
Ermentrude will somehow drag her out of the convent to be married
before she can take her final vows. So when Lady Ermentrude turns up
dead, suspicion naturally falls on Thomasine - shy as she may be, she
definitely had a motive. And the official in charge of investigating
the crime seems loath to look any further and the quickest and easiest
suspect to hang the crime on (and hang). But Sister Frevisse has a
feeling that Thomasine is innocent - and it looks like it will fall to
her to try to find the actual murderer.
A fun and entertaining read.

I've read a few other Frevisse titles, and think that this one is among the best. The tangled story is sometimes nearly lost in the details of 15th century life, the convoluted family relationships, and the distracting sidelines that Frazer seems to love, but for me the character of Frevisse makes it all worthwhile. She is devoted to truth, whether solving the current mystery or coming to terms with her own shortcomings. She presents an engaging and convincing balance of piety and reality, strength and vulnerability.

I was really disappointed in this book; it is the first in a long series, and I was hoping for a great list of books to look forward to. But, alas, it didn't hold my interest, so I guess it's a one-off.

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written. It got very exciting at the end where you could not put the book down until the even end. It is one of those mystery where you thought you knew who did it but at the end you were wrong.