Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 8/2/2008 + 1031 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

An excellent entry in the medieval mystery series featuring the nun Dame Frevisse. Well able to stand on its own, you won't need to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one.
Sir Ralph Woderove is a brutal and abusive man who cares nothing for his family or his lands, only for his dogs and hunting. When he's found with his head bashed in, everyone from his wife on down is happy enough to say he was killed by a stranger and let it go. But his will attempts to exert control over the family even from the grave, giving a cunning neighbor designs on their wealth and causing his widow to flee to the nunnery. When another tragic death takes place Dame Frevisse and Sister Johanna escort the widow and a daughter back to their home, charged with providing what comfort they can give. Once there, Frevisse realizes she cannot let the murder be ignored. Her own sense of morality won't let her, and she feels strongly that looking the other way will affect every person there, ruining their relationships; and finally she convinces the family that they cannot spend the rest of their lives wondering the worst about each other even though they are glad to have Sir Ralph dead and gone.
There aren't any tricky plot twists here, just a steady ratcheting up of angst and unhappiness until the climax. I read a couple reviews that say the murderer is obvious from the beginning although I didn't think so; perhaps I've read enough mysteries that I overanalyzed the story. Frazer splits viewpoints in this book, so that you see events from the family's point of view as well as Dame Frevisse without spoiling any of the suspense. I thought it was very well done, a good portrayal of a family in turmoil where all the answers are going to be painful.

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