A Play of Heresy by Margaret Frazer Series: Joliffe the Player #7
Published by Berkley on December 67, 2011
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 306
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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While performing in the theatrical and religious festival of Corpus Christi Day in Coventry, Joliffe is summoned by Bishop Beaufort to use his skills as a spy to uncover the mysteries of the town's elite. A merchant has gone missing, presumed dead-and members of Joliffe's company are implicated in the crime. To uncover the truth, Joliffe must unravel the devilish machinations of a secret sect of heretics bent on destroying the Church.
Coventry- for the Corpus Christi festival and plays- is a bustling, energetic town where a missing spy and a murderer can be found. Margaret Frazer’s final Joliffe the Player mystery pulled out all the stops and delivered a medieval player’s world and town, intrigue, and a cunning mystery all in one. I was glad I tackled this series as part of the series reading challenge so I could get to this story which is in contention for my favorite of the series.
A Play of Heresy is seventh of the Joliffe the Player series that is a spin-off series from the earlier started and parallel time period Dame Frevisse series. There is a flow to the series that shows up when read in order, but each book could also be read standalone, as well.
Joliffe has been away from the company of traveling players who are his true home. He’s been spying for Bishop Beaufort. He had a few rough moments, but made his report and is now free to return to his friends and found family in the city of Coventry in time for the big Corpus Christi festivals and most importantly the lavish plays put on by the guilds. This is a big chance for his little group of players and he can’t wait to get back to the acting life.
But, his carefree feeling doesn’t last long when his espionage mentor orders him to help locate his missing Coventry informant and suspects a religious sect, the Lollards, are behind it.
Joliffe is welcomed back by the little acting troupe who are his found family. Master Basset shares that Joliffe’s late arrival means there is no part for him with the troupe and he must take the part in another of the festival plays. Joliffe takes the new assignment with wariness because his director was a former member of his own player group who ditched them many years before and now has fallen on hard times.
Joliffe is busy with the play preparations, but tries to listen in taverns and public houses, shops, and gatherings around Coventry for word of the missing informant or of Lollard conspiracies, but it is only accidentally he learns of the missing man and his connections are close to Joliffe’s temporary play group. The missing man was murdered and another murder soon follows the discovery, forcing Joliffe to get involved in an extended investigation along with his play work.
I’ve always enjoyed this series for the historical detail of medieval life and in particular the life of a traveling actor. Joliffe has been an intriguing character since his inception back in the Dame Frevisse series that only grew in his own series. His past is something of an enigma, but his wit and cleverness are his stock in trade. He’s a talented actor, but this book shows his further talents of working with other actors to better themselves and with reworking plays to better them, too. I was sad this was the last book in the series, but at least it feels like a good place to finish, too. Joliffe and the others have arrived at the height of a small troupe’s success with a firm sponsor in Lord Lovell and good acting jobs. Joliffe has become a skillful spy and murder investigator and resigned both careers of his life.
A Play of Heresy was set against the fascinating world of the Corpus Christi festival and the parade of plays performed by each working guild and their hired troupes of players so that each group takes on a portion of the Bible story with great pageantry and flair. This was paired with the volatile religious struggles of the time between the Catholic church and this splinter group, The Lollards, which I was unfamiliar with. All this historical background wove in well with the murder mystery plot. The mystery was one that wasn’t the most twisty this series has had since I was able to figure out the who and why.
So, A Play of Heresy ended the Joliffe the Player series on a high note for me. Medieval loving historical mystery fans really need to try this series and start with the earlier Dame Frevisse series for a different side of Margaret Frazer’s medieval world.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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That’s sounds interesting. Thanks for the great review.
Yes, medieval play acting and festivals along with the espionage side were a great set up for me.
It’s sad to close on a series you’ve loved, but always nice when it ends in a good place!
I think she has passed away which was why I was wary about continuing to this last book in case she put some really big dangling plot thread that would never resolve so yes, much relief it ended on a good resolve. 🙂
Oo! Color me intrigued. 🙂
Yes, it was fascinating to see the medieval life so clearly and get a good mystery.
Sounds like you’re really enjoying this series and this was a really good one! Great review!
Yes, it was a good finish to the series, Lisa. 🙂