Joliffe the Player Books in Order

The Two Ways to Read Joliffe the Player

Margaret Frazer's Joliffe the Player series is a brilliant blend of historical espionage, theatrical flair, and classic whodunit mysteries. Because Joliffe began his literary life as a supporting character in Frazer's flagship Sister Frevisse series, readers have two primary paths to choose from when diving into his world.

Path 1: The Standalone Joliffe Series (Recommended)

If you want to focus strictly on Joliffe's theatrical career, his spycraft, and his close-knit acting troupe, you can read his seven standalone novels in publication order. Conveniently, the publication order of these seven books matches their internal chronological order perfectly, starting in the summer of 1434 and concluding in 1438.

Path 2: The Integrated Master Chronology

For historical completionists, the author's estate maintains a Master Chronology that integrates both the Sister Frevisse novels and the Joliffe the Player series. In this path, you will read the early Frevisse books where Joliffe makes his first appearances, switch to his standalone series, and then follow his later guest appearances in the Frevisse books as an older, more established secret agent.

The Standalone Joliffe Reading Order

Here is the chronological and publication order of Joliffe's standalone mysteries. Each book is framed around a play or performance that Joliffe's troupe must put on while he handles local murders and political schemes.

1. A Play of Isaac (2004)

Set in: June 1434
The series opener finds Joliffe and his fellow players arriving in the university town of Oxford to perform the play of Isaac and Rebecca. When a wealthy merchant is found dead and an innocent young scholar is accused of the crime, Joliffe must use his acting skills and deductive mind to find the real killer. This book marks the official beginning of Joliffe's career as a sleuth and spy, setting the stage for his double life.

2. A Play of Dux Moraud (2005)

Set in: September–October 1434
With autumn settling over England, Joliffe is hired by a noble family under the guise of an actor to prevent a scandalous marriage that threatens their estate. Playing the part of a gentleman, he must unravel a web of dark family secrets, incestuous rumors, and murder. The title refers to the medieval play Dux Moraud, which deals with themes of incest and redemption.

3. A Play of Knaves (2006)

Set in: Spring 1435
Joliffe and his troupe are drawn into the dangerous world of political theater in London and the surrounding countryside. When a fellow actor is accused of murder, Joliffe has to navigate a deadly rivalry between theater troupes and high-ranking lords. This book deepens the political backdrop of the series, showing how theater was used as a tool for propaganda and power.

4. A Play of Lords (2007)

Set in: Autumn 1435
Joliffe's skills as a player and spy are put to the ultimate test when he is placed in the household of a powerful lord. As treasonous plots whisper through the grand halls, Joliffe must determine who is loyal to the crown and who is playing a double game. The boundaries between his acting performances and his real-life espionage begin to blur perilously.

5. A Play of Treachery (2009)

Set in: Winter 1436
Taking Joliffe outside of England for the first time, this novel is set in France during the final phases of the Hundred Years' War. Spying for the Duchess of Bedford (featuring the historical figure Jacquetta of Luxembourg), Joliffe must navigate the treacherous French court, coordinate secret negotiations, and solve a murder that could derail an international peace treaty.

6. A Play of Piety (2010)

Set in: August 1436
Back on English soil, Joliffe is recovering from his exploits in France when he is drawn into a mystery surrounding a local hospital. What begins as a search for a missing relic turns into a murder investigation that pits the church, the townspeople, and the sick against one another. It is a quieter, more atmospheric cozy mystery that showcases Frazer's detail on medieval medicine and piety.

7. A Play of Heresy (2011)

Set in: Summer 1438
The final novel in the series is set during the bustling Corpus Christi festival in Coventry. Joliffe is hired to help organize the massive cycle of mystery plays, but the festival is overshadowed by accusations of Lollard heresy and the brutal murder of a wealthy patron. Joliffe must navigate religious tensions, local politics, and his own moral boundaries in what serves as a grand finale to his standalone adventures.

The Sister Frevisse Crossover Connection

Before Joliffe had his own series, he was a recurring character in Margaret Frazer's Sister Frevisse Mysteries, which follow a Benedictine nun at St. Frideswide's Priory. If you want to see how Joliffe's life unfolds outside of his acting troupe, here are the five Frevisse novels where he plays a significant role:

• The Servant's Tale (1434 New Year's): This is Joliffe's first appearance in print and chronologically. He is introduced as a clever young player who helps Sister Frevisse solve a murder at the priory during Christmastide.
• The Outlaw's Tale (1434 May): Set just before the events of A Play of Isaac, this book provides essential backstory on Joliffe's early life, his connection to the nobility, and the events that led him to join the acting troupe.
• The Prioress' Tale (1439 October): Set shortly after the events of A Play of Heresy, Joliffe returns as a guest at the priory, offering a glimpse of his life after the conclusion of his standalone series.
• The Bastard's Tale (1447 February): Set nearly a decade later, this book features an older, more mature Joliffe who is now working as an established political agent for high-ranking nobility, occasionally crossing paths with Frevisse.
• The Traitor's Tale (1450 Summer–Autumn): Set during the turbulent period of Jack Cade's rebellion, Joliffe and Frevisse are both caught up in national politics and treasonous conspiracies in London.

The Complete Integrated Chronological Reading List

For the ultimate Margaret Frazer experience, you can read the integrated timeline of Joliffe's life and career. This list merges his standalone novels with his guest appearances in the Sister Frevisse series:

1. The Servant's Tale (Frevisse Novel - Set in January 1434)
2. The Outlaw's Tale (Frevisse Novel - Set in May 1434)
3. A Play of Isaac (Joliffe Book 1 - Set in June 1434)
4. A Play of Dux Moraud (Joliffe Book 2 - Set in September–October 1434)
5. A Play of Knaves (Joliffe Book 3 - Set in Spring 1435)
6. A Play of Lords (Joliffe Book 4 - Set in Autumn 1435)
7. A Play of Treachery (Joliffe Book 5 - Set in Winter 1436)
8. A Play of Piety (Joliffe Book 6 - Set in August 1436)
9. A Play of Heresy (Joliffe Book 7 - Set in Summer 1438)
10. The Prioress' Tale (Frevisse Novel - Set in October 1439)
11. The Bastard's Tale (Frevisse Novel - Set in February 1447)
12. The Traitor's Tale (Frevisse Novel - Set in Summer–Autumn 1450)

What to Know Before You Start

Margaret Frazer (the pen name of Gail Lynn Brown) was a passionate medievalist, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and a theater enthusiast. Her deep research shines through the series, making the theatrical productions, medieval dialects, and political machinations feel incredibly authentic. To help you enjoy the series, keep these practical points in mind:

• Pronunciation: The author noted on her official website that she pronounced the name Joliffe with a short "o" and no final "e" (sounding like "JO-lif"). For Sister Frevisse, she preferred "FRAY-viss" (an English adaptation of the French Frideswide), though she encouraged readers to use whatever pronunciation felt most natural to them.
• Co-authorship: While the early Sister Frevisse books (including The Servant's Tale and The Outlaw's Tale) were co-authored by Gail Lynn Brown and Mary Monica Pulver under the shared Margaret Frazer pen name, the entire Joliffe the Player series was written solely by Gail Lynn Brown (as Margaret Frazer) after the partnership ended.
• Standalone Appeal: Each of the Joliffe novels is a self-contained mystery. You do not need to read the Sister Frevisse books to understand the plot of the Joliffe books, but reading them in chronological order adds rich character development and explains how Joliffe transitions from a humble traveling player to a trusted political agent.