I picked up A Play of Lords while sitting around the library, and started reading it without having read the other books in the Joliffe series. I'll have to find them when I get a chance.

A Play of Lords is a well-written historical mystery. Using players--actors--as the main characters offers an unusual viewpoint and allows the characters to be involved in politics at many levels, generally as outsiders. This works well with the mystery aspect of the book, which is very political rather than being a straightforward mystery. If you prefer your books to be whodunits, A Play of Lords is probably not for you. If, on the other hand, you like politics of all sorts--court-related, governmental, economical, personal--and historical settings, you should definitely give this book a try.

The writing is even and enjoyable. Frazer knows her setting well, and it shows in the details of the settings, clothing, speech, and politics. Joliffe is a good lead character, but he lacks depth in this book in some ways--there are hints dropped about his past, but his personality doesn't have much effect on the book's events in many ways. However, this works in this particular book, as he is getting swept up in something far bigger and complicated than what he sees and knows of it.

Overall, a very enjoyable book, and I'll be keeping an eye out for other books by her.