A Bone of Contention (Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles)

Judging from the high body count in Susanna Gregory's latest Matthew Bartholomew/Friar Michael who-dun-it, 14th Century Cambridge was Murder Central! By the time this tangled tale - which begins with the murder of a University student and the discovery of what appear to be the bones of a saint - is unraveled, about a baker's dozen of the local folk have been knived, bludgeoned, etc. The reader may feel mentally bludgeoned as the murders pile up, the mystery deepens, red herrings surface and sink till the murderer is finally unveiled 490-odd pages later. To her credit, few authors are as adept at recreating the sights, sounds and smells of Ye Olde England than Gregory. And, as always, the Bartholomew/Michael friendship is nicely done. In this story, Bartholomew is shown to be totally at sea when it comes to the fairer sex, a nice touch that adds a little humor to the story. As with others in this series though, I feel the book is overly long and convoluted. 'Bone of Contention' is awash in characters, so much so that you almost need a scorecard to keep them straight. And when yet another character is dispatched, you know there will be yet another dialogue between Michael and Bartholomew about "What does this mean?...We thought he/she was (fill in the blank)...if not, then how...," etc. Methinks a few less characters/murders would leave the reader in a slightly less exhausted state at book's end. You know it's a complicated plot when the killer needs 18 pages to explain the preceding events! In any case, medieval mystery buffs will enjoy the latest outing of Matthew and Michael.

Susanna Gregory is the pseudonym of a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. Her series of mediaeval mysteries have gained a formidable following. This book is the second in the series and introduces the physician Matthew Bartholomew to the reader. There are now a number of books in the series and they are always eagerly awaited by the author's fans. Besides practising medicine Matthew is also a teacher at a Cambridge University and his sometimes unorthodox treatment of his patients draws accusations of heresy from his more traditional, but less skilled colleagues. In this novel Matthew Bartholomew, a physician at Michaelhouse College in Cambridge, is called to the King's Ditch, a horrible stinking place that contains most of the rubbish and sewage from the town. Some mysterious bones have been found there, but are they old or new? The following day he is again called to the Ditch, this time because a student has been found dead there. There is also unrest in the town. Much more than the normal bickering between the townsfolk and the students of the university. There is the disappeance of Dominica, former lover of the dead student and daughter of the well known Principal of a Cambridge student hostel. Can all these events be connected? Then there is another find in the Ditch, a skeletal hand. It is hailed by the townsfolk as the last remains of a local martyr Simon d'Ambrey. When Matthew find out that on the finger of the gruesome find there is a ring, identical to a pair worn by Dominica and her dead lover, he knows that his teaching duties will have to wait while he attempts to solve the mystery. This is the third book in the series and Matthew Bartholomew now seems like an old friend to the reader. It was also inspirationally by the author to place the books in mediaeval Cambridge. It just seems to add some extra atmosphere to the books.

I really enjoy Susanna Gregory's books about Matthew and Brother Michael. The mystery is very good, and there is enough murder and mayhem to suit any one's taste. This is a great sereis, and you can't go wrong by beginning it. Ms. Gregory does a very good job of depicting what life was like in the Dark Ages in England. The more I read of her work, the better I like it. I can't wait to read "Deadly Brew". Wouldn't it be great if we could go back, as observers anyway, to this period in history?

I was initially afraid that this would be just another medieval mystery..you know long on historic detail and short on mystery. But, I was wrong. The mystery is well done with a strong touch of evil that seems appropriate for a novel in that period. The history is also pleasently done. Interesting without extra detail. I would recommend this and the rest of the series.