A Masterly Murder

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. Michaelhouse college is in turmoil, the saintly but ageing Master has announced his retirement and with more than a little haste Runham has arranged his own election as successor to the Master. Within days he has for one reason or another dismissed several members of the staff and is making life for the scholars so unpleasant that even the normally placid Matthew Bartholomew is beginning to think that his own days at the college are numbered. However Matthew is soon lost in the problems of his many and varied patients and Brother Michael, Proctor of the university has some suspicious deaths to investigate, but both men cannot help but notice that Runham has commissioned a number of building projects. Then the new Master Runham is found murdered and although the man was disliked intensely, his death but be investigated for the good of the college.

I have been faithfully reading the Matthew Bartholomew series since Book 1. I certainly recommend reading this series in order. Not only does the story-line continue, but the actual historical details that come out in each book are in order too. In this book there is more strife in Cambridge. A new master has just taken over the college, and he's very much "out with the old and in with the new". Matthew and all his friends are all afraid that perhaps they won't have their jobs either. But, never fear, there is more murder in Cambridge and Matthew and his wonderful friend Brother Michael set out to solve the murders. (Please note: in Ms. Gregory's books there is always a lot more than one murder). Someone asked me for the order: A Plague on Both Your Houses; An Unholy Alliance; A Bone of Contention; A Deadly Brew; A Wicked Deed; A Masterly Murder; An Order for Death; A Summer of Discontent; A Killer in Winter The Hand of Justice; The Mark of a Murderer; The Tarnished Chalice; To Kill or Cure; The Devil's Disciples; (and the new one coming out in 2009 - A Vein of Deceit)

This is probably the best yet in Ms. Gregory's series about medieval doctor and scholar Matthew Bartholomew. The plot is intense, and there is no way most readers will have even the slightest inkling of the outcome!

I have been faithfully reading the Matthew Bartholomew series since Book 1. I certainly recommend reading this series in order. Not only does the story-line continue, but the actual historical details that come out in each book are in order too. In this book there is more strife in Cambridge. A new master has just taken over the college, and he's very much "out with the old and with the new". Matthew and all his friends are all afraid that perhaps they won't have their jobs either. But, never fear, there is more murder in Cambridge and Matthew and his wonderful friend Brother Michael set out to solve the murders. (Please note: in Ms. Gregory's books there is always a lot more than one murder).