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Matthew Bartholomew #1
A Plague on Both Your Houses
In the tradition of Ellis Peters, A Plague on Both Your Houses introduces the physician Matthew Bartholomew, whose unorthodox but effective treatment of his patients frequently draws accusations of heresy from his more traditional colleagues. Besides his practice, Bartholomew is teacher of Medicine at Michaelhouse, part of the fledgling University of Cambridge. In 1348, the inhabitants of Cambridge live under the shadow of a terrible pestilence that has ravaged Europe and is travelling relentlessly eastward towards England. Bartholomew, however, is distracted by the sudden and inexplicable death of the Master of Michaelhouse - a death the University authorities do not want investigated. When three more scholars die in mysterious circumstances, Bartholomew defies the University and begins his own enquiry. His pursuit for the truth leads him into a complex tangle of lies and intrigue that causes him to question the innocence of his closest friends, and even his family. And then the Black Death finally arrives and Bartholomew is dragged deeper and deeper into a quagmire which threatens not only his life, but the continued existence of the University and the future of the town.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
399 people are currently reading
6035 people want to read
About the author
Susanna Gregory
87 books433 followersSusanna Gregory is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cruwys, a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. She is married to author Beau Riffenburgh who is her co-author on the Simon Beaufort books.
AKA Simon Beaufort
She writes detective fiction, and is noted for her series of mediaeval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew, a teacher of medicine and investigator of murders in 14th-century Cambridge.
These books may have some aspects in common with the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, the mediaeval adventures of a highly intelligent Benedictine monk and herbalist who came to the Benedictine order late in an eventful life, bringing with him considerable secular experience and wisdom combined with a deal of native wit. This sets him apart from his comparatively innocent and naíve monastic brethren. His activities, both as a monk and a healer, embroil him in a series of mysterious crimes, both secular and monastic, and he enthusiastically assumes the rôle of an amateur sleuth. Sceptical of superstition, he is somewhat ahead of his time, and much accurate historical detail is woven into the adventures. But there any resemblance to the comparatively warm-hearted Cadfael series ends: the tone and subject matter of the Gregory novels is far darker and does not shrink from portraying the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. The first in the series, A Plague on Both Your Houses is set against the ravages of the Black Death and subsequent novels take much of their subject matter from the attempts of society to recover from this disaster.
These novels bear the marks of much detailed research into mediaeval conditions - many of the supporting characters have names taken from the documentation of the time, referenced at the end of each book - and bring vividly to life the all-pervading squalor of living conditions in England during the Middle Ages. The deep-rooted and pervasive practice of traditional leechcraft as it contrasts with the dawning science of evidence-based medicine is a common bone of contention between Matthew and the students he teaches at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity College, Cambridge), whilst the conflict between the students of Cambridge and the townsfolk continually threatens to escalate into violence.
Another series of books, set just after the Restoration of Charles II and featuring Thomas Chaloner, detective and former spy, began with A Conspiracy of Violence published in January 2006, and continues with The Body in the Thames, published in hardback edition January 2011.
AKA Simon Beaufort
She writes detective fiction, and is noted for her series of mediaeval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew, a teacher of medicine and investigator of murders in 14th-century Cambridge.
These books may have some aspects in common with the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, the mediaeval adventures of a highly intelligent Benedictine monk and herbalist who came to the Benedictine order late in an eventful life, bringing with him considerable secular experience and wisdom combined with a deal of native wit. This sets him apart from his comparatively innocent and naíve monastic brethren. His activities, both as a monk and a healer, embroil him in a series of mysterious crimes, both secular and monastic, and he enthusiastically assumes the rôle of an amateur sleuth. Sceptical of superstition, he is somewhat ahead of his time, and much accurate historical detail is woven into the adventures. But there any resemblance to the comparatively warm-hearted Cadfael series ends: the tone and subject matter of the Gregory novels is far darker and does not shrink from portraying the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. The first in the series, A Plague on Both Your Houses is set against the ravages of the Black Death and subsequent novels take much of their subject matter from the attempts of society to recover from this disaster.
These novels bear the marks of much detailed research into mediaeval conditions - many of the supporting characters have names taken from the documentation of the time, referenced at the end of each book - and bring vividly to life the all-pervading squalor of living conditions in England during the Middle Ages. The deep-rooted and pervasive practice of traditional leechcraft as it contrasts with the dawning science of evidence-based medicine is a common bone of contention between Matthew and the students he teaches at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity College, Cambridge), whilst the conflict between the students of Cambridge and the townsfolk continually threatens to escalate into violence.
Another series of books, set just after the Restoration of Charles II and featuring Thomas Chaloner, detective and former spy, began with A Conspiracy of Violence published in January 2006, and continues with The Body in the Thames, published in hardback edition January 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
January 20, 2019
A good HF series I've been following for some time now ...
September 18, 2022
Another novel which is the first in a crime series set in medieval England (like Cadfael and Shardlake). As the title suggests it is set in 1348, when the Plague arrived in the country. The protagonist is Matthew Bartholomew who is an academic and physician at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity). I think there are now about twenty in the series.
There are lots of characters and the plot is quite complex with plenty of twists and turns. This does mean that the characterisation was a bit limited apart from the main character. Gregory does try to make Bartholomew slightly more modern. He is sceptical of practices such as using leeches and opts for what feels like a more modern, common sense approach (a bit like Cadfael). There are some attempts at realism and there is plenty of slime, rot, blood, sewage, decomposition and the like. Gregory does try to convey the effect of the Plague where almost half the population died, the issues with how to manage burials, contagion and the inevitable gaps in society. The author has been a coroner’s officer and does show off her depth of knowledge about death.
The plot is all over the place and I found it difficult to see the point of the villainous plan when it was revealed. All in all Bartholomew doesn’t really appear to do anything apart from being a pretty adept physician and manages to get himself in a few situations where the opposition could bump him off; unfortunately they don’t.
There are lots of characters and the plot is quite complex with plenty of twists and turns. This does mean that the characterisation was a bit limited apart from the main character. Gregory does try to make Bartholomew slightly more modern. He is sceptical of practices such as using leeches and opts for what feels like a more modern, common sense approach (a bit like Cadfael). There are some attempts at realism and there is plenty of slime, rot, blood, sewage, decomposition and the like. Gregory does try to convey the effect of the Plague where almost half the population died, the issues with how to manage burials, contagion and the inevitable gaps in society. The author has been a coroner’s officer and does show off her depth of knowledge about death.
The plot is all over the place and I found it difficult to see the point of the villainous plan when it was revealed. All in all Bartholomew doesn’t really appear to do anything apart from being a pretty adept physician and manages to get himself in a few situations where the opposition could bump him off; unfortunately they don’t.
February 6, 2019
This first of Susanna Gregory's Matthew Bartholomew novels still (and after more than fifteen years) ranks amongst my very favourites of this now quite extensive series (my original copy of A Plague on Both Your Houses, I literally stumbled upon in an airport bookstore in August 2000, and I actually managed to read the entire novel on my four hour flight from Calgary to Toronto, so enthralling and interesting the plot and the featured characters proved to be). Full of informative historical details (not only with regard to Medieval Cambridge, but the entire era of the Plague, the Black Death), and presenting an evocative, immediate sense of both time and place, the author introduces, portrays characters who grow on you, characters who become part of you and whom you might even personally enjoy having as friends and perhaps even more (well more characters like Matthew, Brother Michael, and Oswald Stanhope, as of course, the same cannot really be said with regard to some of the lesser and villainous personages, but truly, all of the presented and featured literary figures, both heroes and villains, are portrayed as richly nuanced, and even with those who do end up as scoundrels, as criminals, their villainy, their negativity, is often not all that obvious at the onset, is delightfully and even sometimes rather creepily and strangely hidden).
Combined with an at times horrifying, yet always thankfully realistic ambience and sense of what Cambridge as a university and as a town was like during the Middle Ages, during the first bout of the Black Death, A Plague on Both Your Houses is highly recommended for ANYONE (but especially for historical mystery enthusiasts who are looking for a series that is intelligent, informative and has living and breathing, has authentic seeming persons as its cast of characters and is also generally not too overly and/or gratuitously violent in scope and nature). And the academic setting of Cambridge University is and always will be a much loved and massively personally appreciated added bonus, an evocative painting of academic life in Medieval Cambridge, Medieval Britain, of both its positives and also its negatives.
Combined with an at times horrifying, yet always thankfully realistic ambience and sense of what Cambridge as a university and as a town was like during the Middle Ages, during the first bout of the Black Death, A Plague on Both Your Houses is highly recommended for ANYONE (but especially for historical mystery enthusiasts who are looking for a series that is intelligent, informative and has living and breathing, has authentic seeming persons as its cast of characters and is also generally not too overly and/or gratuitously violent in scope and nature). And the academic setting of Cambridge University is and always will be a much loved and massively personally appreciated added bonus, an evocative painting of academic life in Medieval Cambridge, Medieval Britain, of both its positives and also its negatives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2019
**Definitely 4.5 Stars!**
After having read all the books so far from this astounding mystery author, Susanna Gregory, of the great "Thomas Chaloner" series, I decided to make a start with the "Matthew Bartholomew" series beginning with this book, volume 1.
Although this historical mystery is already 23-years-old, it's still as fresh now as it was then, in 1996.
Storytelling is, just like the "Thomas Chaloner" series, although this is the series that the author started and sent her on the way of recognition, of a superb quality, it's also a story where all the characters come vividly to life and where the historical details are wonderfully worked out in this medieval mystery, and not to forget the delightful picturing of the atmospheric surroundings of Cambridge, England.
At the beginning of the book you'll find two well-drawn maps of Cambridge, England, and of Michaelhouse, part of Cambridge University, both from circa AD 1348.
Like I said before this murder mystery is set in and around Cambridge, England, from the year AD 1348 until March, AD 1349, with also the pestilence raging across Europe and England, and in these circumstances our main character, the physician/doctor to Michaelhouse College, Matthew Bartholomew, comes into action as an investigator, especially when the Master of Michaelhouse, Sir John Babington, is suddenly found dead and the University authorities made it known that they don't want this death investigated.
Just because of the University's and the Bishop's refusal to investigate this murder, Matthew Bartholomew, is now more than determined and also after a few friendly advices very careful, to get to the truth of this murder, and his investigation will lead him to more murders, besides the plague deaths, but it will also lead him into a tangle of deceit and intrigue from both close friends and his family.
What will follow is a very eventful mystery into which Matthew Bartholomew has to face quite dangerous and deadly encounters from these conspirators, and after a few twist and turns and solving an exciting plot within a plot, he will be able to identify the culprit(s) of these terrible murders, and finally bring some peace into a Cambridge community which is plagued all around with the Black Death.
Very much recommended, for this is a really satisfying start of this already well-known and long-run series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Intriguing Begin of this Medieval Mystery Series"!
After having read all the books so far from this astounding mystery author, Susanna Gregory, of the great "Thomas Chaloner" series, I decided to make a start with the "Matthew Bartholomew" series beginning with this book, volume 1.
Although this historical mystery is already 23-years-old, it's still as fresh now as it was then, in 1996.
Storytelling is, just like the "Thomas Chaloner" series, although this is the series that the author started and sent her on the way of recognition, of a superb quality, it's also a story where all the characters come vividly to life and where the historical details are wonderfully worked out in this medieval mystery, and not to forget the delightful picturing of the atmospheric surroundings of Cambridge, England.
At the beginning of the book you'll find two well-drawn maps of Cambridge, England, and of Michaelhouse, part of Cambridge University, both from circa AD 1348.
Like I said before this murder mystery is set in and around Cambridge, England, from the year AD 1348 until March, AD 1349, with also the pestilence raging across Europe and England, and in these circumstances our main character, the physician/doctor to Michaelhouse College, Matthew Bartholomew, comes into action as an investigator, especially when the Master of Michaelhouse, Sir John Babington, is suddenly found dead and the University authorities made it known that they don't want this death investigated.
Just because of the University's and the Bishop's refusal to investigate this murder, Matthew Bartholomew, is now more than determined and also after a few friendly advices very careful, to get to the truth of this murder, and his investigation will lead him to more murders, besides the plague deaths, but it will also lead him into a tangle of deceit and intrigue from both close friends and his family.
What will follow is a very eventful mystery into which Matthew Bartholomew has to face quite dangerous and deadly encounters from these conspirators, and after a few twist and turns and solving an exciting plot within a plot, he will be able to identify the culprit(s) of these terrible murders, and finally bring some peace into a Cambridge community which is plagued all around with the Black Death.
Very much recommended, for this is a really satisfying start of this already well-known and long-run series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Intriguing Begin of this Medieval Mystery Series"!
July 20, 2021
I love murder mysteries, adore books set in Abbeys and Monasteries and a murder mystery set in an Abbey, well couldn’t be better, a dream come true or so I thought.
But ‘A Plague on Both Your Houses’ has nothing gripping; the narration and the detection have nothing spectacular.
A cross between Eco’s ‘In the Name of Rose’ and the Shardalake series, both excellent but here in this avatar pitiful and painful for the absurd plot.
A redeeming factor however is the description of the Plague in all its horrors, the excruciating symptoms, the buboes, the treatment or whatever could be done to alleviate the pain, the harrowing death, the burial in lime pits is narrated very meticulously and that to some extent compensates for the vague plot and the shoddy investigation
But ‘A Plague on Both Your Houses’ has nothing gripping; the narration and the detection have nothing spectacular.
A cross between Eco’s ‘In the Name of Rose’ and the Shardalake series, both excellent but here in this avatar pitiful and painful for the absurd plot.
A redeeming factor however is the description of the Plague in all its horrors, the excruciating symptoms, the buboes, the treatment or whatever could be done to alleviate the pain, the harrowing death, the burial in lime pits is narrated very meticulously and that to some extent compensates for the vague plot and the shoddy investigation
August 15, 2015
After finishing this novel, I felt like I had really read two separate novels. It seemed like there was a novel about the plague and a novel about the murders at Michaelhouse. I understand the plague was a big deal in the world at the time of the events of this novel but the way the writer included it took a little bit away from the mystery. The novel was written well enough for me to want to continue on with this series.
September 11, 2011
Not 40 pages in and so far we have 2 dead academics, a contentious election, and a near riot.
I feel the need for some popcorn.
ETA: Wow, plot doesn't slow down, that's for sure.
I feel the need for some popcorn.
ETA: Wow, plot doesn't slow down, that's for sure.
September 15, 2011
This is the first story on Mathew Bartholomew series when he tries to solve some murder in Cambridge University and treat with some unorthodox ways some patients affected by the Plague. The Oxford-Cambridge also comes out from time to time but it's not fully explored by the author.
December 7, 2021
3.5 stars. I read several books in this series a number of years ago, and would have read more. But one of my pet peeves about my local library is that they almost never have the first book in a series, and I’m a bit obsessive (okay, maybe more than a bit) about reading a series in order.
Anyway, I’ve been trying to collect the early books in this series but they are hard to find. On a recent trip to England we visited Hay-on-Wye, also known as the Town of Bookshops, and I found the first three books! (They had more of the series but my luggage did not have more room; I had already bought a new suitcase to accommodate my London shopping haul. Ahem, Hatchards. Ahem, Waterstones.)
Anyway, back to the book. I love the setting and the backdrop of the Black Death and the characters (even though a List of Characters would be helpful since there are a lot of them). The plot, as many reviewers have commented is extremely intricate and convoluted. During one of the brawls toward the end, I remember thinking that Ms. Gregory must have constructed a model of the room and had figures representing each character in order to keep it straight who was trying to kill whom with which weapon! Definitely a bit “Colonel Mustard in the library with the revolver.”
Nevertheless this is a lot of fun to read. I read mystery series, especially historical mysteries, because of the characters and the historical settings, so I can overlook some weakness or implausibility in plots.
Anyway, I’ve been trying to collect the early books in this series but they are hard to find. On a recent trip to England we visited Hay-on-Wye, also known as the Town of Bookshops, and I found the first three books! (They had more of the series but my luggage did not have more room; I had already bought a new suitcase to accommodate my London shopping haul. Ahem, Hatchards. Ahem, Waterstones.)
Anyway, back to the book. I love the setting and the backdrop of the Black Death and the characters (even though a List of Characters would be helpful since there are a lot of them). The plot, as many reviewers have commented is extremely intricate and convoluted. During one of the brawls toward the end, I remember thinking that Ms. Gregory must have constructed a model of the room and had figures representing each character in order to keep it straight who was trying to kill whom with which weapon! Definitely a bit “Colonel Mustard in the library with the revolver.”
Nevertheless this is a lot of fun to read. I read mystery series, especially historical mysteries, because of the characters and the historical settings, so I can overlook some weakness or implausibility in plots.
November 20, 2018
How did this book get 4 stars on Goodreads? It's really bad. I kept reading it because it was such a trainwreck. The plot is ridiculous and when the mystery is finally resolved at the end of the book, the author has to repeat what happened and why about 6 different times because it's so senseless. Basically, the plot is pushed along by the narrator constantly saying, "Why did this happen? Could it have been Giles? Or maybe it was Oswald? Or could Aelfrith be the murderer? Matt wiped his brow. . . "
Characters react artificially, don't ask obvious questions or show any real human reaction, and the dialog is stilted and unbelievable.
However, the author is a scientist, according to her bio, and she studies marine pollution. So she's probably a good egg, who has taken up medieval history and writing as a hobby. Good for her! Good luck! But I won't be reading any more of her books. . .
Characters react artificially, don't ask obvious questions or show any real human reaction, and the dialog is stilted and unbelievable.
However, the author is a scientist, according to her bio, and she studies marine pollution. So she's probably a good egg, who has taken up medieval history and writing as a hobby. Good for her! Good luck! But I won't be reading any more of her books. . .
March 6, 2020
Always unfortunate when the Black Death has come to Cambridge and someone keeps murdering people at your college. G was very taken with the cover of this book and wanted to know what it was about, then he corrected my pronunciation of 'bubonic' and we got online & learned a lot about plagues, which is great and timely and all of that. GR says this is the first in the series and the cover of this edition which my son so enjoyed says it's the third, but in any case I had a very good time with this book and a cup of tea on the couch and I'll read the other books whatever order they're in.
June 22, 2015
This was a book that had been recommended to me by several people as I lamented the fact that I had run out of Shardlake books to read. Some elements of Gregory's writing were reminiscent of Sansom's, even if I didn't feel quite the affection for Matthew Bartholomew as I did for Matthew Shardlake.
Bartholomew's story takes place significantly earlier than Shardlake's as well. The plague rages through England in 1348, and he finds himself one of the few physicians willing to treat and comfort the suffering poor. However, the plague is only the backdrop of the mystery that consumes Bartholomew's thoughts and threatens his life.
Residents of Michaelhouse at Cambridge are dropping like flies, and not just of the plague. As the bodies pile up, Bartholomew has suspicions of everyone surrounding him. He is intelligent, if a little naive, but is still shocked to the core when he discovers the truth behind the murders.
This plot is full of twists and turns, some of which are slightly implausible. I found it a fun read, satisfyingly sprinkled with historical tidbits. At times the story was too convoluted and the "Let's summarize what we know" moments were annoying, but it was a good enough introduction to make me want to read more about the selfless physician, Matthew Bartholomew.
Bartholomew's story takes place significantly earlier than Shardlake's as well. The plague rages through England in 1348, and he finds himself one of the few physicians willing to treat and comfort the suffering poor. However, the plague is only the backdrop of the mystery that consumes Bartholomew's thoughts and threatens his life.
Residents of Michaelhouse at Cambridge are dropping like flies, and not just of the plague. As the bodies pile up, Bartholomew has suspicions of everyone surrounding him. He is intelligent, if a little naive, but is still shocked to the core when he discovers the truth behind the murders.
This plot is full of twists and turns, some of which are slightly implausible. I found it a fun read, satisfyingly sprinkled with historical tidbits. At times the story was too convoluted and the "Let's summarize what we know" moments were annoying, but it was a good enough introduction to make me want to read more about the selfless physician, Matthew Bartholomew.
September 3, 2007
A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES (Amateur Sleuth-England-1300s) – G
Gregory, Susanna – 1st in series
Time Warner Paperback, 1996- Paperback
Matthew Bartholomew is a physician and teacher at the University of Cambridge, which is suddenly having an epidemic of unexplained deaths that, he is told, relate to a power struggle with College of Oxford. But when the plague comes to Cambridge, Matthew is both trying to save lives and uncover the truth.
*** I had a bit of trouble caring about the supposed motive behind the murders and found it overly complicated. But I did care about the character of Matthew. He is well drawn, interesting and a character I would follow through a series. For me, though, the most interesting aspect was Matt's trying to deal with the plague and its impact, which was beyond imagination. It was a good first book; enough so that I shall read more of the series.
Gregory, Susanna – 1st in series
Time Warner Paperback, 1996- Paperback
Matthew Bartholomew is a physician and teacher at the University of Cambridge, which is suddenly having an epidemic of unexplained deaths that, he is told, relate to a power struggle with College of Oxford. But when the plague comes to Cambridge, Matthew is both trying to save lives and uncover the truth.
*** I had a bit of trouble caring about the supposed motive behind the murders and found it overly complicated. But I did care about the character of Matthew. He is well drawn, interesting and a character I would follow through a series. For me, though, the most interesting aspect was Matt's trying to deal with the plague and its impact, which was beyond imagination. It was a good first book; enough so that I shall read more of the series.
September 27, 2021
3.5 stars
May 3, 2020
I wanted to read something light, maybe a mystery, and this book popped at me from my bookshelf, 'The Plague on Both Your Houses' by Susanna Gregory.
The story told goes like this. It is the year 1348 and the place is Cambridge University. One of the masters of a college dies mysteriously. It is thought to be a suicide. The college physician Bartholomew has questions on it. A new master is appointed. But before the celebrations get over, another person dies mysteriously. And the dead body disappears. Before we know, more and more strange things start happening. Our man Bartholomew investigates.
Looking at the story like this, it does look very fascinating and gripping. A medieval murder mystery with a handsome doctor investigating – what more can one want? Well, appearances can be deceptive.
It is hard to ignore the fact that the initial part of the story bears remarkable similarities to Umberto Eco's masterpiece, 'The Name of the Rose'. In that book also, monks start dropping dead mysteriously in a monastery and a monk arrives and investigates. Till that point, this book is interesting. And then the Plague arrives in Cambridge, and it proves to be the death knell for the book. The book sinks rapidly after that, the story starts meandering painfully. There are some plot twists once in a while, but it was hard to read. At some point, I was wondering why I was reading the book. But I still wanted to find out what mysteries were revealed and who was the murderer, and so I painfully ploughed ahead. I speed read the last one third of the book, which was very hard for me, because I hate speed reading. I discovered all the secrets behind the mysteries and who were the bad guys. The revelations on the identities of the bad guys were interesting, but the main motivation for all the bad doings was very unconvincing and weak.
It looks like this book might have been popular with the original fans, because Susanna Gregory spun this off into a series, and there are totally 24 books in the series now, all starring our Doctor Bartholomew. I think it is safe to say that I won't be reading any of them.
This book was a tough read for me, but I am glad I persisted and ploughed through it and reached the end. The silver lining is that I can now check off one more book from my unread books list 😁
Have you read this book? What do you think about it?
The story told goes like this. It is the year 1348 and the place is Cambridge University. One of the masters of a college dies mysteriously. It is thought to be a suicide. The college physician Bartholomew has questions on it. A new master is appointed. But before the celebrations get over, another person dies mysteriously. And the dead body disappears. Before we know, more and more strange things start happening. Our man Bartholomew investigates.
Looking at the story like this, it does look very fascinating and gripping. A medieval murder mystery with a handsome doctor investigating – what more can one want? Well, appearances can be deceptive.
It is hard to ignore the fact that the initial part of the story bears remarkable similarities to Umberto Eco's masterpiece, 'The Name of the Rose'. In that book also, monks start dropping dead mysteriously in a monastery and a monk arrives and investigates. Till that point, this book is interesting. And then the Plague arrives in Cambridge, and it proves to be the death knell for the book. The book sinks rapidly after that, the story starts meandering painfully. There are some plot twists once in a while, but it was hard to read. At some point, I was wondering why I was reading the book. But I still wanted to find out what mysteries were revealed and who was the murderer, and so I painfully ploughed ahead. I speed read the last one third of the book, which was very hard for me, because I hate speed reading. I discovered all the secrets behind the mysteries and who were the bad guys. The revelations on the identities of the bad guys were interesting, but the main motivation for all the bad doings was very unconvincing and weak.
It looks like this book might have been popular with the original fans, because Susanna Gregory spun this off into a series, and there are totally 24 books in the series now, all starring our Doctor Bartholomew. I think it is safe to say that I won't be reading any of them.
This book was a tough read for me, but I am glad I persisted and ploughed through it and reached the end. The silver lining is that I can now check off one more book from my unread books list 😁
Have you read this book? What do you think about it?
August 9, 2012
Didn't like this at all. Story over complicated. I didn't care about the motives behind the murders and didn't connect with the "hero" Matthew. Lots of authors writing similar but vastly superior books. I wont be reading any more of this series.
June 17, 2019
Way too many characters & deaths to keep track of. By the end it was a boring struggle. Disappointing.
July 30, 2024
book:A Plague on Both Your Houses|71102] is Susanna Gregory's debut book and the first of a lengthy series of Matthew Bartholomew mysteries.
The year is 1348 and the plague is inching ever closer to England and the teachers of Cambridge are preparing for it. Bartholomew, who was trained in Paris by an Arab physician teaches medicine at Michaelhouse a college at Cambridge. He is a very sympathetic character who has managed to stumble into a conspiracy, which he doesn't understand.
I will say that this is a very convoluted mystery, which takes some unraveling. The descriptions of the plague can't help but give one the shivers coming so close to our own pandemic.
I do love a medieval mystery and expect I will be reading more of these.
The year is 1348 and the plague is inching ever closer to England and the teachers of Cambridge are preparing for it. Bartholomew, who was trained in Paris by an Arab physician teaches medicine at Michaelhouse a college at Cambridge. He is a very sympathetic character who has managed to stumble into a conspiracy, which he doesn't understand.
I will say that this is a very convoluted mystery, which takes some unraveling. The descriptions of the plague can't help but give one the shivers coming so close to our own pandemic.
I do love a medieval mystery and expect I will be reading more of these.
July 17, 2015
A Plague on Both Your Houses
3 Stars
The Black Death is slowly making its way across Europe and toward England. At the same time, a series of mysteries deaths at Cambridge University arouses the suspicions of Matthew Bartholomew, a doctor and scholar at Michaelhouse college. As Bartholomew investigates, he uncovers a horrific web of lies and intrigue that makes him question those closest to him and may result in the destruction of the university itself.
The history of the rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge and the descriptions of the advent of the plague in England (symptoms and treatments) are particularly interesting. Unfortunately, the mystery is not as compelling as it becomes overly complex with several convoluted threads and an abundance of characters with a mish-mash of motivations and agendas.
Aside from Bartholomew, none of the characters are fleshed out well and it is difficult to become attached to any of them. Thus, the inevitable deaths due to the plague or murder fails to evoke an emotional response and there is very little tension or suspense.
All in all, a decent enough historical mystery and I may continue with the series, but it isn’t a priority.
3 Stars
The Black Death is slowly making its way across Europe and toward England. At the same time, a series of mysteries deaths at Cambridge University arouses the suspicions of Matthew Bartholomew, a doctor and scholar at Michaelhouse college. As Bartholomew investigates, he uncovers a horrific web of lies and intrigue that makes him question those closest to him and may result in the destruction of the university itself.
The history of the rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge and the descriptions of the advent of the plague in England (symptoms and treatments) are particularly interesting. Unfortunately, the mystery is not as compelling as it becomes overly complex with several convoluted threads and an abundance of characters with a mish-mash of motivations and agendas.
Aside from Bartholomew, none of the characters are fleshed out well and it is difficult to become attached to any of them. Thus, the inevitable deaths due to the plague or murder fails to evoke an emotional response and there is very little tension or suspense.
All in all, a decent enough historical mystery and I may continue with the series, but it isn’t a priority.
June 11, 2015
A medieval mystery during the time of the plague
This is a difficult book in that there are so many characters to keep straight! Most of them are teachers who have taken some form of religious orders and I did not identify with any of them; however, I did find the main character ,Matthew, growing on me during the second half of the book. During this time of medical discovery, most doctors knew that drawing blood with leeches and telling a person's humors by looking at the stars was not going to help the patient . But many doctors still did these things during this time of desperation to earn more money. Matthew stuck to his moral beliefs despite it costing him earnings and patients. I found the historical and medical information to be more interesting than the mystery!
The mystery is not well-paced. Clues are laid out nicely in the beginning and then -nothing about the mystery for awhile and the book becomes very slow, and this cycle continues throughout the book. In the end, I would just say the mystery itself is mediocre.
I don't know if the series gets better...I would only give book two a try if it fell in my lap,or hopefully on my Kindle, because I needed the Search to keep all of the characters straight.
This is a difficult book in that there are so many characters to keep straight! Most of them are teachers who have taken some form of religious orders and I did not identify with any of them; however, I did find the main character ,Matthew, growing on me during the second half of the book. During this time of medical discovery, most doctors knew that drawing blood with leeches and telling a person's humors by looking at the stars was not going to help the patient . But many doctors still did these things during this time of desperation to earn more money. Matthew stuck to his moral beliefs despite it costing him earnings and patients. I found the historical and medical information to be more interesting than the mystery!
The mystery is not well-paced. Clues are laid out nicely in the beginning and then -nothing about the mystery for awhile and the book becomes very slow, and this cycle continues throughout the book. In the end, I would just say the mystery itself is mediocre.
I don't know if the series gets better...I would only give book two a try if it fell in my lap,or hopefully on my Kindle, because I needed the Search to keep all of the characters straight.
March 6, 2014
Cambridge, 1348
THE SCHOLAR WAITED IN THE BLACK SHADOW OF the churchyard trees for the Sheriff's night patrol to pass by, trying to control his breathing.
It has long been acceptable to include first line questions in trivia quizzes, however I see that end lines, other than that of A Tale of Two Cities, are starting to creep in too. So I shall start including them; no, I will not be trawling back but will add as they come up. Here is an end line that I suspect will never be important enough for any quiz:
'Come on, old friend', he said, tugging Bartholomew's sleeve to make him move, 'or you will make me miss my dinner.'
Overall, I have to agree with Hayes, too many characters and too many factions makes for a very muddled story, however being a fan of The Medieval Murderers series, Gregory's depictions of Bartholomew's career settle down into lovely tales.
So for this, a 3*, rounded up from 2.5*
THE SCHOLAR WAITED IN THE BLACK SHADOW OF the churchyard trees for the Sheriff's night patrol to pass by, trying to control his breathing.
It has long been acceptable to include first line questions in trivia quizzes, however I see that end lines, other than that of A Tale of Two Cities, are starting to creep in too. So I shall start including them; no, I will not be trawling back but will add as they come up. Here is an end line that I suspect will never be important enough for any quiz:
'Come on, old friend', he said, tugging Bartholomew's sleeve to make him move, 'or you will make me miss my dinner.'
Overall, I have to agree with Hayes, too many characters and too many factions makes for a very muddled story, however being a fan of The Medieval Murderers series, Gregory's depictions of Bartholomew's career settle down into lovely tales.
So for this, a 3*, rounded up from 2.5*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2021
I can only go so long without a book set in the English Middle Ages and this one had the bonus of being 14th century, a time period I became hooked on after reading some of Karen Maitland’s writing. The time period is so rife with superstition- and many interesting politics in the church.
I’m glad I tried this book, the author is a historian and the main character of Matthew Bartholomew was likable and interesting. With multiple murders and crimes, this is one book you’ll never guess whodunnit.
I’m glad I tried this book, the author is a historian and the main character of Matthew Bartholomew was likable and interesting. With multiple murders and crimes, this is one book you’ll never guess whodunnit.
January 15, 2021
Detektīvs iz viduslaiku universitātes pilsētiņas dzīves. Morāle: mēris ir baiss, bet slepkavnieki, kurus pat epidēmija nespēj apstādināt, iespējams, ir vēl baisāki
October 28, 2022
3.5 stars. This historical mystery has a lot of moving parts, maybe even too many. It took me quite a while to start to care about the main character, and the mystery is more about why murders are being committed then by whom. I did like the characters, and look forward to continuing with the series but I hope future books are a little more streamlined.
April 30, 2013
I started reading the Matthew Bartholomew series out of order - I think I read the first three in reverse order - but if the same happens to you, don't worry. I didn't feel like this first book gives any deeper grounding in the characters or setting. Which is not to say they're shallow or that the setting is thin, more that each book continues to build onto them in a natural way.
As a fan of historical fiction and a former medieval history student, I loved reading about the development of the university system in Cambridge. I feel like the author captures the feel of 14th century life very well; the character types and their motivations feel very of their time. As far as characterization, I feel the author does a very good job of avoiding stereotypes. Brother Michael is fat and constantly eating, but he's not the stereotypical jolly, vapid fat guy. Matthew Bartholomew has studied with an Arab physician and has modern views on cleanliness and medical treatments, but is not supremely enlightened.
In fact, Bartholomew is often totally confused about what's going on, which is good because the plots of all three books I've read in this series are *so* convoluted that he has to sit down and hash out what's going on several times, so that we can get caught up. I'm still not sure I understood exactly what was going on with the Oxford plot in this book. I've also noticed that, in this series, there tend to be two mysteries that at first seem like aspects of one plot/mystery, but turn out to be unrelated. I'd say half of the one star I didn't give this book is because I like the mystery to be tough to figure out while I'm reading, but I want to be able to actually understand it once it's been revealed at the end!
The other half star off is for two points that I feel are pretty minor but nevertheless kept occurring to me as I read. First, many of the characters' names are similar enough that if I had split the reading up over a week or more, I wouldn't have remembered who was who. Stephen and Swynford, two Stanmores (the fact that there are two is key to the plot), Wilson and William, Alcote and Augustus, Michael and Matthew, etc.
Second, both the title and jacket description led me to believe the book would be more focused on the plague. And while that was a major ingredient in the story, I felt like it was put in the backseat too often. It gave a good pretext for an introductory story about a physician, but I felt like the main mystery/plot as well as the general action and time frame of the book could have centered more on the plague.
Overall, I enjoy the historical setting and characters of this series very much and am not overly concerned that the central mystery frequently is too convoluted to be reasonable.
As a fan of historical fiction and a former medieval history student, I loved reading about the development of the university system in Cambridge. I feel like the author captures the feel of 14th century life very well; the character types and their motivations feel very of their time. As far as characterization, I feel the author does a very good job of avoiding stereotypes. Brother Michael is fat and constantly eating, but he's not the stereotypical jolly, vapid fat guy. Matthew Bartholomew has studied with an Arab physician and has modern views on cleanliness and medical treatments, but is not supremely enlightened.
In fact, Bartholomew is often totally confused about what's going on, which is good because the plots of all three books I've read in this series are *so* convoluted that he has to sit down and hash out what's going on several times, so that we can get caught up. I'm still not sure I understood exactly what was going on with the Oxford plot in this book. I've also noticed that, in this series, there tend to be two mysteries that at first seem like aspects of one plot/mystery, but turn out to be unrelated. I'd say half of the one star I didn't give this book is because I like the mystery to be tough to figure out while I'm reading, but I want to be able to actually understand it once it's been revealed at the end!
The other half star off is for two points that I feel are pretty minor but nevertheless kept occurring to me as I read. First, many of the characters' names are similar enough that if I had split the reading up over a week or more, I wouldn't have remembered who was who. Stephen and Swynford, two Stanmores (the fact that there are two is key to the plot), Wilson and William, Alcote and Augustus, Michael and Matthew, etc.
Second, both the title and jacket description led me to believe the book would be more focused on the plague. And while that was a major ingredient in the story, I felt like it was put in the backseat too often. It gave a good pretext for an introductory story about a physician, but I felt like the main mystery/plot as well as the general action and time frame of the book could have centered more on the plague.
Overall, I enjoy the historical setting and characters of this series very much and am not overly concerned that the central mystery frequently is too convoluted to be reasonable.
August 15, 2021
I had to check back to see if there were any previous books about Matt Bartholomew. I understand that this is book #1 and I was shocked to find this out. For me, Matt's character was empty and I was disappointed as he seemed like a person I'd like to know more about. He is not developed, and even though he is the protagonist, he is still an unknown quantity to me. Furthermore, I am not a fan of old cliches, and this book is full of them. I notice it was written in 1996 and maybe that is why. There are way too many names and lists and notes about fighting between students and townsfolk but I never really understood the reasons why in any sort of detail. This was frustrating as these skirmishes take up the first quarter (at least) of the book and I still have no idea what they were about. I had to wait until I had read 13% of the book to feel any tension in the plot. I was about to give up at 12%( and it's not often I stop reading a book ), but the tension at 13% kept me going and I skipped lightly through the rest, possibly missing out on who Matt B really is, but by then, I didn't really care anymore. I'd agree with some other reviewers, that the murders and the plague do not seem to link and thus the story-arch is flawed, and this makes the book hard to read.
April 23, 2009
This was the first book I picked up in the Matthew Bartholemew series, and I was hooked from the first chapter.
The book is one of a series, set in Cambridge, just after the Black Death in the 14th century. Bartholemew is a doctor at Michaelhouse college, who invariably ends up assisting his colleague and friend, the Senior Proctor, in solving crimes. The pair are a classic crime-fighting partnership, and often quite entertaining.
Bartholemew's character is refreshing in that he is often villified for his "new" ideas regarding medicine and science, yet he is a valued member of Michaelhouse.
The main reason that I chose the book was that it was historical (and extremely accurate), and that I'd enjoyed the Ellis Peters Cadfael mysteries for many years. This book is equally well-written, superbly structured, and kept me guessing right up till the end.
Gregory has a pleasing style, which engages the reader, but is not afraid of approaching the political machinations of a Cambridge college at this time. I was particularly impressed by the amount of research that had obviously gone in to the novel.
The book is one of a series, set in Cambridge, just after the Black Death in the 14th century. Bartholemew is a doctor at Michaelhouse college, who invariably ends up assisting his colleague and friend, the Senior Proctor, in solving crimes. The pair are a classic crime-fighting partnership, and often quite entertaining.
Bartholemew's character is refreshing in that he is often villified for his "new" ideas regarding medicine and science, yet he is a valued member of Michaelhouse.
The main reason that I chose the book was that it was historical (and extremely accurate), and that I'd enjoyed the Ellis Peters Cadfael mysteries for many years. This book is equally well-written, superbly structured, and kept me guessing right up till the end.
Gregory has a pleasing style, which engages the reader, but is not afraid of approaching the political machinations of a Cambridge college at this time. I was particularly impressed by the amount of research that had obviously gone in to the novel.
December 27, 2019
Re-read 03/10/14 for Maze Mystery Book Discussion.
I enjoyed re-reading this. Vaguely remembered some things, but not most. While I enjoyed it very much, this time I struggled to keep all of the characters straight. Too many people with last names that are Christian names (Bartholomew, Oliver), brothers with the same last name (Oliver, Stanmore), and characters whose first name begins with the same letter (Wilson, William; Alcote, Augustus, Aelfrith, Abigny). I'm getting too old; I needed more distinct names to keep people straight.
Mysterious murders at Cambridge University. Gory descriptions of the Plague. Matthew is very much like Brother Cadfael.
Different sources list this as either the first or third in the series. Author's web site says first. A good introduction.
I enjoyed re-reading this. Vaguely remembered some things, but not most. While I enjoyed it very much, this time I struggled to keep all of the characters straight. Too many people with last names that are Christian names (Bartholomew, Oliver), brothers with the same last name (Oliver, Stanmore), and characters whose first name begins with the same letter (Wilson, William; Alcote, Augustus, Aelfrith, Abigny). I'm getting too old; I needed more distinct names to keep people straight.
Mysterious murders at Cambridge University. Gory descriptions of the Plague. Matthew is very much like Brother Cadfael.
Different sources list this as either the first or third in the series. Author's web site says first. A good introduction.
June 4, 2012
It is 1348 and the plague is hitting hard. All Brother Bartholomew wants to do at Cambridge is teach and take care of his needy patients. However, the Black Death is not the only death to be found. There are murders to be solved. Brother Bartholomew does not know who to trust so keeps his own counsel but that causes him to even distrust the people he loves. Who are the murderers and why are they causing so many problems? Will the Black Death kill them too?
This book was given to me by a friend because she liked it so well. It is a great read that starts out a little slow but becomes a page turner in short order. The characters are great and very believable. A must read for those who like historical fiction and death and mayhem with puzzles to be solved and people to be rescued!
This book was given to me by a friend because she liked it so well. It is a great read that starts out a little slow but becomes a page turner in short order. The characters are great and very believable. A must read for those who like historical fiction and death and mayhem with puzzles to be solved and people to be rescued!
April 5, 2016
This is a medieval murder mystery with an unorthodox physician acting as amateur detective as dead bodies pile up all around the University of Cambridge. The story is at times incoherent, with so many characters and plots and sub-plots crossing and re-crossing that it is easy to become confused. However, some of the historical detail was very well done and any book that deals with the Black Death cannot help but be filled with ghoulish appeal. This is the first book in the long-running Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew and I have been assured the books get better as they go on. It was readable enough that I’m willing to test this hypothesis.
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