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Bridget Hart #1
Todesstreben
Begierde. Ehrgeiz. Mord.
Als eine schöne, wohlhabende Studentin tot in ihrem Zimmer in Oxfords renommiertestem College aufgefunden wird, ist es an Detective Inspector Bridget Hart, den Fall zu lösen. Obwohl das Mädchen keinerlei Feinde zu haben schien, kam es bei einem brutalen und blutigen Überfall ums Leben.
Die frisch beförderte DI Bridget Hart, von ihrer eigenen persönlichen Tragödie geplagt und getrieben, hat in ihrem ersten Mordfall viel zu beweisen. Ihre Ermittlungen führen sie durch ein verworrenes Netz aus Lügen, Begierde und Ehrgeiz – und bringen sie in Konflikt mit mächtigen Akteuren.
Doch in der abgeschotteten und klaustrophobischen Enge des Oxforder Colleges, wo Studenten und Akademiker Seite an Seite leben und arbeiten, kann niemand über jeden Verdacht erhaben sein, und ein skrupelloser Mörder wartet nur darauf, wieder zuzuschlagen.
Die Bridget Hart-Reihe spielt inmitten der verträumten Türme der Universität Oxford und ist ideal für Fans von J M Dalgliesh, Rachel McLean, Angela Marsons und klassischen britischen Krimis.
Als eine schöne, wohlhabende Studentin tot in ihrem Zimmer in Oxfords renommiertestem College aufgefunden wird, ist es an Detective Inspector Bridget Hart, den Fall zu lösen. Obwohl das Mädchen keinerlei Feinde zu haben schien, kam es bei einem brutalen und blutigen Überfall ums Leben.
Die frisch beförderte DI Bridget Hart, von ihrer eigenen persönlichen Tragödie geplagt und getrieben, hat in ihrem ersten Mordfall viel zu beweisen. Ihre Ermittlungen führen sie durch ein verworrenes Netz aus Lügen, Begierde und Ehrgeiz – und bringen sie in Konflikt mit mächtigen Akteuren.
Doch in der abgeschotteten und klaustrophobischen Enge des Oxforder Colleges, wo Studenten und Akademiker Seite an Seite leben und arbeiten, kann niemand über jeden Verdacht erhaben sein, und ein skrupelloser Mörder wartet nur darauf, wieder zuzuschlagen.
Die Bridget Hart-Reihe spielt inmitten der verträumten Türme der Universität Oxford und ist ideal für Fans von J M Dalgliesh, Rachel McLean, Angela Marsons und klassischen britischen Krimis.
340 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2019
2480 people are currently reading
804 people want to read
About the author
M.S. Morris
22 books233 followersM S Morris is the pseudonym for the writing partnership of Margarita and Steve Morris. Together they write psychological thrillers and crime novels. The couple are married and live in Oxfordshire. They have two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
December 23, 2020
This book is written by a couple who clearly know Oxford intimately. They deliver a compelling introduction to a young female police inspector, Bridget Hart, who is given charge of a murder investigation involving the death of Oxford student from prominent family. Bridget is a sympathetic character, doing her best as single mother of teen daughter. Job demands make home and family management a challenge, but so far so good with this first book. Her own sister was murdered and that case has never been solved, so that adds credibility to the foundation and motivations of this character.
I have read many murder mysteries set in Oxford, but this one stands out with rich and accurate detail about the setting with believable students who study there as well as the people who work there. This should prove to be a satisfying series. There were a few glitches when it came to evidence handling, but perhaps there will be a learning curve.
Kindle Unlimited
I have read many murder mysteries set in Oxford, but this one stands out with rich and accurate detail about the setting with believable students who study there as well as the people who work there. This should prove to be a satisfying series. There were a few glitches when it came to evidence handling, but perhaps there will be a learning curve.
Kindle Unlimited
January 16, 2021
I had never heard of M.S.Morris until they appeared in a series of good reviews on Goodreads by someone who seems to have similar tastes to me.
As I started to read I began to get sceptical and wondered if this , like a couple of other books recently, was going to follow almost a predesignated formula. New DI,single mother,teenage daughter, home/work balance etc etc. Also, wasn't this treading on the holy ground of Oxford University, sacred to the memory of Colin Dexter and Morse?
I soon found myself enjoying the authors' style of writing and being drawn into the scene of Christs College where, even having read all of the Morse books. I still learnt more about the college. Like Morse , DI Hart likes classical music although she is more Verdi than Wagner.
The narrative was well constructed and through some clever misdirection I found myself strongly suspecting most of the suspects in turn only to find my suspicions dashed just as they were gaining form.
Did I eventually get the killer - no, motive - no. The main clue totally escaped me, although not that surprising as it turned out. However, I bet Morse would have spotted it !
An enjoyable read and another series for my ever growing , to read shelf.
As I started to read I began to get sceptical and wondered if this , like a couple of other books recently, was going to follow almost a predesignated formula. New DI,single mother,teenage daughter, home/work balance etc etc. Also, wasn't this treading on the holy ground of Oxford University, sacred to the memory of Colin Dexter and Morse?
I soon found myself enjoying the authors' style of writing and being drawn into the scene of Christs College where, even having read all of the Morse books. I still learnt more about the college. Like Morse , DI Hart likes classical music although she is more Verdi than Wagner.
The narrative was well constructed and through some clever misdirection I found myself strongly suspecting most of the suspects in turn only to find my suspicions dashed just as they were gaining form.
Did I eventually get the killer - no, motive - no. The main clue totally escaped me, although not that surprising as it turned out. However, I bet Morse would have spotted it !
An enjoyable read and another series for my ever growing , to read shelf.
September 27, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable, well written crime novel with engaging characters and without the 'all-too-frequent' inept senior policeman or the incompetent underling. Everyone acted in a professional manner, and the interactions between various detectives was realistic.
Definitely a series to continue.
Definitely a series to continue.
December 2, 2019
First of a series, ASPIRE TO DIE is an entralling British police procedural with the setting of Oxford, England: specifically Oxford University. Newly Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is assigned, by default, a brand new case--the death of a Christ College, Oxford, brilliant student. Often disparaged due to her small stature, Bridget is a tenacious bulldog determined to solve the case, which is a tantalizing mystery for the reader too.
March 22, 2025
3 stars
⏳ [Re-read project #14 of 2025, 1st proper review, rating maintained]
I blame Gaudy Night for starting my fascination with murder in scholarly settings, esp. Oxford and its timeless surroundings. So it was a given that a detective series set in Oxford would attract me. I started this series a few years ago and I remember that overall, it was an interesting read. However, shame on me for never writing down a review. Mistake now rectified!
I still remembered the important points of the plot though I mis-recalled the culprit's identity. I think that my views upon this re-read reflects what I thought years back. Namely, that the writing style was comfortable in a familiar way to read. The puzzle and its resolution were okay even if the investigatory conduct at times felt generic and gauche.
The biggest issue from my pov was the characterisation of the main characters. I felt the same in the past. Somehow, they appeared unreal. Markedly so. Take Bridget: . I know that this feeling perdures in further books but I also know I continued with the series because I liked the cozyness and comforting universe candidly painted by the authors. And I will continue this time around too 😊.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2021
After a dozen pages I had to check I hadn't read the book before it seemed so familiar. I suppose I have just read too many books with a female detective finding her way in a male dominated force and struggling to find the time for her teenage child. Fortunately this wasn’t that bad, although it was not without its faults.
There was a desperation to the investigation, jumping from one suspect to another, seemingly satisfied with each new motive as it was revealed. At times it felt like the author was trying a bit too hard.
I also get annoyed with authors when they try to create pressure on the investigation by suggesting it is failing because the murder hasn’t been solved in a few days. Unless the perpetrator is found close to the scene a multiple murder investigation is very unlikely to be solved in days.
I was a bit disappointed when I realised who was the murderer and the ending was I was a bit clichéd, but I still enjoyed most of the book.
There was a desperation to the investigation, jumping from one suspect to another, seemingly satisfied with each new motive as it was revealed. At times it felt like the author was trying a bit too hard.
I also get annoyed with authors when they try to create pressure on the investigation by suggesting it is failing because the murder hasn’t been solved in a few days. Unless the perpetrator is found close to the scene a multiple murder investigation is very unlikely to be solved in days.
I was a bit disappointed when I realised who was the murderer and the ending was I was a bit clichéd, but I still enjoyed most of the book.
February 16, 2025
My wife gave this, along with a few other books, for Christmas (Oxford is a common theme in our gifts since we met there). One of the most attractive features of the book is the setting. The reference to al fresco Shakespeare early on immediately reminded me of seeing a performance of Romeo and Juliet in Magdalen Gardens with my wife. The Morrises clearly know Oxford, its places and quirks, even to the extent of a bit of well-placed architectural criticism. They do a bit more explaining of things than is really necessary, but probably helpful for some.
I am not usually a big fan of police procedurals, but this is an exception. Bridget, Jake, and Ffion are well-rounded and engaging characters. Bridget shares Inspector Morse's love of opera, but is otherwise quite different, the anti-Morse (I never liked Morse, or was it John Thaw that I disliked?). There are numerous red herrings, twists and turns, before we find out who did it; not someone I suspected at all.
The writing is competent and unobtrusive. I never paused to reread a sentence. But that is suitable for a mystery, when the narrative should be the thing.
I am not usually a big fan of police procedurals, but this is an exception. Bridget, Jake, and Ffion are well-rounded and engaging characters. Bridget shares Inspector Morse's love of opera, but is otherwise quite different, the anti-Morse (I never liked Morse, or was it John Thaw that I disliked?). There are numerous red herrings, twists and turns, before we find out who did it; not someone I suspected at all.
The writing is competent and unobtrusive. I never paused to reread a sentence. But that is suitable for a mystery, when the narrative should be the thing.
abandoned
June 23, 2021The author introduces ten characters in the first scene and I care about none of them. Then we stumble over a dead body and I don’t care about any of them because nothing has been set up to give me any personality or interest. Going to put this book back on the shelf.
June 29, 2025
This is the first in a mystery series featuring Bridget Hart, a Detective Inspector located in Oxford. She's never been the lead on a murder investigation, but in this book gets her first, with the high profile murder of a college student.
I don't read many police procedurals, but really liked this one. Bridget is the focus, but we also get a few chapters from the POV of members of the team she pulls together. I hope to see more of all of them in the coming books, and plan to pick up the next in the series shortly.
I don't read many police procedurals, but really liked this one. Bridget is the focus, but we also get a few chapters from the POV of members of the team she pulls together. I hope to see more of all of them in the coming books, and plan to pick up the next in the series shortly.
November 24, 2023
First in a series set in Oxford - seemingly the muder capital of the UK! Nothing groundbreaking but a reasonable read in the crime (verging on cozy) genre. Perhaps too many potential solutions crammed in in the last few pages before the eventual resolution.
November 27, 2019
This was a great who dun it... kept you guessing. First of a series, looking forward to the second book.
The DI is newly promoted and looking to prove herself when she is home, taking a much needed day off to celebrate her daughters, Chloe’s bday. She gets called in on a murder investigation of a very rich Debutante at a college that was used in the movie to Harry Potter. It’s urgent she gets it solved for the college and the wealthy, throw money around Hamilton’s.
Zara is dead. Who could have done this? Her jolted boyfriend, Adam? Her twin brother Zac who is top man on campus? Zac and Zara are close! Are they to close? Violet, Zac’s girlfriend, they are the perfect couple...the professor who is crushing on her? The scout, the Maintence man of the college who has been there for many many years?
The investigation leads you everywhere. You think you have it figured out and then there is a twist....
The homeless shelter protest, the protest of Zac’s guest speaker at the union...does any of this come into play?
Read and find out..
The DI is newly promoted and looking to prove herself when she is home, taking a much needed day off to celebrate her daughters, Chloe’s bday. She gets called in on a murder investigation of a very rich Debutante at a college that was used in the movie to Harry Potter. It’s urgent she gets it solved for the college and the wealthy, throw money around Hamilton’s.
Zara is dead. Who could have done this? Her jolted boyfriend, Adam? Her twin brother Zac who is top man on campus? Zac and Zara are close! Are they to close? Violet, Zac’s girlfriend, they are the perfect couple...the professor who is crushing on her? The scout, the Maintence man of the college who has been there for many many years?
The investigation leads you everywhere. You think you have it figured out and then there is a twist....
The homeless shelter protest, the protest of Zac’s guest speaker at the union...does any of this come into play?
Read and find out..
February 12, 2020
Excellent!
What a roller coaster ride ! Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is in charge of her first murder case since her promotion. Her team is new but dedicated, hardworking, and perseverant. This is a twisty, unusual case as evidence collapses and new evidence is found. Finale is exciting and dangerous!
What a roller coaster ride ! Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is in charge of her first murder case since her promotion. Her team is new but dedicated, hardworking, and perseverant. This is a twisty, unusual case as evidence collapses and new evidence is found. Finale is exciting and dangerous!
October 2, 2022
Aspire to Die is book one in the Bridget Hart series by M. S. Morris. Bridget Hart's first murder case since her promotion to Detective Inspector is the death of a wealthy student at one of Oxford's prestigious colleges. The murdered girls seem to have known enemies, so why was she killed? The readers of Aspire to Die will continue to follow Detective Inspector Bridget Hart's investigation to find out what happens.
Aspire to Die is the first book I have read by M. S. Morris and an enjoyable book. I engaged with the story and the characters from the start. I am not sure why it might be that Aspire to Die is different to other crime books I have read lately. I love M. S. Morris's portrayal of their characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Aspire to Die is well written and researched by M. S. Morris. I like M. S. Morris's description of the settings of Aspire to Die, which complemented the book's plot.
The readers of Aspire to Die will understand the consequences of ambition and greed on a community. Also, the readers of Aspire to Die will learn about living in Oxford.
I recommend this book.
Aspire to Die is the first book I have read by M. S. Morris and an enjoyable book. I engaged with the story and the characters from the start. I am not sure why it might be that Aspire to Die is different to other crime books I have read lately. I love M. S. Morris's portrayal of their characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Aspire to Die is well written and researched by M. S. Morris. I like M. S. Morris's description of the settings of Aspire to Die, which complemented the book's plot.
The readers of Aspire to Die will understand the consequences of ambition and greed on a community. Also, the readers of Aspire to Die will learn about living in Oxford.
I recommend this book.
Read
April 8, 2024An engaging listen, modern detective fiction/cozy crime, with a female police inspector pitted against the challenges of her chosen career as well as the murderer she pursues. Decent plot, entertaining characters, and a good pace throughout. I’ll definitely listen to more in this series if I can track them down.
October 10, 2022
I've had to put this on hold, because I just can't drum up enough enthusiasm to carry on with it. Sorry!
May 1, 2020
Appealing British. Procedural
I saw this book on Facebook and it sounded interesting. I enjoy British mysteries and this one was very good. I really liked the Oxford university setting which was very well described. I liked the characters especially Bridget Hart who was assigned to her first major case. I will be reading books 2 and 3. I heartily recommend this book.
I saw this book on Facebook and it sounded interesting. I enjoy British mysteries and this one was very good. I really liked the Oxford university setting which was very well described. I liked the characters especially Bridget Hart who was assigned to her first major case. I will be reading books 2 and 3. I heartily recommend this book.
Read
December 8, 2020I must admit I was drawn to this book because of its Oxford setting, and I was not disappointed. The author paints a vivid picture of the college town I was fortunate enough to visit in 2018. Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is the main character, the single mom of a teenager. She's realistically drawn, a middle-aged woman who worries about getting enough exercise, eating less junk food, taking care of her daughter, and building her career all at the same time.
They mystery about the murder of a popular and promising Oxford co-ed is well plotted. I was happy to follow the red herrings to several erroneous conclusions until all was revealed.
They mystery about the murder of a popular and promising Oxford co-ed is well plotted. I was happy to follow the red herrings to several erroneous conclusions until all was revealed.
February 16, 2021
"Top-notch crime fiction"
For fans of Morse and Hilary Greene, Oxford provides a scintillating background to this classy murder mystery.
For fans of Morse and Hilary Greene, Oxford provides a scintillating background to this classy murder mystery.
July 25, 2024
The first book in the DI Bridget Hart series and the first of many books written by MS Morris that I will read.
DI Hart is a strong and likeable character who is put in charge of an investigation into the murder of an Oxford University student, the daughter of rich and powerful parents.
DI Hart has a believable backstory, one which compels me to keep reading the series to find out more.
With many twists and turns, clues and red herrings the book delves into the lives of the suspects and the victims family. The twist towards the end and the final reveal was a complete surprise to me - I never saw that coming.
Oxford born and bred, I love to read books about the local area - the authors definitely have a full grasp of the bustling city of Oxford.
A highly recommended series - off to download the next book now 😊
DI Hart is a strong and likeable character who is put in charge of an investigation into the murder of an Oxford University student, the daughter of rich and powerful parents.
DI Hart has a believable backstory, one which compels me to keep reading the series to find out more.
With many twists and turns, clues and red herrings the book delves into the lives of the suspects and the victims family. The twist towards the end and the final reveal was a complete surprise to me - I never saw that coming.
Oxford born and bred, I love to read books about the local area - the authors definitely have a full grasp of the bustling city of Oxford.
A highly recommended series - off to download the next book now 😊
March 2, 2021
This was a good novel from beginning to end. The story moved swiftly. I didn't stumble, nothing made me stop reading to question it. I really didn't know who the murderer was. I loved the scene descriptions and was happy the author used American (English) for certain things to help the American readers, such as her wallet was stolen from the room...the Brits would say purse. I liked the characters except the ones I wasn't supposed to like such as the wealthy bully snobs (was that on purpose? Very few wealthy people are actually bully snobs.)
January 27, 2021
Aspire to Die is a nice whodunit. I was attracted by the Oxford (and sometimes Cotswold) setting. I wouldn't say that it's gripping: the beginning was too slow, but the pace did pick up in the second half. I enjoyed that the author didn't go for the too-often-used alcoholic or disillusioned cop, which was refreshing.
March 11, 2021
There is a LOT to like in this book. The characters act human and believable, the plot moved along, with lots of suspects and a clever solution, and the Oxford setting is great. Most impressive is the writing, which is REALLY good, beginning with the opening sentence! It was so enjoyable I even read a few sentences out loud to my long-suffering husband.
However, there was a lot of cliche in the characters also, which I found very annoying. Our protagonist is a female DI, and, of course, she has to be a divorcee with a child she feels challenged raising alone, a poor relationship with her ex, who used to cheat on her, an excessive fondness for cake, and a sister whose unsolved murder motivated her to become a police officer. Every team, no matter how small, MUST have the obligatory non-heterosexual, who in this case is a bisexual woman. Sigh! Must we check off ALL the boxes?
I will read more in the series, but I will regret the trite elements.
However, there was a lot of cliche in the characters also, which I found very annoying. Our protagonist is a female DI, and, of course, she has to be a divorcee with a child she feels challenged raising alone, a poor relationship with her ex, who used to cheat on her, an excessive fondness for cake, and a sister whose unsolved murder motivated her to become a police officer. Every team, no matter how small, MUST have the obligatory non-heterosexual, who in this case is a bisexual woman. Sigh! Must we check off ALL the boxes?
I will read more in the series, but I will regret the trite elements.
February 4, 2024
This is a great British mystery in the police procedural genre, featuring Bridget Hart on her first murder case. This is an absorbing story of an Oxford college coed who is murdered in her room. Bridget has her work cut out for her as more and more suspects turn up, while the pressure is on her to solve the murder as quickly as possibly without harming the reputation of the university.
November 9, 2025
This is a very nicely done police procedural featuring a newly promoted police detective, in Oxford, England. The mystery is extremely well plotted, with Bridget making her way through a complex case step-by-step, uncovering secret after secret. The ending seemed somewhat of a letdown, perhaps given the excellence of what came before.
December 10, 2025
Having enjoyed the M.S. Morris crime books set in Scarborough, I thought I should also try the earlier Oxford series. Set, as so many novels have been, in an Oxford college, this is a well told story of the police investigation.
Having enjoyed the M.S. Morris crime books set in Scarborough, I thought I should also try the earlier Oxford series. Set, as so many novels have been, in an Oxford college, this is a well told story of the police investigation - something of a cliché in detective fiction, especially compared to Scarborough as a setting - which may be one of the reasons for switching locales: but it does have a clever title.
It presents a negative view of Oxbridge privilege which is nowadays hopefully both somewhat outdated and and exaggerated - my experience as an undergraduate in Oxford thirty five years ago showed includes some of the things which are mentioned in the story.
Having enjoyed the M.S. Morris crime books set in Scarborough, I thought I should also try the earlier Oxford series. Set, as so many novels have been, in an Oxford college, this is a well told story of the police investigation - something of a cliché in detective fiction, especially compared to Scarborough as a setting - which may be one of the reasons for switching locales: but it does have a clever title.
It presents a negative view of Oxbridge privilege which is nowadays hopefully both somewhat outdated and and exaggerated - my experience as an undergraduate in Oxford thirty five years ago showed includes some of the things which are mentioned in the story.
September 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this police novel based in Christ Church, Oxford. There were enough twists to keep you interested and I liked the main characters. I will read more of the series.
November 6, 2023
Very slow paced and boring - tried listening to the audiobook and the narrator wasn’t very good. Dnf.
September 20, 2021
This really is peak-Oxford. The setting is extremely strong and the plot logical once you take on board a big fact about the victim revealed towards the end. The fact about Christ Church which changes everything for the police was something I was aware of, and I wondered if it might come into play.
I am curious about how this series continues.
I am curious about how this series continues.
July 22, 2024
But if a slow start, but not too bad. Nice to be in Oxford university
December 29, 2022
M.S. Morris -- Bridget Hart series
Aspire to Die #1
This is a first for me. I’m reviewing the entire Bridget Hart series of books, at least the first seven which I’ve ‘read’ one after another for the past few weeks.
They’re all pretty good. I’ve given them all a 3 star rating but I’d put them on the high side of 3 stars, certainly good enough to enjoy binge-listening to them. I couldn’t go to 4 stars because that would elevate them to the level of admiration I’ve reserved for the works of Peter Grainger, Donna Leon and a few others; they’re not that good, however, I do recommend the series. The books are not all equally good but they are close enough not to matter; they share the same virtues and weaknesses so this review is for all seven books. If you want plot summaries you can find them on Goodreads or elsewhere. The books are “cozies” but not of the ‘tea and scones’ type. There is more to them than that but they’re not gritty, gruesome or challenging. Here is my take on the first seven books.
Pros:
• The books offer the gentle feel of a cozy without being fanciful or silly. There may be no real tension or thrills but the writing is solid, easy to read and satisfying.
• Each book delivers something new to the reader. It’s often a detailed examination of some arcane practice or study: steganography in ‘Preface to Murder’, the details of ‘change ringing’ in ‘Toll for the Dead’ and so on. I found these elements to be very interesting and worth the read all on their own.
• Relationships are well handled, including both professional and romantic. Listening to the last in the series I felt as if I were saying good-bye to a community I’d come to know and will miss.
• The narrative is clear and easy to read; the performance of the audiobooks is very well done.
• The descriptions of Oxford and the colleges, architecture and history of the area are great and also worth the reading on their own. It’s like being there and, if you like, you can see most of the locations on Google Streetview so as to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the location if you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting them in person.
Cons:
This is the other side of the coin to the “Pros” above.
• This doesn’t bother me but it might alienate some. The books don’t offer a lot in the thrills and intensity department so they may be a bit bland for some readers.
• The main character, her Welsh officer and superior are frequently irritating. They also receive a lot of repetitive character enhancements. This may have been done to allow a reader to enter the series with any of the books. On a ‘binge-listen’ this becomes disturbingly apparent.
• The unpicking of the mystery relies on the awful trope of brilliant police interview techniques. In fact, the key to solving a case usually comes down to a fortuitous accident: a dropped piece of paper, a ‘suspicious’ glance, an overheard snatch of conversation. The interviews, the squeeze techniques and implied threats used by the detectives are enough to make anyone resent the police. Bridget Hart blunders around like a headless chicken accusing everyone of murder and then arresting then releasing characters who never should have been suspects in the first place. She is definitely a weak link.
• The series also involves what is perhaps my #1 pet peeve of police procedurals, that of constant references to how detectives are so overworked that they have no time for relationships, a home life or other interests. I really hate this one.
• The plots of all the books are formulaic. Once you’ve cracked the formula it’s clear that the guilty party will be introduced early. He or she will seem nice and harmless only to be left on the periphery of the narrative. Eventually he/she will be shown to have harboured a grievance for years only to crack one day for no credible reason. The motives behind the crimes never seem adequate.
• One expects red-herrings and misdirection in any mystery/police procedural but, in this series, they are clumsy and obvious. This may not be significant in the reading of any individual book but they are obvious when binge-listening.
I know I’ve given more “cons” than “pros” but the series is seriously good fun. Anyone wanting to enjoy a mostly nice bunch of engaging characters solving complex criminal challenges should take the time to explore these books. I don’t regret a minute spent with Bridget Hart & co.
Aspire to Die #1
This is a first for me. I’m reviewing the entire Bridget Hart series of books, at least the first seven which I’ve ‘read’ one after another for the past few weeks.
They’re all pretty good. I’ve given them all a 3 star rating but I’d put them on the high side of 3 stars, certainly good enough to enjoy binge-listening to them. I couldn’t go to 4 stars because that would elevate them to the level of admiration I’ve reserved for the works of Peter Grainger, Donna Leon and a few others; they’re not that good, however, I do recommend the series. The books are not all equally good but they are close enough not to matter; they share the same virtues and weaknesses so this review is for all seven books. If you want plot summaries you can find them on Goodreads or elsewhere. The books are “cozies” but not of the ‘tea and scones’ type. There is more to them than that but they’re not gritty, gruesome or challenging. Here is my take on the first seven books.
Pros:
• The books offer the gentle feel of a cozy without being fanciful or silly. There may be no real tension or thrills but the writing is solid, easy to read and satisfying.
• Each book delivers something new to the reader. It’s often a detailed examination of some arcane practice or study: steganography in ‘Preface to Murder’, the details of ‘change ringing’ in ‘Toll for the Dead’ and so on. I found these elements to be very interesting and worth the read all on their own.
• Relationships are well handled, including both professional and romantic. Listening to the last in the series I felt as if I were saying good-bye to a community I’d come to know and will miss.
• The narrative is clear and easy to read; the performance of the audiobooks is very well done.
• The descriptions of Oxford and the colleges, architecture and history of the area are great and also worth the reading on their own. It’s like being there and, if you like, you can see most of the locations on Google Streetview so as to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the location if you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting them in person.
Cons:
This is the other side of the coin to the “Pros” above.
• This doesn’t bother me but it might alienate some. The books don’t offer a lot in the thrills and intensity department so they may be a bit bland for some readers.
• The main character, her Welsh officer and superior are frequently irritating. They also receive a lot of repetitive character enhancements. This may have been done to allow a reader to enter the series with any of the books. On a ‘binge-listen’ this becomes disturbingly apparent.
• The unpicking of the mystery relies on the awful trope of brilliant police interview techniques. In fact, the key to solving a case usually comes down to a fortuitous accident: a dropped piece of paper, a ‘suspicious’ glance, an overheard snatch of conversation. The interviews, the squeeze techniques and implied threats used by the detectives are enough to make anyone resent the police. Bridget Hart blunders around like a headless chicken accusing everyone of murder and then arresting then releasing characters who never should have been suspects in the first place. She is definitely a weak link.
• The series also involves what is perhaps my #1 pet peeve of police procedurals, that of constant references to how detectives are so overworked that they have no time for relationships, a home life or other interests. I really hate this one.
• The plots of all the books are formulaic. Once you’ve cracked the formula it’s clear that the guilty party will be introduced early. He or she will seem nice and harmless only to be left on the periphery of the narrative. Eventually he/she will be shown to have harboured a grievance for years only to crack one day for no credible reason. The motives behind the crimes never seem adequate.
• One expects red-herrings and misdirection in any mystery/police procedural but, in this series, they are clumsy and obvious. This may not be significant in the reading of any individual book but they are obvious when binge-listening.
I know I’ve given more “cons” than “pros” but the series is seriously good fun. Anyone wanting to enjoy a mostly nice bunch of engaging characters solving complex criminal challenges should take the time to explore these books. I don’t regret a minute spent with Bridget Hart & co.
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