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Matthew Bartholomew #6
A Masterly Murder
It is a gloomy November day, and a corpse is just the beginning of the intrigue. Matthew Bartholomew recognizes the deceased as the book-bearer of Michaelhouse Fellow John Runham. The death looks like suicide, but before Bartholomew can confirm it, there is a second tragedy. Meanwhile, at Michaelhouse itself, the Master announces his retirement, to everyone’s surprise—everyone, that is, except the ruthless Runham, who is hastily elected. Runham demands that Bartholomew choose between his teaching and his medical work, but as Bartholomew is agonizing over his impossible decision, the new Master is discovered dead.
550 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
47 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Susanna Gregory
86 books431 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 48 reviews
September 24, 2019
This thrilling murder mystery is the 6th volume of the wonderful "Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles" from the amazing author, Susanna Gregory.
This book is originally from the year 2000, and it still reads as fresh today as when it was first published then.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Cambridge, England, of circa AD 1353, while at the end of the book you'll notice a very well documented Historical Note, where quite some historical details concerning this story and real historical figures, who are featuring in this mystery, are mentioned and explained to us in a truly clear fashion.
Storytelling is as ever of a top-notch quality, all the characters come vividly to life within this mystery, and although it can be sometimes a bit convoluted, I don't mind it at all, because in the end it delivers more excitement and learning as a whole, and lastly not to forget medieval Cambridge and its surroundings come wonderfully off the pages.
After a short intriguing prologue, which is set in January, AD 1349, and late September, AD 1353, the main story starts off and come to full life as from November, AD 1353.
At first there's the supposed suicide of Justus, John Runham's book-bearer at Michaelhouse, followed by the deaths of Raysoun and Wymundham, both Fellows of Bene't College in Cambridge, while there's also the murder of Brother Patrick at Ovyng Hostel, and so time for our formidable duo, the Benedictine monk, Brother Michael and his friend, doctor/physician, Matthew Bartholomew to come into action and begin their investigations into all these killings/deaths, and while being in the process of investigating these complicated deaths the new Master of Michaelhouse, John Runham, is also murdered.
What is to come is an eventful mystery where political intrigue, corruption and murder is rife between the Universities (Cambridge and Oxford), between the various religious orders and court officials, and not to forget personal vengeance, and so all these ingredients will play an important part in this world of power and death.
Highly recommended, for this is another great episode in this astounding series, and what this story is concerned I like to call it: "A Masterly Marvellous Murder Mystery"!
This book is originally from the year 2000, and it still reads as fresh today as when it was first published then.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Cambridge, England, of circa AD 1353, while at the end of the book you'll notice a very well documented Historical Note, where quite some historical details concerning this story and real historical figures, who are featuring in this mystery, are mentioned and explained to us in a truly clear fashion.
Storytelling is as ever of a top-notch quality, all the characters come vividly to life within this mystery, and although it can be sometimes a bit convoluted, I don't mind it at all, because in the end it delivers more excitement and learning as a whole, and lastly not to forget medieval Cambridge and its surroundings come wonderfully off the pages.
After a short intriguing prologue, which is set in January, AD 1349, and late September, AD 1353, the main story starts off and come to full life as from November, AD 1353.
At first there's the supposed suicide of Justus, John Runham's book-bearer at Michaelhouse, followed by the deaths of Raysoun and Wymundham, both Fellows of Bene't College in Cambridge, while there's also the murder of Brother Patrick at Ovyng Hostel, and so time for our formidable duo, the Benedictine monk, Brother Michael and his friend, doctor/physician, Matthew Bartholomew to come into action and begin their investigations into all these killings/deaths, and while being in the process of investigating these complicated deaths the new Master of Michaelhouse, John Runham, is also murdered.
What is to come is an eventful mystery where political intrigue, corruption and murder is rife between the Universities (Cambridge and Oxford), between the various religious orders and court officials, and not to forget personal vengeance, and so all these ingredients will play an important part in this world of power and death.
Highly recommended, for this is another great episode in this astounding series, and what this story is concerned I like to call it: "A Masterly Marvellous Murder Mystery"!
December 13, 2021
Another challenging mystery with a complicated plot. However, as I’ve stated before, the charm of the series, and the reason I’m somewhat obsessed with it, is: 1. the well-drawn, complex characters, both goodies and baddies; and 2. the historical backgroul. nd that is so flawlessly portrayed that I swear you can smell the rotting garbage in the King’s Ditch!
July 11, 2020
I don't know how to feel about this series anymore. I love Bartholomew and Michael's banter, I will laugh out loud about some of the things they say or the situations they get themselves into. Yet this book was so long-winded and confusing. They only started solving the mystery after 300 pages! and it made me laugh that the whole of the epilogue was just describing what had happened in the last 550 pages because there was so much going on.
The audio-book is really what kept me going - David Thorpe's narration was brilliant and I think without it I may have put this book down.
The audio-book is really what kept me going - David Thorpe's narration was brilliant and I think without it I may have put this book down.
January 4, 2025
Well, this was a disappointment. I found and read An Order for Death when I was studying in the Netherlands, and I enjoyed it immensely. Apparently in the 17 years since, my tastes have changed - or this is a particularly bad entry into this series.
Matthew Bartholomew is completely dim, reacting to everything that's happening around him, and usually in a stupid way. Granted, his life has turned to chaos when a fellow member of Michaelhouse is elected as Master, and then proceeds to drive everyone away (quite literally). He's also entangled, against his will, in the deaths of servants and scholars from other colleges, so his attention is divided in many directions. But the man acts like he has the wits of a post, and I had very little sympathy for him.
Granted, he was the most likeable of an entirely unlikeable cast, in a story that was at least 200 pages too long contained way too many useless deaths, and had such a convoluted and piecemealed solution that it had to be laid out in the epilogue for it to make any sense. I don't like books where the protagonist chases his own tail the entire time and is continually surprised by everyone around him. The history of the setting, and the peripheral characters, saved this from being a DNF for me.
Maybe I ended up liking the next book in the series because Matthew was forced to stand on his own (or so it sounds from the summary). He was a lump of useless clay here, and not worth the 99c I spent on the book or the many hours I spent reading it. I may end up re-reading the book I bought in Europe, but otherwise, this is not a series I will be returning to.
Matthew Bartholomew is completely dim, reacting to everything that's happening around him, and usually in a stupid way. Granted, his life has turned to chaos when a fellow member of Michaelhouse is elected as Master, and then proceeds to drive everyone away (quite literally). He's also entangled, against his will, in the deaths of servants and scholars from other colleges, so his attention is divided in many directions. But the man acts like he has the wits of a post, and I had very little sympathy for him.
Granted, he was the most likeable of an entirely unlikeable cast, in a story that was at least 200 pages too long contained way too many useless deaths, and had such a convoluted and piecemealed solution that it had to be laid out in the epilogue for it to make any sense. I don't like books where the protagonist chases his own tail the entire time and is continually surprised by everyone around him. The history of the setting, and the peripheral characters, saved this from being a DNF for me.
Maybe I ended up liking the next book in the series because Matthew was forced to stand on his own (or so it sounds from the summary). He was a lump of useless clay here, and not worth the 99c I spent on the book or the many hours I spent reading it. I may end up re-reading the book I bought in Europe, but otherwise, this is not a series I will be returning to.
April 8, 2021
Convoluted and predictable. You know who is going to be killed by their level of badness or their knowing a secret they just can’t share. The story is made worse by David Thorpe’s overwrought narration. Brother Michael comes off so annoying that I would have killed him off in the first book. The theories and accusations put forth by the various characters are tedious and repetitive and yet make up nearly half the book. This is the last one that I listen to and maybe read.
August 5, 2021
It is the first time in my life where I have become more impressed with a series as I read each installment. Gregory’s knowledge of the early days of Cambridge are impressive, and she peoples the pages of the Bartholomew series with many real historical individuals, and not kings, queens, and dukes (ok, one duke) ,but with the masters and fellows she’s found in t14th century records! Compound that with excellent mystery crafting and some cozy humor? 5 full stars.
December 21, 2024
3.5 stars
November 22, 2016
Matthew has to contend with an election for a new Master of the college, more murders and dodgy building work.
Enjoyable but rather long-winded. The atmosphere is good and the sense of a town always on the edge of violence is conveyed well. The why and how aspect of the mystery was tangled as usual. However, the identity of whodunnit was all too obvious to me. After six adventures it gets a little frustrating that Matthew and his colleagues don't seem to have learned from their past experiences in detection. Some instances, it felt that they made almost impossible links in events - while other more obvious clues were ignored or not understood.
So, a good entry overall, good characterisation - especially from the minor players.
Enjoyable but rather long-winded. The atmosphere is good and the sense of a town always on the edge of violence is conveyed well. The why and how aspect of the mystery was tangled as usual. However, the identity of whodunnit was all too obvious to me. After six adventures it gets a little frustrating that Matthew and his colleagues don't seem to have learned from their past experiences in detection. Some instances, it felt that they made almost impossible links in events - while other more obvious clues were ignored or not understood.
So, a good entry overall, good characterisation - especially from the minor players.
March 3, 2021
3.5. I am really tired of hearing repeatedly about brother Michael's weight and his eating habits. I am way more interested in the mystery, of course, as well as Bartholomew heretical medical theories, life in the colleges of Cambridge, living in cold drafty buildings in the winter, the animosity between the colleges and the town, the animosity between Cambridge and Oxford, and so much more. All of those things make the series excellent. Brother Michael's weight does not. So I knocked it down half a point. Otherwise, I like the series more and more as I go along. This particular book added to my understanding of college administration in that time period and the involvement of the church and the monarchy in the colleges. The mystery wove all of that into the story very well.
March 4, 2012
Did not particularly like this book.Way too long! Too many plot lines, very difficult to follow all of them. Probably will not read more of her books for a long time!
March 13, 2014
Too long and so convoluted it required an epilogue to sum it up.
June 23, 2016
The only Matthew Bartholomew book so far that I've figured out. Still really good though.
June 28, 2021
**SPOILERS AHEAD** When Michaelhouse's former Master, Thomas Wilson, died during the Plague because he went out at night to visit his Prioress~paramour and along his way to her... rich people were willing to pay anything for a priest to give them the Last Rites, so the avaricious Wilson administered the Rites to the plague~afflicted then stole jewelry (prying the rings from their dying fingers) and took items made of gold and silver from the homes of the dead and from their surviving family members. Such despicable acts coupled with Wilson's blatant arrant hypocrisy had carried a warped and festering memory in the mind of a child ~ and vengeance was born. Attrition that may be considered a usual act of a parent to his spinster daughter in his constant nagging for her to get a husband would have been funny and normal to an interested on~looker, but when such was coupled with a bad memory... sometimes people get killed either from good intentions as in Suttone's case or from retribution as in Adela Tangmer's. Despite all the tragedies, there would also be room for the ever present mordant humour that I have considered a normal fare just like Agatha's special affection for Michael and Matt in her cozy kitchen by a warm fire with the College cat rubbing itself in and out between their feet. And this ~ inspite and amid the paucity of home~comforts, food and candles... etc... that were the ever constant lack in Michaelhouse (except for those who could afford to provide for their own amenities) ~ had the semblance of an anchor and normalcy for Matthew
March 10, 2025
Ogni volta che inizio un libro di susanna Gregory so già che la mia salute mentale verrà compromessa. Lo faccio lo stesso? Assolutamente!
In questo sesto libro succedono tante cose, ma davvero tante, una che non mi aspettavo sono state le dimissioni del master del college che viene sostituito da Runham che, oddiovipregoqualcunocenesalvi!
Fortunatamente non ha vita lunga, letteralmente, peroʻ lascia Michaelhouse nella miseria oltre che nei casini e sarà compito di Michael e Matthew (perché altrimenti che sfizio ci sarebbe) salvare la situazione.
Come sempre l'unica cosa che voglio ribadire è la capacità della Gregory nello scrivere i suoi personaggi. Quando leggo un suo libro dimentico completamente che queste persone non sono esistite nel senso letterale del termine, anche se i nomi sono gli stessi, e più di una volta mi è capitato di pensare, passando dal centro, "oh, qui è dove Matthew e Michael hanno trovato questa cosa qui" prima di ricordarmi che no, non è esattamente successo.🫠😂
In questo sesto libro succedono tante cose, ma davvero tante, una che non mi aspettavo sono state le dimissioni del master del college che viene sostituito da Runham che, oddiovipregoqualcunocenesalvi!
Fortunatamente non ha vita lunga, letteralmente, peroʻ lascia Michaelhouse nella miseria oltre che nei casini e sarà compito di Michael e Matthew (perché altrimenti che sfizio ci sarebbe) salvare la situazione.
Come sempre l'unica cosa che voglio ribadire è la capacità della Gregory nello scrivere i suoi personaggi. Quando leggo un suo libro dimentico completamente che queste persone non sono esistite nel senso letterale del termine, anche se i nomi sono gli stessi, e più di una volta mi è capitato di pensare, passando dal centro, "oh, qui è dove Matthew e Michael hanno trovato questa cosa qui" prima di ricordarmi che no, non è esattamente successo.🫠😂
March 1, 2018
I am currently obsessed with this book series but it's probably mostly because I've been listening to the audiobooks and David Thorpe's narration is everything. He's especially good with the characters voices (Michael is my fave) and I'm basically only still listening because I like his version of Michael so much. Otherwise the stories are pretty predictable and the only smart characters you'll run across ever are Matt, Michael and the bad guys. This particular book is probably my least favorite so far, but overall this series is a good ol' cozy mystery about monks solving murders in the 1300s. Also, is it just me or does anyone else think Susanna Gregory might not be an animal lover in real life?
September 25, 2024
I am stuck in a medieval rut with Matthew Bartholomew and I'm calling on Bruno Chief of Police in his Land Rover to pull me out.
A Masterly Murder is the 6th of the series and I must say that I've enjoyed every minute I spent in 14th century Cambridge.
Kenyngham, the saintly Master of Michaelhouse announces he is stepping down and quickly the scheming Runham, takes his place and quite literally all hell breaks loose.
Matthew and Michael will really need to have their wits about them to figure out what is going on.
A Masterly Murder is the 6th of the series and I must say that I've enjoyed every minute I spent in 14th century Cambridge.
Kenyngham, the saintly Master of Michaelhouse announces he is stepping down and quickly the scheming Runham, takes his place and quite literally all hell breaks loose.
Matthew and Michael will really need to have their wits about them to figure out what is going on.
May 18, 2017
This is definitely my favourite Matthew Bartholomew book so far (I've come to the series very late and I am working my way through them from the beginning). In this one, there are a few 'minor' murders at Bene'ts College (a rival to Bartholomew's Michaelhouse) which Matthew helps to investigate but the real tension involves the new master at Michaelhouse, someone who is making everyone's life a misery and is making some rash decisions. I did guess 'who did it' but it was still a very enjoyable story and I am still absolutely loving the interplay between the various fellows, students and servants of Michaelhouse.
May 19, 2019
I love a good mediaeval mystery and this series fits the bill. This particular episode is rather convoluted and with a very high body count- I know they were violent times but really? Having said that, the historical note at the end does show quite that many of the characters and institutions are historical.
November 15, 2020
I found this one a bit harder to follow... Matt is even in a quandary of his own. I am also still ambivalent about Michael’s friendship. His underhanded behaviors seem more like “frenemy” and loyal friend.
That being said, I am truly engaged in Cambridge & the various colleges at this period in time. And, I absolutely enjoy the author’s notes at the end of each mystery!!
That being said, I am truly engaged in Cambridge & the various colleges at this period in time. And, I absolutely enjoy the author’s notes at the end of each mystery!!
August 6, 2022
Quibbling, bickering, backbiting, and murder.
Their characters are like a flock of fussy old hens arguing over everything. I love the time period, but can only take so much at a sitting of these personalities.
Their characters are like a flock of fussy old hens arguing over everything. I love the time period, but can only take so much at a sitting of these personalities.
November 10, 2024
Susanna can be a bit long winded and this is a long book. Yet I adore Matthew and will read this series to its end. The historical information is fascinating. The final deaths were a bit strange and sudden but all in all an enjoyable read
June 27, 2025
Book 6 ...These books started off very enjoyable with a great sense of historical detail and good character development...but is it just me or are the story's all very similar and a tad predictable....I'm going to give them a rest for a while and probably read book 7....
July 7, 2017
Dead bodies all over the place and quite a complex plot unfolds, though I did suspect one of the 'baddies' from quite early on.
January 16, 2018
Read this book first out of the series. Handled back-story information well, and has interesting time relevant, post Black Death historical info. Decent crime story to boot.
December 2, 2018
Back at Cambridge. Excellent story
March 29, 2019
historical fiction murder mystery
August 21, 2019
This was a good mystery that immersed you in the medieval world.
February 12, 2020
An excellent and exciting mystery.
June 22, 2020
Great
Author has me. Completely fooled as to the killer and the reason why. Stayed up late to finish book to find out who the killer was. Very enjoyable read.
Author has me. Completely fooled as to the killer and the reason why. Stayed up late to finish book to find out who the killer was. Very enjoyable read.
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June 26, 2020I really love Matt and Mike. I think I could continue loving them, if I found any more of these.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews