What do you think?
Bridget Hart #4
In Love and Murder
When Dr Nathan Frost, a lecturer in German literature at Oxford University, is invited to a lavish party at the country house of a wealthy businessman, he knows there'll be a price to pay. After all, as an expert on the legend of Faust and Mephistopheles, he can recognise a deal with the devil easily enough. But even he's not expecting such a sinister end to the evening.
Called to investigate a suspicious death at a country house, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is surprised to find a government minister among the party guests. Her team must navigate powerful interests to find the truth. But in a world of favours, backhanders and corruption, nothing is as it seems and nobody can be trusted.
Called to investigate a suspicious death at a country house, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is surprised to find a government minister among the party guests. Her team must navigate powerful interests to find the truth. But in a world of favours, backhanders and corruption, nothing is as it seems and nobody can be trusted.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2020
About the author
M.S. Morris
30 books255 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 78 reviews
December 17, 2025
This is my least favorite of the books in the series to date. The mystery itself was interesting, but there were just some personal issues of the various member's of Bridget's team that I had major issues with. Seriously, Jake? Not only should you be dropped back to a beat officer (as he thinks about at one point for something he did), you should be fired!
October 23, 2025
Nach dem vierten Band der Serie möchte ich nun doch mal nach Oxford reisen :-)
January 1, 2021
I did read this out of order as I bumped up a Christmas season episode to read over the holiday season. A new year now, so back I went to learn a few details to fill in a couple of missing gaps.
Our featured murder, though there will be another, takes place at a party at a country house under mysterious circumstances. Dr. Frost, "ye olde" teacher of Faust at the University of Oxford, delivers a Faustian theme in spades, topped off with a Venetian masked party where darkness prevails and he will be the pawn.
If I get too descriptive I will spoil the read. This book has a big sleaze factor and a few ugly truths for our main characters, so I made the right decision in skipping over this one. I may not have carried on with the series. I remain a fan, however. Bridget's team has a job in getting cooperation from elite party goers.
Kindle Unlimited
Our featured murder, though there will be another, takes place at a party at a country house under mysterious circumstances. Dr. Frost, "ye olde" teacher of Faust at the University of Oxford, delivers a Faustian theme in spades, topped off with a Venetian masked party where darkness prevails and he will be the pawn.
If I get too descriptive I will spoil the read. This book has a big sleaze factor and a few ugly truths for our main characters, so I made the right decision in skipping over this one. I may not have carried on with the series. I remain a fan, however. Bridget's team has a job in getting cooperation from elite party goers.
Kindle Unlimited
July 9, 2024
2.5 rounded up
Book four in this series set in Oxford. While I quite enjoy the mystery and the police procedural elements of this series the characters are not really evolving and the repetition of facts is particularly off putting. I can appreciate that this is book four and that readers who are new to the series may require some background, however that background does not need to occur in one massive information dump in one chapter. And to make matters worse, some of the information is given more than once in that chapter, and repeated throughout the novel eg the demise of Hart's sister! There is also a degree of predictability and formula which is, of course, more evident the more of these books that you read. Really not sure if I will continue with this series which started with some promise.
Book four in this series set in Oxford. While I quite enjoy the mystery and the police procedural elements of this series the characters are not really evolving and the repetition of facts is particularly off putting. I can appreciate that this is book four and that readers who are new to the series may require some background, however that background does not need to occur in one massive information dump in one chapter. And to make matters worse, some of the information is given more than once in that chapter, and repeated throughout the novel eg the demise of Hart's sister! There is also a degree of predictability and formula which is, of course, more evident the more of these books that you read. Really not sure if I will continue with this series which started with some promise.
September 19, 2020
Excellent!
Great series and this one was terrific! Suspense from start to finish with a very surprising conclusion. Major characters are engaging people, and their interaction is a great part of the reading enjoyment— it relieves the tension of the police investigation, which is very thorough. Look forward to the next book
Great series and this one was terrific! Suspense from start to finish with a very surprising conclusion. Major characters are engaging people, and their interaction is a great part of the reading enjoyment— it relieves the tension of the police investigation, which is very thorough. Look forward to the next book
August 20, 2026
A good read. Great characters
December 18, 2022
M.S. Morris -- Bridget Hart series
In Love and Murder #4
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.
In Love and Murder #4
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.
February 28, 2021
Meh
This one didn't really work for me. Although I had to read it in fits and starts, rather than straight through as usual, it didn't really hold my attention. It was more about the ebb and flow of various relationships than solving murders.
This one didn't really work for me. Although I had to read it in fits and starts, rather than straight through as usual, it didn't really hold my attention. It was more about the ebb and flow of various relationships than solving murders.
September 15, 2020
Not as good as #3
November 9, 2025
Well now, just where do I begin? First of all, M.S. Morris has a real page turner here. I had a difficult time putting it down, especially for the last 7 chapters. The crime? A horrible murder followed by another horrible murder. The setting? A wealthy man's Mansion and a college. Characters involved? Powerful land developer, Justices and Lawyers, Politicians, Deans, Professors, Students and of course Bridget Hart and her team. Outside of Bridget and her team, there is nary a good person in the story. There are plenty of very bad people each of who have their finger in the crime. As usual there is a big twist at the end that I didn't see coming and that made the whole reading experience excellent.
I won't give anymore away, however, I strongly recommend this book by the M.S. Morris team.
I won't give anymore away, however, I strongly recommend this book by the M.S. Morris team.
Read
February 22, 2021When Dr Nathan Frost, a lecturer in German literature at Oxford University, is invited to a lavish party at the country house of a wealthy businessman, he knows there'll be a price to pay. After all, as an expert on the legend of Faust and Mephistopheles, he can recognise a deal with the devil easily enough. But even he's not expecting such a sinister end to the evening.
Called to investigate a suspicious death at a country house, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is surprised to find a government minister among the party guests. Her team must navigate powerful interests to find the truth. But in a world of favours, backhanders and corruption, nothing is as it seems and nobody can be trusted.
The tutor did it. Goos
Called to investigate a suspicious death at a country house, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is surprised to find a government minister among the party guests. Her team must navigate powerful interests to find the truth. But in a world of favours, backhanders and corruption, nothing is as it seems and nobody can be trusted.
The tutor did it. Goos
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2021
Best of the first four in the series
This is an enjoyable series for British mystery fans. Author is quite adept at "red herrings", and only once have I been able guess the guilty party. Although sometimes redundant with descriptions (I only need to read once in a book that the River Thames is referred to as the Isis around Oxford and what color Cotswold stone is) and the characters excessive when contemplating their personal lives, the mysteries themselves are compelling and interesting. I just downloaded the 5th book, and am looking forward to a comfy chair, a glass of wine and another evening of mystery!
This is an enjoyable series for British mystery fans. Author is quite adept at "red herrings", and only once have I been able guess the guilty party. Although sometimes redundant with descriptions (I only need to read once in a book that the River Thames is referred to as the Isis around Oxford and what color Cotswold stone is) and the characters excessive when contemplating their personal lives, the mysteries themselves are compelling and interesting. I just downloaded the 5th book, and am looking forward to a comfy chair, a glass of wine and another evening of mystery!
March 30, 2023
I have read the first three of this series, enjoyed them and wonder why it has taken me so long to get onto this one.
I suppose the book is in a group now classed as "cozy".
I was soon back in the life of Bridget Hart - the recently appointed Detective Inspector in Oxford with her team and family. It is not only easy reading but its the kind of book that I actually looked forward to my next reading session. The characters are easily pictured and the action, on a few fronts becomes quite riveting and even led me to break my own imposed curfew and read well into the early hours to finish it. The clever use of misdirection certainly caught me out.
I suppose the book is in a group now classed as "cozy".
I was soon back in the life of Bridget Hart - the recently appointed Detective Inspector in Oxford with her team and family. It is not only easy reading but its the kind of book that I actually looked forward to my next reading session. The characters are easily pictured and the action, on a few fronts becomes quite riveting and even led me to break my own imposed curfew and read well into the early hours to finish it. The clever use of misdirection certainly caught me out.
May 10, 2021
This is the fourth installment in the Bridget Hart mystery series that takes place in Oxford, England. This was an improvement on the third book, and I was relieved to see the authors back in their old form. This mystery takes place at a Masquerade Ball with the list of usual suspects in different segments of society who may have killed an Oxford student pursuing a journalism career. Secrets are uncovered as the detectives relentlessly determine who killed the young co-ed. There is enough mystery and personal dramas to make an very enjoyable, escapist read.
November 3, 2024
Starts off with a clumsy portrayal of a single middle age academic with every cliche going. There is a pastiche of the Faustian pact myth. There is a clash between insular university culture and ruthless business enterprise . But nevertheless the murder plot is rather engaging.
Found that sub-plot between police officers starting a potentially doomed physical relationship began to detract from the main story.
Will read the next one in the series, then see if I want to go any further. Perhaps a tough editor could have drawn out the stronger elements of the book, and modified the rest.
Found that sub-plot between police officers starting a potentially doomed physical relationship began to detract from the main story.
Will read the next one in the series, then see if I want to go any further. Perhaps a tough editor could have drawn out the stronger elements of the book, and modified the rest.
January 24, 2021
Absorbing crime fiction
I really enjoy reading about the setting of these novels, Oxford and it has made me want to go there. Being interested in police forensic processes I get a little irritated about the lack of mention of actual physical evidence, like finger marks on the murder weapon in this story. But otherwise I like the intrigue of the unfolding story and list of possible suspects.
I really enjoy reading about the setting of these novels, Oxford and it has made me want to go there. Being interested in police forensic processes I get a little irritated about the lack of mention of actual physical evidence, like finger marks on the murder weapon in this story. But otherwise I like the intrigue of the unfolding story and list of possible suspects.
April 26, 2022
This is becoming a favorite series. Oxford is a great location for murders as Morse proved.
Bridget and her team are great characters. A murder at a masked party and a university lecturer the apparent suspect set in motion an interesting story. It rarely happens but I guessed the culprit and then watched as the police worked it out.
The narration is great. I’m glad there are more books in this series.
Bridget and her team are great characters. A murder at a masked party and a university lecturer the apparent suspect set in motion an interesting story. It rarely happens but I guessed the culprit and then watched as the police worked it out.
The narration is great. I’m glad there are more books in this series.
October 18, 2022
very repetitive
After the 4th book in the Bridget Hart series
The authors keep referring to books 1/2/3
Then describing all the characters Again in detail.
I also have a dictionary at hand as they often use words
Not in every use .
We did not all study English at Oxford
Perhaps the authors would take my comments on board
As a final comment
I really enjoy the series
Popeye John
After the 4th book in the Bridget Hart series
The authors keep referring to books 1/2/3
Then describing all the characters Again in detail.
I also have a dictionary at hand as they often use words
Not in every use .
We did not all study English at Oxford
Perhaps the authors would take my comments on board
As a final comment
I really enjoy the series
Popeye John
September 9, 2024
I really liked Jake and he seemed like a nice guy, then all of a sudden he sleeps with his old girlfriend who is obviously a horrible person. Okay that is bad, but the fact is she is a witness and a suspect and that (one would guess) is illegal. The team in this series is very bumbling. There is a difference between moving between suspects as new evidence comes to light and actually LEADING an investigation. Disappointing.
October 12, 2024
3.75 rounded up!
While this has been personally one of the more interesting cases for DI Hart, there was quite a bit of character regression. The time jump between the last book and this one left wanting more.
That aside, the storyline flowed nicely as always. A recluse Oxford tutor gets invited to a lavish masked party, and a young girl is murdered. I would say the clue recaps were a little too repetitive this time around, but I look forward to continue reading the series.
While this has been personally one of the more interesting cases for DI Hart, there was quite a bit of character regression. The time jump between the last book and this one left wanting more.
That aside, the storyline flowed nicely as always. A recluse Oxford tutor gets invited to a lavish masked party, and a young girl is murdered. I would say the clue recaps were a little too repetitive this time around, but I look forward to continue reading the series.
February 1, 2021
Loving these mysteries
I read a lot of mysteries, and I am finding the Bridget Hart series well written and enjoyable. Did I know there are over 30 colleges in Oxford? The authors mix murders, a bit of romance, and university life with descriptions of the Oxford area. I will read the entire series for sure!
I read a lot of mysteries, and I am finding the Bridget Hart series well written and enjoyable. Did I know there are over 30 colleges in Oxford? The authors mix murders, a bit of romance, and university life with descriptions of the Oxford area. I will read the entire series for sure!
March 28, 2021
Not sure whether I enjoyed this book but that fact that I finished means something. An interesting plot with the characters of the support cast better developed than the lead, I felt ambiguous about outcomes for her. At the end of the book I discovered that this was book 4 of 5 so perhaps I am the cause of my own dissatisfaction.
April 6, 2021
Clever, as usual but...
...there was a bit much padding in an effort to occlude the uncovering of the killer. Not like them—they usually have a plotted path, with red herrings in place, but they seldom waste words in the development of the story. Still, this is exemplary story telling and an enjoyable book.
...there was a bit much padding in an effort to occlude the uncovering of the killer. Not like them—they usually have a plotted path, with red herrings in place, but they seldom waste words in the development of the story. Still, this is exemplary story telling and an enjoyable book.
April 24, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a country house murder mystery, Oxford-style! The sleaze and corruption under the sophisticated veneer was very well-written as were the twists and turns of the investigation. As always, the character development of the team was great and it was particularly nice to have some focus on Jake, who is my favourite character in these books. A very good read indeed!
March 3, 2022
A low rating because of the sloppy police procedure by the author! in this police procedural.
Two huge holes:
*Hart ignoring, blithely writing off, Tyler Dixon’s assertion that he hadn’t had sex with Gina in his bed.
*Hart failing to get DNA from the person close to Gina as soon as the initial DNA samples were discovered to reveal nothing.
Very disappointing.
Two huge holes:
*Hart ignoring, blithely writing off, Tyler Dixon’s assertion that he hadn’t had sex with Gina in his bed.
*Hart failing to get DNA from the person close to Gina as soon as the initial DNA samples were discovered to reveal nothing.
Very disappointing.
October 12, 2023
This was one of my favorite” Hart “ books to date ( I’ve read 3 ) I loved the story , but the awful ex gf of Jake irritated me so much I had to turn the book off a few times !
The way he becomes an idiot every time he’s around her drove me to distraction!
I also hated that Jake had no consequences for his actions - still o highly recommend this book !
The way he becomes an idiot every time he’s around her drove me to distraction!
I also hated that Jake had no consequences for his actions - still o highly recommend this book !
October 15, 2024
« The students were looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something more. Something profound and enlightening, perhaps. How young they looked, with their sincere expressions of belief in the value of education. Experience had not yet taught them that it would lead them to an endless cycle of bitter nothingness. »
September 13, 2025
Another satisfying murder mystery.
The Bridget Hart series just keeps getting better. As usual the final twists reveal the true murderer, just when the reader thinks they have solved it. Love the background story of the various detectives and their romances. On to the next in this page turning series.
The Bridget Hart series just keeps getting better. As usual the final twists reveal the true murderer, just when the reader thinks they have solved it. Love the background story of the various detectives and their romances. On to the next in this page turning series.
April 20, 2026
2.5 STARS
Until now, the series strong suit had been the realistic aspect of police procedures. Sadly, this installment went completely off the rails. Jake should have been at least suspended and at best fired for his actions. As with the other books, the character development was again minimal. I am in no rush to read more from this world.
Until now, the series strong suit had been the realistic aspect of police procedures. Sadly, this installment went completely off the rails. Jake should have been at least suspended and at best fired for his actions. As with the other books, the character development was again minimal. I am in no rush to read more from this world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews