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Bridget Hart #7
Toll for the Dead
A solemn funeral. A bitter schism. A brutal murder.
When the much-loved lord of the manor, Henry Burton, passes away, the villagers of Hambledon-on-Thames gather to pay their respects at his funeral. But the day is marred when the churchwarden is found brutally battered to death in the north transept of the church.
Called to investigate, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart soon unearths a tangled web of old grudges and simmering feuds beneath the tranquil idyll of this sleepy South Oxfordshire village. Bridget and her team must look beyond the thatched cottages and rose-covered houses to uncover the truth and prevent another death.
When the much-loved lord of the manor, Henry Burton, passes away, the villagers of Hambledon-on-Thames gather to pay their respects at his funeral. But the day is marred when the churchwarden is found brutally battered to death in the north transept of the church.
Called to investigate, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart soon unearths a tangled web of old grudges and simmering feuds beneath the tranquil idyll of this sleepy South Oxfordshire village. Bridget and her team must look beyond the thatched cottages and rose-covered houses to uncover the truth and prevent another death.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2021
899 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
M.S. Morris
22 books237 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 58 reviews
November 5, 2021
This is the final book in the Bridget Hart series. This book was not as successful as earlier ones, so rest in peace. Maybe ok for YA audience?
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November 5, 2021
A great ending to an enjoyable series.
Bridget Hart is a very real and believable character that was brought to life in this series. Every character no matter how small their role is, is fully developed which adds greatly to the storyline. Good intriguing plot with multiple suspects and wonderful descriptive writing of the scenes all add up to a great read.
Bridget Hart is a very real and believable character that was brought to life in this series. Every character no matter how small their role is, is fully developed which adds greatly to the storyline. Good intriguing plot with multiple suspects and wonderful descriptive writing of the scenes all add up to a great read.
January 22, 2022
Loved the final book of the series. Good mystery, as they all have been, and a very satisfying conclusion for the characters in this light and compelling series.
February 18, 2026
I'm sad this is the last in the series! I've really enjoyed both the mysteries in the series as well as getting to know Bridget and her team and family better.
This was an interesting mystery, and I definitely didn't guess who the guilty party was. It also wrapped up pretty much everything in all of the key characters' personal lives as well.. Particularly delightful was the wedding of Bridget's ex- to Tamsin (who Bridget has spent books speculating about). The only thing left hanging, is how did Bridget's daughter do on her exams?
This was an interesting mystery, and I definitely didn't guess who the guilty party was. It also wrapped up pretty much everything in all of the key characters' personal lives as well.. Particularly delightful was the wedding of Bridget's ex- to Tamsin (who Bridget has spent books speculating about). The only thing left hanging, is how did Bridget's daughter do on her exams?
October 3, 2024
A great read but I think I might have missed a bit. Was the treasure found in the past or was it just a legend. The last part was a bit drawn out.
A great read.
A great read.
October 23, 2024
This is the last of the series? That’s too bad…I really loved it. Guess I’ll try the Tom Raven series.
December 11, 2024
3.5 rounded down
Book seven, and what appears to be the last in this series set in Oxford, at least for the present. I have come to enjoy these books which are easy and enjoyable police procedurals full of characters who I have come to know.
Book seven, and what appears to be the last in this series set in Oxford, at least for the present. I have come to enjoy these books which are easy and enjoyable police procedurals full of characters who I have come to know.
January 24, 2022
Well, I've read all these now. This one was better than #6, but still pretty implausible. Also marred by lengthy infodumps about bell-ringing (yawn) and Tudor politics.
December 29, 2022
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.
Toll for the Dead is #7 and it’s very good. In fact 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 it becomes a problem 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.
Toll for the Dead is #7 and it’s very good. In fact 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 it becomes a problem 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.
April 16, 2023
Perhaps I have been wrong in my reading habits for too long. I honestly believe that this is the first time that I have read three books of a series one after the other. I have felt so involved with the resident characters that I have needed to read on . This is that third and the last of the series.
Over 60 years ago when I was school , there was one things that I was told by my English teacher that I remember. I was told that all I needed to write a story was words. I didnt need any pictures, drawings or maps. To include any of these showed a weakness in my ability to convey the content well enough in my writing. I have often thought of that when, at the front of a story I have found a map of a village or the plan of a house, sometimes even by a well known author. As I started to get into this story, with the description of the village central to the plot, it struck me that the authors had a similar English teacher to me - there was certainly no need for a map.
I liked the way that Amy was introduced before there was any mention of her being Jakes new girl friend that we saw very briefly at the end of the previous book.
I do have one criticism of the story ( or proofreader) . Well into the book the village of Hambleton on Thames was described as ' with Abingdon to the North and Dorchester to the East'. Surely Dorchester must be to the West - or am I being just a little too pedantic?
This episode of the DI Hart series was very much of the classical English village drama. The death of the Lord of the Manor, the village busybody, the village Inn, the Parish church and its vicar, even a puzzling inscription of the church bells hinting at hidden treasure - all of the ingredients were in place. but the authors skill prevented it from being too stereotypical.
As well as a murderer to find , Bridget has other important decisions to make, like a new dress for the wedding of her exhusband and whether or not her daughter Chloe is revising enough for her GCSE exams.
And so it appears that this is the last of the series. I have enjoyed each of the stories. The authors have brought all of the loose ends together with a 'feel good' conclusion whilst perhaps, leaving the option there for DI Hart to return ( if the new series doesnt work out - but I'm sure it will)
Over 60 years ago when I was school , there was one things that I was told by my English teacher that I remember. I was told that all I needed to write a story was words. I didnt need any pictures, drawings or maps. To include any of these showed a weakness in my ability to convey the content well enough in my writing. I have often thought of that when, at the front of a story I have found a map of a village or the plan of a house, sometimes even by a well known author. As I started to get into this story, with the description of the village central to the plot, it struck me that the authors had a similar English teacher to me - there was certainly no need for a map.
I liked the way that Amy was introduced before there was any mention of her being Jakes new girl friend that we saw very briefly at the end of the previous book.
I do have one criticism of the story ( or proofreader) . Well into the book the village of Hambleton on Thames was described as ' with Abingdon to the North and Dorchester to the East'. Surely Dorchester must be to the West - or am I being just a little too pedantic?
This episode of the DI Hart series was very much of the classical English village drama. The death of the Lord of the Manor, the village busybody, the village Inn, the Parish church and its vicar, even a puzzling inscription of the church bells hinting at hidden treasure - all of the ingredients were in place. but the authors skill prevented it from being too stereotypical.
As well as a murderer to find , Bridget has other important decisions to make, like a new dress for the wedding of her exhusband and whether or not her daughter Chloe is revising enough for her GCSE exams.
And so it appears that this is the last of the series. I have enjoyed each of the stories. The authors have brought all of the loose ends together with a 'feel good' conclusion whilst perhaps, leaving the option there for DI Hart to return ( if the new series doesnt work out - but I'm sure it will)
November 19, 2022
Happy couples.
After the break up with Ffion, Jake was persuaded by Ryan to try on line dating. After two disastrous attempts, using the profile Ryan had created for him, Jake placed an honest entry without frills. He got two replies and chose one called Amy. Good choice, two months later life was good and their romance blossoming.
Amy's parents ran the village pub in Hambledon and liked Jake from the start. That was why Jake was first on the scene, when Any came running into the pub telling Jake & her parents that Harriet, the church warden, had been murdered in the church.
Amy's character brings some light relief and is the perfect match for Jake. Although her own attempts at sleuthing end in disaster.
Good storyline, more red herrings than usual which made for more depth to the murder case.
After the break up with Ffion, Jake was persuaded by Ryan to try on line dating. After two disastrous attempts, using the profile Ryan had created for him, Jake placed an honest entry without frills. He got two replies and chose one called Amy. Good choice, two months later life was good and their romance blossoming.
Amy's parents ran the village pub in Hambledon and liked Jake from the start. That was why Jake was first on the scene, when Any came running into the pub telling Jake & her parents that Harriet, the church warden, had been murdered in the church.
Amy's character brings some light relief and is the perfect match for Jake. Although her own attempts at sleuthing end in disaster.
Good storyline, more red herrings than usual which made for more depth to the murder case.
November 11, 2022
The only disappointing feature in this book is that it is the last one in the Bridget Hart series. The writers have decided to move on to another character in the cozy mystery genre. This mystery revolves around the murder of a prominent community member in a tiny community outside of Oxford that occurs after the timely death of the town's richest member. It was great fun to read. The detectives try to sort through the entanglement of dysfunctional relationships and long-held relationships that are not what they seem. There's even the search for a buried treasure as a bonus. A great ending to a series that will be missed.
Want to read
October 5, 2024A solemn funeral. A bitter schism. A brutal murder. When the much-loved lord of the manor, Henry Burton, passes away, the villagers of Hambledon-on-Thames gather to pay their respects at his funeral. But the day is marred when the churchwarden is found brutally battered to death in the north transept of the church. Called to investigate, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart soon unearths a tangled web of old grudges and simmering feuds beneath the tranquil idyll of this sleepy South Oxfordshire village. Bridget and her team must look beyond the thatched cottages and rose-covered houses to uncover the truth and prevent another death.
Good.
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2021
DI HART GOES OUT WITH A WHIMPER
I believe it is a good time to say good bye to Bridget. I had a hard time finishing this book which is unusual for me. I read mostly Kindle Unlimited books and have low expectations. I really disliked the use of Dorothy Sayers book, The Nine Tailors. Makes me wonder if any effort was made to research change ringing. The 3 stars are for lazy research, bloated p!ot and the fact that the Shaun character gets a 180 degree personality change in two days.
I believe it is a good time to say good bye to Bridget. I had a hard time finishing this book which is unusual for me. I read mostly Kindle Unlimited books and have low expectations. I really disliked the use of Dorothy Sayers book, The Nine Tailors. Makes me wonder if any effort was made to research change ringing. The 3 stars are for lazy research, bloated p!ot and the fact that the Shaun character gets a 180 degree personality change in two days.
January 15, 2024
Good story
It's truly a shame that this is the last book in the series. Certain story arcs get resolved, at least pertaining to the personal lives of some of the characters, or, if not resolved, then definite hints about which way the wind is blowing. In my mind, that's just when things start to get interesting. It's not a place to stop. On the contrary, it's the end of a very detailed prologue where the developed characters can really get their teeth into some meaty storylines. But, oh well, apparently the authors didn't feel the same.
It's truly a shame that this is the last book in the series. Certain story arcs get resolved, at least pertaining to the personal lives of some of the characters, or, if not resolved, then definite hints about which way the wind is blowing. In my mind, that's just when things start to get interesting. It's not a place to stop. On the contrary, it's the end of a very detailed prologue where the developed characters can really get their teeth into some meaty storylines. But, oh well, apparently the authors didn't feel the same.
May 6, 2023
If you want an easy to read series, with good characters who develop through the books, but isn’t cosy crime, these are your books. Plots are also good and always have interesting facts about Oxford to share. Sometimes there are weak points - this last book had something obviously signalled from the first murder. Usually though, the team are not the ones being threatened which makes a nice change! Occasionally there are stereotypical developments, which is why I’ve mostly given three stars.
September 25, 2023
With this book all the cliches from English village murder mysteries are presented in full: the evil witch (murdered), the nervous vicar and his strange wife, the pub and its colorful, regulars, the (buried) old squire, his unpleasant son, the house-keeper, the gardener ...
Oh and did I mention the serial happy-endings for the protagonists? It is definitely too much and as such not a good ending for this series
Oh and did I mention the serial happy-endings for the protagonists? It is definitely too much and as such not a good ending for this series
January 7, 2024
I am very sad to come to the end of Morris' Bridget Hart series, as I've started to feel as if I really know the recurring characters. In this 7th book in the series, DI Hart and her team are called upon to solve the murder of a village busybody. As usual, there were plenty of plot twists and turns. It also was interesting to learn about the tradition of change ringing. I had never heard of this before.
May 19, 2024
This was my first Bridget Hart book and while it didn't grab me the way I like, it was an OK story with some interesting characters. I thought Amy was a totally useless character - to wishy washy and talked like a middle school pupil. I loved Bridget, a down to earth, no nonsense DI who strived to get to the bottom of the crime. A little too much "fill" describing that, that and everything especially the bell ringing.
November 4, 2024
This is an imaginative novel about a murder in an English Anglican church that involves an out of wedlock situation that had not been acknowledged.
I learned about change / measured bell ringing that was accomplished with eight bells that were each in a carriage assembly that rotated vertically rather than swinging and involved a mathematical series of position changes. (Amazing that with only four bells there are 4x3x2=24 possible permutations and then calculate for those eight bells! How are the bell ringers able to cope?)
I learned about change / measured bell ringing that was accomplished with eight bells that were each in a carriage assembly that rotated vertically rather than swinging and involved a mathematical series of position changes. (Amazing that with only four bells there are 4x3x2=24 possible permutations and then calculate for those eight bells! How are the bell ringers able to cope?)
November 9, 2024
Outstanding, simply outstanding!
It is sad when a series comes to an end, but usually it just means that the mediocrity has ended. Not so with the DI Bridget Hart series ... It ended in a fanfare of trumpets and cloud bursts of fireworks! I can't recall enjoying a series as much as this one ... and I've read a lot. Now to turn my attention to MS Morris's other detective series, Tom Raven! Another 5-star read!
It is sad when a series comes to an end, but usually it just means that the mediocrity has ended. Not so with the DI Bridget Hart series ... It ended in a fanfare of trumpets and cloud bursts of fireworks! I can't recall enjoying a series as much as this one ... and I've read a lot. Now to turn my attention to MS Morris's other detective series, Tom Raven! Another 5-star read!
September 24, 2025
Bridget Hart and team are summoned to a picturesque village to investigate the murder of a local woman. The village people hold lots of secrets that have been revealed throughout the investigation. In the end, the murderer has been found. The authors have chosen to end the series with this book so they wrapped up all the characters lives. I really liked all the characters, and I’m sad to see this series end.
November 6, 2021
New read
I stumbled on this series because I love British murder mysteries. It definitely didn't disappoint, and I ended up binge rainy the entire series! I sincerely hope for #8, but in he meantime will read others by this author. Anyone who loves British mysteries will love this series.
I stumbled on this series because I love British murder mysteries. It definitely didn't disappoint, and I ended up binge rainy the entire series! I sincerely hope for #8, but in he meantime will read others by this author. Anyone who loves British mysteries will love this series.
June 3, 2022
Toll for the Dead is a disappointing conclusion to the Bridget Hart series, which I have enjoyed very much. I am sad the series has ended, but I'm especially disappointed in the story itself. I felt that more effort went into trying to tie up stories of some of the main characters than in telling the story of murder.
July 27, 2022
This was the 7th book is the Oxford Murder Mystery series, and as with the first 6, I enjoyed it very much. The ending was a surprise but satisfying.
I'm sad the series is over but glad so many loose ends got resolved for the various characters I've grown to adore (all the homicide detectives and their superior DCI Bridget Hart).
I'm sad the series is over but glad so many loose ends got resolved for the various characters I've grown to adore (all the homicide detectives and their superior DCI Bridget Hart).
November 6, 2021
Another great read
As with the previous books in this series I couldn't put it down until I was finished. This is one of my favorite series. Love all the characters. There just has to be more! Please!!!!!!!
As with the previous books in this series I couldn't put it down until I was finished. This is one of my favorite series. Love all the characters. There just has to be more! Please!!!!!!!
March 8, 2022
Recommend
Have enjoyed each of the books in this series. Looking forward to the next one.
Great characters--have depth, even minor ones. Good plots, again with sufficient detail to be realistic. Good descriptions without getting overdone.
Have enjoyed each of the books in this series. Looking forward to the next one.
Great characters--have depth, even minor ones. Good plots, again with sufficient detail to be realistic. Good descriptions without getting overdone.
April 18, 2022
Another great story
Another great story in the Bridget Hart series and every bit as good as the previous six. The only disappointment is that this is to be the last in the series. Looking forward to reading the new series.
Another great story in the Bridget Hart series and every bit as good as the previous six. The only disappointment is that this is to be the last in the series. Looking forward to reading the new series.
August 25, 2022
Such a great series, this entry really caught my interest with the parts about bell ringing and a good emphasis on the personal lives of Bridget and the gang which had been lacking in the previous few books. Is this really the final one? I hope the next series is as engaging as this one.
October 28, 2022
excellent series I
I have now completed book 7 the last in the series
(I hope not)
I have throughly enjoyed all 7.
My only complaint is the constant use of obscure words
Not in every day use we did not all study English at Oxford.
I have now completed book 7 the last in the series
(I hope not)
I have throughly enjoyed all 7.
My only complaint is the constant use of obscure words
Not in every day use we did not all study English at Oxford.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews