To Kill or Cure

Matthew Bartholomew #13

by Susanna Gregory

Cambridge University is in dire financial straits—the town's landlords are demanding an extortionate rent rise for the students' hostels and the plague years have left the colleges with scant resources. Tension between town and gown is at a boiling point and soon explodes into violence and death. Into this maelstrom comes a charismatic physician whose healing methods owe more to magic than medicine—but his success threatens Matthew Bartholomew's professional reputation, and his life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Crime

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Susanna 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.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eventful mystery is the 13th instalment of the exciting "Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles" from the author, Susanna Gregory.

First of all I like to mention that the author's storytelling has once again of a superb quality, and that this mystery is so far one of the best, and secondly, all figures, whether they are great historical or wonderful fictional, come vividly to life within this tale of intrigue, mayhem and murder, and besides that Cambridge itself and its people are beautifully pictured and personified.

At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Cambridge, England, in the 1350s, where this story is taking place again, while at the end you'll notice a very well researched and documented Historical Note concerning this wonderful historical mystery.

The book starts off with a prologue which is set in the Spring of AD 1357 and that will be the basis for the main story which will start in April, AD 1357, and our main protagonists, Doctor Matthew and Brother Michael, will find out very quickly that their investigating skills are once again very much required.

Besides the murder cases to solve, of Lynton and Ocleye, and also the open hostilities between gown and town concerning the rent dispute, a headache case for Brother Michael, there's also the difference in certain beliefs between Dominicans and Franciscans, while last but not least there's the animosity between Physician Matthew Bartholomew and the charlatan healer, Magister Richard Arderne, who with his hostile actions will cause a lot of strife between townspeople and scholars, and he's especially targeting the physicians.

In this hostile and deadly environment Doctor Matthew and Brother Michael will have to tread carefully if they want to succeed in their quest to solve these cases of murder and the rent problem, and when they do finally expose the culprit(s) of various crimes, they will have to remain careful at the same time not to fall victim themselves, especially in the case of Doctor Matthew.

Very much recommended, for this episode has been another gripping and exciting one, and for me this book was the best one so far, and that's why I like to call this mystery: "A Definitely Amazing Killer Mystery"!

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fake healer is in Cambridge and causing all kinds of problems for Bartholomew. Yes, medical knowledge in the 14th-century is sketchy, even with the most favorable interpretation that Ms. Gregory can give: Bartholomew doesn’t believe in horoscopes and at least he washes his hands and his herbal skills would be revered still today, but on the other hand, he still believes in Galen’s theory of humours in the body.

This newcomer, who goes by the title and name of Magister Arderne, does dispense herbal potions, but most of his so-called cures or miracles are wrought by waving a magic feather. When he revives a dead man right in front of Bartholomew, even Bartholomew’s long-dedicated patients and a student are swayed.

Meanwhile, Brother Michael is facing difficulties between scholars and townsmen over rental of buildings to scholars for cut-rate rents with property owners trying to raise rents.

While this isn’t my favorite of the series (I was kind of heartbroken that Bartholomew’s love life is - AGAIN - at a dead end), I always enjoy hanging out in 14th century Cambridge. I loved the half-joking/half-serious debate on whether fig or plum pudding was better.

(And in a housekeeping matter, why does the Kindle version not have a cover?)

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel offers a plot with enough twists to keep me guessing until the very end. The relationship between Matthew Bartholomew, the physician and Michael, the overweight monk continues to intrigue me. Cambridge, the medieval college town, is a character in its own right.

I continue to enjoy this series

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is always a tension between the university and the town. This time the tension arises because those in the town wish to raise the rates of rents and the college fears that the raised rents will prevent hostels out of existence.

Of course there is always a murder or three which Brother Michael and Matthew must solve.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is from another one of those historical mystery series - medieval setting (Cambridge in the 1300s), town/gown tensions, monks galore. The sad thing is that every one that I've read barring Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael takes themselves so seriously it hurts.

The conflict here is threefold. One, an outsider claims to be a better doctor than the ones currently practicing in town; two, the town wants to raise rents on the hostels occupied by the varying University students; three, who killed Wenden and Lynton? Each story is interwoven, and their solutions aren't that far-fetched. The central mystery, the murders, turns out to have little to do with the other two stories except that they provide some red herrings for the Senior Proctor, Brother Michael and his Corpse Examiner, Matthew Bartholomew.

Some of the book felt like padding (we didn't need to continually hear about Brother Michael's "big bones" or how awful the food was or how much Tyrington spit), and the writing style was a little clunky. This was my first venture into this series, and I'll not revisit.

[Symon Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and engaging if not very original. The first few Matthew Bartholomew books were very good (the first one was excellent), but now I've reached Number 13 and they've settled down to a fairly predictable formula. They have engaging characters and interesting plots, and are very readable, but they tend to have a set structure and the murders and horrors they describe don't seem to have much effect on the people involved. As crime novels go, they're quite fluffy and in this regard, the series is a bit like a sort of medieval Midsomer Murders. But however much I think this, I still enjoy reading them, and I particularly appreciate the ongoing developments of particular characters as the series progresses.

This particular book features a very believable political and financial dispute involving housing in Cambridge and a struggle for power within the town; both issues seem surprisingly topical. We also see new developments for the individuals at Michaelhouse College, where most of the books in the series are set.

[Sharon Weyant-Muir · Rating 5 out of 5]

University upheavals

This mystery was easier to read than previous ones. There were quite a few deaths but not all were murders. This time Brother Michael learned of gambling and coalitions between university members and townspeople which completely took him by surprise! A traveling quack is disrupting the medical community and all the medical practitioners including Matt are in danger along with the gullible townspeople. No talk or mention of Mathilde --in fact, few women in this story so all evil is done by men. I love character development. There is real caring from Agatha and Cyrnic for Brother Michael and Matt. And the student Deynman has finally found a proper vocation. Ends on a humorous note involving the peacock and the cat!

[Lacer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not thought much of the previous book in the Matthew Bartholomew series (The Tarnished Chalice), so I was glad to see that To Kill or Cure was back on form. Cambridge is gripped by the Rent War (university statutes that placed restrictive rents on property that they used), so tensions between the town and university are even higher than normal. This is not helped by a new healer in town, who is working very hard discredit the university physicians. Add to that, two new Fellows at Michaelhouse who are not popular and things are pretty tense and that's not even taking into account the murders that have of course occurred.

[Susan Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this. I was thinking this is just a long-winded tale about monks in Cambridge in the 14th century. But I was won over - it is, in fact, very atmospheric and raises some interesting points about medieval medicine and the plot is good. I'm a big fan of Shardlake in the CJ Sansom Tudor novels and was interested to find that there is a long series of Matthew Bartholomew novels which I may get into at some point. Listened to this on audible and it was beautifully read, which always enhances a book!

[Sandra Strange · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this series, with the insight into Medieval Oxford with all its politics and prejudices. I especially like the protagonist, Matthew Bartholomew, a physician with integrity and heterodox views about the superstition in medieval medicine. This number isn't my favorite, with a thorough villain manipulating the town against the school and also against Matthew.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before their most senior Fellow and once Master of Michaelhouse Kenyngham died, he cautioned Bartholomew against "crocodiles and shooting stars"... unfortunately for them all, these proved to be portentous and only in hindsight after all the tragic events that again proved to upend both their town and gown lives had come to pass.

[Own Timis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read books 1 to 12 of the Barthomlew novels and really enjoyed them all, I felt this was the weakest of the series to date. I still liked it but at times it felt like a bit of a slog to get through. I'd still definitely recommend it, and the rest of the series, but keep in mind it might not be as easy reading as the others.

[David Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than recent efforts - a complex plot, involving rent disputes, a fake medic and some bitchy academic politics, introducing and then removing several new characters in rapid succession. Pacy, adding to e central characters without distracting from the main plot, it was an excellent read

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read in the Matthew Bartholomew series.

[Dulshani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by the author. Overall, I found the plot long-winded, but the historical details were rich and well-researched.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, the murderer is the last character that I suspected.

[Rose Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good Read

Again the author takes the reader for a ride twisting and turning wild reader has to finish to find the guilty party. Great.....................read

[Nance Roepke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this series and will continue to read it till the end but this was not one of my favorites.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see the original narrator back.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable light read, a little slow in places.

[Mikeh5972 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be enjoyable but rather too long drawn out. There was a surfeit of characters under suspicion. We could have done with fewer suspects. I never cease to be surprised by the odd surnames of so many inhabitants of medieval Cambridge.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1357 and the town of Cambridge England is in turmoil. The town property owners are demanding rent increases at the hostels that house students and the college is refusing to pay more. On top of this unrest, a new physician arrives in town who is healing people with the wave of his magic feather. He even raises a man from the grave. Matthew Bartholemew and the other physicians in the town know he is a charlatan but the townspeople are all flocking to him. Richard Ardene, the new physician, is telling people that his cures are the only ones that are good and that the old physicians have killed or mistreated all their family members who have died. Matthew and his friend, Brother Michael, is trying to keep order in the town and to keep patients from dying at the hands of a faker. A very good book.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to this series. And while the plot is somewhat thin, the writing can be repetitive, and sometimes slow....I just love going back in time and taking it all in. And that is the part that this author does well. She makes me 'smell and feel' medieval Cambridge (and feel very glad that I don't live in that time!).

So for me, my rating is not about the plot, the sleuthing (or bumbling as sometimes occurs), nor the continued explanations about how fat Michael is, or how bad the food is a Michaelhouse, or the tensions between the town and the University - my rating is about the incredible world building that is done in this series, the interesting historical facts and the wonderful banter between Michael and Matthew (and perhaps William as well?)

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town almost explodes in anarchy in this story. Money issues are a problem, how much to charge for rents, etc, and a fake healer comes to town who claims to be able to cure people with a magic feather. He tells everyone that there are answers for everything, if he does not think he can cure someone, he says they have a bad spirit. It is amazing how superstitious people were. Reading this book with all the historical details really makes the time period come alive. Plus there is a mystery to solve.

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the year 1357, Cambridge University is in dire financial straits. The town's landlords are demanding a three-fold increase in rents for the students' hostels even while the plague years have left the colleges with scant resources. Tensions soon explode into violence and death.
A charismatic physician arrives in town with healing practices that resemble magic more than medicine and his success threatens Matthew Bartholomew's professional reputation. When a murder occurs, Bartholomew suspects the new healer but there are plenty of suspects and conflicts to consider.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed the first 12 Matthew Bartholomew books, but could not get into this one - the characters and background themes are becoming stale. Matthew and Michael are what they are. I don't like the personal lives and miseries of the main characters in a mystery to overwhelm the story (as I find they do in the later Alan Banks novels by Peter Robinson), but a little evolution in their lives keeps the story fresh. For me, Lindsey Davis hits a happy medium in her Falco mysteries.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

My complaint with this book is the same as with most of the previous books in this series. Other than the main character (Matthew) EVERYONE is either evil or somehow morally defective and nothing good ever happens to Matthew. It makes for a very depressing story and the plot line always seems too long and drawn out. I like to finish each series that I start, but this series is making it very difficult to meet that goal.

[Volare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the best books in the series. The plot was easy to follow as there were not too many characters and side plots to deal with. The threat against Matthew and his physician colleagues was sly and cunning and difficult to battle against. The rent war was easy to understand and difficult to solve as both sides had compelling arguments.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the history in the story; not well-edited, though.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable novel with interesting strong characters and a plot that keeps moving. Got a bit bogged down mid way.