What do you think?
Rate this book
Matthew Bartholomew #12
The Tarnished Chalice
On a bitter winter evening in 1356, Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael arrive in Lincoln—Bartholomew to look for the woman he wants to marry andMichael to accept an honor from the cathedral. It is not long before they learn that the friary in which they are staying is not the safe haven they imagine—one guest has already been murdered. It soon emerges that the dead man was holding the Hugh Chalice, a Lincoln relic with a curiously bloody history. Bartholomew and Michael are soon drawn into a web of murder, lies, and suspicion in a city where neither knows who can be trusted.
512 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
32 people are currently reading
380 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 21, 2019
This very exciting encounter is the 12th volume of the astounding "Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles" by the amazing author, Susanna Gregory.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Wigford, a part of and Lincoln itself, England, circa AD 1356, the places where this story is based, while at the end of the book a very well researched documented Historical Note will show you all the necessary historical details concerning this tale.
Storytelling is once more of a superb quality, all the figures featuring in this story, whether they are real historical or great fictional, come splendidly to life within this historical tale of murder and mayhem, while the surroundings of Lincoln and its suburb Wigford come really off the pages in an authentic fashion.
The book starts off with a two-part prologue, one which is set in March AD 1335, during a trial at Cambridge Castle, where the main 10 felons are acquitted and they will play a great role in the main story, and where only Shirlok is convicted, secondly there's the search by Physician Matthew for his lost love, Matilde, who after a one-year sabbatical is now back in Cambridge with his friends and his partner investigator, Brother Michael.
It's the winter of AD 1356, and Brother Michael and his colleague, Suttone, are both selected to receive an honour, a Prebendal Stall, in Lincoln, and therefore they are heading that way to claim their prize in accompany with Matthew Bartholomew and his book-bearer, the formidable and superstitious, Cynric.
Arriving at the Gilbertine Convent and staying there for the duration before the ceremony because the city is fully booked, they are present when, Aylmer, a dishonest thief and now some kind of cleric but also one of the accused by Shirlok at the trial in Cambridge, is found stabbed holding the Hugh Chalice, an object which was also stolen twenty years ago.
What is to follow are more murders for Matthew and Michael to investigate and solve before Michael's installation, and in that time they both thwarted at every turn when they come near the truth of these murders, there's some attempts on their lives too, but after some quite some twists and turns and some very dangerous encounters they will finally be able to track down and reveal the surprising and deranged culprit(s) of all these murders.
Highly recommended, for this is another marvellous chapter in this great series, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Glorious Mystery Cup Filled With Evil Murders"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Wigford, a part of and Lincoln itself, England, circa AD 1356, the places where this story is based, while at the end of the book a very well researched documented Historical Note will show you all the necessary historical details concerning this tale.
Storytelling is once more of a superb quality, all the figures featuring in this story, whether they are real historical or great fictional, come splendidly to life within this historical tale of murder and mayhem, while the surroundings of Lincoln and its suburb Wigford come really off the pages in an authentic fashion.
The book starts off with a two-part prologue, one which is set in March AD 1335, during a trial at Cambridge Castle, where the main 10 felons are acquitted and they will play a great role in the main story, and where only Shirlok is convicted, secondly there's the search by Physician Matthew for his lost love, Matilde, who after a one-year sabbatical is now back in Cambridge with his friends and his partner investigator, Brother Michael.
It's the winter of AD 1356, and Brother Michael and his colleague, Suttone, are both selected to receive an honour, a Prebendal Stall, in Lincoln, and therefore they are heading that way to claim their prize in accompany with Matthew Bartholomew and his book-bearer, the formidable and superstitious, Cynric.
Arriving at the Gilbertine Convent and staying there for the duration before the ceremony because the city is fully booked, they are present when, Aylmer, a dishonest thief and now some kind of cleric but also one of the accused by Shirlok at the trial in Cambridge, is found stabbed holding the Hugh Chalice, an object which was also stolen twenty years ago.
What is to follow are more murders for Matthew and Michael to investigate and solve before Michael's installation, and in that time they both thwarted at every turn when they come near the truth of these murders, there's some attempts on their lives too, but after some quite some twists and turns and some very dangerous encounters they will finally be able to track down and reveal the surprising and deranged culprit(s) of all these murders.
Highly recommended, for this is another marvellous chapter in this great series, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Glorious Mystery Cup Filled With Evil Murders"!
March 7, 2025
If there were half the number of characters and the book was 150 pages shorter it would be a much better and enjoyable read!
January 20, 2023
This novel is confusing & frustrating. There are too many antagonists to keep track of. Matthew’s search for Mathilda frustrates him … and me. Michael’s reasons for traveling to Lincoln are often lost in the plot.
The Historical Notes explain all the characters & the real roles they played which is extremely helpful. However, I’m not convinced that all of them are necessary to this novel.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
The Historical Notes explain all the characters & the real roles they played which is extremely helpful. However, I’m not convinced that all of them are necessary to this novel.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
January 6, 2013
I don't even know how to rate this, this is one in a mystery series that I enjoy moderately well, and will pick up a book when I see it at the library so I've read them all out of order and they've blended together in my head to become one long book. They take place in the Middle Ages, in Cambridge, where Middle Ages people get murdered in Middle Ages ways, and then monks and scholars investigate. More than once I have re-read a book in the series by accident and didn't realize it until half way through. It's the kind of series where there are always little things that are supposed to make the reader say "ahhh," like in this book when they talk about people suddenly engaging in mass hysteria and it's blamed on the devil, and you, The Modern Reader, can say "ahhh, that's ergotism."
I think this series might be getting too long, this is one of the later ones and I couldn't be bothered to keep up with all the characters and their possible motivations and possible opportunities.
Someone got murdered and it involved monks, that was my big take-away.
Yet, despite this, I would probably still pick up another one in the series if I happened to come across it.
I think this series might be getting too long, this is one of the later ones and I couldn't be bothered to keep up with all the characters and their possible motivations and possible opportunities.
Someone got murdered and it involved monks, that was my big take-away.
Yet, despite this, I would probably still pick up another one in the series if I happened to come across it.
August 18, 2012
Another of the author's long, convoluted stories with way too many characters, this one taking place in Lincoln where Michael, Matt and Suttone have traveled for Michael and Suttone's installation as canons of the cathedral. Murders have started even before they arrive, and their arrival doesn't lower the body count any. Eventually Michael and Matt figure out the killer, but as usual this happens the hard way, with one or the other of them in mortal peril at varying times.
My only--and continual--gripe about this series of books is simply that the books are too long, with too much repetition and re-hashed detail. I love the characters and the sense of time and place the author imparts, but at 500 pages per mystery--with a small font!--these could easily have about a hundred pages hacked out and not miss anything vital. As I've read further in the series, I seem to space out the reading of each subsequent book longer and longer, I think because I know how daunting they are. Still, it was an enjoyable visit back to medieval times.
My only--and continual--gripe about this series of books is simply that the books are too long, with too much repetition and re-hashed detail. I love the characters and the sense of time and place the author imparts, but at 500 pages per mystery--with a small font!--these could easily have about a hundred pages hacked out and not miss anything vital. As I've read further in the series, I seem to space out the reading of each subsequent book longer and longer, I think because I know how daunting they are. Still, it was an enjoyable visit back to medieval times.
October 21, 2025
Good book but too many characters
January 8, 2022
One of the continuing storylines in the past few books concerns Bartholomew’s love life. He had fallen in love with a woman named Matilde, a kind of 14th century feminist activist. She organized Cambridge’s prostitutes and helped them when they became pregnant; because of this, the townspeople thought she was one of them. In spite of this, she was respected by many, including Michael and Bartholomew, and as I mentioned, Bartholomew fell in love with her.
Scholars were not allowed to marry, so Bartholomew knew that he’d have to give up teaching, and he thought long and hard about it. When the last book ended, he was on his way to Matilde’s house to propose. Meanwhile, she had grown weary with waiting for him and secretly left town the same day, leaving a note for her best friend that she planned to disappear so that no one could find her.
Bartholomew immediately resigned his post (which Michael changed into a sabbatical) and along with his Welsh servant and friend, Cynric, heads out to look for her. They even travel to France but they are unable to find so much as a trace of her. They have finally returned home. Michael and another Michaelhouse scholar have been appointed as cathedral canons at Lincoln. Bartholomew recalls that Matilde almost married a man in Lincoln so he goes along for the installment celebration.
Spoiler Alert: They don’t find Matilde in Lincoln but they do find several murders and a town under the control of rival gangs and on the verge of a riot. They lodge at a Gilbertine friary, where a murder had just taken place, and the Bishop of Lincoln asks Michael to find the killer.
This is another enjoyable installment in this fascinating series. The city of Lincoln has, of course, undergone many changes since the 14th century, but the cathedral spire, so beautifully described in the book, still adorns the city skyline.
Scholars were not allowed to marry, so Bartholomew knew that he’d have to give up teaching, and he thought long and hard about it. When the last book ended, he was on his way to Matilde’s house to propose. Meanwhile, she had grown weary with waiting for him and secretly left town the same day, leaving a note for her best friend that she planned to disappear so that no one could find her.
Bartholomew immediately resigned his post (which Michael changed into a sabbatical) and along with his Welsh servant and friend, Cynric, heads out to look for her. They even travel to France but they are unable to find so much as a trace of her. They have finally returned home. Michael and another Michaelhouse scholar have been appointed as cathedral canons at Lincoln. Bartholomew recalls that Matilde almost married a man in Lincoln so he goes along for the installment celebration.
Spoiler Alert: They don’t find Matilde in Lincoln but they do find several murders and a town under the control of rival gangs and on the verge of a riot. They lodge at a Gilbertine friary, where a murder had just taken place, and the Bishop of Lincoln asks Michael to find the killer.
This is another enjoyable installment in this fascinating series. The city of Lincoln has, of course, undergone many changes since the 14th century, but the cathedral spire, so beautifully described in the book, still adorns the city skyline.
August 25, 2016
A better, more dramatic end to an overly complicated tale which suffered a little by taking our main characters (and sutton) out of Cambridge and replant them in Lincoln for brother Michael's investiture. It meant too many new characters, too many subplots and an increasingly obvious villain, although there was the traditional twist to cope with. A riot and greater violence at the end saves the book from overt complexity but better to take them home to Cambridge next time
August 5, 2016
Too long, too many characters, too many "twists and turns" - same complaint I have with all of the books in the Bartholomew series. That being said, I liked this one more than many others in the series.
July 14, 2012
I like the way that these books evoke the atmosphere of the time, but I do wsh there were slightly less characters, I often forget who is who!
July 13, 2021
This had its roots twenty years ago in Cambridge when young Matt was still under his older sister Edith's and her husband's Oswald Stanmore's care and protection. Stanmore was then a juror to a trial of theft and murder... and later on after the hanging, Matt saw the hanged criminal up and disappeared ~ Shirlock was alive... the stolen goods also vanished along with a chalice believed to be of the martyred Little Hugh. The other individuals involved in said trial left Cambridge and were now respectable, powerful and/or feared leading denizens of Lincoln where Michael and Suttone were elected as canons with Matt and Cynric along as bodyguards as they traveled to Lincoln for the Installation ceremony. Before the aforementioned events... Matt went to France with Cynric to search for Mathilde (for 16 months resigning his Fellowship but Michael tore his resignation and turned it into a sabbatical leave)... and at Poitiers both searchers joined the Black Prince's army for safety as well as expediency and got rewarded for their efforts. It was in France where Matt acquired some creditable fighting skills and was now on his other agenda in going to Lincoln ~ his final lead on his search for Mathilde.
The Bishop of Lincoln had an unfortunate resemblance to what people perceived as an Imp of Satan with his dwarfish height and curly long locks with some horn~like curls aptly sticking out on the right places... his love for Devil Tarts and other hell~like propensities had the extremely superstitious Cynric believing him Lucifer's Liaison on earth... so amid Cynric's active vehement objections that thus precluded their stay on a much comfortable way with the Bishop instead of roughing it with the 'Raucous in their Worship' Gilbertines... with their vicious friars. The Michaelhouse inmates had never felt so out of their element in safety and were feeling extremely vulnerable amid both the town and gown citizens of Lincoln.
The Bishop of Lincoln had an unfortunate resemblance to what people perceived as an Imp of Satan with his dwarfish height and curly long locks with some horn~like curls aptly sticking out on the right places... his love for Devil Tarts and other hell~like propensities had the extremely superstitious Cynric believing him Lucifer's Liaison on earth... so amid Cynric's active vehement objections that thus precluded their stay on a much comfortable way with the Bishop instead of roughing it with the 'Raucous in their Worship' Gilbertines... with their vicious friars. The Michaelhouse inmates had never felt so out of their element in safety and were feeling extremely vulnerable amid both the town and gown citizens of Lincoln.
August 25, 2017
Not the best Matthew Bartholomew book. In this one, Matthew, Michael, Suttone and Cynric (yay, I like the books where Cynric features more prominently) go to Lincoln for Michael and Suttone's investiture. Matthew, now 18 months past since the end of the last book, is looking for Matilde and both he and Cynric are changed by their experiences in France. Of course, wherever Matthew and Michael are, murder happens, in this case the city is split in two by warring factions and the Michelhouse group are concerned are they going to last long enough to get to the investiture? The problems with this one are (1) although I can get why Gregory sends her characters outside Cambridge occasionally and the real life Michael and Suttone did actually receive posts at Lincoln, the non-Cambridge books are never as good (2) there are way too many characters in this and I had trouble remembering who did what (3) Gregory utilised the 'object with dubious unknown history' plot device too soon, as she'd also used it in admittedly a more minor way, in her last book, so it was a bit *yawn*.
July 15, 2018
I was surprised at first by how funny this was. Gregory has a sly humor that sneaks up on you. I laughed out loud at more than one point, prompting my husband to ask what was so funny. "I'd read you the joke, dear, but the set up for this one started 93 pages ago."
Sadly, the story line started to drag about halfway through and I began to think that the investigators were simply meandering toward a solution.
The device of keeping Michael and Matthew in Lincoln until Michael’s installation as canon ended up trapping Gregory as much as it did her protagonists. At times it felt like she was dragging things out because there were still several days to go until the installation and she needed something to fill the pages/time with.
That said, I’d very likely read another in this series. This was the first Matthew Bartholomew mystery I'd encountered, by the way. That wasn't a problem, although reading the series in order might have made me more interested in the hunt for Matilde portion of the story.
Sadly, the story line started to drag about halfway through and I began to think that the investigators were simply meandering toward a solution.
The device of keeping Michael and Matthew in Lincoln until Michael’s installation as canon ended up trapping Gregory as much as it did her protagonists. At times it felt like she was dragging things out because there were still several days to go until the installation and she needed something to fill the pages/time with.
That said, I’d very likely read another in this series. This was the first Matthew Bartholomew mystery I'd encountered, by the way. That wasn't a problem, although reading the series in order might have made me more interested in the hunt for Matilde portion of the story.
January 15, 2022
I usually really enjoy delving in the world of Matthew and Michael, but this visit to Lincoln left a lot to be desired for me.
There were soooo many suspects that I had trouble keeping them straight, and must admit to giving up on that, specially since I figured out the culprits chapters before Mathew did.
At this point, the stories are becoming a bit formulaic: whom ever Michael suspects the most is never the killer; it’s always the one he would never in a million years suspect, usually because of his prejudices. It’s a wonder he has that job, because he is particularly inept at it; the killer seems to always be one (or ones) least talked about with suspicion and is mostly found out to the great surprise of our two protagonists by, as Maggy Smith put it, sheer dumb luck.
I will of course continue reading the series because Ms Gregory is a master at bringing me into her word paintings of a world long gone, and making it real. Now she needs to mix it up and surprise me again.
There were soooo many suspects that I had trouble keeping them straight, and must admit to giving up on that, specially since I figured out the culprits chapters before Mathew did.
At this point, the stories are becoming a bit formulaic: whom ever Michael suspects the most is never the killer; it’s always the one he would never in a million years suspect, usually because of his prejudices. It’s a wonder he has that job, because he is particularly inept at it; the killer seems to always be one (or ones) least talked about with suspicion and is mostly found out to the great surprise of our two protagonists by, as Maggy Smith put it, sheer dumb luck.
I will of course continue reading the series because Ms Gregory is a master at bringing me into her word paintings of a world long gone, and making it real. Now she needs to mix it up and surprise me again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2017
I judge a book on how 'put down able' it is. This one was very put down able. I bought this because I'm mad keen on Candace Robb, who writes on a similar theme.
I found that there were too many characters introduced too early on, and the changing of the names is confusing. One character is called 'Matt' and also 'Bartholomew' in the story.
The story itself was only mildly interesting and it took me ages to finish because I just wasn't gripped.
I may buy another of her books as it might be that I first read one of the worst ones she wrote and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it's not one I'd keep or read again like Candace Robb's books.
Still the parrot will enjoy it, probably more than *I* did as I screw a cup hook into the spine and hang it in the cage and he will spend days happily shredding it. So it's a cheap parrot toy and not just a wasted book.
Buy it if you have parrots, but if you want a medieval whodunit, buy something by Candace Robb.
I found that there were too many characters introduced too early on, and the changing of the names is confusing. One character is called 'Matt' and also 'Bartholomew' in the story.
The story itself was only mildly interesting and it took me ages to finish because I just wasn't gripped.
I may buy another of her books as it might be that I first read one of the worst ones she wrote and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it's not one I'd keep or read again like Candace Robb's books.
Still the parrot will enjoy it, probably more than *I* did as I screw a cup hook into the spine and hang it in the cage and he will spend days happily shredding it. So it's a cheap parrot toy and not just a wasted book.
Buy it if you have parrots, but if you want a medieval whodunit, buy something by Candace Robb.
August 27, 2018
I have really enjoyed reading this excellent series of mysteries set in Medieval England (mostly Cambridge). The author, truly a scholarly master of Middle Ages history, culture, traditions, etc, bases the details of each mystery in solid historical events and settings. This novel is set in Medieval LIncoln, where bitter rivalries and conflicts between church and town result in violence and murder. The murders seem to center around a reputed historical chalice, a treasured relic. The series protagonist, Matthew Bartholomew, along with his friend Brother Michael, is almost forced to solve the mysteries of the whereabouts and validity of the chalice and of the murders related to it. These novels are detailed, with relationships and fascinating and realistic characters who appear and develop through the series, but each novel stands alone.
July 26, 2022
Deception and corruption galore
Brother Michael is about to receive a special award in the town of Lincoln, a town divided between the better offs and the commoners. Dr Matt is still searching for Matilde (18 months now) and is hopeful her ex-fiancee Mayor Spayne may know where she is. As they arrive, there has been a murder which requires investigating and Michael is asked to do that. Other deaths and also attacks on Michael and Matt have them running around in circles. A tarnished chalice which is purported to be a relic of St Hugh makes an appearance over and over again. Events from 20 years ago which Matt had witnessed are of great impact also. These mysteries all seem to have multiple murders and very convoluted solutions and some redeemable characters besides Michael and Matt. Suffice to say, no redeemable characters here. And no Matilde either! Great reading.
Brother Michael is about to receive a special award in the town of Lincoln, a town divided between the better offs and the commoners. Dr Matt is still searching for Matilde (18 months now) and is hopeful her ex-fiancee Mayor Spayne may know where she is. As they arrive, there has been a murder which requires investigating and Michael is asked to do that. Other deaths and also attacks on Michael and Matt have them running around in circles. A tarnished chalice which is purported to be a relic of St Hugh makes an appearance over and over again. Events from 20 years ago which Matt had witnessed are of great impact also. These mysteries all seem to have multiple murders and very convoluted solutions and some redeemable characters besides Michael and Matt. Suffice to say, no redeemable characters here. And no Matilde either! Great reading.
August 24, 2020
I enjoy Matt and Brother Michael, and usually like these books. I especially appreciate the level of research that goes into using names from the place and time of the book. But I see a growing trend of overly complex plots in the series. So many people die in this book that I gave up trying to keep track. I think the number exceeds 20, including three whose deaths are asides at the end. I have no idea if the resolution made sense and I’m not sure it’s actually possible to figure it out. Also, I was really disappointed by the Matilda subplot. I’m not sure what the point was continuing that story from the last book.
I’ll read the next books because visiting the 14th century with Matt and Michael is always fun, but there needs to be some control over the plots going forward.
I’ll read the next books because visiting the 14th century with Matt and Michael is always fun, but there needs to be some control over the plots going forward.
January 29, 2021
Matthew Bartholomew and his companion Brother Michael arrive at a friary in Lincoln to find that not all is well. Matthew is there to search for the woman whom he wishes to marry and Brother Michael is there to accept a high honor. It does not take long for them to find out that another Brother has been murdered and they must find out who did it and why. The trail is a very convoluted one with so many lies told that it seems they will never catch the culprit. However, they are led back to 10 years before when a man was hanged for the theft of a very important chalice. Unfortunately, Matthew was there at the time and knows more than he should about the man who hanged and the fact that his body disappeared.
A very good story but a little hard to follow at times.
A very good story but a little hard to follow at times.
September 20, 2020
Another Matthew Bartholomew adventure, this one set in Lincoln.
The story is complicated with different organisations and individuals all after their own interests and all lying or omitting things and causing confusion.
I really loved the way in which Susanna Gregory has been able to weave so many historical events and persons into such an intriguing story. It may be fiction, but it is based on mountains of research.
The story is complicated with different organisations and individuals all after their own interests and all lying or omitting things and causing confusion.
I really loved the way in which Susanna Gregory has been able to weave so many historical events and persons into such an intriguing story. It may be fiction, but it is based on mountains of research.
September 1, 2021
I have read all of the books so far and found this one to be less satisfying than most. It is set in Lincoln rather than Cambridge which meant all the characters were unfamiliar except for Bartholomew, Brother Michael, and Suttone. The plot was very convoluted and it was hard to keep track of who was who and who was doing what. The ending wrapped everything up neatly, and I will certainly continue to read the series as Barthlomew and Michael are my favorite medieval mystery characters.
February 18, 2024
Listened to the audiobook version of this series having read the printed version years ago. My lower ratings are because of the different narrator in this book and the previous one. It's bad enough that this should happen so far into a series, but the real problem is the constant mispronunciation of several common words. I am so glad not to hear words like grimaced pronounced grime maced any more.
November 13, 2017
Having finished this book, I read the other reviews. Whilst I enjoyed it, having just been to Lincoln, I cannot but agreed that there were rather too many characters. However, I don't think that reducing the number would have had an effect on the story.
Matthews is in search of Matilde because she's left Cambridge. Old crimes come back to haunt the characters amid an unsettled city.
Matthews is in search of Matilde because she's left Cambridge. Old crimes come back to haunt the characters amid an unsettled city.
August 18, 2020
An entertaining read, as ever with this author. Plenty of characters & plot lines to follow with the reveal perhaps not quite the big surprise.
I love how the author uses real historical people, and some events from roughly the time about which she writes, it’s just good that the dead cannot be libelled!
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
I love how the author uses real historical people, and some events from roughly the time about which she writes, it’s just good that the dead cannot be libelled!
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 14, 2017
Just as good as the rest of them but a bit easier to figure out. There were times where I just wanted the author to get on with it since it was so clear who some of the bad guys were. So decent, but not her best.
January 11, 2024
My first book in this series. Liked the two protagonists and depiction of life and times but the book was way too long for the story. Also, not good for audiobook--too many characters to keep track of aurally, and slow pace meant one couldn't skip along.
April 22, 2018
Not sure what I'm going to do when I finish this series.
August 26, 2019
The murderer is always the least likely person to be suspected.
October 31, 2019
Maybe it's because I jumped into a series on the 12th book, but the characters were hard to get attached to. The story felt much longer than it needed to be. In the end, I'm left feeling "meh".
July 12, 2020
Again another great read
What a book! So many people involved so delicately hidden throughout the story. Makes for a great ending. Once started have tofinish
What a book! So many people involved so delicately hidden throughout the story. Makes for a great ending. Once started have tofinish
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews