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'A good, serious and satisfying read' --Irish Times
Product Description
In 1350 the people of Cambridge are struggling to overcome the effects of the Black Death. Bands of outlaws roam the land and the high death rate among priests and monks has left the people vulnerable to sinister cults that have grown up in the wake of the plague. At Michaelhouse Matthew Bartholomew is training new physicians to replace those who died of the pestilence. When the body of a friar is found in the massive chest where the University stores its most precious documents, Bartholomew is dragged away from his teaching to investigate. But the friar's is not the only unexplained death in town. Almost by chance Bartholomew stumbles across a derelict church, abandoned since its congregation were decimated by the plague. It is now the meeting place for a mysterious sect which holds its followers in terror, and which Bartholomew believes to be at the very heart of an astonishing web of blackmail and deceit aimed to overthrow the established religion.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Another triumph of writing and characterisation. Ms Gregory brilliantly brings to life the events and effects of the Black Death in the 14th Centuary. Her writing is witty, pacy and lures the reader in almost from the off.
She lets the reder live and breathe the smells, sounds and sights of Cambridge as it was. The Black Death was a horrible blight on Europe on more than one occasion, and at times one is left with a tingle at the very thought of coming into contact with one of the charaters.
The story never drags, from one death tot he next. The anxiety and despair of the title character and of others associated with him is well written. We should be thankful nowadays for the sanitation we have, as if it was half s bad as Ms Gregory says it was then it must have been awful.
A fine book, with an excellent story and full characters. One to finish as quickly as possible, if only to get on to the next one! I look forward to the TV rights being bought by some astute TV exec and seeing this in all it's glory. It could be even bigger and better than Cadfael!
Very much recommended for historical fiction as well as crime fans.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have just re-read this and I think I enjoyed it even more second time around.
The plot, set in Medieval Cambridge, revolves around Matthew Bartholomew, a doctor/Michaelhouse scholar and his side kick, a monk, Brother Michael. Together they investigate various goings on whilst trying to teach students medicine and theology.
This time around, they investigate the death of a Friar found in University documents chest, the murder of several town prostitutes and the alleged activity of two Satanic covens... is all as it seems?
Susanna Gregory skillfully weaves twists and turns into the plot to make this a great read right up to the end.
Very highly recommended.
The plot, set in Medieval Cambridge, revolves around Matthew Bartholomew, a doctor/Michaelhouse scholar and his side kick, a monk, Brother Michael. Together they investigate various goings on whilst trying to teach students medicine and theology.
This time around, they investigate the death of a Friar found in University documents chest, the murder of several town prostitutes and the alleged activity of two Satanic covens... is all as it seems?
Susanna Gregory skillfully weaves twists and turns into the plot to make this a great read right up to the end.
Very highly recommended.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Susanna Gregory is, in my opinion, the next big thing in historic crime fiction. Her stories - based around the unwilling sleuth Matthew Bartholomew, physician at a Cambridge college in the 1350's, and his sidekick, the humourously rotund monk, Michael - have all the components of succesful crime writing. They are gripping from the first to the last page, contain the political intrigue of the university and the personal rivalries between colleges and merchants, keep you guessing right to the last few chapters and leave you satisfied by the outcome. All this comes with a hefty dose of humour, and historical accuracy. In this particular novel, the action moves away from Cambridge, as a party from Matthew's college travel to a nearby village, to seal an advowson or covenant over the church there. Whilst intrigue reigns over the details of the advowson, suspicious deaths are occurring. The villagers put the deaths down to a large dog that is roaming the woods nearby, said to be the only inhabitant of a nearby village destroyed by the plague. Matthew and his ecclesiastical friend Michael, however, sense that something suspicious is afoot, and Michael persuades his reluctant friend to investigate. The resultant chase endangers their jobs and their lives, and leads to an amazingly tense climax.......! For those of you who are already Gregory fans, this will not disappoint. Perhaps it is a little slower to get going than previous chronicles,but once you're into it, you'll not be out again in a hurry!!! I read it all in 4 nights, whilst fitting in my homework alongside it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Murder Mystery
If you like historical murder mysteries then this is the one for you. An easy read with a few twists in the plot
Published on 19 Feb 2010 by Morpeth Ken
An Unholy Alliance
Fast-paced, enjoyable murder mystery. Rich in period detail which thankfully doesn't overwhelm the story. Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by Rich
Second Book in the Series
Susanna Gregory is the pseudonym of a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. Her series of mediaeval mysteries have gained a formidable following. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2007 by J. Chippindale
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