Susanna Gregory opens her seventeenth Matthew Bartholomew mystery at the deathbed of Archbishop Zouche in July 1352.
This adventure takes us from Cambridge to York and introduces a host of new characters. Two plots run through the novel: the first to find the codicil to the Archbishop’s will that grants the impoverished Michaelhouse title to the wealthy Huntingdon estate; the other follows attempts to unmask spies that are passing information on the King’s armies and war plans to the French.
The journey starts on what seems an innocuous trip to York where "the notion of a brothel-crawl under the guidance of the Master was an activity none of them had anticipated as being on offer"; and ends up in a city that is flooded – both literally, after torrential downpours that seem to be never-ending; and metaphorically, with the medieval warring factions of priests and townsfolk coming to a head. Alliances and allegiances are formed, split, and reformed as Matthew tries to understand those who are mendacious, those who are noble; those who seek personal gain, those who can be trusted.
In this complex tale, revenge is dish best served with poison. It is a feast that is started by an innocuous death years ago where those who are left behind fight over a legacy; and the best intentions of a kindly man are destroyed by those whose avarice consumes them.
Great fun and a real joy to read. ( )

I enjoyed this murder mystery set in York in the 1300s, part of the Matthew Bartholomew series.

In the book, the Cambridge scholars - including Matthew - travel to York to claim a bequest for their house from the late Archbishop of York. They are in dispute with the local vicars-choral over the property in question. Slowly they realise that all the Archbishop's executors are being murdered and not long after their arrival, they find themselves trying to find the killer.

Alongside this investigation and the search for proof of their bequest, the city is slowly suffering from flooding of both its rivers, one of which is tidal. After many days of rain, the situation eventually reaches a critical point where a high tide threatens the entire city.

It's been a long while since I read a Susanna Gregory book, but it was very easy and comfortable to step back into Matthew Bartholomew's world. As someone who lives in York, I love the attention to detail on the medieval city - many parts of which are still there today! ( )

This book is indeed a breathtaking ride. The setting for this the seventeenth book in the Matthew Bartholomew series is York in the mid 1300's. Matthew, his larger than life friend Michael, Headmaster Langellee and a lawyer from Michaelhouse, (their house of learning in Cambridge). Ms. Gregory is a wonderful author and her medieval series never disappoint. The pace in this book is breathtaking as Matt and his friends are trying to find evidence to claim a bequest that Michaelhouse had been promised. They are racing against a particularly ruthless and clever killer and they are also racing against the weather as the two rivers that run through York are in danger of overflowing their banks causing catastrophic floods. As usual there are many bodies along the way and a labyrinth of clues for Matt to follow. These books are so realistic and so true to history that it actually puts the reader right there in the setting of the novel. Ms. Gregory uses real historic figures as well as her wonderful fictional characters to tell her stories. I really enjoy both of her historical mystery series, but Matthew Bartholomew is a long-term favourite of mine. I look forward to each new installment in the series. ( )

What a crock of shite! ( )