Michaelhouse is in the midst of a master change when a cluster of murders and intense rivalry over building works breaks out. As usual, Matthew Bartholomew ends up having to investigate alongside Brother Michael, and this case has more layers than they initially think. ( )

I am always torn when reading Gregory's Bartholomew's mysteries. On the one hand, once I have finished them, I am glad I slogged through them. On the other, they are so detail driven (how many times she describes the road conditions!) that it adds at least 100 pages. Yet, after six month to a year, I order another one.

This one was interesting in that she brought actual 14th c. members of the Michaelhouse college into the book as characters. I suppose she felt safe in most likely defaming these men since few families have knowlege of their ancestors that far back! ( )

Gradually working my through the series again... I never can remember who-dun-it, mainly as the plots are all so complicated. But it's a nice piece of escapeism. It does make you wonder how universities ever got started, the way they seem to kill of their members in this series! ( )

This book is the fifth in the series following the 14th century adventures of the physician Matthew Bartholomew and his friend, Friar Michael, in Cambridge. I have been faithfully reading the Matthew Bartholomew series since the first book.

There is more strife in the university. Michaelhouse college is in turmoil following the announcement of the retirement of the saintly but ageing Master. With more than a little haste and quite a bit of skulduggery, the odious Runham has arranged his own election as successor to the Master. Within days he has for one reason or another dismissed several members of the staff, including Matthew’s faithful bookbearer, Cynric, and the fearsome laundress, Agatha. He is also making life for the scholars so unpleasant that even the normally placid Matthew Bartholomew is beginning to think that his own days at the college are numbered.

But, never fear, there is more murder in Cambridge and Matthew and his wonderful friend Brother Michael set out to solve the murders. ( )

#6 in the Matthew Bartholomew medieval mystery series set in Cambridge, UK. The Master of Michaelhouse, Kenyngham, decides to resign and throws the entire College into an uproar. When a very unpleasant and control-mad Runham is made Master, the college is steeped in depression. He sacks the servants, doesn’t pay bills to the grocers, drives away several Fellows, refuses to pay for wood to heat the halls and then suddenly comes up with money to do a major building project. Where is the money coming from? And why is Runham trying to get rid of all the Michaelhouse fellows? It’s no wonder he ends up dead—the problem is finding someone who does NOT have a motive! Matthew and Brother Michael set out to find not only Runham’s killer, but also the murderer of three (or is it four?) other dead fellows from other colleges. One killer? Or more? Enjoyable medieval jaunt as usual, though the streets and hallowed halls of post-plague Cambridge. ( )