Rumors of plague threaten Cambridge again, 10 years after the Black Death almost laid waste to the town. Neither the church nor its priests had defended people from the disease so now they turn elsewhere for protection, to pagan ritual and magical potions. It is a ripe atmosphere to be exploited by the mysterious Sorcerer, an anonymous magician whose increasing influence seems certain to oust both civil and church leaders from power. One murder, another unexplained death, a font filled with blood, a desecrated grave—all bear the hallmarks of the Sorcerer's hand, only the identity of the magician remains a mystery. A mystery which Matthew Bartholomew must solve before he loses his reputation . . . and his life.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Set in 1357 in Cambridge, England, Gregory's taut 14th chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (after 2008's To Kill or Cure) finds the physician and independent thinker under suspicion when Father Thomas, a pious priest, dies under his care after an accidental blow to the head. The accusations raised against Bartholomew come amid a poisonous atmosphere fostered by a shadowy rabble-rouser known as the Sorcerer, whose true identity is the subject of rampant speculation. Several murders follow Thomas's death. The doctor's willingness to aid any patient in need, including the local witch, provides fodder for his adversaries. When corpses are desecrated, people fear that a satanic cult is at work. Bartholomew questions the true loyalties of some of his closest allies as well as his own ability to uncover the prime mover behind the crimes. As she often does, Gregory offers several plausible false endings, which should please traditional whodunit fans. (Jan.)Correction: M.C. Beaton's Death of a Witch (Reviews, Oct.27) will be published in February.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Taut." —Publishers Weekly
"Immaculate research, a well thought-out plot, and a sense of drama." —Choice on The Mark of a Murderer
"A good, serious, and satisfying read." —Irish Times on A Mastery Murder
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another good one!,
By
This review is from: The Devil's Disciples (Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles) (Hardcover)
This is another good one in the Matthew Bartholomew series. The time is summer of 1357 when Cambridge is experiencing an unprecedented heat wave in June. Strange things appear to be happening and a Sorcerer is gathering many townspeople as followers. There is a lot about witches and warlocks and of course the superstitions of the people of this age. The atmosphere in these books is great, and Ms. Gregory captures the period so well. Her characters are very well-drawn. This particular book isn't as bloody as these books can get. Matthew and Michael are trying to solve a whole bunch of little mysteries as well as one or two murders. I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves medieval who-dunits.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent addition to this medieval series,
This review is from: The Devil's Disciples (Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles) (Hardcover)
Matthew Bartholomew is once again called upon to reduce the tension between town and gown in medieval Cambridge. If you think student unrest and violence is new, this series will quickly change your mind. And the animosity between the different monastic orders rings true through the centuries.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, unpredictable outcome.,
By Skylark (Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Devil's Disciples (Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles) (Hardcover)
I don't usually read murder mysteries, but the historical setting and characters in this book appealed to me, so I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did. Even though this is the fourteenth book in a series, it reads like a stand-alone novel (which was excellent for me, as this was the first one I've read!). What particularly impressed me was the way in which the characters were so easy to relate to. There was no forced Old English to read, no artificial highlighting of the mediaeval conditions, no dwelling on issues that are politically incorrect today (e.g. sexism and the portrayal of women as helpless slaves in a patriarchy) - it was all written very naturally and matter-of-factly. All the characters were very fleshed-out and believable. As for the story itself, I found it very unpredictable. I never knew where it was going to go next, and I liked the fact that answers were revealed at the same pace as when the characters made the discoveries. Some stories are too predictable, where you end up waiting in impatience for the characters to realise the obvious. I liked not being able to predict the outcome. Great book! I find myself wanting to read more historical mysteries now, and certainly the others in this series. It's definitely worth your time.
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