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A Masterly Murder |
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| A Masterly Murder by Susanna Gregory Little, Brown & Co. 406 pages, 2000 ISBN 0316646261 Reviewed by our UK Editor Rachel A. Hyde Cambridge, November 1353. Matthew Bartholomew has deaths to investigate as usual. A master from the neighboring and rival Bene’t College has fallen from some scaffolding and his fellow master, John Runham’s bookbearer Justus, has committed suicide. Or has he? When Kenyngham, master of Michaelhouse College decides to retire, there’s competition to succeed him. But his successor Runham turns out to be even worse than anticipated. Then to cap it all off, Matt’s sister thinks it is high time he was married. And what does former unpopular master Wilson and his doings during the Plague year have to do with it all? After the excesses of the previous book in A Wicked Deed, I was glad to discover that Gregory decided against turning this into a comedic series after all. The humor is still there and welcome, adding a dimension missing in the majority of modern novels, but it does not swamp the story. The plot is convoluted and teasing as a good mystery should be, and I certainly didn’t manage to guess it all. As for the history, it was interesting to discover that many of the characters actually existed. Gluttonous and scheming Brother Michael provides a much-needed foil to the rather colorless Bartholomew, and the tale could certainly stand some editing. Otherwise, A Masterly Murder proves that this series seems to be back on track. Highly entertaining. |
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