Enjoyable trip to the middle ages

Lots of twists to keep you guessing and great narrative. I would listen to this again.

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Brilliant

This was my first listen to Susannah Gregory, and I'm pleased to note there are many more on audible. Brilliantly read, and a darned good yarn.

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2 people found this helpful

Love the narrators voices, they really bring the characters to life.

Great story, although I sometimes lose track of some of the characters. Love the narrators voices, they really bring the characters to life.

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Good but not the best

I like to listen to audio books while working so I dont particularly want anything too heavy so this series suits me fine.

I started with book 1 (of course)and this is book 3 so not far into the series but Im getting to know the reoccurring characters and I like that, There is a small twist here in the the main character (the doctor) often comes over as the fool while the fat monk (a semi side kick) steals every scene (Thorpe's reading performance tends to highlight this which I think is good) .
The books are long (not a problem for me as I said I listen while working and the longer the better) and seem to always have more than one thread running through them ,One crime seems to have been solved and when I check the run time there is still some hours to run ,so I know there is another twist to come which stops the story becoming pedestrian .

The research into the period is very good,Im a bit of a history buff and the medieval period is my preferred era so I do notice mistakes ,some of which ,Im guessing, are there to fit the story. Some of the poorer people seem to be far to well of and suddenly embark on long trips with little reason and with no future which at this time (just after the black death) would be very unlikely if not impossible. The tension between the university and town is true to history but follows a bit of a predictable route in the three books ive read so far. Both the medical aspects and clerical ones surrounding the university are well put over and I like all of that (although the doctors success rate is unbelievably high LOL). The doctors relationships with the opposite sex are also a little different from the norm and the fat monk seems be more interested in what would be for him a "forbidden fruit".
The plots are complex and minor players mix in and out of the various threads which can make it a little confusing at times, But bottom line is ...I like them,and am about to start on the next instalment

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1 person found this helpful

A Must Listen

I have not listened to the series in order but this is the best so far an absolute joy gripping from start to finush

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Wonderful insight into the past

Listening to this book transports you to another time and then you realise that nothing much has changed over the years. Youths knifing each other, civil unrest, greed, duplicity and not least profound ignorance and an illogical belief in mystical religions and relics.

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Another great listen

Another great listen well read and delivered! Good continuation of the series and will be heading for next book….

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A scary time where life was cheap

Great whodunnit in an terrifying era of history world rebuilding itself
Matt’s on the case

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Continuing Appeal

This is my third Matthew Bartholomew novel listen. I am committed to continue the journey. It is so easy to slip into the world of these books. The first thing to say is that this is an easy enough listen, and the only cautions for prospective readers is that there is a wealth of characters and that some simple understanding of the University set-up at the time (colleges and hostels) would be useful. It is also worth the time to find a copy of the map included with the printed copy of the book online and print it so that you can orientate yourself. It would helpful if this was available from Audible. I am still getting used to the death counts in the first three novels and it will be interesting to see if this continues. I enjoy the depiction of the times in these novels and the core of characters. Of particular interest to me in this listen was the role of holy relics at the time and the divergent views of them. The references to food and drink also entertained me – see what you think of the stewed fish giblets. I also enjoyed the role of The King’s Ditch, only a tiny portion of which remains today and that within the walls of one of Cambridge’s older colleges. Matthew Bartholomew still presents as human and fallible and his companion (Michael) still provides frequent relief (much of it light) and challenge. The Epilogue to this book I found something wanting. That said it provided a thinking point as to how the next book in the series would present matters. A balding male, as I am, I was perhaps over-sensitive to the number of times that the author has Mathew Bartholomew running his hands/fingers through his hair. And the author’s preference for glower/glowered/glowering irritated again. The plot is busy and there are many twists (as you would expect) to keep the reader occupied and thinking – which a good. My last active listening session of this book was over six hours and this ought to give some idea as to the book’s appeal. The performance of the book I enjoyed though at odd times the narrative does not match the characterisation of a voice. The diction is clear and precise, which I always value.

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2 people found this helpful

one of an intriguing series

Good narrator. Plot with twists. Believable characters. Really sets the historical context . Very enjoyable.

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