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Cambridge, in 1357, is still dealing with the effects of the plague several years before. The community and the universities have scant resources and prices have risen for most products and services. The only price that remains the same now, as before the plague, is the rent the university pays for lodging for its students. Under the lead of one landlord this is about to change. He won't accept the low rents and as leases end, he is throwing out the students. The University is unwilling to have its power questioned and refuses to negotiate a rent increase. This debate leads to death as one of the members of the town coalition is killed. Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael must determine how he was killed and why. As the hostilities between the town and the university increase, the situation becomes even more dire. If the truth is not discovered quickly the community will erupt into warfare. As the number of victims increase, it becomes a race to see whether the killer can be caught before the relationship between the town and the university completely deteriorates. In addition, to this criminal investigation, Matthew and Michael have some problems at the university. Matthew must deal with a charismatic physician who is stealing patients. This 'doctor' and his magic feather are charging outrageous amounts of money for cures that are in fact dangerous to the patient. In addition, Richard Arderne makes false claims about his abilities and belittles the efforts of his fellow – and better trained – colleagues. But Arderne becomes a favorite of the community and people unable to pay Matthew for his services are now finding money to buy a miracle. Matthew needs to expose him as a fake before his own patients are killed. And finally the university has hired two new teachers. Neither of these men are liked by the community and might destroy the harmony of the university but the the positions had to be filled. Just as the killer must be stopped, the issue of the quack and the bickering scholars must be solved before Michael and Matthew lose their reputations or their lives. Susanna Gregory's Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew is one of my favorite mystery series. The characters are well developed while the storyline is well researched and well presented. I find Matthew and his 'modern' ideas of medicine refreshing after some of the more frightening medical practices that appear in historical mysteries. I also find some of his squeamishness about inspecting dead bodies humorous as he practiced dissection as part of his training. This contradiction is one of the things that makes the series interesting and entertaining. TO KILL OR CURE is standard of the series. Matthew Bartholomew is pulled away from his own research, his students and his medical practice in order to help Brother Michael investigate crimes. Together the two of them are forced to question others while trying to maintain the peace between the town community and the college community. This is not an easy task and there is frequent violence, which these two men must confront and resolve. By working together they are usually able to find the criminal and the evidence they need to stop him or her. Their relationship is one of this book's – and series' – strongest points. Even though this book is recently published, I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, July 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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