I have just finished reading The Sanctuary Murders - Susanna Gregory's twenty-fourth chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew. The first of the series - A Plague on both your Houses - was published way back in 1996, I have them both in their first edition paperbacks; and I have the other twenty-two chronicles, neatly side by side, now taking up nearly a whole shelf in my Library.
Warner Books - 1996 Sphere paperback - 2020
For the first time since 1996, there was a two-year gap between the penultimate and last books. Is this a sign of Gregory tiring of her creation, or just taking it easy as the years roll by? It is interesting the Michael Arnold's Stryker series, set in the English Civil War, started at a pace - six books in five years. A hiatus has now lasted four years, with no real sign of the seventh tome appearing.
I trawled through some of the reviews on Amazon and came across this one about the first Matthew Bartholomew story: Although this historical mystery is already 23-years-old, it's still as fresh now as it was then...it's also a story where all the characters come vividly to life and where the historical details are wonderfully worked out,,,and not to forget the delightful picturing of the atmospheric surroundings of Cambridge...you'll find two well-drawn maps of Cambridge and of Michaelhouse... In fact, although the map of Cambridge has remained the same in all the books, the one of Michaelhouse disappeared from then on; a pity, as occasionally it would be useful to reacquaint oneself with the college layout (admittedly an imaginary one). 79% of reviewers gave the book a 5 or 4 star (58% the former). It has clearly 'travelled well'. So far 83% of reviewers have given the latest book a 5*. Not a bad track run!
However, the very first review (a mere 2*) did have this to say: I've been reading the Matthew Bartholomew series for many years and, unfortunately, I think the author has run out of ideas. The book was a turgid trip around 14thc Cambridge with no tension or interest, just a desire to reach the last page. It would help if the hero had some kind of love life, but the author just does not like Matthew's bride-to-be, Matilde. In this book she is away from Cambridge, fetching an elderly aunt. In the last few books she is mentioned but rarely puts in an appearance. Whilst never stooping to the epithet 'turgid', I must say there is a ring of truth here. (I find the same in the Thomas Chaloner series, set in Restoration London - Thomas had already lost one wife before the series took off, marries a shrew who also dies, and seems to prefer time spent with spy-masters, retired and active.) Matthew, the medical tutor, spends more time as the university's corpse examiner, and in the company of the Benedictine monk, the heavy-boned Michael. Inevitably, the characteristics of the two men, and their relationship, become repetitive and I occasionally wanted them to 'hurry up' with their surmising (and wrong alleyways). Gregory undoubtedly does her research, and alludes to it at the end of most of her books, but she perhaps brings too many characters into play at times - a ploy to keep the reader guessing as to who the culprit[s] is.
Another reviewer suggested: Susanna needs to bring what has been a most admirable series to a conclusion. I shall miss my Cambridge friends but it is time to draw a line. Many thanks Susanna for all the entertainment. Perhaps the suggestion that Matthew will leave Michaelhouse to marry Matilde will bring the curtain down in a final book?
However, I am on the treadmill as a 'series addict' or serial thriller; so will continue to send off for the next Susanna Gregory (Matthew Bartholomew and Thomas Challoner); Sarah Hawkswood (Bradecote and Catchpoll); Michael Arnold (Stryker - if he returns!); and C. J. Sansom (Matthew Shardlake); as well as the thriller writer stable of Scott Mariani (Ben Hope - number 22 comes out in November!) and others such as Sam Bourne, Raymond Khoury and Chris Kuzneski.
No comments:
Post a Comment