Review: The Tarnished Chalice

In the twelfth of the Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles, Susanna Gregory has decided to change location, and moves Bartholomew, the physician, and Brother Michael, Senior Proctor of the University of Cambridge, from the Cambridge that they know so well to Lincoln. Brother Michael is to be installed as a canon, and Bartholomew is in search of Matilde, the woman whom he loves. However, upon arriving, they discover that Lincoln is a worse city than Cambridge and are swiftly embroiled in an investigation that threatens to tear the city apart. In a place where they do not who to trust, have the two friends finally met their match?

It is always immensely difficult to find anything negative to say about Susanna Gregory’s tales, as they are so well crafted. The only possible negative point about THE TARNISHED CHALICE could be its length. At 503 pages, it is rather a weighty tome and because of its huge cast of characters, the novel does occasionally feel over-long. That said, Gregory has written another excellent novel, full of twists and turns. Her decision to remove Bartholomew and Michael from Cambridge is an excellent one, as it makes their task all the harder and causes them to rely on their wits more than ever. Gregory also brings medieval Lincoln alive, imbuing the atmosphere with a sense of menace, at the same time as keeping the wry humour that we have seen in other novels, such as Cynric’s dark comments about the true nature of the bishop!

As ever, the two chief protagonists work well together and they become increasingly sympathetic with every novel. Each time, the reader seems to learn more and more about their characters and they are always reassuringly human. For example, Brother Michael, a Carmelite monk, has physical desires, and Bartholomew is ready to sacrifice everything for Matilde, the woman he loves.

Susanna Gregory has built up a huge following with these novels and THE TARNISHED CHALICE will not disappoint. It has the same murder and mystery as ever, but in a different setting and with one of her most villainous casts of characters ever and an excellent, though perhaps somewhat sudden and too short denouement. THE TARNISHED CHALICE is a very enjoyable tale that can be read as a standalone mystery, or as part of her excellent series.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Book Review: The Tarnished Chalice