An Order for Death cover art

An Order for Death

The Seventh Matthew Bartholomew Chronicle

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An Order for Death

By: Susanna Gregory
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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About this listen

Believers in the theory of nominalism have set some Cambridge colleges at the throats of those who believe them to be heretics, and Michael, the senior proctor, has his work cut out to keep the peace. When a nominalist is murdered during a riot, Michael is certain he will easily find the killer amongst the Dominicans, but before he can get any sense out of them his junior proctor, Walcote, is found hanged, and he discovers that his trusted ally had arranged secret meetings at the St Ragelund Convent between men who would not normally be seen together - and the nuns of St Ragelund are renowned for behaviour entirely inappropriate to their calling.

Meanwhile Matthew Bartholomew learns that Michael, his lifelong friend, is in all probability the thief who relieved one of the antinominalist colleges of some of their most precious papers. If that charge were proved, it would put paid to Michael's long-term plans to become master of Michaelhouse - but would he kill to protect himself? Unable to believe his colleague would be capable of such acts, Bartholomew knows the only way he can quiet his own conscience is to solve the murders himself.

©2010 Suanna Gregory (P)2017 Little Brown Book Group Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Fiction Crime

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All stars
Most relevant
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have however enjoyed all the books in the series. I like the characters , the time period and the setting. I also enjoy the narration. It is hard to make all the characters sound different and I think the narrator does a good job here. Yes it follows a set formula but personally I like that.

Nominalism

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As usual in this series the hero is dumb, the monk is the brains (but not always a nice person) and the most unlikely person did the deed, This version has the extra unpredictability of and even more obscure character coming out of the woodwork to claim he's the brains behind it all.
But, also, as usual, its listenable in an easy-going "background while your working" way and the history and characterisations are always good, Minor people from earlier books develop into mains and some older ones disappear which is good and keeps the series fresh in at least one way even if the detective process consists of going down the wrong road until the bad guy suddenly puts his hand up seemingly for no other reason than he wants to get hanged. But I'm addicted now so roll on book 8

Predictable by its unpredictability

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To think that clerics previously killed each other is astounding, to consider it could even occur on Easter Sunday was even more shocking.
So was the notion of a Convent full of Nuns working as Prosecutes. Lol!
Great Narrator and very amusing story.

Great fun.

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It was a good if overly complicated plot, very well read as always but the production values meant that it was too quiet. I often listen to books while driving but this was too low in volume out put to hear even with everything turned up to full volume. I'm now loathe to by another in the series in case it is the same

Too quiet

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I am warmly committed to this series, and I have several more chronicles in my library.
Positives: Cambridge setting; the main repeating characters; complex plotting; great humour, and easy to listen/read and wanting to listen-on/read-on; clarity of diction in David Thorpe's performance - Mathew and Michael's voice characterisations are mainstays.
Less Positives: stock words over the novels (glower/glowering); Mathew and his hand through his hair - basically a want of greater editing in book and audio e.g. clarity on how long Lincolne had been in Cambridge (child, student or Prior); 1838 not 1338 in the audio. There are many, many characters in each chronicle and it must be hard to find voices for all. Greater attention to voicing lesser characters and sometimes straight reading might benefit (once a character's voice switches mid-speech.)
Longing: For Matilde to figure more significantly and Mathew to get on with things.

A little More Care...

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