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This book is one of 5,000 copies of ‘Mystery in the Minster’ which were given out by City of York Council Libraries in Summer 2012. In this, the latest novel in the bestselling Matthew Bartholomew crime series, author Susanna Gregory brings Matthew to York to sort out a dispute over land. What starts as a legal wrangle ends in murder…


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Happy reading!

The Big Read is a great idea! I'm delighted to receive this book and very much look forward to reading it. Thank you, York Libraries!
I thoroughly enjoyed the launch event with Susanna Gregory this evening: interesting, entertaining, informative .... a good start!
I must admit a bias in that I'm a fan of Medieval Murder Mysteries, one of my favourite genres, and am already familiar with this author's novels, having read 17 to date, including 14 from this series featuring Matthew Bartholomew and 3 in her Thomas Chaloner series set in Restoration London.
I love the idea that Dr B has left his usual environment, the University of Cambridge, to visit York, one of my favourite cities.

Amazon Editorial Review: "In 1358 the fledging college of Michaelhouse in Cambridge is in need of extra funds. A legacy from the Archbishop of York of a parish close to that city promises a welcome source of income. However, there has been another claim to its ownership and it seems the only way to settle the dispute is for a deputation from Michaelhouse to travel north. Matthew Bartholomew is among the small party which arrives in the bustling city, where the increasing wealth of the merchants is unsettling the established order, and where a French invasion is an ever-present threat to its port. But soon he and his colleagues learn that several of the Archbishop's executors have died in unexplained circumstances and that the codicil naming Michaelhouse as a beneficiary cannot be found."

I enjoyed this but, unfortunately, can't be as enthusiastic about it as I would wish. It didn't capture my imagination until about two-thirds/three-quarters of the way through, probably because there weren't enough murders and I wasn't bothered about lawyers and wills and land deeds and such like, but towards the end, when York's rivers were rising, some of the visitors from Cambridge were in danger and all was about to be revealed, the story came to life for me and I read the last 130+ pages in one sitting. It's a shame it wasn't a page-turner throughout - and I don't know why it wasn't! A good read - but not great!
Thanks again, Big City Read! I'll be passing it on to a friend soon ....

On its way to France ....

It feels like Christmas in August...in more ways than one! Firstly: the heatwave is finally over, well for a few days anyway, and after temps hitting the 40s, today's cloudy skies, lovely breeze and a high of only 25c felt almost chilly. Secondly: a lovely fat, chocolatey cereal box bulging with 4 great books arrived in our mail box - thank you, thank you Nu-Knees, four books by four of my current favourite authors. This is one of them.
I feel very lucky to receive one of York's Big City Read 2012, I only wish I could have been there to hear this author speak.

This is the 17th book in this series, and as with any long running series the constant repetitions of information about the main characters, their families, friends, lovers and former adventures fills in too many pages at the beginning of the book. Mix that in with some events and characters described over and over again and I had to grit my teeth not to skim through some passages. I agree with Nu-Knees, it only really gripped me in the last third of the book, then the twists and turns in the mystery, the characters and the stormy weather got my attention. I think it's time Susanna Gregory settled Michael and Matthew into quiet, orderly lives and left the rest of their stories to our imagination.
I enjoyed 'living' in old York for a while - thank you Nu-Knees.

It's in the hands of La Poste, heading north to another Book Crosser in France.

The books was safely waiting for me in my house when I came back this afternoon.
Merci beaucoup bluenoser, j'aime beaucoup Matthew Bartholomew.
Merci pour la carte aussi, j'espère que je pourrai visiter ton pays un jour.

I had to struggle with all these people but sure I want to visit York !

In the mail towards Sparkish. Enjoy !

Reached me today. Thank you for sending Icila!