The Killer of Pilgrims

By Susanna Gregory

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This sixteenth chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew takes place at Cambridge University in the winter of 1358. The traditional rivalry between the colleges and the hostels, in the form of the most ridiculous and hilarious practical jokes, has recently escalated and is turning violent. To complicate matters, there is a rash of inexplicable thefts of pilgrims’ badges, several murders, and suspects galore. Matthew Bartholomew is a physician and teacher of the medical arts. His close friend is Brother Michael, the university’s senior proctor. Together they must sort out these crimes and bring the culprits to justice before the reputation of the university is damaged beyond repair.

Gregory draws on her former careers as a police officer and an as academic who taught anatomy and biological anthropology to create this intricate novel of suspense. Full of period details, this is a delightful read even for someone who has no previous experience of chronicles one through fifteen.