The Hand of Justice cover art

The Hand of Justice

The Tenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew

Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Hand of Justice

By: Susanna Gregory
Narrated by: David Thorpe
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.11

Buy Now for £15.11

About this listen

In Cambridge, 1355, the colleges of the fledgling university are as much at odds with each other as they are with the ordinary townfolk.

This tension has recently been heightened by the return of two well-born murderers after receiving the King's pardon, showing no remorse but ready to confront those who helped convict them. And in the midst of this, Bartholomew the physician is called to the local mill to examine two corpses. It is almost a relief to be able to turn his back on the fractious town, but as always in Cambridge nothing is disconnected.

©2017 Susanna Gregory (P)2017 Little Brown Book Group
Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Fiction Crime
All stars
Most relevant
Good story but the narration was exhausting. I felt that the narrator was stretching his voice. It was not relaxed and rounded but strained and pitchy. It didn't flow.
He wasn't the worst narrator I've heard.
Love stories set in the Middle Ages and the characters are well drawn.

Good story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

As usual with Matthew Bartholomew’s adventures, several murders and bodies appear for no apparent reason only to all be sorted out in the end. Many laugh out loud moments, as the author has a wry sense of humour that she lends to a few characters (though Michael in particular). Not only that but we get treated to a host of interesting descriptions of medicine practice of that age, hygiene and cleanliness standards, various food dishes, peppered here and there with details of appearance such as tonsures, teeth, and so on. Very enjoyable.

Bodies galore

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

'The Hand of Justice' is best read after 'A Killer in Winter'. following a 13 book break from listening/reading the Matthew Bartholomew chronicles this was a welcome return and felt like putting on a favourite jumper. It is such a relief when you can slip into a world you are familiar with. The plot is well laid out and the characters are well differentiated with new ones adding to the enjoyment, even though they might not endure too long! For me this is one of the better chronicles and I actively look forward to the next. I like the performer, David Thorpe, though his gallery of character voices is somewhat constrained. That said it is the repeating characters where he shows his best and his Brother Michael is always a joy.

A Welcome Read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

ery well written, good characters, clever plot development. cannot wait to hear the next one

Good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Another romp through murder and mayhem in medieval Cambridge for our hapless duo. It probably better not to pay too much attention to the plot which has to be drawn out to make a novel but our duo, who are supposed to be the brightest of the bright can be impossibly dim and unseeing which means the murder count adds up as usual to the point that it is surprising any parent would send their son to Cambridge, let alone there be any fellows to teach left. However the real joy of this series for me is not so much the plot but the community of misfits and eccentrics that make up Michael house and the most enjoyable and often funniest parts are when they are all together talking and bickering and being, well eccentric. David Thorpe as usual does a sterling job and it is hard not to admire how he gets so many voices and manages to give all the characters a distinct persona. Great stuff.

Matthew and Michael, clueless in Cambridge

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews