The Devil's Disciples

The Fourteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew

By: Susanna Gregory

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rumours of plague threaten Cambridge again, 10 years after the Black Death had almost laid waste to the town. Neither the church nor its priests had defended people from the disease, and now they turn elsewhere for protection, to pagan ritual and magical potions.

It is a ripe atmosphere to be exploited by the mysterious 'Sorcerer', an anonymous magician whose increasing influence seems certain to oust both civil and church leaders from power.

One murder, another unexplained death, a font filled with blood, a desecreated grave - all bear the hallmarks of the Sorcerer's hand, only the identity of the magician remains a mystery. A mystery which Matthew Barthlomew must solve before he loses his reputation...and his life.

©2017 Susanna Gregory (P)2017 Little Brown Book Group

Great Book

Love this series of books. Wish the doctor would stand up for himself more. Love the prolonged at the end about real life figures.

A "Good Listen" (with some reservations).

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'm always happy to find a good series of stories and Susanna's series on Matthew are always entertaining and have that necessary flash of Humour.I'm on the 14th novel (as you see) and am still enjoying the characters and tales. There is however, one exception; Friar William should have a nasty accident as soon as possible. His bigotry and postulating is beginning to rankle, he does little for the Franciscan Order.I look forward to hearing that he is excommunicated and drowns in the Mill Pond.Delighted to hear David Thorpe back in his narration seat; I missed him during his "sabbatical".

Another hit

Love the narration just brings everything to life. The research for the story is amazing so the book is both enjoyable and informative

Apples and Pears, and another Fruit?

Unusually, I found listening to, and reading, this fourteenth novel harder going than I am used to with Susanna Gregory novels. Only the fleeting possibility of the real identity of one character created any frisson. Committed to the series, I saw the novel through however. For me, very sadly, it is the least worthy of the fourteen novels listened to/read so far. The unravelling set piece will please some. I dearly hope the suggested sabbatical of one character actually happens in the next novel so that things are somewhat quieter; that the book bearer is truer to self, and that something is made of Podiolo. The novel has its usual complex of mysteries to solve. The relationship between Matthew and Michael remains a mainstay of interest, What did I choose to listen to after this novel? A Falco novel (The Iron Hand of Mars).

Not my favourite

Sadly not my favourite of this series. The theme of sorcery coming so close after the previous one of healing, both relying on “magic” and superstition made me lose interest pretty quickly. I did persevere as I love the characters but for some reason, the narration had glitches too: Bartholomew’s “voice” seems to have been lent to other characters as well, there was no continuity with previous interpretation of Sutton and Clippersby so they sounded completely different, the local accent “voices” seemed to be applied on and off here and there haphazardly, Valeria sounded like Agatha at the end, and so on and so on. Not the usually enjoyable and coherent performance in my view, sadly.

The best denouement so far.

This has to be the best ending of all the Matthew Bartholomew series so far. Really fast paced and very funny even if you had guessed who was who excellently read and thoroughly entertaining.