FINISHED READING - A Deadly Brew by Susanna Gregory

A Deadly Brew is the fourth novel in this popular writer's Matthew Bartholemew medieval detective series. I read the first two in the series earlier this year, and somehow I already find myself out of sequence! But though the characters situation further evolves with each novel, they can be read in isolation.

My feelings about the first two novels in the series, if I remember correctly, was that Gregory. was gradually improving as a writer, warming both to her central characters and period. That she had a tendency to have overly fussy, complicated plots, with far too many red herrings, characters and loose ends to tie up. Often leading to endings that felt a bit like symphonies that don't know how to end cleanly and decisively, so they have several faltering attempts at it. 

As ever, Matthew Bartholemew, is still trying not to get involved in further murder investigations, but finds himself doing so despite his reluctance. In this case, prompted by a series of sudden deaths in Cambridge colleges due to drinking poisoned wine. At first these deaths just appears to be random, but the blistering of the lips, internal organs and the rapidity of death, all point to something more deliberate. The question is why and by whom, and as Matthew's investigation progresses he finds himself, with his unreliable side kick Brother Micheal, being subjected to murderous attacks themselves. As the perpetrators try to halt any discovery of what is really going on.

So how does A Deadly Brew rate in comparison to the debut and it's follow up? Well, I must admit this was a vastly better read than those were. Smoothly and confidently written, the focus of the plot is much better maintained. The scenes set in the Fens in the depth of Winter are shrouded in tension amid the atmosphere of a landscape, which is vividly and well drawn. You can imagine yourself present observing what happens. 

Much more time is usefully employed in the delineation of her main characters strengths and foibles. Any secondary or tertiary figures are effectively, but quickly, sketched as the recognisible 'types' they are. The end of A Deadly Brew still falls a little into the tediously drawn out ending, where you have one plot resolution, followed by another, and yet another. The ending dragged out to no productive end.

One problem in writing any series like this, with your central characters operating in the same place and period context in each story, is ones credulity being seriously overstretched. Far too many convoluted murder plots involving nefarious college officials, and internal rivalry, for one town to easily accommodate without negative comment. 

A Deadly Brew, did better with encouraging you to suspend your disbelief than previous novels in this series. Also, it kept up a healthy pace you were swept along with, so you rarely had time to ponder plot holes or the two dimensional quality to some people inhabiting this world. As a series this is starting to shape up well.

CARROT REVIEW - 5/8