Murder Before Evensong: A Canon Clement Mystery (Canon Clement Mysteries, 1)

Those who are fans of the "Father Brown" series written by G.K. Chesterton will be delighted to hear that Catholic Father Brown has now got an Anglican counterpart, the Reverend Daniel Clement. Set in 1988, the story is a classical whodunnit that comes with the additional benefit of a fine portrayal of Thatcher's UK and its society. The story is the more credible as it is written by an Anglican priest -- which sometimes makes me wonder about the "helper syndrome", when people in such professions (priests, social workers, psychologists) seem to show quite a mocking if not unnerved stance towards their flock. Clement's views of the parishioners are often less than flattering. And the reader wonders whether that also applies to the author, the Reverend Richard Coles. Apart from the complex plot and the nice satire regarding typical English stock characters, the many verbal acrobatics are particularly ingenious that reveal a really comic side to the narrating. A fun read to the attentive consumer of "ecclesiastical murder mysteries".

A well crafted ‘cosy’ pitched between Trollope, Chesterton and Caroline Graham. The story flows while nailing the characters without over descriptive character development. There is enough Latin and ecclesiastical terms to be relevant to the churched - not enough to be a stumbling block for others. There is an abundance of story based on well observed humanity. Richard Coles knows his county - the English Civil War boundaries do still stand 400+ years later!It’s set in 1988 (another year of Luton Town footballing accomplishment) - a time when even the ‘spare son’ of the landed gentry couldn’t afford to be open about his lasting love affair with another man. But more corrosive was the shame of previous generations born out of marriage and wartime secrets.Woven in, seamlessly, are themes of past sins revealing themselves, offence and murder, how the smaller losses of the present may rekindle heartbreaking losses of the past, justice and mercy, forgiveness and coming to a shared peace after such turmoil.Fr Daniel’s formidable mother, actor brother and growing friendship with the Detective Sergeant form a solid based for the Rector’s crime solving observations.Great holiday reading. As bed time reading, beware the “just one more chapter” trap - you’ll enjoyably read into the early hours.

Really good read for a debut novel! Full of interest right through to the end.

Book arrived as advertised and on time.

Currently reading…very good atmosphere and interesting characters. The book was listed as used and is in Very Good Shape. The title had been highly recommended to me and I wanted a hard copy rather than a Kindel as to be able to loan it out to friends.