The third of my NetGalley books published this month, read over the weekend when we went to a lovely wedding but didn’t have quite as much reading time as I expected. I’d been looking forward to this one, a bit worried when a blog friend said she was surprised by it, and feeling like it would be a lot like the Richard Osman cosies. Was it?
Richard Coles – “Murder Before Evensong”
(23 May 2022, NetGalley)
They came round a bend in the path and the rectory lay before them, the kitchen light left on to illuminate the way like a tabernacle lamp in a dark church. Audrey made supper, Sunday-night soup and sarnie, as Sabbath tradition decreed.
In this scene-setter to a presumed series, we meet Canon Daniel Clement, the rector of Champton, a village and church presided over by the local wealthy family (of course fallen on fairly hard times). We’re in the 1980s or early 90s, as Cagney and Lacey is on the telly and mobile phones are just coming in – I’m not sure why this is done, unless it’s so he can get in a long series without having a murder in the village every five minutes. Anyway here the murder doesn’t happen until a third of the way through the book or so, so we have plenty of background, with a cast of mainly older folk (including Dan’s mother, Evelyn, who lives with him and is a slightly odd character herself) apart from a slightly stereotypical poacher/Traveller and a surprisingly cultured police officer.
What slightly surprised me was the depth of liturgical detail and church lore involved in this high Anglican based story. It’s lovey and respectful that faith and God are celebrated and woven in; Canon Clement does nothing that would undermine that, gathering his faith and doing the right thing by people. There’s kindness and understanding of why people might not respect a church “because they don’t know” which is striking. There’s a lot of detail and in fact I was quite glad that I had just been reading “Going to Church in Medieval England” as that filled in a few places I might have been a bit woolly on terminology. Which does ask the question: who is this aimed at, as the churchgoing public with an interest in church terms must be fairly small, and the group of non-religious people like me with an interest in church terms smaller. Anyway.
It is a good read. There are some charming dogs, some poisonous gossips and a big house full of slightly damaged posh people (a Bookish Beck serendipity moment is found when I’m reading two books with old houses much added to which have to open to the public to keep themselves going at the same time, with Helen Ashton’s “Half-Crown House” left half-read at home this weekend). The discovery of the murderer works, although I did think that the reader is supposed to see all the clues so as to work it out for themselves and I’m not sure that exactly happens, as one point seems to be only seen by the Canon. Anyway, I was OK with that and maybe it was there and I missed it. It was a little non-diverse apart from some gay male characters, but would you expect that much diversity in an English 1980s village? I would certainly read more in the series.
Thank you to Orion for approving me to read this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review. “Murder Before Evensong” was published on 09 June 2022.
Jun 14, 2022 @ 08:51:31
I was really interested to read your review because I so enjoy Richard Coles on tv and I’ve just finished his memoir about the death of his partner which was very moving. This sounds like it made some unusual choices for fiction but still a good read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:06:02
I haven’t read that one but I’ve followed him with interest for a while and actually transcribed an interview with him recently when he left his parish! It is a good read and with more depth than one might expect from this genre.
LikeLike
Jun 14, 2022 @ 12:53:34
“Who is this aimed at” is a great question–not only for this book, but many today. Nice review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:06:22
It’s something I often think about! And thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 14, 2022 @ 13:57:51
I was glad to read your thoughts since this was one I was eyeing but didn’t take (overloaded TBR), and I’ve been seeing some mixed feedback. But it’s interesting to see what to expect of it as a mystery and in terms of it featuring a rector as the detective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:07:22
I was surprised I managed to bag it through NetGalley, I was going to wait until the inevitable charity shop / remainders shop appearance of the paperback! It is an interesting one, I think a bit long and detailed for some people who like a snappier mystery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 13:23:42
It sounds like fun, and I hope to read it, some day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 14, 2022 @ 19:18:01
Sounds quite jolly, Liz, though probably not for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:09:11
Well you like a mystery and it’s interesting to see his take on it all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 14, 2022 @ 19:20:29
This sounds really good, and very appealing. I wonder if he set it the 1980s so there isn’t too many mobile phones/CCTV/modern forensics. Or perhaps it was a nostalgia for the time when he was young. I love an 80s setting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:09:41
Yes, I’m not sure and it took me a while to work out when it was set! Maybe it’s so he can do a long series set year after year!
LikeLike
Jun 15, 2022 @ 07:32:20
Glad you enjoyed this, Liz. Our bookshop has an event with him next week, and it’s been sold out for weeks. I’m sure the book will prove very popular!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:10:14
Oh, brilliant, hope that goes well. He is very entertaining and I think he’s done a good, if slightly surprising, job here.
LikeLike
Jun 15, 2022 @ 09:06:11
Thanks for the review. As an Anglo-Catholic myself I am keen to read it (my copy is on the way) but it won’t be for a while as I have just finished Richard Osman’s The Man Who Died Twice. I wouldn’t want to confuse the two Richards in my mind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:10:43
That is unfortunate, as you’ll need a palate cleanser in between! I’ll look forward to hearing what you think about it in good time!
LikeLike
Jun 15, 2022 @ 16:20:18
What a good review! I bought this for my (Vicar) husband the other day who promptly hid it. I have been to at least one live event with Richard C in the past and he is a brilliant speaker, and have followed him on twitter for years, so I am greatly looking forward to this book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 16, 2022 @ 08:11:30
I’ve had a good run of recommendations for you and the Vicar, haven’t I! Why did he hide it, though – from you or himself?! It’s very “him” and I think you’ll enjoy the church context.
LikeLike
Book review – Helen Ashton – “The Half-Crown House” | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Jun 17, 2022 @ 08:02:24