Richard Coles

THE SEQUEL TO THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER MURDER BEFORE EVENSONGCANON DANIEL CLEMENT IS BACK...'Champton joins St Mary Mead and Midsomer in the great atlas of fictional English villages where the crimes are as dastardly as the residents delightful' DAMIAN BARRIt's been a few months since murder tore apart the community of Champton apart. As Canon Daniel Clement tries to steady his flock, the parish is joined with Upper and Lower Badsaddle, bringing a new tide of unwanted change. But church politics soon become the least of Daniel's problems. His mother - headstrong, fearless Audrey - is obviously up to something, something she is determined to keep from him. And she is not the only one. And then all hell breaks loose when murder returns to Champton in the form of a shocking ritualistic killing...

A Canon Clement Mystery: The Sequel to the No. 1 Bestseller Murder Before Evensong

Death in the Parish

Step back in time to the '80s - Margaret Thatcher, punks, rise of Emo, bad hairdo's and a certain kind of English Village.  The tight-knit community, beautiful scenery, quirky neighbours - oh, and homicidal intent! 

Canon Daniel Clement thought that he's had his allotment of excitement and murder in Champton. 

 Sadly, the amalgamation of several parishes and the trials of a new job administering the new "super-parish" has given him a lot of work.  Add in his interfering mother, his burgeoning friendship with the local Det Sgt and some mysterious new inhabitants in town and, well Daniel may have to more than a few words with his "Boss".

A witty, warts-and-all view of small village life back in the 80's and early 90's.  The trials and tribulations of his parishoners show how big problems can insert themselves in small town life.  I enjoyed meeting the quirky villagers (I missed book 1 but didn't feel that I missed out too much - I soon figured everyone out!).  Rev Coles managed to show the gaffes that the well-meaning but inevitably out of their depth locals got themselves into.  You want to slap them for their attitudes to diversification in their town and the "big house" whilst simultaneously still wanting to actually like them! 

Steady paced, plenty of twists and turns and I kept myself firmly planted in the world.  I always feel that every book I read should impart knowledge of some sort, in this case it was small town English life and the life and politics of a Canon!

Even as a completely non-religious person I still found Daniel a highly enjoyable character to follow around and Daniel may have accidentally taken on the voice of the author in my head (that always happens when I read something from someone who's voice I know). I'll definitely be reading book 1 now!

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Step back in time to the '80s - Margaret Thatcher, punks, rise of Emo, bad hairdo's and a certain kind of English Village.  The tight-knit community, beautiful scenery, quirky neighbours - oh, and homicidal intent! 

Canon Daniel Clement thought that he's had his allotment of excitement and murder in Champton. 

 Sadly, the amalgamation of several parishes and the trials of a new job administering the new "super-parish" has given him a lot of work.  Add in his interfering mother, his burgeoning friendship with the local Det Sgt and some mysterious new inhabitants in town and, well Daniel may have to more than a few words with his "Boss".

A witty, warts-and-all view of small village life back in the 80's and early 90's.  The trials and tribulations of his parishoners show how big problems can insert themselves in small town life.  I enjoyed meeting the quirky villagers (I missed book 1 but didn't feel that I missed out too much - I soon figured everyone out!).  Rev Coles managed to show the gaffes that the well-meaning but inevitably out of their depth locals got themselves into.  You want to slap them for their attitudes to diversification in their town and the "big house" whilst simultaneously still wanting to actually like them! 

Steady paced, plenty of twists and turns and I kept myself firmly planted in the world.  I always feel that every book I read should impart knowledge of some sort, in this case it was small town English life and the life and politics of a Canon!

Even as a completely non-religious person I still found Daniel a highly enjoyable character to follow around and Daniel may have accidentally taken on the voice of the author in my head (that always happens when I read something from someone who's voice I know). I'll definitely be reading book 1 now!

Death in the Parish A Canon Clement Mystery: The Sequel to the No. 1 Bestseller Murder Before Evensong

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