This is a great mystery.
The vicarage has been converted into luxury flats and vicar's wife, Monica, has organised a party for the new residents to get to know each other. Tensions are already rife, and when one of the residents is found dead questions arise about the past.
Lots of interesting and distinctive characters means plenty of suspects, including the vicar's step-daughter.
I really enjoyed this as there are plenty of twists to keep you hooked until the end. The tension between married Monica and the police detective is interesting. Would definitely look out for future books in the series

Classic whodunit perfect for fans of Agatha Christie that will keep you guessing till the end.

The vicar’s wife, Monica Noble throws a party for the new residents of the newly converted vicarage, but it ends in tragedy when one of her neighbors is found shot. Monica must then swing into action to help the police find the killer (I couldn’t help thinking about her as a modern Miss Marple).

Large cast of suspects, lots of secrets and some twists in the investigation that make of “The vicarage murder” a great start for this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

Monica Noble is holding a garden party for her neighbors in their newly converted vicarage. The neighbors are an interesting bunch, some get along and some don't. There are secrets, jealousies and grudges aplenty. During the party, a shotgun blast rings out. One of the residents has been murdered.

Enter DCI Jason Dury and DS Jim Greer. They interview the residents along with the rest of their team. Some seem truthful and some are not. The police check stories and alibis. The potential suspects are a varied group of people, some are married couples, some are single, some seem to be struggling financially and some are comfortable.

All of the residents have something to hide it seems, except Monica and her husband the Vicar Graham. But the police haven't dismissed them yet, either. So many people disliked the murdered woman that the police are spoiled for suspects.

When Monica overhears a conversation between the policemen that questions that her daughter Carol-Ann may have had a reason to kill the unpleasant woman, it throws her into a tailspin. When another of the residents discovers a love letter to her daughter (from one of the married residents), she too is thrown into a fearful state. What if the police find it?

The book tells what each of the residents is doing, how they are going about protecting themselves from the police – or hiding information, as the case may be.

When another resident gets murdered, the tension in the story ratchets up. Did the police miss something? What is going on? Suddenly it becomes clear to Monica and Graham. They have DCI Dury in and tell him their story. As a result, the killer is identified. Their identity came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I was making a mental list of who it couldn't have been rather than who it could have been.

This is a very well written and plotted novel, as all of Faith Martin's books are. I like the way she tells the reader what everyone is doing as the story goes along. It reminds me of the plotting of a Midsomer Murders episode. I liked the characters of Monica and Graham. I thought that Monica was a little overprotective of her daughter, but I can relate to that as a mom myself. Graham sounds like a great guy. This is a very competent police procedural and shows the tenacity and dogged determination with which the police must go about their investigation. Very well done, Ms. Martin! More of Monica Noble, please.

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

What a charming 1st book in what will be a new series from Faith Martin! Redolent of Agatha Christie with its genteel cast of characters set in a converted vicarage, this has all the makings of a great new series. Faith hasn't fallen into the trap of making her policemen cliched bumbling oafs. Instead she has crafted intelligent , well fleshed characters who welcome the intervention of the lovely vicar and his even lovelier wife! Once again Faith Martin's obvious knowledge and love of the British countryside and it's diverse fauna and flora, shines through in the wonderfully descriptive prose. I know I'm going to be as invested in these characters as I am in her previous creations. A delicious 5,* from me

Something Unpleasant At The Vicarage.......
The welcome first in a new mystery series from Faith Martin (previously published as 'An Unholy Mess' under pen name Joyce Cato) featuring likeable protagonist Monica Noble and her empathetic clergy husband, Graham. Immensely enjoyable cosy crime with well drawn, convincing and credible characterisation, a swiftly moving plot together with suspects and red herrings aplenty. This was a perfect Bank Holiday read - relaxing, engaging and wholly entertaining and I was left wishing that I had book two lined up ready to read. I'm very much looking forward to reading more in this very promising series. Recommended.

A nice nd gentle old fashioned who-dunnit. A story that gripped me from the beginning. A murder takes place in an old vicarage which has just been converted into flats, not all of which have been sold. Number One is the home of the vicar, his wife and step-daughter and there is no-one living opposite them, although it appears that there is someone dying in there.

A really good book.

I received a free advance review copy of the book. This review is honest, voluntary and my own opinion.