Murder Before Evensong
The instant no. 1 Sunday Times bestseller
by Richard Coles
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Pub Date 9 Jun 2022 | Archive Date 9 Jun 2022
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Description
THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE REVEREND RICHARD COLES' CANON CELEMENT MYSTERY SERIES
'Cosy crime with a cutting edge'
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
'Even better than I knew it would be'
INDIA KNIGHT, THE SUNDAY TIMES
'Devotees of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple stories will feel most at home here'
GUARDIAN
'Charming and funny'
OBSERVER, Thriller of the Month
'I've been waiting for a novel with vicars, rude old ladies, murder and sausage dogs ... et voila!'
DAWN FRENCH
'The unlikely heir to Barbara Pym'
DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Whodunnit fans can give praise and rejoice'
IAN RANKIN
'A cunning whodunnit... A sharp but sympathetic portrayal of everyday life in a small community'
DAILY EXPRESS
'You'll want to take a front row pew in Champton while this delicious series unfolds'
JANICE HALLETT
'Coles' murderous take on a quintessentially English parish makes for a likeable, cosy crime caper'
SUNDAY EXPRESS
'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 BARR
Canon Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton. He has been there for eight years, living at the Rectory alongside his widowed mother - opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey - and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda.
When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided: as lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village.
And then Anthony Bowness - cousin to Bernard de Floures, patron of Champton - is found dead at the back of the church, stabbed in the neck with a pair of secateurs.
As the police moves in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together... and catch a killer.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781474612630 |
| PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 368 |
Featured Reviews
Helen K, Educator
Delightful, and well observed, picture of a country parish. It could be many rural parishes in England, apart from the murders. I imagine Richard Coles has experienced the heightened emotions caused when plans are mooted for having modern facilities, and removing pews - because his descriptions were exactly what my village experienced when we reordered our church. Fortunately, the only bodies discovered were 18th century, and the records had been lost!! Think Miss Marple, Midsummer Murders, and if you enjoy those then this is for you.
Vanessa R, Reviewer
It may well be the 20th century, but country parishes are still medievally feudal.
The Rector of Champton, Daniel Clement, wants to install a loo in the church. Battle lines are drawn, with almost the whole village taking sides.
But when one of the titled family ( the de Flores dynasty) is found murdered in the church, things really start getting out of hand.
A delightful whodunit, and I really hope there are more adventures from Champton
Jill M, Reviewer
Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to read Murder before Evensong by the Rev Richard Coles. I was keen to read it because I’m such a fan of his non-fiction writing, and I was right to be keen because this accomplished fiction debut is just perfect, packed with fascinating characters, ingenious twists and turns and a wonderfully satisfying conclusion.
(Daniel’s mum is clearly the real star of the show - can’t think who Richard Coles might have used as inspiration for the character!)
In conclusion, I loved this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Rosamond C, Reviewer
I was really looking forward to it and Richard Cole did not disappoint at all. A murder story set in a small village based round the vicar Daniel. I loved it. All the characters were great . Can not wait for book 2. This will be my book choice for my book club.
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