Murder Before Evensong

by Reverend Richard Coles

Murder Before Evensong has been on my TBR for a while so I was chuffed when it was chosen as our Buddy Read Book Club read for December.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it’s a slow burn, cosy crime story with quite a sad conclusion. I really enjoyed it overall. At the beginning there isn’t much drama other than if, and when, they will finally install a toilet in the church. As a church goer, and a church treasurer for over eleven years, I found some of these characters very amusing and totally relatable. Some people really do think that they have their own pew and God forbid anyone else sits there or tries to change absolutely anything!

The story ramps up a bit when a regular parishioner is found dead in the church by the Rector. This I definitely can’t relate to, thankfully! From here on in the story becomes much more suspenseful and I was intrigued to find out who, in this quiet little place, might be a murderer.

There are some interesting characters throughout this story. Daniel’s mother amused me. His brother couldn’t be any more different to him. I did wonder where his story might lead.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series at some point.

Good choice, Lucie 😊

Canon Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton, where he lives 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 the 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. As the police moves in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his community together . . . and catch a killer.

Happy reading!