Murder Before Evensong by The Reverend Richard Coles

I bought Murder Before Evensong by The Reverend Richard Coles a few months back, at the same time as I bought Trespasses and Do No Harm. Somehow it just stayed in my to read pile. But after reading Yellowface, which was quite a heavy book, I decided the time was right to read Murder Before Evensong – and it was exactly what I needed!

Murder Before Evensong is set in the late 80s or early 90s (I couldn’t quite work out which), in the fictional village of Champton. Canon Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton, where he lives with his widowed mother and two lively dachshunds. When Daniel announces plans to install a toilet in the church, there is uproar in the village, with many people believing a toilet has no place in a church.

But the vexatious question of the loo soon pales into insignificance when Anthony Bowness, cousin of the local gentry, is found murdered at the back of the church. Village gossip goes into overdrive and Daniel starts to look at his congregation with fresh eyes. Who would want the victim dead and why?
Anthony Bowness is just the first murder victim in this sleepy village. Does the answer lie in the past or the present? And will the ladies in the local shop solve the mystery through gossip and speculation alone?
Murder Before Evensong is a gentle, but humorous read. It is such cosy crime that it makes The Thursday Murder Club seem like the darkest thriller.
The characters, the humour and the setting are all an absolute joy. If you’re looking for an easy and enjoyable read, I would definitely recommend Murder Before Evensong. I’m going to read the sequel, A Death in the Parish, very soon!