One of the books selected to read for the Solve The Murder Book Club was Murder before Evensong by The Reverend Richard Cole
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve started this book but haven’t got past the first few chapters. I don’t know know why.
This is book 1 in the Canon Daniel Clement series. Set in the idealised English village of Champton, Daniel Clement is the rector of the local church, Champton St Mary’s. He lives in the rectory with his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda and Audrey, his 80 year old mother – a formidable lady who sorts out problems and looks after practical matters.
The story begins with Daniel announcing from the pulpit that he intends to install a much needed lavatory in the 400 year old church. Unfortunately this involves removing the back two rows of pews. This change to the seating arrangements is not well received. Battle lines are drawn up by the Flower Arrangers and there is soon an ongoing church/village politics story. There is also a bit of church politics thrown into the mix when the bishop announces he is thinking of amalgamating St Mary’s with two neighbouring parishes.
But all this is soon to be overtaken by Murder! Not just one murder either. more murder ensues….Not that I got that far, I’m afraid.
All four Canon Daniel Clement books are available from
The City Adventurers Solve The Murder Bookshop
Murder Before Evensong at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/3668/9781474612647
A Death in the Parish at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/3668/9781474612685
Murder at the Monastery at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/3668/9781474612715
Murder Under the Mistletoe: A Canon Clement Christmas Novella at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/3668/9781399621472
Available from Waterstones
Murder Before Evensong at https://tidd.ly/40Kvekd
A Death in the Parish at https://tidd.ly/3Cpb7Pk
Murder at the Monastery at https://tidd.ly/4htdMX1
Murder Under the Mistletoe: A Canon Clement Christmas Novella at https://tidd.ly/3PQqfbI
Available from Amazon
Murder Before Evensong at https://amzn.to/42bkixp
A Death in the Parish at https://amzn.to/3WjdFFn
Murder at the Monastery at https://amzn.to/40vyccp
Murder Under the Mistletoe: A Canon Clement Christmas Novella at https://amzn.to/40aFL6Z