Reading the Detectives discussion

Does anyone have any favourite books which fall into this category?

I'm thinking of books set in or around cathedrals, focused around church life in a parish, or featuring a priest, churchwarden, vicar's wife or similar as the detective - or sidekick.

I was reminded while reading a review of one of Edmund Crispin's books that my favourite types of detective fiction used to be those in either a church or academic setting, but I've rather lost touch with these aspects in the last few years and I'd like to reacquaint myself with some of the books and find some new ones.

The "Father Brown" stories by Chesterton, G. K. come immediately to mind. There are only short stories, though; no full-length novels. I picked up a nice, big "The Complete Father Brown" a little while back, and enjoyed it very much.

If I remember right, Agatha Christie's "Murder at the Vicarage" had the vicar as the narrator.

There's also the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, if you're willing to go back to the 1100s. Most are very good, though I would suggest skipping "An Excellent Mystery", which actually refers to the theological meaning of "mystery". And "Brother Cadfael's Penance" is only good if you're looking for a conclusion to the background soap opera begun in "The Virgin in the Ice": however well-written the story is, the mystery aspect is execrable.

The Grantchester series - Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death, for one, by Samuel Page Widnall

I've thought about reading some of the Father Brown stories before but somehow haven't been sure about them. Can you compare them to anything else?

Jan, I believe the Grantchester books are by James Runcie- looks as if Widnall wrote a book with a similar title, so there might be a mix-up somewhere on Goodreads. I really enjoyed the TV series based on these, starring James Norton. But must admit I didn't get on with the book I tried, as it was so different - another example of watching the TV show first! Sidney is a much more troubled character in the TV version, which tends to appeal to me.

Runcie has said in interviews that he based the character of Sidney on his father, Robert Runcie, who went on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Jan C wrote: "The Grantchester series - Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death"

That's on my list. Are you reading it at the moment Jan?

Judy wrote: "I really enjoyed the TV series based on these, starring James Norton. But must admit I didn't get on with the book I tried, as it was so different - another example of watching the TV show first! Sidney is a much more troubled character in the TV version, which tends to appeal to me.
..."

I think that's what is putting me off starting this one - and also reading the Father Brown series. I've heard they are both different from the TV series.

Ruth wrote: "I've thought about reading some of the Father Brown stories before but somehow haven't been sure about them. Can you compare them to anything else?"

I didn't much care for the Father Brown stories in The Innocence of Father Brown. But since then I have discovered that Chesterton is just not a writer I like very much so, as they say, 'your mileage may vary'.

Father Brown in the books is NOT a parish priest as he is in the most recent TV adaptation but rather an itinerant one. So the books don't have any of the relationships you might be enjoying in the TV show.

Novena for Murder is the first in a cosy mystery series that was actually written by a nun. I haven't read them myself but have heard they were pretty good.

Not a mystery, but I really loved Catherine Fox's Acts and Omissions about life in a cathedral close...very funny, and there's also a follow-up.

Also liked Close Quarters and The Black Seraphim by Michael Gilbert, and Murder in Advent by David Williams. And there's always Merrily Watkins, The Wine of Angels.
I have a murder-in-church shelf if you feel like browsing:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Ruth wrote: "Jan C wrote: "The Grantchester series - Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death"

That's on my list. Are you reading it at the moment Jan?"

Yes, but not very far in. Full disclosure - I am a preacher's kid - so unless it is real preachy (which I doubt) it won't bother me too much. I think I may have been reading on a phone and I don't usually read on the phone anymore (unless I'm stuck somewhere waiting - like a dr's office or in a line at the grocery). I used to read while waiting for the el/bus but I don't commute anymore.

Miss M wrote: "Also liked Close Quarters and The Black Seraphim by Michael Gilbert."

Both excellent, though not really in the genre of classic mysteries. But I like most of Gilbert's work.

Jan C wrote: "Full disclosure - I am a preacher's kid ..."

Same here Jan! My father was variously a curate, a rector, a chaplain at a girls' convent school, and a vicar.

Ruth wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Full disclosure - I am a preacher's kid ..."

Same here Jan! My father was variously a curate, a rector, a chaplain at a girls' convent school, and a vicar."

Ha...seen this? : )
The Wry Romance of the Literary Rectory
Or...this: The Old Rectory

These two threads have had me racking my brains on and off all day. I don't think I've read many books with clerical detectives, but I did recently read Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet, where the detective is a handsome young vicar and former spy, Max Tudor, working in a village. I was somewhat underwhelmed by this one, as it is rather slow, the mystery itself isn't great, and the characters are a bit stereotyped, but Max is an interesting hero.

I've just found an amazingly exhaustive site which features 330 clerical and "near-clerical" detectives - who knew there were so many?!

http://detecs.org/

Has anybody mentioned Kempelman's (sp?) Rabbi Small series? I found them not only enjoyable mysteries, but a nice look into the Jewish traditions and practices. (I use that phrase because he considers Judaism not so much a religion as a lifestyle.)

Miss M wrote: "Ha...seen this? : )
The Wry Romance of the Literary Rectory
Or...this: The Old Rectory ..."

They both look really interesting actually - have you read either of them?

I've looed at that site Judy, but a bit overwhelmed by the number of references! Good for checking recommendations though I think.

Kell wrote: "If you're into cozes, there's an impressive list maintained at the cozy-mystery site: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/myst..."

I do enjoy a nice cosy actually Kell! Kate Charles and D M Greenwood are two of my favourites on that list.

Everyman wrote: "Has anybody mentioned Kempelman's (sp?) Rabbi Small series? I found them not only enjoyable mysteries, but a nice look into the Jewish traditions and practices. (I use that phrase because he consid..."

Is it these Friday the Rabbi Slept Late - not come across them before.

Everyman wrote: "Has anybody mentioned Kempelman's (sp?) Rabbi Small series? I found them not only enjoyable mysteries, but a nice look into the Jewish traditions and practices. (I use that phrase because he consid..."

I had forgotten the rabbi series. I read and enjoyed the first couple years ago. I should pick them up again. I really enjoy books where I learn something, perhaps justifying the time I spend reading.

Re the Max Tudor series - I read the first 2 or 3 then the characters personal lives overwhelmed the plot, in my opinion.

I would second Harry Kemelman's Rabbi Small mysteries!

Ruth wrote: "Is it these Friday the Rabbi Slept Late - not come across them before.
."

That's the set. Best read in order, I think, since events from earlier books are referenced in the later ones.

So many great books to explore! The will expand my tbr list even more...

Death in Holy Orders is set in a religious community. It's one of my favourite books by P.D. James, but probably best appreciated if you have read some of the earlier ones in the Dagleish series.

Susan wrote: "So many great books to explore! The will expand my tbr list even more..."

Some great suggestions here. It's good to have them all together in one place.

Perhaps we should have some more threads for other themes - can you think of any others?

I have a weakness for books set on cruise ships.

I like Kate Charles' Book of Psalms series which starts with A Drink of Deadly Wine

Another favourite is D M Greenwood's series featuring Theodora Braithwaite - the first one is Clerical Errors

Alison Joseph's Sister Agnes series are good too, the first one is Sacred Hearts

None of these are Golden Age writers but they are somewhat in the same tradition I think in that they concentrate on the puzzle element.

Miss M wrote: "Not a mystery, but I really loved Catherine Fox's Acts and Omissions about life in a cathedral close...very funny, and there's also a follow-up.

Also liked [book:Close Quarters|180..."

I love Catherine Fox's books too :-)

Damaskcat wrote: "I like Kate Charles' Book of Psalms series which starts with A Drink of Deadly Wine

Another favourite is D M Greenwood's series featuring Theodora Braithwaite - the first one is [bo..."

I enjoy those two series as well, Damaskcat.

Sister Fidelma series by Peter Tremayne. The setting is ancient Ireland.

I much prefer the television Father Brown to the one in the books. I suffered through one that had multiple stories and ended up skipping some of them because they were so boring.

Ruth wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "I like Kate Charles' Book of Psalms series which starts with A Drink of Deadly Wine

Another favourite is D M Greenwood's series featuring Theodora Braithwaite - th..."

Kate Charles' Cally Anson series is good too :-)

Watched the first episode of the new series of Grantchester last night. I'm currently listening to the first book on audio so it's interesting to compare the two.

Are the Grantchester books novels, or short stories? I think I read somewhere they were stories and I think that is what put me off reading them.

I think they are books. I'm still at the beginning of the first one, so not really sure.

Oh, OK Jan. I hope you are enjoying it.

It has been a while since I got back to that one.

Susan, I tried one which was short stories - I didn't like the writing style and didn't finish it. I do love the TV series, though.

Susan wrote: "Are the Grantchester books novels, or short stories? I think I read somewhere they were stories and I think that is what put me off reading them."

They are long short stories but they all follow on from each other really so it's almost like reading a novel.

I must give them a try - I haven't seen the TV series.

If any of you are mad keen on James Runcie's Sidney Chambers Grantchester series, or wanting to read them, there's a new Goodreads group just started https://t.co/3rJ8REAYgB

That's what I love about Goodreads - there are groups for every and any interest :)

I've just remembered another clerical mystery series - though there are only three of them so far - Martha Ockley She has written about a detective who is now a Church of England vicar who naturally gets involved in investigating suspicious deaths.

Other detectives turned clergymen are Max Tudor in G M Malliet books and Septimus Treloar in the four books by Stephen Chance

Actually Max Tudor worked for MI5

Hi Damaskcat. I think this is the link you meant to post. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... The other Malliet link says there are no books.

Sherry wrote: "Hi Damaskcat. I think this is the link you meant to post. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... The other Malliet link says there are no books."

Thanks Sherry - I should have checked it was the right one :-)

Damaskcat wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Hi Damaskcat. I think this is the link you meant to post. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... The other Malliet link says there are no books."

Thanks Sherry - ..."

No problem. The books look very good! Thanks for the suggestion!

Damaskcat wrote: "Kate Charles' Cally Anson series is good too :-) ..."

I'm reading the first book in the Book of Psalms series A Drink of Deadly Wine at the moment and really enjoying it. I originally read these books out of order and I can't remember this one at all - I'm wondering now if I did read the whole series as I was always intrigued as to what David Middleton-Brown's backstory was - and it's all here!

How does the Cally Anson series compare? I love the book I'm on now because of the development of the characters and the detail of the storytelling - I'm enjoying the slow pace and the descriptions of the ecclesiastical aspects.

Ruth wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "Kate Charles' Cally Anson series is good too :-) ..."

I'm reading the first book in the Book of Psalms series A Drink of Deadly Wine at the moment and really enjo..."

I prefer the Book of Psalms series as I think they have more depth but I have enjoyed the Cally Anson series so far. Both series are good in their way and she has also written three standalone novels.

Damaskcat wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "Kate Charles' Cally Anson series is good too :-) ..."

I'm reading the first book in the Book of Psalms series A Drink of Deadly Wine at the moment an..."

Thanks Damaskcat - I'll probably try the Cally Anson series once I've re-read all the Book of Psalms series.

Miss M wrote: "Not a mystery, but I really loved Catherine Fox's Acts and Omissions about life in a cathedral close...very funny, and there's also a follow-up.

Also liked [book:Close Quarters|180..."

Have you read all Catherine Fox's books, Miss M? Her name popped up again today while I was browsing and I looked at her first 3 books and decided they weren't quite my sort of thing. But looking again at your post, Close Quarters is a later book and does look interesting.....