It's the 1960s and Sidney Chambers, now Archdeacon of Ely
Cathedral is back to solve crime in six new stories.
Sidney will for instance tackle, murders, theft,
blackmail, arson and a vicious case of toothache. A lot
has happened in his life, he is now a father of a four-
year-old girl, he's married and his old friend Amanda is
going through some difficulties. And, he just can't stop
finding puzzles to solve. His mother-in-law in Germany is
finding him too curious for his own good.
I have only read the first book in The Grantchester
Mysteries series so reading the fifth book in The
Grantchester Mysteries series made me realize that quite
a lot has happened in the now ex-vicar of Grantchester's
life. He is still friends with Geordie Keating, even
though I felt that Geordie felt more like a bystander in
this book. However, the biggest surprise for me was that
he had married Hildegard. I always thought that he would
end up with Amanda, but alas both married someone else.
Although Sidney does seem very happy in his marriage and
of course, his little daughter Anna is a real darling. I
just can't help feeling that Hildegard is a bit dull as
a character. I had rather seen Sidney with someone with
more passion. Hildegard is, in essence, a perfect wife to
an archdeacon, and perhaps that is what is so
disappointing because I have always seen Sidney as
someone a bit different from other vicars or archdeacons.
Another thing, Sidney has a new dog called Byron and I
was sad to realize that Dickens is now dead. That's
typical me, feeling sorry when a pet dies in a book.
The stories are quite different, but they all have a
sense of belonging together since the stories continue in the
next short story. For instance, in one case Amanda's
husband is accused of murder and the effect of that will
continue through the next stories. I found the story with
the trip to Germany especially interesting since the
first book deals with after war Britain, and now it's the
60s and Sidney is married to a German woman and they are
taking a holiday in Germany. And Germany in the 60s, well
let's say that everyone knows what everyone does and
sometimes solving a murder isn't going to bring justice.
I liked this collection of stories, it was nice to read
about Sidney Chambers again and I'm looking forward to
reading the three books I have missed.
It's the summer of love in late 1960s. The Apollo 11
astronauts are preparing to land on the moon, the war in
Biafra dominates the news and Basil D'Oliveira has just
been dropped from the England cricket team before a test
series in apartheid South Africa. In the midst of all
this change, Sidney Chambers, the loveable English
clergyman, continues his amateur sleuthing
investigations.
A bewitching divorcée enlists Sidney's help in convincing
her son to leave a hippie commune' at a soiree on
Grantchester Meadows during May Week celebrations, a
student is divested of a family heirloom; Amanda's
marriage runs into trouble; Sidney and Hildegard holiday
behind the Iron Curtain; Mrs. Maguire's husband returns
from the dead; and an arson attack in Cambridge leads
Sidney to uncover a cruel cast of blackmail involving his
former curate.
In the rare gaps between church and crime, Sidney
struggles with a persistent case of toothache, has his
first flutter at the Newmarket races, and witnesses the
creation of a classic rock song.
Charming, witty, intelligent, and filled with a strong
sense of compassion, these six new stories are guaranteed
to satisfy and delight this clerical detective's many
fans.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy