A Death in the Parish by the Reverend Richard Coles

A Death in the Parish is another Canon Clement mystery and the follow up to Murder Before Evensong.

Set some months after the first novel, things in Champton St. Mary are just beginning to return to a semblance of normality when the bishop decides to merge the parish with those of neighbouring Upper and Lower Badsaddle.

The merger brings with it a new associate vicar, who is a very different type of clergyman than Daniel, his wife and two teenage twin children. Chris Biddle is evangelical and charismatic, and he quickly clashes with Daniel's more traditional style of ministry.

Added into the mix are Miss March, the proprietor of the local dress shop; Miss Hawkins, an aging parishioner who's dying and wants Daniel and his mother Audrey to be executors of her will, and the Tailbys, a local couple known for preying on the old and less-capable. Daniel's mother Audrey is also struggling to come to terms with their poor financial status and Daniel's incapacity to understand such menial details.

This is a fair improvement on the previous novel. Yes, it's still a bit slow and plodding and again we're about 30% in before the main crime is committed but the author fills the void with lots of details about the village, his parishioners, their overlords the De Fleurs and the machinations and rituals of "The Church" until another murder rocks the village and Daniel again finds himself once again investigating it.

A Death in the Parish is a charming and insightful portrait of life in a small English village. Coles captures the sense of community and belonging that's so important to village life, and he also explores the challenges that such communities face when change comes.

Overall, A Death in the Parish is a well-written and enjoyable cosy mystery novel and well worth reading. It's a must-read if you've already read the first one of the series. 9/10 😀