Mortal Spoils

Theodora Braithwaite #6

by D.M. Greenwood

Tom Logg, fresh from his Business Studies course, is keen to examine a workplace out of the ordinary but nothing in his academic work could have prepared him for Ecclesia Place, the political centre of the Anglican Church, its tyrannical boss Canon Clutch and certainly not for the discovery of a dead bishop on the second floor.Feeling out of his depth Tom remembers a friend speaking of a Deacon Theodora Braithwaite…..

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Christianity

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 11, 1996

About the author

Dr D(iane) M Greenwood described herself as "a low level ecclesiastical civil servant". Coming originally from Norfolk in England, she took a first degree in classics at Oxford, then, as a mature student, a second degree in theology at London University. She taught at various schools before working for the diocese of Rochester. She was described by an ex-pupil as "a classics teacher of terrifying erudition and eccentricity". She retired as diocesan director of education for the diocese of Rochester in 2004. She published nine Theodora Braithwaite novels between 1991 and 1999. She was last heard of living in Greenwich with her lurcher bitch.

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Logg has a degree in business studies and his first job is at Ecclesia Place - the administration headquarters of the Church of England. He is fascinated by the workings of the organisation though he isn't at all impressed by his tyrannical boss - Canon Clutch.

In the middle of an important meeting between the heads of an assortment of churches he finds what appears to be a dead Bishop. His business studies course didn't cover finding dead bodies but fortunately he remembers a friend mentioning Deaconess Theodora Braithwaite and he asks for her help.

Theodora in turn is impressed with Tom's grasp of the workings of the church's administration and his assessment of the people who run it and she is persuaded to help him find out the identity of the body.

As ever this book is full of the author's wry observations on the administration of the church. The characters are fascination and some od them down right unpleasant but all too believable. I like Theodora as a characters and I sympathise with her desire for some time on her own when having moved into her own flat she is inundated by a stream of visitors.

If you enjoy so-called cosy mysteries then you will probably enjoy this one. It is number six in a series but it can be read as a standalone novel and the series doesn't need to be read in the order in which the books were written.

[JackieB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very funny although the mystery element was a bit weak. Basically it hinged on nobody noticing a crime had taken place in full view. Maybe sometimes that can happen, but I'm not sure that the situation described here is one of those occasions. However, the characters were good and there was so much to laugh at that I ignored the implausible crime. People who have some (or had some) connection with the Anglican (CofE) church will probably appreciate it most.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some valid as well as some very humorous passages in this story about clerical and political institutions.
A most enjoyable read with interesting characters, all written in a light-hearted style.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent hunt for a body

A trip into religious and international politics, with a dash of insanity. It is an enjoyable read for lovers of mischief and mayhem.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this series is intelligent and beautifully written, the constant theme of the vanity and corruption of high church leaders is a little wearing by the sixth novel. I don't think I can face another. D.M. Greenwood, while valuing the walk of faith, seems to feel that clergymen rise to their level of incompetence where they behave in the same entitled and abusive ways as leaders in politics and industry. Somehow this is a theme which has lost its appeal for me.

[^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 6th novel in the Theodora Braithwaite (detective) series.

An uncomplicated but entertaining plot (just one murder); but, oh, this is just such a wickedly funny and delightful commentary on the inhabitants of the corridors of power in 'Ecclesia Place' (Church House, London, Church of England).

Fifteen years after publication, the aptness of the slant DM Greenwood, "an affectionate but acid-penned angel" (The Sunday Times), takes, rings increasingly and dangerously more true. She strips the varnish from the structure of the CoE. The canker and woodworm revealed are familair, and are not a pretty sight.