What the Vicar Saw

Lord Edgington Investigates #9

by Benedict Brown

After the vicar of Condicote is found murdered at the funeral of a dissolute baron, the police soon identify the likely culprit. But faced with countless rivalries and a host of scheming suspects, renowned detective Lord Edgington has a dilemma to resolve; how can he catch the murderer when no one knows what the vicar was running from just moments before he was killed? As more bodies appear, and everyone in town from the police constable to the dead baron’s widow has something to hide, the detective and his loyal grandson must race against time to save an innocent man from the gallows.

“What the Vicar Saw” is a warm-hearted, gripping and funny whodunit, set in a picturesque English village, with a cast of larger-than-life characters and a puzzle at its centre that will keep you guessing until the final chapters. The newest Agatha-Christie-style mystery in the bestselling “Lord Edgington Investigates…” series is spoiler free and can be read as a standalone novel.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2023

About the author

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing. I spent a long time writing kids’ books, including funny fairy tales, dystopic adventures and serious issue-based YA, before switching to murder mysteries last year.

I grew up in a crime fiction family and spent a long time dreaming up the idea for my detective Izzy Palmer’s debut novel. A Corpse Called Bob is my first full-length book for adults in what is already becoming a long series.

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living with my French/Spanish wife and slightly muddled daughter in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain. I write overlooking the Castilian countryside, trying not to be distracted by the vultures and red kites that fly past my window each day.

Reviews

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, yeah. Best one ever. Brown mixed up his style in this one and yet... he didn't, too. It's interesting how even a different format can still feel familiar and interesting.

And he got me on this one. Seriously. I thought I had it nailed pretty early. And even with every clue I needed, and even with some suspicions in the right area, I came to all wrong conclusions because I got a little too attached to my theory. Stupid. Stupid. And during the final reveal, I was so sure I was right that I could have given Chrissy a run for his figure-it-out money.

EEEP!

Christopher's development not only as a person but as a detective is wonderful to watch. :)

[Ann Gillaspie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and Humor Abounds

The mystery of this who-done-it is overflowing with humor as Lord Edgington and Christopher attempt to solve 3 possible murders and more. The witty repartee between the grandfather and grandson will keep you in stitches. And you may want to look up some of the the fancy automobiles that Lord Edgington and others owned from the late 1920s. If you need a fun mystery and some sharp dialogue from the turn of the past century, you will enjoy this book very much!

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent. 🤩 6 Chrissy and Lord Edgington adventures under my belt now, and I’m utterly delighted.

I’ve said it before, but the Wodehouse humour paired with Agatha Christie complexity and Downton Abbey drama makes these installments dazzlingly clever.

My mind was running theories with my own mental murder board, and I’m happy to say that like Chrissy, I was 90% right. That surprise at the end knocked my socks off though!

Weird as it sounds, I like reading these out of order, haha. The Christmas ones are elite and what I read first—now I’m going back and picking what suits my mood. ☺️ Perfect for a cozy autumn read!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

End of December 1926 and the funeral of the Baron Fane of Seekings House, Codicote, is taking place, but the vicar is found by Lord Edgington and Christopher, murdered. But in the next few months, a man will be convicted of his murder and another commit suicide. Edgington finally agrees to investigate.
An entertaining historical mystery

[Ferne Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amother amzing story of Lord Edgington and his grandson Chrissy (Christopher). Lord Edgington, Chrissy and the whole family, including servents are going to check out the town of Condicort as a place for Lord Edgington's older grandson's wedding. Of couse wherever Lord Edgington goes, murder follows. At the funeral for a local Baron that no one seemed to like, the local Vicar is found murdered. Lord Edgington and Chrissy are on the case. A suspect is arrested and convicted, sentenced to death. Edgington and Chrissy are not convinced he is the murderer and begin their own investigation. Before they have their answer, more people are murdered. The twists and turns keep you guessing. But the end is the biggest twist of all. I didn't see it coming. Benedict Brown's Lord Edgington series is always filled with interesting characters, facinating stories and twists. It does not have gory murders, foul language or sex. They are clean enjoyable hard to put down mysteries. You will love Lord Edgington and watch as Christopher grows from a clumsy insecure teen to a young man actually beginning to understand how to solve a murder. The endings are alway Chrisitie like, with all the suspects gathered together for the murderer to be revealed. Start from book 1 and you will be hooked.

[Lisa Simonich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benedict Brown’s Lord Edginton series keeps getting better and better and What the Vicar Saw was my favorite so far. The start of the book did have me laughing out loud and I love the development of Christopher over the series as he gets older, wiser, and funnier too! I listened to this book as an audiobook and was riveted to the tale from the get-go. If you enjoy historical mysteries and I highly recommend this series, I recommend starting at the beginning of the series and following the characters.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book and I intend to read the rest of the series. I would almost put it into the cozy category, but it is not silly. It is set post WWII and the fits many of the characteristics of a golden age mystery.

One thing I really loved was the at the conclusion of the audiobook the author shared (for almost 30 min.) the research he did for the book and other little snippets about food he mentioned in the novel and other fun information about inspiration behind names of towns, etc.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ninth installment in the Lord Edgington Investigates series, What the Vicar Saw is another step forward in Benedict Brown’s clever and charming historical mystery collection. This time, the stakes are high, the characters are richly drawn, and, most notably, Christopher continues emerging as more than just a bumbling sidekick obsessed with his next cup of tea.

The mystery at the heart of this novel is compelling, layered with red herrings and good depth. The introduction of new characters brings fresh energy to the story, and their development is one of the book’s great strengths. The plot moves briskly, full of twists and turns, and yet always grounded in the emotional core of Christopher and his grandfather’s relationship.

Christopher’s growth is particularly satisfying—he’s becoming sharper, more engaged, and far more than comic relief. His determination to uncover the truth and save a wrongfully accused man adds both urgency and heart to the tale.

For fans of the series, this is a rewarding continuation. For newcomers, it’s a solid mystery that stands on its own while inviting you to dive into earlier adventures. Either way, it’s clear that Benedict Brown is just hitting his stride.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ninth book in the Lord Edgington Investigates mystery series. Christopher's family goes to visit his paternal grandmother so she can meet his brother's fiancée. As they are attending church they notice the absence of the vicar for the sermon, only to find him murdered. Now Christopher must convince the police, and his grandfather, that the man arrested for the crime is innocent. Fans of the series will love this installment as well. Christopher really comes into his own in this one.

[peg craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

What on earth did the vicar really see?

When the family visit the market town where Christopher’s Grandmother lives to celebrate the New Year ( and to see if the beautiful church would be suitable for Christopher’s brother’s wedding), things do not go to plan. A road accident, and the murder of the vicar in his own church, bring Lord Edgington and Christopher into an inquiry which results in a young man’s death sentence.
Readers will be intrigued and amazed at the twists and turns which must be followed if the pair are to solve the mysteries which follow. The bitter cold appears make each problem even more difficult and darkness shrouds the investigators as they seek the truth. Will you be the reader who realises the murderer’s identity? Enjoy the process and test your skills. You will not be disappointed!

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in an excellent series.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You do put food above all other things, don’t you, boy? If you were ever to start your own religion, your followers would pray to a chicken leg, and communion would be a five-course meal.” “As delightful as that sounds, I would never start my own religion as it would take too much time away from eating.”

Story: 9
Writing: 8
First MC: 10
Second MC: 10
Secondary characters: 8
Mystery: 7
Sexual tension: 0
Humor: 6
Hotness: 0
Product placement: 5
Ridiculousness:
Annoying: 1
Audio: 10
To re-read: 10

There is a sadness to this mystery. The victims and people around

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just calms me. I save these books for when I really need something easy and fun. I love Lord Edgington, his eccentric ways, and his sarcastic grandson, Chris. They are the best pair.

In this story we get to meet Chris's paternal grandmother and visit her in her quirky village where the vicar has been found murdered. A local hooligan, who's never gotten into big trouble, is accused of the crime and sentenced to death. Chris is sure that the young man isn't guilty, but Lord E seems conflicted.

When more bodies start piling up, Lord E realizes that Chris was right all along and they must race to find the guilty party and save an innocent man from the gallows.

I love Lord Edington dragging his entire staff along with him everywhere and how they think nothing of it. Chris's grandmother is the opposite, tightfisted, and is quite pleased to send her own staff on a vacation and let Lord E take on the costs. It was fun seeing these other members of Chris's family.

I'm going to be honest, by the time I get to my review I've often forgotten who the bad guy even is, I just love these books for the journey. I love watching Chris and his grandfather work together. It's delightfully charming and amusing. I also like the author's notes at the end where he talks about interesting facts he learned in his research and what he used to write the story. Such a fun series!

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew and his fiance, Clarissa, are planning to get married at the church in Condicote. The church is filled with people after the death of Baron Stamford Fane, a very unpopular person. Following the hymns, the service seems to stall, so Lord Edgington and Christopher seek to determine what is holding up the service. It seems that Reverend Oldfield has been killed. The local constable determines that the likely culprit is Adam Caswell, a small-time thief with no history of violence. While Lord Edgington does not initially object to the accusation, Chrissy insists that Adam is innocent. When a friend trying to prove Adam's innocence is killed, it become apparent that many people in the village, including the mayor, police constable, and the widow, have secrets they are desperate to keep hidden.

Who killed Reverend Oldfield? Why was he killed? How many more will die before the culprit is exposed? Was Baron Fane's death an accident or murder? Can Lord Edgington and Christopher unravel the mystery to expose the culprit?

Benedict Brown has created another fantastic adventure for Lord Edgington and his grandson. The story is more complex than earlier mysteries, but just as interesting with wonderful characters and realistic situations. This adventure is sure to keep readers engaged clear to the end.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is of What the Vicar Saw by Benedict Brown. It’s 1920s mystery starring Lord Edgington and his grandson Chrissy. I received an ARC copy and this review is my honest opinion.
I love these books! Lord Edgington is a Sherlock Holmes type retired policeman who is training his grandson how to be a detective. Murders seem to follow them around and Lord Edgington’s reputation means people look to him for answers.
Chrissy is a man after my own heart. He wants to solve the murders, but can’t seem to throw a knife to save his life. And food is very important. How can anyone solve murders on an empty stomach? He is a loving, caring, sometimes bumbling, intelligent person. And it doesn’t matter how hard he tries, his grandfather is always one step ahead. Except in this book!
The characters are delightful, a little wacky sometimes, and people I want to meet in person. The plot is well developed and if you are diligent, you may figure out the answer before characters. I like that all of the evidence is presented and doesn’t leave out the one piece that the reader needs to solve the murder first.
I hope you love this book as much as I did and will go on the read more about Lord Edgington and Chrissy!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant mystery

Another amazing Lord Edgington mystery. Lord Edgington and Christopher head off with the family to see the church where Albert and his fiancee will be married. Obviously things do not go as planned and there is a murder. After a quick investigation they find the murderer and the case is closed. Or is it?
For the first time, Lord Edgington and Christopher disagree about the guilt of the accused. Which one of them is right?
I loved that this book was longer than the usual Lord Edgington book. It gave me more time to appreciate the interaction between Chrissy and his grandfather. No matter how hard I try, I can never figure out who the murderer is. Benedict Brown continues to craft amazing mysteries with characters that are so realistically written.
I cannot wait to see where the next Lord Edgington mystery will take us. I love watching Christopher grow as a person and as a detective. These books are brilliant mysteries and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

[Ka · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, we finally see more of Christopher's fraternal grandmother, a woman who has only peripherally appeared in previous books, mainly to say critical things to everyone and make herself thoroughly unlikeable. In a way, it is impressive that Chrissy's father is only emotionally unavailable, rather than being an actively unpleasant person.

Whilst visiting the small town where she lives, Christopher and Lord Edgington discover a murder (of course) which leads to an innocent man being sentenced to death, something Chrissy objects to and feels compelled to do something about. This is the first book where such a thing has happened, and where Lord Edgington actually makes a serious error in judgment, which makes it interesting (as far as character development in this series goes). The plot itself gets very twisty and filled with bizarre machinations and such, but as the author points out in his usual postscript, he actually based several of the craziest things on real historical events.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opens with a funeral and a dead body. To be clear, the funeral was for one man (a despicable baron whom no one in the small town of Condicote liked) and the dead body is that of another (the local vicar.) Christopher and his grandfather are on the spot because the family had come down to look at the church as a possible wedding venue for Christopher's brother. While there, their paternal grandmother insisted that they stay for the funeral.
When the vicar didn't show, Christopher and his grandfather went looking. They found the body and also discovered that there was an item missing from the church. That same item was found in the hands of a man who has had some shady dealings in town and he is immediately arrested. But did he really do it? While Lord Edgington is sure, Christopher is not. But then somebody else dies and, at least for Lord Edgington, the case is reopened.
We actually start to see more growth for Christopher (physically as well as mentally) which is nice. While I adore Hastings and Watson as characters, they never changed. We get to see that in Christopher.

[Glenn Younger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrissy becoming a bona fide Christopher

In Book 9 of the series, Lord Edgington’s sleuth sidekick and grandson, Chrissy, slowly grows into a bona fide Christopher who is able to actually implement some his grandfather’s teaching as retired chief of Scotland Yard. Gone is the bumbling boy from the beginning of the series.

When a hapless local is framed for murder, it is Christopher who isn’t able to let go of the idea that justice was not properly served. When more murders ensue, Lord Edgington must admit (albeit reluctantly) that he might have been hasty in his earlier agreements with Scotland Yard’s conclusions. Five murders in all and a convoluted list of suspects that include Christopher’s own paternal grandmother mark the intricacies of the story.

If you like whodunits that aren’t easy to solve and still manage to be breezy in their own way, this will be your cup of tea, with a buttery crumpet thrown in for good measure.

[Anne Kavcic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get the warm fuzzies every time I see there's a new Lord Edgington book out! In this one, it's good to see Christopher taking more part (successfully too) in the mysteries they encounter as he shadows Lord Edgington. Sometimes, of course, he's way off base ... well, par for the course. The family visits Chrissy's father's mother to investigate the village chapel for the upcoming wedding of brother Albert and his lovely Cassandra ... but the vicar is discovered dead, just after another village personality has a fatal accident. Lots of suspicions, but all the clues lead to dead ends and all the suspects have alibis! Wit and wisdom mingle, with plenty of historical references (and wonderful notes at the back), so that you feel quite immersed in the period 1926/1927. - I received a review copy and freely leave this honest review.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and Humor rolled into one

In the latest Lord Edgington novel Chrissy as family travel to visit his paternal grandmother who turns out to be quite an interesting character. Her main goal in life seems to make everyone as uncomfortable as possible while observing every act of hospitality.
As Chrissy and Lord Edgington attempt to solve a murder the duo appear to be stumped for the first time. This novel shows Chrissy's development as a detective and we also get treated with his wonderful descriptions of a variety of desserts.
The characters are well developed, many old favorites return and Chrissy's observations and side comments are humorous and delightful.
I recommend this book to all mystery lovers. It is a stand alone book and can be read without having read the others.

[Lana Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex mystery presented beautifully.

Like welcoming old friends, the story steps in and feels at home. By that mean, Lord Edgington takes center stage with charisma, charm, and commanding investigative skill. Yet, it is Chrissy who is the catalyst behind the investigation. It's remarkable how Brown has continually brought him closer and closer to maturity under his grandfather's tutelage throughout the books to the young man we witness here. The mystery is complex as victims continue to fall with no clear suspect in mind. No slow spots. No lack of intrigue. One murder particularly haunts the pages. Think out of the box and you'll get this one, however, each page will be a pleasure.

[June Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner by Benjamin Brown

I have been hooked on the Lord Edgington series from the first book. Now I eagerly await each new installment to come out. They get better with each book. I like the idea of growing and evolving with the characters as the series goes on. Chrissy has went from a shy boy to a fine young man. The Mysteries always keep me guessing until the end. I love the about this book section that Benjamin always includes at the end. They are just as fun as the book itself and very informative on his research of the book. If you keep them coming I'll keep reading them.

[Lisa Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not one to try and solve the mystery, but I saw this ending coming. I still loved it. In this story we are reintroduced to Chrissy's paternal grandmother, a dragon of a woman with very strong opinions in all things, including her fellow townsfolk. When the vicar is found murdered, she believes the man charged with the crime is guilty, or not guilty, she doesn't really much care.

Chrissy cares, very much. He believes the man innocent. When he's found guilty, Chrissy despairs the lack of evidence. He takes it personally and commits to finding the evidence required to set the man free before he is hanged. Lord Edgington isn't on board, at first, but he comes around and the chase is on.

[Mrs Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Another excellent mystery by Benedict Brown, he had me stumped right up until the last pages. There were the usual amazing characters and I think Chrissy is just adorable always thinking about food and where the next meal is coming from. I looked up all the cakes mentioned on Google as I’d never heard of any of them before and as usual the author comes up with words I’ve never come across either so I’m googling those too. I don’t know where he gets them from or how he seems to have a bottomless pit of imagination and he’s so funny I’m chortling and chuckling the whole way through. First class book by a first class writer.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy this series and decided to sign up again for Kindle Unlimited as Brown's books are available through that program. The relationship between the grandfather and the young man as he is now continues to entertain me. The family members all add their special quirks that often bring a smile or two in the reading. 1920s manners with a good measure of action and interesting characters fill the bill. Family manors, luxury cars and gruesome murders, oh my! This is the 9th in the series and I have a few more to read/look forward to.

Kindle Unlimited

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Christopher is growing up & along with his extraordinary mentor & grandfather they have become a force to be reckoned with! This is another chapter in their adventures.
Ive read several in this series & the complex endings are hard to pick! Which I like.
My only criticism is I still don’t know what Christopher looks like. The other family characters aren’t clearly described either which seems odd. Emotionally their feelings are well explained & that’s the important point but I would like to be able to picture them.
Please Benedict?

[Kim Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winning twisty mystery from Benedict Brown. The pacing was a little slower than some of the previous books in the series, but I enjoyed getting the know the characters and seeing Chrissie gain a little more gumption as he tried to untangle the very tangly webs and figure out what the vicar actually saw! An enjoyable and satisfying read, and now I’m off to travel in time to see what Izzy Palmer, Brown’s contemporary sleuth, has been up to in her latest mystery! I recommend both series to anyone looking for well-written cozy mysteries with just the right amount of humour and intrigue.

[Cattie Whaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is going on in Condicote?!

When Chrissy and his family visit his paternal grandmother in the small village of Condicote, little did they know that they would be thrown into a twisted murder mystery. We meet a couple of interesting characters in this installment to add to an amazing cast that we have come to love. Christopher has continued his training and has become quite astute in his ability to figure out what is going on. Hold on to your seat for this book. It is quite a ride! Highly recommend!

[Sue Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flummoxed!

Almost always figure out who did it before the who done it novel reveals itself but not this time! There was perhaps too much going over scenarios that dragged the narrative but Chrissy's insights, self deprecation, humor and sparring partnership with his Grandfather is well worth the read. However, start with book 1 in this series and grow with Chrissy and Lord Edgington... Together a delight!