Joy Cometh with the Mourning by Dave Freer

by Dave Freer

Reverend Joy Norton is a timid city girl, and she’s never been the primary priest in any parish. When her bishop sends her out to a remote back-country church, she doubts both her ability and her suitability. Those doubts grow when she hears of the mysterious death of her predecessor. But from the first encounter with her congregation -- having her little car rescued from a muddy ditch, she finds herself deeply involved with her parishioners and touched by their qualities and eccentricities. Which makes it worse for her to think that one of the people she’s coming to care for murdered the previous priest…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

Paperback

First published October 31, 2014

Reviews

[Voirrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It being a full two years between noting this as 'to Read' and actually getting it meant I had forgotten where it was set - and spent the first few chapters picturing rural England until the mention of 'ute' and dollars reminded me it was Australia!

I really enjoyed Rev. Joy, the middle-aged minister, and her new parishioners. And an interesting mystery to solve; even though the 'what' was fairly clear quite early on, the how and why her of her predecessor's sudden death followed a whole series of twists and turns as she got to know the parish and was a satisfying conclusion when all became clear.

I will look out for more about the Rev Joy.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle mystery set in a very small, rural area of Australia. Just lovely.

[Jeremy Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little English mystery. Entertaining main character, and smoothly written.

[Linda Tapia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy and hilarity come all the way through this book!

I had to recheck the cover a few times to remind myself I was reading Dave Freer. His sense of whimsy and wonder are so much like Connie Willis (see "to say nothing of the dog").
Both the characters and situations kept inviting me to read more, I could not put it down and had a big smile on my face at the last page.

[Jennifer Rust · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book and now I want to read it all over again. It truly is a delightful little cozy where you want to spend more time in this small town with these characters even though you know now how the mystery ends. I want to go back and reread for all the details of the characters and the way they relate to each other, it makes you want to live in a small town!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice cozy

I am sorry that this is a one off. I like the characters and would have loved to see where the author takes them. I will try his sci-fi.

[Joanne G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joy, a big city priest, is plunked down into a small country parish whose former priest died under suspicious circumstances. Joy battles culture shock, rural distrust of an outsider, and her own feelings of fear that those who may have killed her predecessor wish the same for her.

Joy feels unsuited to the task of handling the duties and needs of her calling, but she quietly and expertly observes and shepherds her flock into the right directions. Calm, sensible, and wise, Joy is the right person at the right time for her congregation.

When I first began reading, it felt as though there were too many characters for me to keep straight, but they became a comfortable community I was sad to leave by the end of the book. This cozy mystery is a gentle, sweet story of people learning to accept one another, live together in harmony, and forgive one another.

I'd like another book about this community or Joy.