The Mushroom Man

Charlie Priest #2

by Stuart Pawson

Priest isn’t a holy man. But his faith in humanity is about to be challenged by a series of sinister events.

First the body of a priest is found in an overgrown field, or what the maggots left of him.

Then a vicar suffers a fatal fall from a church clock tower.

Before Priest can determine the link between these suspicious deaths, a reverend is gunned down in a vestry.

One death is a tragedy. Two is a coincidence. But three?

A mass murderer is targeting clergymen . . . and the only clue is a picture of a ‘Destroying Angel’ mushroom left in the victim’s pocket.

The body count is growing, and the Mushroom Man isn’t done with Yorkshire’s priests yet . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Procedural, Detective

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 1996

About the author

Stuart Pawson lived in Fairburn, Yorkshire, with his wife, Doreen.

After a career as a mining electrical engineer, he worked part-time for the probation service for five years, mediating between offenders and their victims. This gave him a good insight into the criminal justice system, and it was during this period that he started to write his first book, The Picasso Scam.

Stuart believed he must have some cowboy genes somewhere in his genome because he always had a strong affinity for the American West. His first visit to the USA was to work for a month at a Wyoming coalmine, and he holidayed over there many times. Although tone-deaf (some would say stone-deaf) he always thought it would be good fun to be a songwriter. The thought of composing a three-minute song as opposed to a 300-page book had a certain attraction. He managed to combine the two themes - song writing and the West - in the opening chapters of Laughing Boy, and he enjoyed writing that one immensely.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this series another try and have done so reading this second of the series. Part of the problem for me is coming so late to the series, social banter in 1995 does not translate well to 2021. I don't think I will follow up with reading further unless I get desperate looking for reading material. The 8 year old girl kidnapped presents the first case to be solved for Charlie and then there are priests getting knocked off and along the way Charlie's love interest Annabelle gets in the way of a bullet meant for him...so, plenty of police work to get through.
The accidental death of the first vicar was one of the oddest I have come across, and I must admit it brought a smile.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent second in series featuring DI Charlie Priest in small-town Yorkshire. It's hard to nail down just what I love about this series--it's a combination of factors, I'm sure: writing style, an endearing main character, an interesting approach to the "police procedural" part of the book. It's not all detail about the one case, but also addresses the drudgery part of the job, that the brilliant deducting must be done while working on mounds of paperwork, pursuing leads in other cases and eating stale cheese and pickle sandwiches from the canteen.

This story is especially gruesome in that it involves a kidnapped 8-year-old girl. The other main case is someone killing off clergy and leaving photos of the Destroying Angel mushroom at the scene of the crime. The cases themselves are mixed together in just the right proportion with details of Charlie's personal life and routines, and it's all sewn together brilliantly so that it reads perfectly. Glad that I already have the next two books in the series lined up, because I don't think it will be long before I get to them.

[Jean Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone told me this was an average police procedural. I disagree. I enjoyed "The Picasso Scam" and this book is even better. There is a lot going on with a missing child and a serial killer targetting the clergy. I love the main character who is good at his job and not afraid to kick over the traces at times. He's good at motivating his team, has a great sense of humour and a supportive boss who doesn't just look at police politics. Also there is romance though he is struggling to keep that going with the pressure of the job and then there is a disaster ......... A great tale and I'm more than ready for the next one. Keep up the good work Mr Pawson.

[Susan Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taunt and Enjoyable U.K. Police Series

This is the second book in the D.I. Charlie Priest series. Charlie is a wise-cracking, art college graduate cop. He's a very, very good cop, but promotion has not come his way. Could his irreverence and wise-cracking have something to do with this? Pawson does a great job fleshing out Charlie's character and writes a compelling story. Despite murder and mayhem, there are some laugh-out-loud moments to balance the stress. Looking forward to reading the next book.

[Kevin Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep them in the dark

A few years since I read the first Charlie Priest book and it didn’t take too many pages to remember why I enjoyed the first one. Great twist and turns of storylines that don’t seem to connect until they start to weave together. The characters are each individually interesting and Charlie bounces between them and his boss dropping dry humour as he goes. Nice touch with his new romance and some tension to finish.

[Ruth Kittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

against n a good story about the charming Charlie Priest

This is a very engaging character. The stories are not so much a mystery (although there is the whole dun it angle) but the characters. And it’s full of characters! The mystery element is honest—Pawson slips from his first person narrator’s voice to give us some voices of tertiary characters— and then drops back to Charlie. A very likable guy.

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series (now that I've read the first two) is far and away above the usual fare one learns about on FB on Kindle Unlimited. The main character is great, the humor outstanding (if not woke) and the plots good. Yes. Plots plural in one book. This is a far above police procedural with a main character cop who actually gets along with all his co-workers and his superiors. Highly recommended and I'm looking forward to #3.

[Jinfan Cai · Rating 5 out of 5]

故事开头由一个即将退休的主教，骑着小单车想着怎么向暗恋多时的保姆表白，飞来横祸被开车分心的公司高层撞死，抛尸荒野。随后是接二连三的主教死亡事故，在其中两宗明显的他杀案现场，找到了毒蘑菇的图片。然而当刑警追踪到肇事高层时，却发现他自缢死在家中车库...
故事另一条主线是一个失踪的小女孩，单亲父亲收到恐吓电话和勒索信，执意变卖家产去筹款，女孩却被发现死在废弃工厂的垃圾袋里。女孩父亲的司机自首，却在刑警查问前死在看守所中...
随着刑警追查的步调深入，蘑菇男的枪口逐渐指向了刑警...
最后解谜时刻：
小女孩的案件无疾而终，杀主教凶手实际上是刑警以前逮捕的一个囚犯（死在狱中）的女朋友，她的目的只是向刑警复仇，杀这么多主教（部分并非她杀）不过为了设局给刑警。
总体来说，故事情节一环扣一环，很好看。

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story with a few different mysteries going on at once. The book is part of a series and a patient of mine gave this one to me, which is the second one. D.I. Priest is the main character and is an easy fellow to like. Looking forward to reading another one.

[Brian Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy Stuart Pawson books, read some a few years ago, decided to reread again in published order. Pawson’s books are easy to read, serious crimes are committed, but there is always background humour that make make his books such an entertaining read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps its because I'm fairly local to the action that I really enjoyed this book. Or being local I relate to the humour, this book has laugh out loud moments. No this book is also for those not born in God's County.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

Loved this book. The humour is laugh out loud funny and the story a good one. I read this book many years ago and was thrilled to see it on kindle. Enjoyed it as much if not more than the first time. Recommend it.

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice with kind people and a good working place. DI Charlie Priest is a great guy with a good sense of humor and that is refreshing I must say. The story kept my interest and I must say this is a nice series so far!

(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this character and this author. I will definitely read more of the Charlie Priest series. Great humour.....

[Erica Char · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very well written. Not very captivating. The best bits were in the last 100 pages.


I didn’t realize it was the second in a series and that didn’t matter at all.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these mysteries for the cop banter and for the Yorkshire setting. Sometimes the banter is hard to follow and sometimes the setting is grim and gritty, but Charlie is always likeable.

[krlittleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good seies, developing well, likeable characters.

[ShanDizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a little gritty but Charlie's wry humor allayed some of the gruesomeness.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, and will be reading more of his books

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot was all right. Would have been 3 stars if it weren't for the relentless misogyny. Won't read another of his.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really for me

This was okay but not really for me. I wish I could have liked it more, it was set in my home county, Gods own county, Yorkshire!

[Sreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many main characters, plots, fillers. Good main character.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Looking forward to reading the rest in the series!

[Jeanne C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mushroom Person

Lots of twists and extra crime interspersed with humor. The investigative work is interesting. Enjoying MR. Parson’s series staring Charlie Priest.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been spending some time this summer picking up where I left off with several mystery series that I've enjoyed in the past. After reading The Mushroom Man, the second book in Pawson's Charlie Priest series set in Yorkshire, I tried to remember how long it had been since I'd read the first, The Picasso Scam. Five years, that's how long. I can't believe it, especially since I clearly remember enjoying that first book so much. After falling under Charlie's spell every bit as deeply as I did the first time, I'm going to have to make sure another five years does not go by before I read the third. Stuart Pawson writes excellent mysteries!

The two separate investigations are both very strong. Many writers would have chosen to separate them into two books, but Pawson knows what he's doing. Oh boy, does he know. In some ways it almost feels as if he's teasing readers because clear clues are provided all along the way. All we have to do is see them for what they are. Both cases do not focus on the actual crimes, and I was grateful for that, especially in the case of the missing child. No, the focus in both is on the investigation itself and in showing how patient, dogged footwork-- and a tiny dash of intuition-- can bring a murderer to justice.

Charlie Priest himself is a marvelous character, and one of my favorites. He went to art school, wears artsy fartsy ties, and doesn't particularly care for high brow music. He has a great relationship with his team, partly because he's always out there working with them and partly because they know exactly what he expects from each and every one of them. With two such engrossing cases for readers to attempt to solve, his bumbling efforts to show Annabelle Wilberforce how much he is growing to care for her are a welcome-- and endearing-- respite.

How did I fare in deducing the killers? One out of two. I was laser-sharp at spotting the very first clue Pawson planted for the missing child, but I was a dismal failure in the second investigation. In fact, when I learned why the clergymen had been targeted, the answer was so blindingly obvious that I could have slapped myself upside the head. Having this much fun reading a mystery should be illegal. Since it's not-- and before anyone in authority changes that-- I'd better move on to the next Charlie Priest novel!

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: DI Charlie Priest
SETTING: Yorkshire, UK
SERIES: #2 of 13
RATING: 4.0

There's almost no crime that is more difficult to deal with than that involving a child, particularly one that goes missing. When 8-year-old Georgina Dewhurst is kidnapped, her father, successful businessman Miles Dewhurst, frantically calls the police. He has been approached with a ransom demand and is frantic about getting his daughter back. The case is assigned to Detective Chief Inspector Charlie Priest, and his investigation uncovers many bits and pieces that don't quite add up.

At the same time, it appears that there is a serial killer on the loose who is targeting clergymen. The distinguishing link between the deaths is that the perpetrator leaves a picture of a "destroying angel" mushroom near the body. Naturally, the killer needs to have a catchy name, and the police come up with "The Mushroom Man", almost a slap at the villain who signs the pictures as "Destroying Angel". What is interesting is that the reader knows that the first victim was killed accidentally and is not part of any serial killer scenario which makes it all the more mystifying as to why the murderer would claim credit for that death.

The narrative played out very well, with well-placed red herrings and excellent pacing. I did feel that Pawson didn't play fair with the reader as far as giving enough information to determine who the killer was, which was my only disappointment with the book. The Mushroom Man was a superb reading experience on every other count. Charlie Priest is a wonderful character who I think will be among my favorites as I read more of this series. He has a decidedly bent sense of humor which lightens the tone of the narrative considerably. He is also a lonely man who has fallen head over heels in love with a woman by the name of Annabelle. His pursuit of her is touchingly naïve, with Charlie acting almost like a shy schoolboy rather than a man with any romantic experience.

Many of the books in this series are hard to find, but it is well worth the effort to locate them. Highly recommended.

[Tom MacCasarlaigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a while since a book I have read has been awarded five stars by me but the Mushroom Man is fully deserved of such. This crime novel is delivered in a gentle style, none of the blood guts and thunder you can get with Patterson, Baldacci or the like. The pace throughout is captivating, keeping the reader focused for the entire book. The central character, DI Charlie Priest is engaging, likable and is a good guy. I am a huge fan of Rebus and author Stuart Pawson has created a character to rival Ian Rankins creation. As stated, it is a much more gentle approach to telling a crime story but the realism does not suffer in anyway but it is enhanced by the authors style. Mr Pawson passed away earlier this year but he has left us a wonderful collection of stories to be enjoyed for generations to come. Highly recommended reading. Ar Dheis de go raibh ainm.

[Alan Denham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second Pawson I read, and almost as good as the first (The Picasso Scam). The style is quiet, gentle - I suppose you could call it "English". There is not much real darkness to it, little of the violent edge that is rather common in modern writing, but the readers will be aware that our hero is a policeman, investigating crime, and sometimes criminals are violent. This might not be to everyone's taste, but anyone who likes crime but not excessive violence, and has not read Pawson should give it a try.

[John Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of this series and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I really admire the introduction of humour into the direst of situations without any loss of atmosphere.
I guessed wrongly at the main culprit and thought that the story was finishing a little early but with a Pawson book you know that you will not be shortchanged. More excitement awaited from a totally unexpected source.
Another 5* from me AND another in the series next.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

DI Charlie Priest and his team are unlike many in fiction in that they all seem to get along and put the job first. In this book they have to look into the disappearance of a child and a series of deaths of clergymen. Charlie is a great character, a really nice guy who treats everyone with respect and has a nice sense of humor. A very enjoyable read.