Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins: Grantchester, Book 4

The Grantchester Mysteries #4

by James Runcie

Bloomsbury presents Sidney Chambers and The Forgiveness of Sins by James Runcie, read by Joe Jameson.

'Delightful ... The ongoing plots bind the stories, yet each in themselves is precise ... They are a joy' – Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday

'All manner of nostalgic delights. Perfect reading for a sunny English garden' – Kate Saunders, Independent

'The author knows the location well and has caught its dour charm and great art treasures to perfection' – Country Life
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Loveable full-time priest and part-time detective Canon Sidney Chambers is back, continuing his investigations. A mysterious stranger seeks sanctuary in Grantchester’s church; a shooting weekend in the country has a sinister end; a friend receives poison pen letters; a piano falls on a musician’s head; a school cricket match has an explosive finish; and on a holiday in Italy, Sidney is accused of stealing a priceless painting. On the home front, his new curate has become irritatingly popular with the parish and his daughter is starting to walk and talk.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical, British Literature, Short Stories

Audible Audio

First published May 7, 2015

About the author

James Runcie is a British novelist, documentary film-maker, television producer, theatre director, and Artistic Director of the Bath Literature Festival.

Reviews

[George P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ordained minister with a penchant for reading mystery novels. It is not entirely surprising, then, that I so thoroughly enjoy The Grantchester Mysteries, which narrate the exploits of Sidney Chambers, a priest in the Church of England and an amateur sleuth. Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins is the fourth installment in James Runcie’s series, and in my opinion, the best. (All of them are good, however.)

Set in Grantchester, a village near Cambridge, The Grantchester Mysteries begin in the early 1950s, with Chambers as an unmarried priest. Forgiveness of Sins is set in the mid-1960s, and Chambers has married and fathered a young daughter. In addition to telling Chambers’ story, the novels chart the tremendous social changes taking place in England in the Cold War period.

As for the mysteries themselves, Forgiveness of Sins includes a man who thinks he has murdered his wife (but hasn’t), a physically abusive aristocrat who comes to a bad end, a Cambridge professor killed (accidentally?) by a falling piano, an engaged friend receiving death threats unless she calls off the wedding, an explosion at a public school’s chemistry lab that reveals the school’s dirty secrets, and an art theft in which Chambers finds himself the accused.

The Grantchester Mysteries are gracefully written, character studies, not police procedurals. They are, as the series’ website puts it, “moral fables in the tradition of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown mixing crime, comedy and social history.” Although a crime is solved in each story, the emphasis is less on the how than the who. In other words, there is a focus on the moral character of the antagonists rather than on the methodology of their crimes. If you like hard-boiled detective stories, in other words, The Grantchester Mysteries are not for you. (They also deviate significantly from Grantchester, the Masterpiece Mystery series on PBS that was inspired by them.)

Personally, I am ecumenical in my taste for mystery. I like character studies and police procedurals—Sidney Chambers and Harry Bosch. Each of those detectives, and the series written about them, are worth reading, even though they are entirely different ways of writing about crime.

As I said, I think each installment in The Grantchester Mysteries is good, but Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins is the best one yet. If you want to read it for yourself, however, don’t start with it. Start with the first book of the series, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. Then you can trace the arc of character development and understand why the characters relate to one another as they do.

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P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.

[Karl]

This copy is signed by James Runcie.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite British TV shows is the Grantchester mysteries. So, I am doing this somewhat backwards. I discovered the books after seeing the show.

I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.

We have 6 stories which involve our charming handsome canon, priest and part-time sleuth Sidney Chambers, who seems to have an uncanny way of getting himself involved in murder investigations.

Interestingly enough, the author is the son of Robert Runcie, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and the model for Sidney Chambers.

He writes with warmth and insight about the tricky questions facing individuals in a post-war universe.

His writing comes with a certain secular bent - should you express personal freedom or should certain desires be curtailed? Do you have ultimate responsibility to yourself or to society first? Is revenge for a crime ever forgivable? Who is best to mete out the most appropriate punishment?

Runcie compares his writing to Father Brown or Inspector Morse with morals. If you are familiar with those two characters you know who I mean.

I like the author's writing style. It is simple. He has an easy way of creating a sense of suspense.

This is true cozy, comfortable, mystery whodunit with a nice sleuth.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this in the latest adventures of Sidney chambers in the grantchester mysteries, this one was a bit slower than the rest so far in the series but as the character gets older and a new environment as well in this book to Ely. the development of Sidney's family I enjoyed as assume these will come more into play in later books

[Oscar Clavel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of this series but this one dragged on. I don't know if it was the stories that weren't captivating but something felt off and slow. Either way it was nice to read about Sidney growing up and tackling parenthood. Also, I like his perspective on how to pastor and juggle life.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I definitely enjoy the PBS series, Grantchester, based on Runcie's novels. This is the first I have read, and I'm sorry to say that it did not measure up to the televised programs. The book is composed of a series of cases (episodes?), some of which are more interesting than others. I thought that the very first one was quite poorly constructed. The dialogue was stiff and unrealistic. Furthermore, I later found two instances in which a page of uninterrupted conversation, without identification of the speakers, actually slipped a cog somewhere along the line. For example, having carefully counted out the back and forth between Hildegaard and a German gentleman, I concluded that Hildegaard ended up making a comment that only makes sense coming from the German (and vice-versa). Although I like the characters and the mysteries, I'm disappointed and see no reason to read more of the series.

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, there were a few stories I didn't really care that much about. Those ones were saved by the presence of precious Anna. But the others, wow! I was especially blown away by Prize Day (the fifth of six stories). It was infuriating and disappointing, the way certain characters behaved. I wanted to reach into the book and grab them so I could lay down a good smack. But as a whole, it was a great collection. Sidney is pretty amazing. And Hildegard, I am so sorry for underestimating your character in the TV adaptation. You're probably my favorite now. Aside from Anna. That little saint! Now I want some chocolate biscuits and strawberry gelato.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent installment in this reliable series.

[Annika Hoogendoorn-Van Oosten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weer heerlijke mysteries welke worden opgelost met hulp van Canon Chambers.

In dit deel komt ook misbruik op kostscholen en in de kerk voor.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book of short stories featuring Sidney Chambers - full time clergyman and part time detective. In my opinion it is the best book so far in the series and I enjoyed reading it. I think this series is a good example of how crime stories can still be interesting and entertaining even if they don't always involve murder. Each of the stories in this volume is connected with sin and the forgiveness of it.

I particularly liked the story, Prize Day, set in a school which was handled with a delicacy and depth which is not often met with in crime writing today. Another favourite is Fugue which opens with one of the most unusual deaths in crime fiction in my experience!

Throughout these six stories Sidney is adjusting to married life and gaining more experience in his job. He is also trying to achieve a good work/life balance though he doesn't call it that as these stories are set in the nineteen sixties. Things don't always go smoothly and he finds that he has to deal with sins and the forgiveness of them, his own and other people's, almost on a daily basis.

This is an enjoyable and thoughtful read which I found very satisfying. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read crime stories with more depth but without graphic violence or bad language.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Becoming even lighter on the mystery aspect. there was only one story that was close to being a traditional mystery. This book is really about the chronicles of Cannon Chambers and how he tries and usually fails to reconcile his domestic life with his sleuthing and his relious vocation. you really have no chance to put yourself in his shoes. All of his internal dialogue is not available. you are just an observer to the story. which are nice, but not really mysteries. With the move to Ely, don't know how it can be considered a GrantChester Mystery any longer.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had I not seen the Grantchester Mysteries on PBS, I would surely have rated this book higher and would have liked it more. One is so vested in the love of Sidney's life being Amanda, that Hildegard, as nice as she is, is just plain vanilla. I read Perils of the Night and thought that perhaps Amanda might get the role of Sidney's wife, but it was not to be and, consequently, the series has lacked interest for me. Just thought I would try one more.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely sunny Sunday summer reading. I love the Tv series based on these books and always think of the actors when reading the characters in the stories. The book is a series of short stories that run smoothly like chapters. I didn't enjoy the last story as much as all the others due to the amount of art history knowledge and Italian references but all in all a great read.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the tv series, and I enjoyed these books a lot more before the wife arrived. The dialogue between them is so weird, she's always complaining, and I think it's supposed to be tongue in cheek, but it doesn't really feel that way. Sidney talks about how much he loves his wife, but that's never evident in what he says either, or even his actions. I do like the short mystery format.

[Emily Weathers · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first two James Runcie Grantchester Mysteries (MUCH better than the PBS series) – LOVED them! However, I started reading this one when it came out in 2015, and I’m completely over it. I don’t know if it’s the author or it’s me, but the plot, characterization, AND overall mysteries in book 4 seem flat and unfinished. Sad! (more posted on group post)

[Ice Bear · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that seems to have been rushed so as to meet publisher deadlines, with plots less developed than previously. Started to pick up towards the end, but overall lacked depth, perhaps the price of fame.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited about this - it was promising with its clever mysteries and quirky characters. But honestly, it bored me to tears.

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m trying to slow down and savour these volumes because there’s such cosiness to them… and I don’t have the last two editions yet so… 😭

On the whole, an enjoyable Sidney Chambers instalment. It still can’t compare with the Masterpiece that was book 3–more on the enjoyment levels of book 1. Content felt lesser here than other stories, but there was still some I wasn’t crazy about (noted below).

The Florence story felt like the weakest of the lot, and I was sad to level the village of Grantchester for grander things. Now to wait till I can find copies of books 5 & 6!


Content:
•mild language (h*ll; 1 b*tch; 1 s-word)
•one case covers domestic violence/abuse
•mention of a married man having a mistress
•brief comment about wondering if a woman is a lesbian (don’t confirmed or denied)
•Sidney kisses Amanda on the mouth in relief that she isn’t dead. She’s engaged, and he’s married. I didn’t love this, even if it wasn’t romantic.
•one story deals with schoolmasters (who “prefer young boys”) at an all-boys school bullying students (severe beatings, demanding sexual favours, and sexual abuse). One boy is so humiliated what his teachers did to him he commits suicide. Sidney passionately advocates for reform because of how terrible authority figures treat some of the boys

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the stories, but it seemed to include more foreign language than the 3 previous in the series, and most without further text to help figure it out.
Still, charming characters, locations, and intriguing situations.
I highly recommend the entire series!
Peace!

[Alan Swift · Rating 2 out of 5]

These stories while relaxing and anything but a challenging read can sometimes irritate because they portray a sugary class ridden society where the real pain of the world is quietly forgotten. It is a very English confectionery and one which eats well but can make you feel a bit sick afterwards. The various "mysteries" plod along in somewhat uninspiring fashion. At least Agatha Christie created obscure whodunnits that required use of the little grey cells! Not sure I'll go out of my way to read future instalments but there are always days when a little unreal dainty is needed.

[Lou Florio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this to be one of the better books, even though I considered Sidney and Hildegard responding out of character in the story, Prize Day. That just seemed out of sorts. Still, it’s a cozy mystery escape that you will likely enjoy.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins begins with a suspenseful murder and the thrills don’t let up until the very last page. Like previous books in the series, this fourth novel is made up of novellas.

In the first, the eponymous “The Forgiveness of Sins,” Canon Sidney Chambers — patient and put-upon, as always — agrees to grant sanctuary to a bewildered Latvian-born musician whose wife was knifed to death in her hotel bed. Is he really ignorant of the crime, or is he, in fact, the murderer? Sidney reveals the truth as he ponders guilt and forgiveness.

In “Nothing to Worry About,” Sidney and his German-born wife Hildegard visit Witchford Hall for an old-fashioned shooting party in the country. But the havoc occurs not out hunting but in the hall, and Sidney, Hildegard and Sidney’s oldest friend, socialite and art historian Amanda Kendall, take it upon themselves to prevent an impending tragedy. After the terrible denouement, Sidney, Hildegard, Amanda, and Inspector Keating are left wondering: Would things have turned out better had they not intervened? The victim certainly thinks so, and Sidney himself has his doubts.

In “Fugue,” the director of music at Cambridge University’s Corpus Christi College is killed in a terrible accident. Or was it? While I still enjoyed it, it was the least satisfying of the six tales.

The fourth story, “A Following,” features a bride-to-be who gets frightening poison pen letters threatening her should she marry her widower fiancé. Who would do such a thing — and why? Sidney takes the opportunity to ruminate on the nature of love and what makes for a good marriage, a thoughtful musing that enhances the story rather than detracts for it.

An explosion at Millingham School in “Prize Day” reveals more about the faculty and administration than about the pupils at this school. Described as “the kind of school where rich people sent their stupid children,” Millingham School puts more emphasis on athletic prowess than academic ability. The headmaster’s request that Sidney make a discreet inquiry reveals much more than the headmaster anticipated, making this novella probably the finest of the six included, a five-star read.

In the final entry, “Florence,” Sidney, Hildegard and their daughter Anna accompany Amanda Kendall to that city just in time to get caught up in the 1966 flooding of the Arno, which devastated Florence. The flood provides the opportunity for a crime at the Uffizi Museum, one that Sidney helps foil in a very exciting way. This story provides an eye-opening window on Italy in 1960s.

Six fine stories with the usual thoughtful treatment. For fans of Canon Chambers, who could ask for anything more?

[Harsha Priolkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 4 in the Grantchester series and an okay read. I think I need a break from Grantchester for a while. Need to read something wildly different from the cosy, comforting atmosphere of Canon Chambers world.

I’m not happy that Bloomsbury has changed the spine design on this book! I don’t understand why they would do that in the middle of a series! Extremely annoying 😤

There are 6 short stories in this one and once again, there’s a lot of priest vs detective debate going on in Sidney’s head, more so when he’s offered a promotion to Archdeacon of Ely. Like I’ve said before these debates are the highlight of this series for me, but in this book, they finally began to grate on the nerves...become repetitive and tedious...which is why I need a break. Also Amanda Kendall is back and once again embroiled with a suspicious man...really repetitive and unreal. How can an otherwise intelligent, articulate woman be such an awful judge of character? And why is she desperate for marriage when she’s a perfectly capable, rich, independent woman with a wonderfully supportive friends and family? The whole thing is just silly and frustrating and I don’t give a damn!

Unfortunately the way Runcie writes Hildegard has also begun to annoy me. She seems whiny and suspicious of her husband and I don’t understand why, given that she is also a very strong, grounded, independent woman perfectly able to get by without his guidance. Anyway, for the most part Runcie delivers what we’ve come to expect from this series - a cosy atmosphere, a decent cast of characters, plenty of religious, faith and ethical debates, and simple mysteries easily solved albeit occasionally with morally ambiguous solutions.

A decent read but after reading 4 in a row, I need a break! I’ve chosen to read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland next for a diametrically opposite reading experience 😄

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sidney Chambers is a vicar in 1960s Cambridge with a penchant for investigating. The cases in this book are not really mysteries as such, they are more problems where Sidney knows or suspects what is going on, but needs to find the proof and bring things out in the open. They are charming episodes on the whole, sometimes with a darker undertone, but with more light than shade.

Sidney is a likeable character, with a disarming tendency to recognise his (quite minor) faults and good intentions. There is a clear sense of time and place, and the author skilfully avoids imposing over-modern moral judgements on the stories while still dealing with universal issues of right and wrong. Sidney's affectionate relationship with Geordie Keating is also a real highlight of the series.

The main downside for me is the character of Hildegard, Sidney's miserable wife. She constantly berates Sidney for his failings, while being totally unappreciative of her own lot. She has one delightful child, and a flexible job teaching music, but still always feels hard done by, and in the end insists on an au pair to lighten her load! The couple's lively exchanges are sometimes quite amusing, but more often I found myself irritated by her whinging and quickly skipped past her.

Enjoyable series.

[Jennifer Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney Chambers is a great character, and I enjoyed spending time in his world again with this installment in the series. The stories in this installment weren't as engaging this time, and the tension with Hildegard was odd and uneven. Actually, I felt like the conflict wasn't well resolved in other situations/stories either. When I read a mystery, I like to feel that there aren't a lot of loose ends when it's over. It makes for an unsatisfying read when parts of the mystery are left up in the air.

It's been fascinating to compare this to the PBS series and the direction they took with the screen version. I don't understand why they kept the core stories virtually intact but turned the Sydney/Hildegard/Amanda relationships on their head. It seems they could have preserved Runcie's characters but played up the drama of their relationships. I liked the TV show, but I have overall appreciated the books more, including the lighter tone and that Sydney is not a tortured, hopeless alcoholic. Even though I didn't enjoy this installment in the book series quite as much, I still liked it well enough to try the next book!

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a lot of us, I first got acquainted with clergyman-sleuth in "Grantchester" on PBS. Which is excellent, and I've enjoyed the books now as well, even though after the first volume, the 2 story lines have diverged quite a bit. The series is great for TV; the books are great for a cozy, thoughtful read.

I don't think the quality has dropped at all in this series, but for some reason I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous installments. I got stuck somewhere in the late middle and it took a few weeks to pick it up again. In this volume, Sidney has been moved up to Canon and left Grantchester for a bigger town and the life of a cathedral community. Less Geordie, since he's now further away, so that might've had something to do with it (I really like Geordie; he's a tart balance to Sidney's sweetness). The last story, set in Italy, was a nice touch and a good ending to this installment.

I'll be back for more, I'm sure, but this volume will probably not be on my "favorites" list.

[Brace1737 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this fourth book in the series three stars because it is better than the third one. This novel has six cases to ponder along with Sidney who has gotten a promotion. He is a pleasant companion for your quiet Sunday afternoons.

Note to readers: The Sidney Chambers of these novels is different than the alternative universe Sidney that you watch on BBC/PBS.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this series because of the BBC series of the same title, which is fabulous, and very closely follows some of the stories. Each book is a series of interlinked short stories featuring a village priest (who moves up the ranks) and his friend, the local police detective inspector. One is optimistic about the nature of man, and one is not. It is enjoyable, if a little unexciting.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories here were about more difficult subjects and most did not have the tidy satisfying conclusions one generally finds in mystery stories. This makes this entry in the series more true to life, but less fun to read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was darker than the previous three in the series, but I enjoyed it very much. I love the characters!