A Death on Location

Canon Clement #4

by Richard Coles

THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES

CANON DANIEL CLEMENT IS BACK...

In the spring of 1990, we return to Champton, where the characters we've come to love are all aflutter as a glamorous movie set takes over the village.

As the actors don their bonnets, gowns and crowns, a murder interrupts filming on set - and it's an ingenious murder . . .

Can Daniel solve the mystery with help from his sidekick Detective Sergeant Neil Vanloo - even when things are so sticky between them?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Murder Mystery, Queer, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

Paperback

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for various authors publishing as Richard Coles.

See also
Reverend Richard Coles

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

Thought the first one was poor, but decided to try this because it was on cheap and I thought he might have hit his stride.

Honestly, I'm baffled. Richard Coles (who I love on the radio) appears to be writing a murder mystery series with a slow burn romance while not being remotely interested in either murder mysteries or romance. I'd say why bother, except they're doing a TV series so kerching.

The murder is beyond perfunctory. You can see how it might have been done but all the clues and deducing and stuff feels like it takes place offscreen while the author gets on with what he finds actually interesting: the life of a CofE rector in a classic TV English village, with battleaxe mum and comedy squire. It's 80s Grantchester, or unfunny Vicar of Dibley (she says tautologously). Meanwhile it appears in the middle two books the vicar fell for the policeman, but now he's basically over it, which...okay, but that's an entire plotline in there just to establish that a thing didn't happen?

Entirely unsatisfactory as a murder mystery but with far too much murder to make it a DE Stevenson or Mapp and Lucia style portrait of a village--which is clearly what he should be writing because all the pen portraits except for the rector and cop are clear-eyed in a deeply uncharitable way and thus very good fun.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cross between Agatha Christie and P.G.Wodhouse's Blading books. Set around a movie set in 1990 .Once again we step back in time to fish pie supper that have laughing out loud.
This book is much more lighter than his last book no gay sadness that shadowed his last book this set after the Christmas party.
Cosmo plays big part in the fun.Full of religious facts,food,and drugs .The return of The Generation Game with Bruce.All this and a murder mystery to solve.
Unlucky I gessed who it was very early on, but know idea why?
The first book is been made into Television series for Channel 5.We also learn bit more about Danel and Neil in this book giving more depth to Bloned haired blued eyed Neil
This was really good and perhaps best so far of Coles books.This won my top crime of 2025

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detecting takes place as a sort of afterthought; well-written and enjoyable all the same.

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a voracious reader, it’s good to have variety; light and shade ; fiction of all types and after Booker nominees and historical fiction, crime fiction is always an escape- it’s the certainty of good overcoming evil and a conclusion where order is restored that makes me turn to detective fiction..

Reverend Richard Coles latest Canon Daniel Clement mystery is the perfect relaxing example of crime fiction that somehow calms as well as entertains with a good plot.

This time a murder at the Manor House where a period drama film is being shot and again Daniel, Detective Neil VanLoo and the inimitable Audrey are back. With a film star in their midst, all sorts of social challenges, faux pas and comedic moments prevail.

This is the fifth Canon Clement book and Reverend Richard is now mastering his art and the feel and voice of the characters get stronger and as a reader more recognisable.

A wonderful ( dare I say cosy ) crime read - read them in order for best impact

[Carole Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read .
lots of interesting characters and two little Dachshund's.
What more do I need.

[Justine Shenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of fun and enjoyable read

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a bit slow and must admit that I prefer the 'churchy' bits which are familiar to me. The film making descriptions didn't really click with me. As usual most of the descriptions of the central characters were the best bits and of course there were twists at the end .

[Connor Hansford · Rating 4 out of 5]

These novels are a real mixed bag I find in terms of plot. I didn't like the first one, the second was better, the third was my favourite, the novella was so sickeningly middle-class it made my teeth itch, and this was... OK. What keeps these from being just bog standard mystery novels unworthy of much comment, to me, is the sheer quality of the prose. It's a cut above the norm and the characterisation of each is clear and distinct. This one slipped into the realm of stereotype too much for me; it reminded me a lot of The Mirror Crack'd and also that Sherlock episode where Ian Chesterton's son who is also in Harry Potter dies only when he undoes his tight Grenadier Guards uniform. 'Nothing new under the sun'. Also, practically, if were going to choose a new name as an up and coming actress, would you really go for Gillian Smith??? Really?

What interested me most was the potential for fatality regarding Alex and Nathan's doctored drugs; I half expected them to be found dead by accident, but this plotline went totally underdeveloped; a shame because it was in a sense the only believable thing about it. The ending made no sense at all. Always I get the sense that these are Trollop-y 'social novels' with a corpse or two added to make it more saleable. The 'plot' such as it is remains almost an afterthought.

My biggest gripe with these novels, as a reader from a working class background and as a trainee Church of England priest, is their utter unreality. Manor houses and flower arranging and BCP and Agas? If this is the world priests inhabit, we're doing something very VERY wrong.

Four stars because I like them and they are unusually well written - especially for a 'celeb' author (sorry Richard) - and I will get the next one.

[MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Coles delivers another engaging installment in the Canon Clement series with A Death on Location. This book combines the charm of a cozy mystery with the layered intrigue of a murder investigation. When a film crew arrives in Champton, the quiet village life is disrupted, and soon a suspicious death throws Canon Daniel Clement into another tangled case.

What makes this book enjoyable is the blend of village atmosphere, witty observations, and thoughtful reflections. Coles captures the quirks of small-town life with humor, while also exploring deeper themes such as morality, relationships, and community. Canon Clement is a sympathetic and intelligent protagonist, and his interactions with both familiar faces and outsiders add warmth and realism to the story.

The mystery itself unfolds at a steady pace, with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing until the end. The prose is elegant yet approachable, making it easy to stay immersed. Fans of classic British crime fiction will find the tone familiar and comforting.

[Bookish Barbarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Death on Location by Reverend Richard Coles
A vibrant and witty return to Champton.!

If Murder at the Monastery was a peaceful retreat, A Death on Location is a bustling, joyful homecoming. The village is "all aflutter" as a Hollywood film crew arrives to shoot a period drama, bringing a delightful clash between movie stars and local parishioners.

The mystery kicks off when an extra is found murdered on set, but as always with Coles, the real magic lies in the character work. Seeing Daniel navigate the chaos of a film set while managing village life and his formidable mother, Audrey remains a highlight of the series.

It’s clever, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying. Coles perfectly balances the "glamour" of the film world with the cozy, grounded heart of the Champton community. Another wonderful outing for fans of gentle, character-
driven mysteries!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The best one by far, after a pretty dire previous book.
Not too much ecclesiastical talk this time, thank goodness, replaced by a lot of movie talk. Fortunately, how a film is made was more interesting to me than how a parish church and its services are run.
The Hollywood actress Gilly killed Margaret because, when they were in Am Dram together, she ran over Gilly’s dachshund, the love of her life. Daniel and Neil become friends again, with no romantic involvement now. The lord is trying to get Cosmo to be his dog. Miss March, the dress shop owner, turned out to be the mother of Brandon, the drug dealer

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The big house at Champton has been taken over by a Hollywood film crew with various locals getting involved as extras or advisers. When one of the locals is murdered it's up to Daniel to assist the police in figuring out who and why. Another great addition to this cosy crime series. Some interesting characters and secrets revealed.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book and the three predecessors are not really my cup of tea but I have read them all as they were passed on to me by friends - they are far too cosy! Book 1 was ok but I was bored by #s 2 & 3. This is better and mildly enjoyable.

[Tina Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book from Richard Cole

[GBL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Coles’ new novel continues the series featuring Daniel Clement, the Rector of Champton, who has become an amateur sleuth as he investigates murders in his parish.

A film crew has taken over the local Manor House, with local residents as extras in the film. The death of Margaret Porteus, a local woman, seems initially a case of mistaken identity but as the investigation proceeds it becomes clear she was the target.

This is an easy, enjoyable read as Daniel and his policeman friend Neil investigate an interesting group of characters.

[Les Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without doubt this has been one of my favourite series. Highly recommend reading them.

[Chris Dewar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seemed to be an easier read than murder at the monastery. I love the nostalgic feel and I would love to read a story about Audrey as she is such a great character.

[Anna Farey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy this series and think they get better each time.
Teased us about the kiss too.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less CofE lore, more story, all good.

[Tyler Phillip Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Death on Location” by @revrichardcoles.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved being back in Champton with my favourite priest solving a murder!

The murder taking place within the first chapter?! Getting right into it! Heartbreaking we lost another member from the parish 😢. But the overall story was fantastic. The characters keep getting better and better. I LOVED development for some of the recurring characters! Especially Miss March! I knew she had some interesting story coming. And I’m blown away! The new characters for this book were really fun as well, some more than others. But if you have enjoyed the other books in the series you’ll definitely like this one!

Dan and Neil’s friendship was a little tricky this time around… After the whole incident 😘. But it was great having them together again solving a murder.

Bernard’s new found love for Cosmo (Dan’s Dog) was a fun little side story that I really enjoyed seeing develop.

I feel like it took a little step back from the religious side of things but it made sense for the story. It didn’t deviate too far though.

Proud of myself for somewhat figuring out a clue 😂… I didn’t get to what it meant fully but I was absolutely shocked by that twist… The ending though! I really hope we get another book!

The TV show should be out some time this year and I’m super excited! Hopefully they do the book justice.

I do love Revs writing but damn! He writes long chapters! There were parts of the story that I feel like could of been the end of the chapter but it didn’t. I was also a little sad the actual hardcover didn’t have a cool image printed on it like the rest of the series 🥲.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025! I’m so glad it did not disappoint!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here for the Miss March revelation. I want to know a bit more there!

[Katie Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Possibly my favourite yet

[Steph Ollman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read. Once again the crime was second to the discussion of the middle class life of Daniel and his friends and family. Though this did grate at times, it was pleasant enough to read.
I did find quite a lot of the ending improbable though. Gillian Smith (is that really the name she would have chosen to become a famous actress!) killing the person who ran over her dog years before? Miss March suddenly revealed as the mother of the drug dealer of the area? For a generally easy to read book, there was a lot of unbelievable things packed into the last few pages.

[Lizzy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the last book in the series, Murder at the Monastery, but this one felt like a real return to form. I was so excited to spot it on the shelves and couldn’t even wait for the paperbacks to appear. Returning to the village of Champton now feels like slipping into a comfy jumper – familiar characters, warm settings and full of charm. The plot this time was genuinely interesting, especially all the behind-the-scenes stuff about film-making. As always, Daniel is clever, calm and always quietly observing—like a modern-day Poirot with a touch more warmth and wit. Plenty of twists and the ending caught me off guard in the best way. A really enjoyable read that I raced through.

[Adam Murfet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the series as a whole but struggled with this one. It felt the setup was too long and the reveal was both too short, rushed and a little farfetched.

I would have liked to have seen the setup be a bit more thorough while also condensed and the clues being tied together a bit more coherently and tied to more of the pieces in the background.

The rest of the series is so good I’ld get the next book but hope it follows the formulas of the previous books instead of this one

[T · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an odd book to me. It all took place over, really, only two days.
And it felt like the murder was an afterthought that was sorted out rather quickly in thr last two chapters. There wasn't much investigation at all.
There were so many references I didn't understand and so many words I don't know.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and a half stars.

I enjoyed this, but it wasn't as good as the previous books. Not enough Daniel, too much of some of the other characters (Alex and Theo, in particular, I just found irritating this time round).
One of the things I loved about the previous books was all the details about the church - that was lacking here I thought.
Beautifully written as always.

[Katye Gaynor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly so upset the romance completely ended, I thought surely on the last page something will happen. Otherwise pretty good but probably my least favourite of the series.

[Matt Wheddon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still enjoyable but for me this is the weakest of the series so far

[Sue Dakin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these books but really struggled to get into this one. I didn’t connect with the characters or the storyline as well as I did with the others.